4 Important Factors When Choosing Your Cloud Computing Consultant

Migrating to use a cloud service can be complex at the best of times, so speaking to experts about navigating this successfully is a must. With many advantages for businesses using the cloud to store data and collaborate effortlessly, the increased interest in finding suitable experts to help advise and implement this is no surprise. With many different options available, how do you find the right cloud computing consultant to help? Here are some key areas to keep in mind when deciding.

Experience

Ideally, you want to work with a consultant that has the experience behind them and has advanced knowledge of certain aspects you require. They need to be an expert in their field and be able to prove this. Cloud computing consulting can help businesses thrive and get the most value possible from it when provided by experts, so it is vital that you partner with those that have proven credentials and examples of their work. A consultant should be able to provide you with case studies of how they’ve done the same for other companies and also show certifications in different software. You’ll soon be able to tell who the proven experts are from those who only say they are.

Has a Genuine Interest in Your Business

A cloud consultant will need to work closely with your business, almost partnering with you to help achieve your goals. This means they need to have a genuine interest in your business and understand what you want. If they don’t take this personalised approach and instead provide general advice, this may not fit in with your requirements. If they ask a lot of questions and want to fully understand how you work, you can expect to have a better working relationship with them. If they provide names of companies they’ve worked with before, find testimonials to help get a clearer vision of how they’ve partnered with clients before.

How Long They Are Available

A big aspect of choosing a consultant is how long they can work with you, with the longer the better. Migrating to cloud services can take time and there are various considerations to be made, so if you can have a consultant there throughout, you can deal with issues as they arise. If they can be an ongoing source to contact whenever needed, this will provide the support you need. This needs to be established early on with a consultant, as if they are only able to commit for the short term, you could be left looking for another quite quickly.

Costs

Consulting is a varied environment with a range of experiences and expertise, so you’ll need to consider the cost of bringing in a seasoned consultant. Most will provide a quote for their services based on what you require and may charge hourly, but there will be fixed costs to consider too. The demand for senior consultants and those with vast experience is high, so the costs will be higher if you are looking for the best options. By researching average costs and deciding on a budget that fits your business, you can determine an affordable direction that brings you value in the long term.