Once upon a time people would carefully store their sensitive or confidential information in safes or locked filing cabinets or other secure locations. Today, as the world becomes increasingly more reliant on and integrated with digital and technological communications and transactions, the storage of personal information evolves. People still need to know that their data is secure, and with storage becoming more accessible, the security remains the highest issue. Many businesses today are making use of cloud services, and as the business owners search for the right services that will fit their company, cloud service brokers are the middle man between the businesses looking to be customers, and the providers looking to sell their cloud services.
What can cloud service brokers do for you?
Many cloud consultants are the go-between for the providers who offer public or private cloud services, and the businesses looking to improve productivity, development, and communications within their company. Cloud communications are significant to businesses who are hoping to improve integration between operations and development, and to share important data effortlessly across multiple applications, platforms, and interfaces. In fact about 59% of large corporations are already using cloud services for these purposes specifically. Cloud service brokers are meant to offer three main functions: aggregation, intermediation, and arbitrage.
Simplifying terms for the everyday user
For some, the concept of the cloud is a bit difficult to grasp, as it does not function in the same way as traditional brick and mortar business services have functioned in the past. It is, after all, an idea that is centered around the fact that information is stored not on paper that you hold in your hand, but in the intangible digital cloud, accessible from anywhere a device can connect to it. Throw in terms like cloud brokerage services and those three roles provided by cloud service brokers, and you may be in for some confusion. Luckily, one role of these brokers is to make sure that everyone is on the same page and understanding what all is going on. Put quite simply, the three main functions of the brokerage service is to be an efficient negotiator.
- Aggregation
Aggregation has to do with being that glue, not just between the provider and consumer, but ensuring the security and functionality and accessibility of data over multiple services. - Intermediation
Intermediation deals with adding services to those already existing in a cloud or cloud hybrid being used, like capabilities for management access. - Arbitrage
Arbitrage brings flexibility and a variety of options to choose from, providing consumers with multiple services that are similar so that they can choose the best or some sort of blend of services.
What most people want and need in their cloud
By far, the most important feature for people using cloud services is the security. Their information needs to be safe and secure. That much is obvious, and should always be the biggest concern for any provider and broker. But there are other aspects that factor in for consumers. One survey showed that reliability ranked highest for about 43% of customers, 28% were most concerned with the cost, and about 27% were most interested in the ability to integrate with existing programs and infrastructure. But when it comes down to it, each and every one of those factors is crucial in finding and using the right cloud services.
The demand is high for secure and accessible services within a business, as well as for personal use, and that demand is only growing. The future of cloud service security is bright, as the market is predicted to hit $8.71 billion by 2019. Businesses shift and grow with the changing times, and we have yet to see what tomorrow’s technology will bring us.
