Managed Services

Glossary

Managed services

This glossary explains various keywords that will help you understand the mindset necessary for data utilization and successful DX.
This time, we will explain "managed services," which are a benefit of using the cloud and a point that needs to be considered when choosing between various cloud services, and through that, we will think about the essence of IT utilization in the cloud era.

What is a managed service?

A managed service is a service that allows you to leave (some of) the work required to operate and build the service you use to the service provider.
In the past, if you wanted to use a certain function, for example, a database function, you had to spend time and money to build a system, and then you had to spend time and money to maintain and operate it.
Managed services are services in which these hassles are taken on by the service provider rather than the service user, and because the barriers to use are lowered, they can be used as a means to promote the use of IT.

What is "operational effort"?

First, let me explain what I mean by "operational effort."

What do you need to do if you want to use a database?

As an example, let's say you want to utilize data, so you think, "I want to use a database."

In the past, even "using IT" required a lot of effort. First, you had to buy the hardware (server) and physically set it up. Even before that, you might have to find a place to put the server.

In the cloud era, it's no longer necessary to own your own hardware, but it's not just the hardware that's involved that can be time-consuming. Even if you can simply launch a virtual machine on the cloud (for example, by using Amazon EC2 on AWS), it still takes time to install database software and set up the initial setup.

Even after installation and use, it still requires work. For example, you need to monitor the database to ensure it continues to operate without any problems, without any breakdowns or performance degradation, and if something does happen, you need to take measures to deal with it. To do this, you need to make backups, quickly recover from any problems, and take measures to maintain performance as the load increases.

In addition, various other tasks are required, such as updating when new versions are released. To carry out these tasks, it is necessary to secure specialized engineers who are knowledgeable about databases and have them handle the work.

Simply "moving to the cloud" is not the solution to everything

Some people believe that simply switching to the cloud will dramatically improve things, but in reality, this is not always the case. In order to consider whether introducing the cloud will actually produce results, it is important to understand that it must be implemented in light of the overall operation, and that it is necessary to take into account the costs and personnel required.

Even if you move your existing IT to the cloud, most of the operational work will remain the same.
(When using the cloud, it is necessary to be aware of the operational effort and costs involved.)

Benefits of Managed Services

I realized that simply switching to the cloud does not eliminate many hassles.

So, is there a way to avoid the hassle and hassle of this kind of operation? In fact, there is. There are services available that take on the operational costs and hassle on the cloud side. These services are called "managed services."

How does managed services differ from cloud usage? For example, database services such as Amazon RDS and Amazon Aurora on AWS are managed services.

By using these services, you can "immediately use a ready-made environment" without having to do any initial setup such as installation yourself. After you start using it, you can leave many of the operational tasks, such as checking for any problems, to the cloud service.

In this way, using managed services can reduce operational costs and hassle. Furthermore, it also reduces the time lost before the service can be used due to the hassle involved in starting use, allowing IT to be used quickly when needed, and reducing the amount of work that needs to be done by in-house engineers, making it easier to use a wide variety of IT even without specialized personnel.

By utilizing managed services, the amount of work and effort that companies must perform in-house is reduced, lowering the barriers to cloud adoption and reducing the time and effort required to start using the service.

Even for organizations with sufficient engineers, managed services offer many benefits. First, they enable faster service availability. Second, they may enable a wide variety of IT utilization that was previously impossible.

For example, there are various types of databases other than the commonly used RDB, such as "NoSQL databases," "graph databases," "column-oriented databases," "in-memory databases," "time series databases," "utilizing big data with Hadoop," and "vector databases," which are attracting attention for their use in generative AI.

Even if the benefits of using these databases are understood, it seems that companies have not really considered using them because it is difficult to recruit engineers who can operate these databases in-house.However, by using managed services, their use becomes quite realistic.

Fully managed service

However, using a managed service does not mean you can leave everything to the cloud. For example, while Amazon RDS offers various support functions, you still need to set up, create, and operate your own data backup system, and with many services, some operational effort remains.

On the other hand, there are also managed services that allow you to leave most of the operations to the cloud, and these are distinguished by the term "fully managed services." For example, in the case of managed DWH services, Google's BigQuery is offered as a fully managed service that requires almost no operational work, even for data analysis platforms with truly massive amounts of data, such as petabytes.

When using the cloud, it is important to be aware of whether the service being provided is a managed service, and also what the cloud will and will not handle for that service.

Sometimes it's better not to use a managed service

So, is it enough to simply use managed services to make the most of the cloud?

For example, let's say you find a database service that even handles backups. However, if the only plans available are one that is too simple for your needs, and another that is too strict and expensive, using a managed service could actually increase your costs. This could be fatal if you are competing on cost competitiveness.

