The process of moving all of your business data over to a cloud server can be intimidating, but the long-term benefits are many. Cloud storage is a cost-saver for businesses and the best companies provide highly secure and accessible service for their customers. If you’ve been thinking about making the move to the cloud for your company, here are four important questions you want to ask as you’re shopping around for options:

What Security Measures Are in Place For Your Systems?

Security is the top priority for most companies moving their data over to cloud-based storage systems. Prior to selecting a provider for your company, it’s important to ask what security measures they have in place for their systems. Typically, most cloud provides will store data in several different locations online and provide special encryption for protection. Talk with companies about their security history. Don’t be afraid to ask tough questions such as whether they’ve ever had a data breach. As a business owner, protecting your customers’ and employees’ sensitive information is critically important.

Does Your Business Have Customer Testimonials or Reviews?

A recent survey shows that over 90% of consumers read reviews online prior to making a final purchasing decision about a product or service. A reputable cloud company will be willing to share customer testimonials, or you’ll be able to find reviews of the services they offer by doing a quick search online. It’s a good idea to take a look around online to see what existing customers are saying before you make a final selection on a cloud provider. This could save you the headache of bad service and poor security!

What’s Your Pricing Structure Like?

Just like any other business, prices on services vary from cloud provider to cloud provider. Be sure to ask about pricing structure so that you have a better idea of what you’re getting for your money. Specifically ask about the cost of storing data. Some cloud providers have a limit on how much data you can store, while others provide you with unlimited storage at a set price. There may also be restrictions on how many computers you can pull data from. Having a clear sense of what you’ll get for your money in terms of service and data storage will help you make an informed selection.

How Frequently Does Your System Back Up My Information?

Do you find that you’re constantly editing documents and files and creating new folders on your computer? If so, it’s important that you find a cloud provider that will back up your data frequently. After all, there are few things more crippling than data loss! When you’re shopping around for a provider, be sure to ask how often they back up your business data. Asking this question will provide you the peace of mind you need to feel comfortable with your selection.

Selecting a cloud provider doesn’t have to be a difficult process. Start out by asking about their security measures, finding customer reviews online, learning more about their pricing structure and how frequently they back up customer information. Find out the answers to these questions will leave you feeling confident in your selection. And that peace of mind is priceless!

Author Bio: Michael Martin is a writer and IT consultant for cloud storage provider Togglebox. For those in the market for a new cloud provider, Togglebox has cheap cloud server hosting that’s both secure and reliable.