A poorly optimized application can lead to over-provisioning of resources, which translates into unnecessary operational costs.
As usage scales, applications can suffer from latency, downtime, or data bottlenecks if not designed for elastic workloads.
Inability to rapidly roll out new features, enter new geographies, or accommodate large user growth can leave a company behind its competitors.
Is it cost reduction, scalability, speed to market, or all of the above?
For example, do you struggle with app performance during high traffic, or is your current infrastructure unable to support planned product expansion?
Understanding your current software and hardware setup will help you identify a partner who can complement your tools and infrastructure.
Beyond immediate app deployment, think of what your business will look like in 3-5 years. This will guide you in selecting a partner who can support growth, adaptation, and future innovation.
A roadmap outlining the goals, architecture, security needs, budget constraints, and expected timeline.
Metrics like system uptime, cost efficiency, scalability potential (e.g., ability to handle X transactions per minute), and future readiness (e.g., compatibility with multi-cloud or hybrid setups).
Ensure the partner holds advanced certifications with the cloud platforms they recommend. AWS Advanced Consulting Partner or Azure Expert MSP certifications can be good benchmarks.
Ensure the partner is fluent not only in cloud architecture but also in integration with databases, analytics, and security tools.
Do they have experience with monitoring tools like CloudWatch, Prometheus, or Grafana to ensure optimal performance and uptime?
Ask for references or case studies where the partner has solved challenges similar to yours.
Your partner must have in-depth knowledge of relevant compliance frameworks (GDPR, HIPAA, SOC 2, etc.) and the ability to implement them effectively.
Ensure the partner has successfully implemented auto-scaling with tools like Kubernetes, Elastic Load Balancing (AWS), or Azure Autoscale.
Look for experience in scaling databases using techniques such as sharding, replication, or database-as-a-service solutions like Google Cloud Spanner or Amazon Aurora.
Does the partner have experience in building applications with encryption, firewalls, and intrusion detection at the core?
They should utilize tools like AWS GuardDuty, Azure Security Center, or Google Cloud Armor to monitor and protect your systems.
Ensure they are familiar with the regulatory landscape that applies to your business, whether it’s PCI-DSS for payments or HIPAA for health data.