CloudOps blog (AWS & Azure)

Navigating the Challenges of AWS and Azure Cloud Management in 2023: Why Third-Party Platforms are the Solution

Written by Garry Forsyth (Chief Technology Officer) | 09-Mar-2023 10:24:00

The task of managing cloud environments, especially for SaaS and MSP businesses, can be a complex, challenging and distracting process. Thankfully, cloud management as a service (CMaaS) is becoming a popular solution that helps businesses navigate the challenges and overhead of managing their AWS and Azure cloud environments in 2023.

 

The Rise of Cloud Management as a Service

A cloud management service provides a platform for businesses to manage their cloud infrastructure and operations through a third-party provider. It offers an alternative to traditional on-premises management tools and outsourcing management services to cloud vendors. With CMaaS, businesses can benefit from the expertise and experience of cloud management providers' teams and software while maintaining control and visibility over their cloud infrastructure.

The advantages of CMaaS are significant. It enables businesses to focus on their core competencies without having to worry about or be distracted by managing the complexities of cloud infrastructure. Cloud management service providers can help businesses optimize their cloud environments to meet specific requirements such as security, compliance, and cost optimisation. They can also provide proactive monitoring and issue resolution, ensuring that businesses have a reliable and resilient cloud environment.

Challenges of AWS and Azure Cloud Management

Despite the advantages of cloud computing, managing cloud environments can be challenging. AWS and Azure, the leading cloud service providers, have their own challenges that businesses need to navigate.

Firstly, businesses face the challenge of ensuring that their cloud environment is secure. Security services for AWS and security services for Azure need to take account of the differences between those platforms as well as the similarities. Security is a significant concern when it comes to cloud computing as businesses need to protect sensitive data from potential breaches. As cloud environments grow and evolve, maintaining security becomes increasingly complex. Businesses need to keep up with the latest security threats and vulnerabilities to ensure their cloud environment remains secure.

You can read a more in-depth article on the subject titled: Is the Security of Your Cloud Management Service Doing Enough to Protect Your Business? 

Secondly, cost management is another challenge for businesses using AWS and Azure cloud services. As cloud environments grow, businesses need to manage and optimize their cloud spend to ensure that they are not overspending. This can be challenging as businesses need to balance the flexibility of the cloud while still maintaining a core service level. Also as the cloud grows and cloud sprawl becomes a problem having cloud management software can highlight under used or redundant resources.

You can read a more in-depth article on the subject titled: How do I Gain a Clear View of Costs in AWS and Azure & Stop Getting Surprises?

Thirdly, businesses need to ensure that their cloud environment remains compliant with regulations and standards. With increasingly complex regulatory environments, businesses need to ensure they are up to date with the latest requirements.

Navigating these challenges can be difficult and requires significant expertise and experience in cloud management. While AWS and Azure provide a range of tools and services to help businesses manage their cloud environments, navigating these challenges can be challenging without the right expertise.

All of these challenges are challenges for businesses, but what are the headwinds for cloud providers? Find out more in our article about the challenges for 2022/23.

Why Third-Party Cloud Management Platforms are the Solution

Third-party cloud management platforms can help businesses navigate the challenges of AWS and Azure cloud management in 2023. These platforms offer a range of benefits that can help businesses optimize their cloud environment, reduce costs, and improve security.

CloudOps from IG Cloudops is a unified cloud management platform which is plug and play with AWS & Azure and gives you a range of functionality including:

  • Monitoring rolled up into single pane of glass dashboards
  • Security hardening with integrated penetration testing
  • Backup, Patching, Antivirus automation
  • Auto scaling to meet demand 
  • Live and historic cost monitoring/analysis and recommendations

To find out what IG CloudOps can do for you take a test drive and unlock the power of automated cloud management.

Or take a look at the range of services we provide around the AWS & Azure technology stack underpinned by IG CloudOps.