But what exactly is cloud computing consulting?

It’s where an organisation hires cloud consultants in order to build, manage, and maintain an optimal cloud environment, or just get some guidance/help in terms of the migration process or a management role in the program.

And when this consultant has been carefully chosen — this collaboration leads to a number of Cloud benefits.

However, choosing a cloud computing consulting company is no easy task. And you cannot rely on opinions and recommendations alone, since each organisation has different needs and requirements.

So, let’s see what you should do before you even start searching for the right consulting service, and what you need to consider when making your shortlist.

Evaluate your organisation

Check to see where you are with your digital transformation.

• Have you already moved entirely or partially to the cloud, or do you need assistance from the very beginning?
• What kind of experts do you have onboard?
• What sort of products and services do you offer?
• Is there any project that you want to close?
• Or maybe you’re thinking about opening up another stream of revenue?

Be prepared to present this kind of information to your potential partners, so that they will have a chance to get to know you better.

Prepare a list of expectations

You need to define exactly what your needs are. You may want to be taken care of from A to Z during the cloud transition process, from collecting requirements and building cloud infrastructure to having third line support and maintenance.

Or you may want to choose just one or a few services from the wide range of t cloud operations, i.e., cloud ROI assessment, disaster recovery, or a security audit.

Designate the people who will be responsible for the cooperation

Select the people on your team who will be responsible for choosing the proper IT partner, as well as for handling the cooperation later, as it progresses, both in terms of business and technical aspects.

This way, you will avoid chaos in your communication.

Estimate your budget

When you know how much you can spend on cloud consulting, your potential partner can then adjust their offer with flexibility, and help you select the solutions that are financially within your reach.

Once you’re done with these four points, you are ready to move onto the next stage.

How to choose a cloud computing consultant?

There are at least 10 things that you should take into consideration before making the final decision — if you want to get the best value for your money.

1. Expertise and experience in cloud computing, and… much more

This sounds pretty obvious, yet we will mention it anyway. The combination of knowledge, skills, and experience is a must. And not only in cloud computing!

In some cases, you may first need some digital product consultancy, in order to get you on the right track with the entire digital transformation strategy, or help you solve some ongoing issues before moving forward.

2. Proven ability to improve business efficiency and productivity

Successful deployments should stand out in your potential consultant’s portfolio. Especially in your specific industry — they should be able to demonstrate deep domain knowledge supported by good practices and excellent examples of collaboration that turned out really well.

3. Comprehensive range of cloud services and solutions offered

When cooperating with a cloud consultant, you should feel that even if you don’t need everything at once, you can always choose another service or a different solution.

The ability to customise is a huge advantage here as well — so you know that the offer can be tailored exactly to your needs.

4. Effective security measures and compliance

You should feel assured that all security requirements will be fulfilled 100% and every solution implemented will be compliant with up-to-date regulations.

Don’t be tempted to take shortcuts — all reputable consulting services should be able to cover you here (with the aid of experienced SecOps engineers and some dedicated solutions — which are centralised in Security Operation Centres — i.e., SIEM).

5. BizDevOps approach

This is one of the newest methods in the agile spectrum that fosters close collaboration between business, development, and operational teams, so that they can all work together as a single, well-oiled machine.

6. Tech-savvy attitude

Embracing change, being flexible, keeping up with the latest trends and innovations, and quickly adapting to emerging technologies and changing environments — these are the most important components of a tech-savvy attitude.

And you should definitely look for one when hiring a cloud computing consultant.

7. Scalability

Ask your potential partner if they can scale up or down, depending on your changing needs.

Nothing should be set in stone, and they should offer the most agile approach possible.

8. Ongoing and emergency support

You should be offered comprehensive support even after the main project has been accomplished.

Plus, your partner should demonstrate willingness to take responsibility for the job once it’s done, and be able to fix any bugs or mistakes.

9. Pricing

Price levels are, of course, significant but flexible pricing options are even more critical.

Make sure that you won’t be charged more than necessary or for any services that you won’t even use.

10. Customer satisfaction

And last but not least — check out other user opinions and read their reviews.

You may even want to make some calls to their previous/present customers? Seek first-hand information and get a complete image of the cloud computing consulting companies on your shortlist before signing up for any long-term cooperation.

How to work effectively with any consultant

Of course, if you want your future cooperation to succeed — you need to play your part equally well.

And this is what you should focus on:

• establishing roles and responsibilities,
• agreeing on the strategy and measurable goals,
• placing emphasis on clear communication,
• monitoring progress, praising their efforts honestly, and emphasising the positive,
• ensuring that all knowledge is captured and transferred,
• always giving constructive feedback — and being open to receiving feedback yourself.

This way, you will build a trusted and balanced relationship with your partner over time.

And if you’re looking for a consultant right now — don’t shy away from putting Future Processing on your shortlist. Let’s talk, so you can see how we can help you with your cloud transition and optimisation.

You can also use our free RFP template for Cloud Services, which will support you in choosing the best partner possible for your business.