Cloud Consciousness. Check Your Pulse. Part (1)

Did you anticipate a day when there would be a positive correlation between the cloud

and consciousness?

Neither did I.

Yet cloud consciousness, though, a relatively new phenomenon is here to stay.

Knock, Knock.

Who is there?

It’s Obamacare….

Remember that fiasco? I-I- mean launch?

Sorry.

Collect yourself.  Dismiss the thought.

Are you ready to implement your cloud strategy?

Here is to your great launch…

Cheers!

To thrive in the cloud, cloud consciousness is a great start but it also requires a strong cloud pulse,

For both you and your Cloud Service Provider (CSP).

Assuming you have already determined which cloud is right for you, here is your checklist when vetting your cloud service provider:

Data Backup and cloud consciousness.

Frequent backups facilitate full data restoration.

1. What is the backup schedule for cloud services?
2. What is the standard retention for backups?
3. In what format are backups stored?
4. Who is the custodian of backup data?
5. Is the cost of backup storage covered in the cost of service?
6. Can backups of cloud-hosted systems be created?
7. Upon request can a copy/image of a backup be provided?

Data Restoration Process and cloud consciousness.

1. What is the restore process
2. Who initiates the restore process
3. Who is responsible for the successful restoration
4. What is the time frame for restoring? Are there options?
5. What happens if data cannot be successfully restored?
6. Can backups be supplemented with shadow copies for document/file rollback between formal and incremental backup archive periods?
7. Are the backups scheduled to minimize impact to active application peak use periods?
8. Can retained backup data sets  transitioned to another vendor?
9. Is granular recovery available to allow restoration of a single email box or data element?

Data Security and cloud consciousness

1. How are backups secured while at rest and in transit?
2. Who has access to backup data?
3. How is the security chain of custody vetted and maintained?

Data Retention and cloud consciousness.

1. What is the policy for data retention?
2. What is the standard retention period for data?
3. Does retention differ for online and offsite retention? If so, what is the period for each of these periods?
4. How long can the standard retention period be extended?
5. What is the cost if any, for extending the time frame?
6. What is the cost for retaining data?
7. How does cost vary with the length of the retention period?
8. In the event that the data cannot be retained for period that by which your organization is legally obligated, how can the data be returned?
9. Can the cloud service provider disclose the location of all datacenters and associated facilities where your data might be permanently or temporarily hosted?
10. Can the CSP guarantee that all data, including backups and copies, will be stored in the United States?
11. Is the offsite archive outside of the cloud infrastructure?
12. How are the offsite archive and data transportation managed?

Do you have any further suggestions for our checklist?

Please share.

Next time we will explore, Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery.

Please contact us to discuss your organization’s needs.