Many cloud hosting providers have achieved ticket-of-entry credibility in the data warehousing industry by building simple colocation centers. A first-tier database as a service (DBaaS) contender, however, is set apart by a value-added service approach that is strategic, consultative and responsive. A first-tier provider also offers state-of-theart technology, like Microsoft SQL Server 2012, and commits to a product roadmap that expands their customers’ capabilities. Blending conscientious service, strategic insight and highly reliable technology is the way to earn customer confidence.
This paper outlines principal considerations and evaluation tactics for technology professionals contemplating a migration of their databases to a cloud platform. Primary decision factors can be characterized as the “four S” considerations: