Cloud platforms and independence
Cloud platforms we work on and how we stay independent.
We implement and operate on major public clouds in China and around the world. Our role is the same on each platform: engineering and operations in your account. We do not resell cloud services, handle payments or provide billing.
Current status
- We have no reseller, distribution or referral agreement with any cloud provider.
- We do not claim a partner tier, competency or provider certification.
- We receive no commissions, rebates or referral fees from any cloud provider.
- Provider names on this site describe compatibility only.
01Cloud platforms
Where we work.
The same three service lines apply to each platform. Notes identify editions run by a separate local entity.
| Platform | Editions | What we do | Our relationship |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alibaba Cloud | China site and international site | Advisory, migration and implementation, plus managed operations | Independent technical service provider, no partner agreement |
| Huawei Cloud | China and international regions | Advisory, migration and implementation, plus managed operations | Independent technical service provider, no partner agreement |
| Tencent Cloud | China site and international site | Advisory, migration and implementation, plus managed operations | Independent technical service provider, no partner agreement |
| Amazon Web Services | Global regions; AWS China (Beijing, Ningxia) | Advisory, migration and implementation, plus managed operations Separate local companies operate AWS China regions under their own agreements with you. | Independent technical service provider, no partner agreement |
| Microsoft Azure | Global; Azure operated by 21Vianet in China | Global: all three service lines. China edition: advisory and implementation only. A separate local company operates the China edition. We do not provide managed operations for it at this time. | Independent technical service provider, no partner agreement |
| Google Cloud | Global regions | Advisory, migration and implementation, plus managed operations | Independent technical service provider, no partner agreement |
| Private cloud and IDC | VMware, OpenStack, bare metal | Assessment and migration into or out of hybrid environments | Independent technical service provider, no partner agreement |
02Independence statement
Two contracts and two invoices keep cloud charges and our service fees separate.
This separation keeps our advice independent and leaves you in control of your cloud spend.
- Your cloud provider contracts with you and invoices you. It receives payment for cloud resources in your own account.
- OPA (Tianjin) Technology Co., Ltd. contracts with you and invoices you. It receives payment only for our services.
- We do not collect cloud fees from you or pay providers on your behalf. Cloud resources do not appear on our invoices.
- You decide on instance types, commitments, savings plans and support plans. We advise; you buy directly.
What we do
- Work as an independent technical service provider in cloud accounts that you own.
- Plan, migrate, build and operate, and charge you only for our own services.
- Recommend platforms and purchase options on technical and cost grounds.
- Hand back every document, script and configuration we produce.
What we never do
- Resell or distribute cloud services, or take a margin on your cloud bill.
- Pay cloud providers on your behalf or issue invoices for cloud resources.
- Offer white-label cloud, pooled resources, consolidated billing or a cloud uptime SLA of our own.
- Claim partner tiers, certifications or provider discounts that we do not hold.
You pay your cloud provider directly. Contracts and invoices for cloud resources stay between you and your provider. Our contracts and invoices cover only our services. We currently have no reseller or partner agreement with any provider and receive no commissions or referral fees. If any of this changes, we will tell you in writing before making any recommendation.
03Tools
Open and portable tools by default.
We choose tools you can operate without us. When you already have a platform, we work in it.
- Infrastructure as code: Terraform or OpenTofu in your repository.
- CI/CD: GitLab CE or your existing platform.
- Monitoring: Zabbix and cloud-native monitoring in your region and account.
- Backup: your provider’s native backup services under your account and policy.
- Containers: your provider’s managed Kubernetes service.
04Questions
Questions about cloud providers.
Why are you not a reseller? Would resale be simpler?
Reselling would tie our income to how much you spend with a provider. We want our recommendations to be based only on whether they suit you. It also keeps your account, billing and support relationship with the provider intact.
Will you become a partner of any of these providers?
We may apply to provider programs in the future. If we join one, we will state the exact program and tier on this page and disclose any payment we would receive before making a recommendation to you.
Can you help us open a cloud account?
We can guide you, but you open the account in your company’s name with your payment method. That keeps ownership with you.
Do you use a platform not listed here?
Tell us what you use. If it is outside what we can do well, we will say so.