How to overcome the barriers of multi-cloud: MSP edition
MSPs often adopt a multi-cloud strategy, leveraging a mix of public cloud vendors like AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud to deliver a diverse range of managed services. These services include virtual applications and desktops, backup, disaster recovery, and data security.
A multi-cloud approach can help enhance performance and optimize costs by allowing MSPs to select the best cloud platform to deliver solutions their clients need and avoid vendor lock-in. This fosters growth and enables MSPs to navigate a challenging environment more effectively as the managed service provider industry shifts and evolves.
MSPs face a myriad of technical challenges while navigating multi-cloud environments. These challenges span from managing and administrating multiple environments to addressing technical skill gaps, impacting the operational efficiency of MSPs in delivering their services.
See how Parallels RAS can help your MSP adopt an effective multi-cloud strategy and more!
The Benefits of integrated multi-cloud for MSPs
Empowering service delivery
1. Enhancing service offerings. Integrating multi-cloud environments allows MSPs to cherry-pick the best-of-breed capabilities from different cloud providers, enhancing their end-to-end managed services.
2. Cost optimization. Multi-cloud setups enable dynamic load balancing across different providers based on pricing and workload demands. MSPs can shift workloads to a cloud provider with the most cost-effective pricing.
3. Flexibility and scalability. By harnessing a multi-cloud approach, MSPs can boost agility and scalability as per customer requirements. Multi-cloud solutions can maximize resources by spreading workloads across platforms and minimizing the risk of service disruptions and improving overall reliability.
4. Compliance and security. Compliance requirements play a vital role in the choice of vendors, as different cloud providers may offer specific certifications or regulatory requirements catering to a range of client needs. Moreover, multi-cloud environments improve cybersecurity by diversifying risk across multiple platforms, mitigating the impact of potential breaches or downtime while meeting various customers’ security requirements for different types of data.
The complexities of multi-cloud environments
1. Differentiation of cloud services. Variations in interfaces, tools, and functionalities across cloud providers create hurdles in achieving seamless communication across multi-cloud platforms. These complexities intensify when integrating or synchronizing data and applications across multiple cloud environments for multiple organizations.
2. Management and automation. Managing workflows and automation processes across various clouds can be challenging. MSPs often require monitoring and optimization tools to effectively manage deployments, resources, and configurations.
3. Cost optimization. Managing costs across multi-cloud environments poses a significant challenge for MSPs. Different cloud providers have varying pricing structures, making estimating and managing expenses a complex challenge. The management and allocation of customer billing processes across multiple organizations adds an additional layer of complexity.
4. Technical efforts for setup and operation. The deployment and operation of cloud architectures demand substantial technical resources, both in terms of time and cost. Developing the technical skills to maneuver and manage across different clouds amplifies this challenge, impacting the ability of MSPs to provide cost-effective and comprehensive multi-vendor solutions.
Parallels RAS: Addressing Multi-cloud challenges for MSPs
Parallels RAS emerges as a pivotal tool for MSPs seeking to overcome the issues of multi-cloud environments, streamline operations, and mitigate complexities for managing multi-cloud setups, simplifying administration by enabling centralized management.
Parallels RAS can be deployed across multiple public clouds including AWS and Azure and in on-premises data centers, all managed from one single admin console or single pane of glass.
1. Simplified integration. Parallels RAS offers a unified interface, streamlining the integration of disparate cloud infrastructure services. A single management console minimizes the efforts required by MSPs for deployment, management, and administration, particularly in multi-vendor environments. All of this is made easier through a single license model, without the need for additional complex add-ons.
2. Technical skills and training. Parallels RAS minimizes the demand for specialized cloud-specific technical skills. Its user-friendly interface empowers MSPs to efficiently manage multi-cloud environments without extensive upskilling, retraining, or hiring efforts. What’s more, Parallels RAS includes technical training free of charge for all partners, reducing technical barriers and facilitating smoother integration and operation.
3. Facilitating transition. Parallels RAS aids in the transition from single-cloud to integrated multi-cloud setups. Its capabilities enable seamless migration of workloads and services, crucial for MSPs wanting to adopt a multi-cloud approach or switch vendors, avoiding vendor lock-ins.
4. Increased security. Parallels RAS adds to the security advantages of centrally managed published resources with extra layers of protection such as 2FA/MFA and smart card access, client policies, and granular filtering.
As managed service providers look to multi-cloud deployments and solutions, Parallels RAS emerges as a critical partner, empowering MSPs to overcome technical barriers and deliver seamless, value-driven services within multi-cloud environments. Discover how Parallels can empower your MSP!
