What is IaaS?
Cloud Compute and Managed Hosting are commonly referred to as Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS). This offering can be any combination of shared (multi-tenant) virtual servers or dedicated physical or virtual servers that are located in the service provider’s data center(s). Customers may choose shared/public or dedicated/private based on their application or compliance requirements.
The provider will manage the compute hardware (servers, network, and storage), and optionally the virtualization, OS, database and application layers as well. The provider will also deliver very high uptime (99.9% +), as well as security, backup, disaster recovery, Active Directory integration, etc. as the client requires.
For example, a customer needed a platform that supported Microsoft and Linux, a way to avoid the pain of managing their own hardware, and access to on-demand, high-quality engineering support. They were able to find a cloud solution featuring dynamic allocation of resources, a large global footprint, and top-of-the-line support that exceeded all their needs. Moreover, the entire transition took less than three weeks, and the ROI was 20% stronger than their previous setup.
Why Consider IaaS?
• Company can focus on core competencies
• OpEx payments, not CapEx
• Consumption-based - pay for only what you use
• Flexibility to scale up and down as needed
• Agility to provision resources almost instantly
• Allows IT to become strategic instead of maintaining the status quo
To best review your business needs and goals, consult with an agnostic technology agent or consultant to gain a deeper overview of the wide range of IaaS solutions and providers. In addition, to assisting you with procurement, the agent can also handle ongoing support.
About Comtel
Comtel Communications, a telecom/technology consulting agency based in Richmond, Virginia since 1991, provides best-in-class solutions and unbiased counsel to a diverse group of small, medium, and enterprise-level businesses, totaling more than $18.2M in annual billings. Leveraging unique access to 350+ national and international providers, Comtel benefits its clients through competitive quotes from multiple sources, to ensure their business goals are met with current and dynamic telecom and technology services. Acting as a partner, long after contracts are signed and services are deployed, Comtel offers superb back-office support to manage upgrades, track orders, and provide training to clients.
Author: Ben Humphreys