Softlayer (or AWS) + outsourced server management is great fit for your scenario. Softlayer has great HW / network, and can provide a good base for a scalable

Softlayer (or AWS) + outsourced server management is great fit for your scenario. Softlayer has great HW / network, and can provide a good base for a scalable infrastructure. AWS EC2 also sounds like a great fit in your environment. Regardless, having a great server admin guide this implementation will be a key part of the chosen architecture success. I run a server management company, so I have a bit of a bias ;)