For the modern enterprise, data is the foundational element that allows businesses to operate.
As information technology continues to evolve and grow in complexity, organisations need to store and manage greater quantities of mission critical data. To achieve this, businesses are increasingly adopting cloud computing, with many opting to make use of one of the public clouds, such as AWS. Amazon’s cloud object storage solution, known as Amazon S3, allows organisations to store data in the cloud securely, and retrieve it quickly at scale, making it an attractive offering for businesses that want to drive innovation with cloud computing.
As more enterprises migrate critical workloads to the cloud, ensuring reliable, secure, and high-performance connectivity to AWS becomes vital. While AWS offers robust native networking options, many businesses, especially those with complex or hybrid IT environments, find that third-party managed connectivity solutions offer an extra layer of performance, security, and flexibility.
Enhancing Cloud Security and Compliance
While S3 is widely regarded as a powerful and flexible cloud storage solution, it can offer much greater value when partnered with a managed connectivity provider. For organisations to leverage the advantages of AWS and achieve innovation in cloud computing, partnering with a Managed Service Provider (MSP) allows companies to get the most out of the world’s largest cloud platform.
Firstly, and in some ways most crucially, cloud storage can open businesses up to security and compliance risks. This is a common concern when it comes to public cloud technology, as the increased attack surface that comes with cloud solutions makes it harder for cybersecurity professionals to defend. This is compounded by the lack of a defined perimeter when compared to traditional on-premise storage.
The Importance of Proper Configuration and Expert Management
One of the most prevalent issues leading to security breaches is misconfiguration of permissions. While AWS offers strong security features, it is up to the customer to ensure the cloud storage is configured properly. If this is done incorrectly, end users might inadvertently expose sensitive data. Additionally, wrongly configured storage buckets can be left accessible to the public, which if taken advantage of by threat actors, can result in a data breach. However, MSPs have the specific expertise needed to ensure that the storage and permissions are correctly configured. They can also offer data recovery and backup capabilities, adding a further layer of protection and resilience in the event of a cyber attack or other unplanned outage.
Cloud storage is optimised for durability and availability, but it can introduce higher latency compared to local storage or other specialised cloud storage solutions. For real-time applications or workloads that require extremely low latency, S3 may not function at the level required. In addition, most businesses require the ability to transfer large datasets and need their cloud storage solution to be able to handle heavy and frequent traffic.
Unlocking Efficiency and Compliance with an MSP
One of the key advantages of an MSP is that it gives organisations the ability to access their cloud faster and more reliably. They offer direct, high-throughput paths to AWS, allowing for reduced latency compared to internet-based traffic. For many businesses, consistent and responsive throughput for critical workloads can represent a significant uplift in efficiency and therefore return on investment.
A key challenge that MSPs help solve is the complexity surrounding compliance. For enterprises that operate in various regions globally, maintaining compliance with many different regulations can be difficult. This is a concern as fines for non-compliance can be damaging for both revenue and reputation. However, MSPs offer pre-certified environments, meaning organisations can be sure that their data is stored in a way that meets regional regulations.
Optimising Cloud Success
For many organisations, especially small-to-medium enterprises, it can be difficult to hire and maintain the specific AWS expertise needed to properly configure cloud environments. This knowledge is highly specialised, and in many cases, it does not make sense for companies to invest in employees just for enacting a cloud migration.
MSPs can fill this knowledge gap where needed, allowing businesses to draw on many years of experience without having to hire an in-house team. This support also reduces the burden on internal IT teams and allows them to focus on innovation instead of infrastructure. This also allows organisations to be sure that their data is properly protected, as external MSPs will be able to configure and manage cloud environments in a more effective and efficient manner.
Modern businesses are driven by innovation, as taking advantage of the latest technology is vital to boost revenue and stay ahead of the competition. Data is moving faster than ever, and businesses that can access, store, and analyse it efficiently will be best equipped to succeed. For organisations looking to take advantage of AWS S3, choosing a strong MSP who understands the specific business needs of the solution will take it to the next level.
About the Author
By Sean Tilley, Senior Sales Director at 11:11 Systems.
