Choosing the right cloud provider is one of the most important decisions for any enterprise. According to Grand View Research, the global cloud computing market reached USD 752 billion in 2024 and is growing fast. More companies, including telcos, OTT platforms, and hyperscalers, are moving critical workloads to the cloud, making the right choice even more important.
However, not every cloud provider fits every business. The wrong choice can lead to slow performance, higher costs, compliance problems, and network issues. Enterprises should check key factors before committing to a provider to ensure a reliable cloud strategy. Below is the guide for you to choose the right one.
What is a cloud service provider?
A cloud service provider is a company that delivers computing resources over the internet. These resources include storage, processing power, networking, and software. Businesses pay to use them instead of buying their own servers, which saves money and allows easy scaling.
Cloud services include IaaS (virtual machines, storage, networking), PaaS (tools to build apps), and SaaS (ready-to-use apps). The research from Grand View Research above also shows that SaaS had the largest revenue share in 2024. At the same time, IaaS is expected to grow fastest as enterprises need scalable infrastructure.
Clouds can be public, private, or hybrid. Gartner projects that by 2027, 50% of enterprise apps will run outside central public cloud locations, making hybrid setups the norm.
Choosing the right cloud provider
The best provider depends on workload, location, compliance needs, and technology. According to Gartner 2024, AWS leads with 37.7% of the IaaS market, followed by Microsoft Azure at 23.9% and Google Cloud. Alibaba Cloud and Huawei Cloud complete the top five.
- AWS: Wide range of services for AI, machine learning, and enterprise workloads.
- Azure: Best for businesses using Microsoft products like Office 365 and SAP.
- Google Cloud: Strong in data analytics, AI, and developer tools.
- Alibaba Cloud: Leading in Asia, ideal for China and Southeast Asia operations.
- Huawei Cloud: Growing in enterprise and telco markets across Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.
For telcos and OTT platforms, data center location matters. Closer data centers reduce latency, which is key for streaming, gaming, and real-time services.
7 Things to check before choosing the right cloud provider
Before choosing a provider, consider these points:
- Performance: Check uptime guarantees; aim for 99.9% or higher.
- Geography: Ensure data centers are near your operations and customers.
- Security & Compliance: Look for ISO 27001, SOC 2, and local approvals.
- Scalability: Confirm storage, compute, and network can grow easily.
- Network: Dark fiber or strong connectivity ensures low latency and reliable performance.
- Cost: Ask for full pricing breakdowns and watch for hidden fees like egress charges.
- Multi-Cloud & Hybrid: Check compatibility to avoid vendor lock-in and keep flexibility.
The foundation for cloud performance
A strong network is just as important as a good cloud provider. Otherwise, even the best cloud will be slow if the connection is weak. Thus, it needs a dark fiber system.
This is where ARNet comes in. It gives dedicated dark fiber across 10,000 km in Southeast Asia. In addition, it connects more than 60 data centers in Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, and Thailand. Its FiberGrid system has many paths, built-in backup, and very low signal loss. Consequently, ARNet is friendly for big cloud providers, or hyperscalers, like AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud. Moreover, it works well for major telcos and online platforms in the region.
Therefore, telcos, online platforms, and hyperscalers can trust ARNet for fast, strong, and safe connections. With 99.99% uptime and live monitoring, ARNet keeps cloud services running smoothly across Southeast Asia.
About the Author
Nabila Choirunnisa, Digital Marketing Executive at ARNet