Zones Making Waves in U.S. Public Sector Cloud Services

We are thrilled to announce our recognition as a "Rising Star" in the ISG Provider Lens™ report in Managed Services for Private/Hybrid Cloud – Data Center Services 2024 in the U.S. Public Sector. This moment serves both as a thank you to the journey of our previous wins and an echoing promise toward innovation, higher integrity standards for quality-conscious consumers, and, most importantly, customer-centric growth. In this blog, we look at the strategic initiatives, core services, and unique approaches that have taken Zones to such an impressive height.

The increasing adoption of cloud in the U.S. public sector is driving a surge in the range and number of services offered by providers. According to ISG market analysis, the use of managed cloud services among State, Local, and Education (SLED) organizations is expected to grow annually by 10–15 percent through at least 2027.

Key areas of value for SLED agencies:

• Skills and Expertise: 

  Public sector IT departments often struggle with the expertise required to manage complex cloud environments. The rapid evolution of cloud technologies means that maintaining an up-to-date skill set is challenging. Managed service providers (MSPs) bring specialized knowledge and experience, ensuring that cloud environments are managed efficiently and effectively. This expertise covers a wide range of areas, including cloud architecture, deployment, and maintenance, which are crucial for the seamless operation of cloud services.

• Cost Optimization: 

  Cloud services offer scalability, which can lead to significant cost savings. However, achieving these savings requires effective management. MSPs have the tools and experience to optimize cloud usage, ensuring resources are used efficiently and costs are kept under control. They can help with strategies such as right-sizing resources, optimizing workloads, and implementing cost-saving measures like automated scaling and usage monitoring.

• Legacy IT System Limitations: 

  Modernization efforts in the public sector often expose the limitations of legacy IT systems. These outdated systems can hinder the adoption of new technologies and processes. MSPs assist in upgrading and migrating applications from these legacy systems to the cloud. This process includes assessing current infrastructure, planning migrations, and executing upgrades with minimal disruption to services. The goal is to enhance operational efficiency and enable the adoption of modern, cloud-based solutions.

• Security Concerns: 

  Cybersecurity is a paramount concern for public sector organizations. The increase in cyber threats necessitates robust security measures. MSPs offer advanced security solutions and continuous monitoring to protect sensitive data and ensure compliance with regulations. Their services include threat detection and response, vulnerability assessments, and the implementation of security best practices. By leveraging the expertise of MSPs, public sector agencies can enhance their security posture and mitigate risks effectively.

Evolving Hybrid Cloud Solutions for the U.S. Public Sector

Public sector organizations in the U.S., including state, local, and educational (SLED) agencies, are more and more turning to hybrid cloud solutions and data center services. According to a recent ISG research, the adoption of colocation, managed hosting, and hybrid cloud services has surged by 20 to 30 % since 2020.

This trend highlights the growing need for SLED agencies to manage private and hybrid cloud environments more effectively.

However, with tight budgets and a lack of talent shortages, on-premises improvements are hard. Hybrid cloud solutions provide a value-effective alternative, permitting those organizations to update their infrastructure and programs via a flexible pay-as-you-pass version.

Security and compliance also are another constant concern. With growing cybersecurity threats, SLED corporations want robust safety features. Cloud providers can deliver these sturdy protection features in conjunction with compliance certifications that meet unique privacy rules. Hybrid cloud models allow businesses to protect sensitive data on-premises at the same time as the use of cloud services for different applications, ensuring compliance.

The shift to remote work and digital services became crucial during the pandemic, emphasizing the need for flexible work arrangements and accessible online services for citizens. Cloud-based solutions facilitate remote work for government employees and offer a scalable platform for delivering online services, thereby enhancing constituent engagement. Additionally, hybrid cloud fashions permit SLED businesses to benefit from both public and personal cloud environments.

Our Comprehensive Cloud and DC Service Offerings

One of the key factors that helped us achieve this recognition is the range of managed services we provide. Zones’ cloud and data center team is focused on managing a data center's "day-to-day" operations—delivering products related to rack and stack, configuration, testing, and quality assurance.

Further expertise is demonstrated in deployment, software/data migration, and cloud backup/disaster recovery. Then we build customized solutions tailored to the business challenges that our clients need help with. Our dedication to customization ensures that the services we provide not only work but also are in line with our clients' strategic objectives.

One of the key features of our services is the ZonesCloud platform. This secure, modular, and scalable cloud management solution offers end-to-end management capabilities for our customers. Give your development teams full visibility of their cloud environments, and they can take accountability for cost and operate efficiently.

Native automation capabilities of the platform allow for easier and less overhead-intensive cloud operation management. Our experience also includes working with other public cloud providers, notably Microsoft Azure and Amazon Web Services (AWS), along with Google Cloud. With this wide competency, we can offer services from basic cloud infrastructure management all the way up to advanced cloud-native solutions.

Driving Innovation Through Technology and Partnerships

Investing in cutting-edge technologies is key to enhancing our service offerings. By integrating artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) capabilities into our cloud management solutions, we enable predictive analytics and proactive management. This allows us to anticipate issues before they become critical, ensuring improved uptime, optimized resource utilization, and enhanced security for our clients.

Our success is also built on strategic partnerships with leading technology providers. Collaborating with top industry players ensures that our clients have access to the latest technologies and best practices. These partnerships enable us to offer specialized services tailored to specific needs, such as compliance with government regulations or integrating emerging technologies like AI and automation. For example, our partnership with Microsoft leverages their extensive resources and expertise in cloud solutions, providing our clients with advanced tools and support.

Zones has carved out a significant niche, especially among SLED agencies. With a dedicated team spread across multiple U.S. states, we have developed a deep understanding of the unique needs and challenges faced by public sector organizations. Zones' recognition as a "Rising Star" in cloud services is a significant milestone in our journey. It reflects our commitment to excellence, innovation, and customer satisfaction. As we continue to grow and evolve, we remain dedicated to providing our clients with the best possible solutions and support.

This report praises Zones for successfully transforming from a traditional value-added reseller (VAR) into a key provider of managed private and hybrid cloud services. This shift has established Zones as an essential partner for public sector clients in need of dependable and innovative IT solutions.

We thank our clients, partners, and team members for their unwavering support and contributions to our success. The future holds great promise, and we look forward to continuing our journey as a leader in cloud services.