Changing cloud provider is a big decision. It's a bit like moving house – you have to pack everything into boxes and move it to a new location. And while you're drowning in gaffer tape and sorrow, you don't have the time or energy to get anything else done.

Of course, it doesn't have to be this way. If you partner with a reputable consultant, you're getting the removal men to do your packing as well as the loading, driving and unloading. That means minimal downtime for your company.

But even with the support of a decent consultant, switching provider is a big investment of time and money. You have to be sure it's worth it.

Choosing a cloud provider has to be in line with your business requirements as well as you're technical ones. Technical considerations like service levels and security features should always be serving your growth plan.

All of which begs the question: when is the right time to switch? What are the factors that could lead you to move from one provider to another?

1. Cost reduction

You may simply find that you're not getting enough bang for your buck. This could be for a whole host of reasons – but the bottom line is your bottom line.

Cloud-to-cloud migration costs money. But if you work with a reliable consultant, you're making savings in the long run.

And it may be that the process will become cheaper in general if the European Data Act becomes law. This would "make it easier to transfer data from one cloud service provider to another" – and eliminate exit fees too.

2. Better security and compliance

Even a small amount of data needs solid protection. But when you're dealing with terabytes of the stuff, you need to have a cloud solution that's as tight as a prison door.

There are two reasons for this. One is, of course, that you want your software and data to be safe from ransomware, phishing attacks and other online threats. The complexity of your network is there to facilitate hybrid working – but it does make the attack surface larger than ever.

The other reason is compliance. GDPR has set high security in legislative stone. It's no longer an afterthought – still less an option. If you suffer a data breach, you're not the victim – you're responsible. And you have to make up for your oversight with cold hard cash.

So if your current cloud vendor is offering subpar security, it may be time to make the switch.

3. You're expanding

If business is booming, you may find that your data needs outstrip your provider's offering.

It could be that your current provider offers the storage you need, but that the more workloads you migrate to the cloud, the more sluggish performance becomes. Or it could be that your new data requirements are simply cheaper elsewhere.

Scalability is a key selling point of cloud solutions – but that doesn't mean all providers are equally as cost-effective.

You may find that the more software, data and apps you move to the cloud, the less cost-effective it becomes. If you find yourself in this position, you might want to consider changing provider.

4. You need better data recovery

There are many ways to lose your data – from hardware failures to cyber attacks, from earthquakes and wildfires to basic human error. Data loss can lose you money, tarnish your reputation and get you slapped with a hefty fine.

For this reason, a reliable and secure data recovery solution is a must.

If you feel that your data recovery system isn't up to snuff, it can pay to shop around for an alternative. As with security and compliance, it should be right up there on your list of priorities.

What is vendor lock-in?

When it comes to cloud solutions, many businesses are worried about vendor lock-in. This is where they effectively become lumbered with their existing solution even if it no longer meets their needs. Why? Because the costs of switching are just too high.

This is something that photographers are familiar with. The lens mounts on cameras are almost always incompatible with other companies' cameras – so photographers get locked into using a certain manufacturer's wares.

In cloud computing, this can be an issue if a cloud provider's quality of service takes a downturn or changes in a way that means it's no longer right for you.

Plus, there's the risk of unwanted price hikes. It's a bit like buying a coffee in a train station or a museum – the vendor knows you're unlikely to go elsewhere for your java, so they can charge you what they like.

There are a few ways to avoid vendor lock-in. You can take steps to make your data portable – for instance, backing up like your life depends on it. Or there's the increasingly standard option of going for a multi-cloud or hybrid cloud strategy.

If the quality of service declines, you don't have to be locked in. Partnering with a trusted cloud consultant means that switching provider can be cost-effective and painless.

What is a cloud-agnostic consultant?

A cloud-agnostic consultant isn't agnostic about the value of the cloud – far from it. But they can manage your migration with any cloud provider or combination of providers – including multi- and hybrid cloud infrastructures.

With a cloud-agnostic consultant, you don't need to settle for second best. You can switch to a provider that's more scalable, more cost-effective and more secure with a minimum of disruption to your business.

So yes, switching cloud provider is a big decision – but it doesn't have to be a stressful one.

At Ascend Cloud Solutions, we specialise in cloud migration, VMware consultancy and NSX-V to T migration. Are you looking for help switching cloud provider? Please don't hesitate to get in touch.