There are cases where a managed service with the functionality you need is not available, and you have no choice but to operate it yourself. For example, if you want to have geographically distributed backups in Tokyo and Osaka to realize DR (disaster recovery) in case of a disaster, but such a service is not available, you have no choice but to do it yourself. In such a situation, it will be difficult for other companies to do the same, so fulfilling your special needs in-house can be an opportunity to set yourself apart.

"Managed" does not mean you can leave it all to us

You might think of managed services as similar to outsourcing to an external company, and while there are similarities, there are also significant differences.

When outsourcing to an external company, what happens if the actual backup function differs from your company's requirements? You might find this inconvenient and request a custom solution. Or, you might understand that your business won't run on those specifications, and even think it's only natural that they should accommodate your needs as a customer. In Japan, I think this is often the case with the relationship between large companies placing orders and the companies that take on the work. In other words, you can expect the service provider to be accommodating to various needs.

This is (basically) not possible with cloud managed services. Managed services are not services that you can conveniently leave all the hassle to. All you can use are the functions provided as a menu. Basically, individual support is not provided. You have to use the functions that are not available without them. They will not help you with various things when you are in trouble.

Also, even if you fail to back up your data and all of it is lost, if it is not within the scope of the service contract, it is the user's responsibility. You will be using the service with a clear and definite line of responsibility. Managed does not mean you can just leave it all to the service provider.

If you have any problems or if there is a missing function, it is basically your responsibility as the service user to sort it out.

The era in which we adapt to the cloud

Using managed services can be a great help when adopting a cloud service. However, you must make good use of the features provided by the cloud within the scope of the specifications and guarantees provided. In general, you cannot ask for a little more effort or expect the cloud service to understand your situation.

Perhaps it is precisely because of this system that the cloud is offered at low cost and with high convenience, and if you can master it, you can gain an overwhelming advantage. This is the era we are living in. Users will be required to have technical judgment and insight.

In this situation, rather than adapting IT to individual needs, companies need the ability to effectively combine and utilize the wide variety of "existing" cloud services and use them appropriately as needed. By making good use of the services provided, or by appropriately using managed services, companies can somehow create IT that suits their circumstances and differentiate themselves from other companies.

Facing the times when we must adapt with "connecting" technology

Using the cloud may seem like a difficult task. However, the key point is to connect to and use existing services as needed, and to effectively use various services by "connecting" them together to create the IT you need. Fortunately, there are already methods available that can smoothly meet such needs.

By utilizing software products such as "EAI" or "ETL," or cloud services such as "iPaaS," you can connect and utilize a wide variety of data and systems, from cloud to on-premise, simply by placing connection icons on the GUIand configuring various settings.

Please try out our "connecting" technology, a means to successfully utilize the cloud.

Related keywords (for further understanding)

EAI
- It is a concept of "connecting" systems by data integration, and is a means of freely connecting various data and systems. It is a concept that has been used since long before the cloud era as a way to effectively utilize IT.
ETL
- In the recent trend of actively working on data utilization, the majority of the work is not the data analysis itself, but rather the collection and preprocessing of data scattered around, from on-premise to cloud. This is a means to carry out such processing efficiently.
iPaaS
- A cloud service that "connects" various clouds with external systems and data simply by operating on a GUI.
SaaS
- When people generally think of the "cloud," they are referring to an initiative to provide software usage as a service.

Are you interested in "iPaaS" and "connecting" technologies?

Try out our products that allow you to freely connect various data and systems, from on-premise IT systems to cloud services, and make successful use of IT.

The ultimate "connecting" tool: data integration software "DataSpider" and data integration platform "HULFT Square"

"DataSpider," data integration tool developed and sold by our company, is a "connecting" tool with a long history of success. "HULFT Square," a data integration platform, is a "connecting" cloud service developed using DataSpider technology.

Another feature is that development can be done using only the GUI (no code) without writing code like in regular programming, so business staff who have a good understanding of their company's business can take the initiative to use it.

Try outDataSpider/ HULFT Square 's "connecting" technology:

There are many simple collaboration tools on the market, but this tool can be used with just a GUI, is easy enough for even non-programmers to use, and has "high development productivity" and "full-fledged performance that can serve as the foundation for business (professional use)."

It can smoothly solve the problem of "connecting disparate systems and data" that is hindering successful IT utilization. We offer a free trial version and online seminars where you can try it out for free, so we hope you will give it a try.

Free product introduction seminar

Why not try a PoC to see if HULFT Squarecan transform your business?

Why not try verifying how "connecting" can be utilized in your business, the feasibility of solving problems using data integration, and the benefits that can be obtained?

I want to automate data integration with SaaS, but I want to confirm the feasibility of doing so.
We want to move forward with data utilization, but we have issues with system integration
I want to consider data integration platform to achieve DX.

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Managed Services