Managed Cloud Services
Scalability, agility, innovative capacity and ultimately clear competitive advantages – the cloud today is part and parcel of the enterprise environment. It is just a question of strategy: public cloud, private cloud or a hybrid of both? And how do you get started? Our Managed Cloud Services puts you on a fast track to maximising the comprehensive benefits of the cloud efficiently.
Managed Cloud Services from Syntax
As a provider of Managed Cloud Services and Managed Hosting, we put all of our cloud, SAP, IIoT and industry expertise into providing, managing, securing and maintaining the systems. We operate SAP S/4HANA in the cloud on behalf of medium-sized business, looking after the digital workplace, supporting production with an IIoT Suite and powerful value-added services plus machine learning. In addition, we help you get the most out of your data with finely tuned cloud analysis tools. Syntax Managed Cloud Services puts the IT administration in the hands of the specialists, freeing up internal IT and allowing the enterprise to focus on its core business.
Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS):
Managed IaaS means that Syntax looks after your IT infrastructure operations and maintenance. Our experienced operations professionals keep operating systems, servers, storage and networks running smoothly, securely and at optimum capacity.
Platform as a Service (PaaS):
We don’t just look after the infrastructure. We also ensure that you have access to a fast development and secure production environment.
Software as a Service (SaaS):
Through our SaaS offering we operate applications such as SAP for you using the public or a private cloud. Syntax can draw on decades of experience in migrations, operations and maintenance, freeing up enterprise IT departments significantly.
Managed Cloud benefits at a glance
Whether you opt for a public or private cloud, or even a hybrid solution, Managed Cloud Services offer the following advantages compared with on-premises environments:
Cost management
Getting your IT from the cloud as a managed service lets you turn capex into opex as you operationalise expenditure on managing and running data centres and avoid investment costs. Managed Service providers know the cost levers inside-out. They constantly monitor demand and ensure that enterprises don’t spend any more than is necessary.
Time savings
Complex activities such as maintenance and operation are handled by the Managed Service provider, leaving the enterprise IT teams free to focus on adding value through projects and innovation.
Security
The cloud is all around; systems and data are distributed across multiple data centres providing resilience and preventing an unexpected downtime. In addition, IT security becomes much tighter in the cloud when correctly configured by experts.
Flexibility and agility
Launching a new project doesn’t require complex IT investment planning when you run it in a managed cloud. Systems and services can be provisioned at the touch of a button. That means faster times to market and more value for your business.
Kick-start Managed Cloud services with Syntax
Our wide-ranging private and public cloud expertise and in-depth understanding of industrial processes mean we can help you to get ahead with the cloud and get a handle on its particular features. From the technology to value-added services, from pricing models to cost mechanisms. This means that we can operate your solution at optimum capacity and cost-effectively on your behalf. Every cloud consultation starts with the question “Why?” What do you want to achieve by moving to the cloud, what opportunities do you want to exploit? We understand that not every enterprise has a finished cloud strategy in its back pocket yet. Whether you need a hand getting started, support to move forward after dipping your toe in or help rolling out your strategy, Syntax is the strong, experienced partner you need to guide you.
We offer:
- Access to AWS, Microsoft Azure and our Syntax Private Cloud. Fully transparency and cost control.
- A dedicated, virtual data centre environment in the cloud, managed by Syntax, with separate accounts, tenants and subscriptions for every client.
- Our Intelligent Autonomous Platform to boost your digitalisation plans. Letting you get down to business in the cloud straight away, with no false starts.
- Our tried-and-tested CxHub, which gives you an overview of your entire cloud environment (including multiple clouds) at all times.
- Secure operations, including for high-regulation industries. We create bridges between different requirements of industrial sectors and the certified infrastructures of cloud providers.
Security in the cloud? You bet!
Security concerns are frequently cited as a reason for not migrating to the cloud, especially among medium-sized enterprises. On the other hand, cloud providers invest massive amounts in protecting their data centres. They run Security Operations Centres (SOCs) and monitor their infrastructure around the clock. After all, security is core to their business, from physical access to network security, encryption and measures to protect against distributed denial of service attacks (DDoS).
Cloud security is important to us too. That is why Syntax has added a sophisticated security framework to its standard Managed Cloud Services, extending the already high levels of basic security implemented by the cloud providers.
- These include rules on identity and access management, and network security with a firewall that manages traffic within the cloud as well as protecting your IT from the outside world.
- AWS Guard Duty and the popular self-verifying Ephemeral Firewall.
- Our own Syntax SIEM team constantly investigates log files and forwards its findings to customer-specific SIEM solutions.
- Syntax Managed Cloud Services can be used to operate specialist solutions available on the market, including SAP Enterprise Threat Detection and SAP Custodian.
Managed Cloud vs. On-Premises
On-Premises
Flexibility
Based on your IT capacity
Costs
– Investment/capex
+ Planning certainty (excluding unplanned requirements)
Staff
– High personnel costs
– Lots of technical knowledge required
DR and HA capability
– Limited
Data protection and security
+ Your responsibility
– High level of security requires lots of resources
Innovation
+ No product-dependencies
– Limited resources for realisation
– Time
– Lots of investment
Private Cloud
Flexibility
+ Fast setup
Costs
+ Monthly billing
+ Flat-rate pricing models mean relative planning certainty
Staff
+ Lower personnel costs
+ Service provider delivers expertise and knowledge
+ Automation
DR and HA capability
+ Service provider general maintains high standards
Data protection and security
+ Service provider implements basic security
+ Extra requirements can be supported
+ Operational organisation can be defined & contracted transparently
Innovation
Dependent on service provider: easy if innovation is within the provider’s core business, limitations if not
Public Cloud (AWS/Azure)
Flexibility
+ Self-service and high degree of automation for standard configurations
Costs
+ Flexible pricing
– Less planning certainty due to pay-as-you-go model
Staff
+ Highly standardised operations
+ Provision of automation tools and automated resource provisioning; IaC (full automation with Managed Public Cloud).
DR and HA capability
+ Very high service availability
+ High availability by design
+ Disaster recovery possible without changing operating model
Data protection and security
+ High security standards for services
+ High level of basic security and numerous security options
+ Third-party products available in marketplace
+ Encryption and comprehensive user and access management
Innovation
+ Broad range of services across many areas
+ Continual development of new services for global market
+ Marketplace for third-party providers in addition to own services
FAQ: Managed Cloud Services
What is Cloud Computing?
Cloud computing is all about delivering IT infrastructure – whether that is storage, computing power or individual applications – via a network such as the public internet. In contrast to the pre-cloud era, users no longer need to install software on a local client device in order to use it. Instead, they access the systems they need via a range of interfaces and protocols, normally through a web browser or a dedicated client. In addition, there are no specific hardware specifications for local devices. In most cases there is not even any requirement to use a specific operating system. The National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST) has identified four delivery models for cloud computing: Public Cloud, Private Cloud, Hybrid Cloud and Community Cloud.
What is the difference between Cloud Services and Managed Cloud Services?
Cloud Services is simply a way of providing IT resources. In professional or commercial environments, cloud services can be divided into Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS) and Software as a Service (SaaS). When a provider delivers servers, storage and networking components through the cloud, we talk about IaaS. PaaS solutions allow users to develop, manage and provide their own applications via a platform in the cloud. And SaaS means that applications are operated in the form of a cloud solution by the software provider, so that users do not need to install the software locally. When IT experts like Syntax look after the operation plus services such as maintenance, availability and security of the cloud solution on their customers’ behalf, we talk about Managed Cloud Services.
