Build, grow and
thrive in the cloud

FAQs

Common questions about our Cloud Enable solutions, our approach to helping customers choose between private, public and hybrid platforms, migration support and cost control. Can't see your question? Get in touch and we'll answer it directly.

• What cloud hosting services does DCS offer?

  We offer a full range of cloud hosting solutions: Virtual Private Cloud and Private Cloud hosting, public and hybrid cloud management and Azure and AWS governance and assurance through GuardRail. Everything runs from our UK data centres with an engineer-led support team, so whether you are migrating, modernising or scaling, there is a hosting solution that can be built around your needs.

• What is the difference between private, public and hybrid cloud?

  Public cloud shares infrastructure across many tenants, with pooled resources and usage-based billing. Private cloud is dedicated to a single organisation, with dedicated hardware for compute, storage and networking. Hybrid combines the two in some combination, with for example, applications running on a private platform with the ability to burst into public cloud in intense periods for extra resource. Whatever your requirements, we help you design the right mix of technology rather than advocating a single model.

• How do I choose between a Virtual Private Cloud and a Private Cloud?

  A Private Cloud is standalone infrastructure dedicated entirely to a single tenant. A Virtual Private Cloud is an isolated, single-tenant environment with dedicated resources within a larger, multi-tenant platform. The VPC can scale resources faster as it draws from a combined pool and typically costs less to set up as no new hardware needs to be purchased. We provide both and help you choose based on your performance, compliance and budget requirements.

• How can DCS help reduce or control our cloud costs?

  We help to turn cloud complexity into financial clarity. Through our GuardRail for Azure service, we help right-size resources, highlight unnecessary spend and offer steady-state governance activity to keep your spend predictable and transparent. When we look at other technology challenges for customers, we propose the right-fit cloud solution for their need and budget, whether that is VPC, private or public clouds or a hybrid approach.

• Can you help us migrate to the cloud?

  Yes. Migration is part of what we do, not a separate project you manage alone. We follow a proven methodology with detailed planning and execution to minimise downtime, whether you are moving from on-premise servers, another cloud or a legacy data centre. Rix Group, for example, moved 30-plus physical servers onto a consolidated platform with us.

• What is GuardRail for Azure?

  GuardRail for Azure is our managed Azure governance service. It gives you continuous optimisation, governance and assurance around your Azure estate, designed around your specific strategic goals, workloads and pace of change, so you get the benefits of Azure with expert governance and cost control oversight layered on top.

• Where are your data centres, and are they UK-based?

  All our platforms run from Tier 3, ISO 27001-accredited UK data centres. Keeping infrastructure and data in the UK supports data sovereignty and the compliance obligations common in finance, healthcare, legal and the public sector.

• What support is included with DCS cloud services?

  Every hosting platform is backed by our UK-based, engineer-led service desk. We invest heavily in our operations team so customers reach someone who understands their infrastructure, no long queues, no chatbots, no outsourced call centres. You choose the support tier that matches the cover you need.