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You can’t just buy a public cloud platform like Microsoft Office 365 or Azure, wave a wand and watch as the platform magically configures itself to your business. The fact is, too many public cloud implementations are rush jobs that fail to fully leverage security and other features that may come with the investment the client has made in the technology. Let’s examine this issue, and how the solution often comes in the form of a qualified MSP partner to better configure a client’s public cloud deployment for maximum security and overall ROI.
Customizing the Enterprise Platform for Maximum ROI
Many organizations invest in public cloud platforms without fully reaping their potential value to the enterprise. At a minimum, such clients are missing out on handy features and tools that create more efficiencies and automate more processes. But there are bigger stakes where security is concerned, as companies miss out on powerful cyber protections they may already have paid for but didn’t realize they had.
The right MSP partner can help clients unlock the power of their public cloud platform to go “beyond lights on” day-to-day tactical support – and into the realm of streamlined business operations and proactive cybersecurity management. The right partner can also offer scalable pricing models that can optimize spend and reduce costs for customers.
A well-managed public cloud platform can support enterprise growth, scalability and security in multiple ways. For instance, the platform can be customized with low code and automation tools for teams to improve and reimagine their workflows. Turning an Excel spreadsheet into a business intelligence report, for example, no longer needs to be a manual, time-consuming task.
Configuring Security Settings and Tools
For all the efficiency gains, the true benefits from a partner to help manage a public cloud platform come from the added security. For the purposes of this blog, let’s stick to the Microsoft example. That’s because Microsoft products serve as the technology backbone that drives ECI’s industry-leading role as an MSP in the financial sector. Many of ECI’s clients turn to us for help with Office 365, Azure and a range of Microsoft tools – and our Gold Partner status allows us to create powerful and highly-tailored cloud deployments.
Full utilization of public cloud platforms like Microsoft Office 365 and Azure can increase business productivity, collaboration, automation and self-service options while allowing financial firms to continue operating in a secure environment. For instance, low-code tools can help employees securely automate processes themselves, as opposed to requiring a massive IT project to do the same. As another example, OneDrive, SharePoint, Teams and other Microsoft tools can be configured to help users more securely store and access files from all validated devices.
For clients that have an XDR solution, an MSP partner can use XDR to make all traffic and metadata available to Microsoft Defender suite. And a partner can further harden systems by leveraging industry best practices like the CIS benchmarks for Microsoft security practices. These are just a few examples of the engineering expertise and high-powered configuration support that the right MSP can provide as companies look to get the most security from their public cloud IT investments.
