By all means, opting to take advantage of the Cloud Hosting Service enables companies to access data from almost any location and saves both time and money. As an example, many hosting providers offer their customers the possibility of saving or hosting both personal and commercial data in the cloud. Hereby, there’s no need to save data on a computer hard drive.
Or rather, save data on a company server at the office. Instead, the cloud provider server farms handle storage. Due to the location of the business and personal data when stored in the cloud, users of this service often get the impression that their data is far out of reach. Hence the idea that data is protected in a distant ‘cloud.’
Basically, access to the cloud takes place through the use of a network, for example, the internet. With the cloud, all you need is access to the internet, and you are only a few clicks away from your data. No matter where you are! For example, music streamers such as Spotify, heavily rely on cloud technology — allowing users to listen to their favorite songs at any time.
Whilst, for more sensitive data, like those of web businesses, a private cloud can be created. Or rather, accessed exclusively through an internal company intranet. With that in mind, let’s now learn more about cloud hosting services.
What Cloud Hosting Is All About
Cloud Hosting is the procurement of computing resources from a cloud computing provider or facility to host data, services, and/or solutions. It’s an Infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS) form of a delivery model — it provides a suite of remote/virtual services. As such, these forms of the IaaS delivery models are delivered on an on-demand basis.
Basically, cloud hosting is quite good for both individuals and even web-based businesses alike. Meaning, that having a managed way to securely host your content can easily pace up your work. For this, many of the users who are inclined towards the likes of Silverstripe PHP would want to seek what more they can benefit from the ideal managed hosting platform.
What’s more, they are hosted on top of a cloud computing infrastructure. Primarily, cloud hosting refers to the use of virtual hardware, network, storage, and composite solutions from a cloud vendor. Uniquely, it is enabled through virtualization. Whereby, the entire computing capacity of an infrastructure or data center is equally distributed from one side to the other.
Then again, it’s delivered to multiple users simultaneously. The user uses the underlying infrastructure to host its own applications, services, and data. For example, a physical server can be virtualized and consolidated to host several cloud servers. All share the processor, memory, storage, network, and other resources.
In nutshell, the cloud hosting topology provides untapped flexibility in scaling hosted resources. Moreover, cloud hosting may also combine the capacity of several servers to provide a single cloud-hosted server. Some of the cloud-hosted solutions are cloud servers, cloud desktops, cloud storage, and more.
The Main Benefits of Using Cloud Applications
First of all, cloud hosting makes applications and websites accessible using cloud resources. Unlike traditional hosting, solutions are not deployed on a single server. Instead, a network of connected virtual and physical cloud servers hosts the application or website — ensuring greater flexibility and scalability. There are two ways to approach using the cloud.
Essentially, one method entails the use of streaming or external storage services such as Amazon Prime or Dropbox. With these options, the client purchases access to either external storage space or pre-stored data such as music or TV. In this scenario, the customer is not directly involved in the hosting process. A different scenario, however, may arise at times though.
Like when the customer wishes to directly employ the use of cloud hosting services. In this case, the provider supplies the client with a cloud server. And then, the server can be customized to suit the individual IT demands of the customer. When used in this way, it does not matter if the cloud is being used to host a website or an online shop.
The key server features are:
- Resources scale to user needs
- Organizations only pay for the resources they use
- Cloud hosting can support SQL (including MySQL) or NoSQL databases
- Solutions are automated and controlled using APIs, web portals, and mobile apps
- Applications and solutions deployment on a cloud network rather than an on-premises, single server
In addition, the server can also be used for administration needs or for the shared use of various applications. Technically, the strength of cloud hosting lies in its ability to function independently of the hardware. On one hand, in contrast to traditional forms of hosting, computer processes in the cloud can be filtered through central software.
On the other hand, the central cloud software is directed toward appropriate hardware. And, when faced with technical problems, hardware, and other equipment can be comfortably replaced — without having any server or website problems.
The Difference Between Cloud Hosting Vs Cloud Computing
Operators of online stores for seasonal goods, such as winter clothing, do not need to worry about payment during the spring and summer months. In times of low business activity, scaling back of services is very paramount, thus keeping expenses to a minimum. Specifically, while searching for different cloud hosting options, you may run into the term ‘cloud computing.’
Simply put, cloud hosting is just a subset of a broader field that is most commonly known as ‘cloud computing’ in general. The options that cloud computing offers extend wide beyond those of a typical server. So what exactly is Cloud Computing? What are its advantages? Well, cloud computing is the delivery of computing services, servers, storage, databases, etc.
As well as the delivery of networking, software, analytics, intelligence service solutions, etc. Particularly, over the Internet (“the cloud”) to offer faster innovation, flexible resources, and economies of scale. You typically pay only for the cloud services you use. Usually, cloud computing is an on-demand service that has a massive appeal in corporate data centers now and beyond.
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The cloud enables the data center to operate like the Internet and computing resources to be easily accessed. And then, shared as virtual resources in a secure and scalable manner. Like most technologies, it all starts at the enterprise level.
It then shifts to adoption by small business owners level. Whilst, for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), the benefits of cloud computing are currently driving adoption. In the SMB sector, there is often a lack of time and financial resources to purchase, deploy and maintain an infrastructure (e.g. the software, server, and storage).
In addition, you typically pay only for the cloud services you use. After all, this helps to lower your operating cost, run your infrastructure more efficiently, and scale-up during a business change. Below are some of the various service models.
The main service models are:
- Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS): Through the cloud, the user gets access to virtual hardware resources. Such as computers, networks, or storage space. Thus, the desire to use the supplier software at will. Installation and maintenance, however, remain the responsibility of the customer.
- Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS): The service provider supplies the user with a software environment in the form of a framework (a form of virtual scaffolding of sorts) and proceeds to provide maintenance for this structure. The user can develop and carry out their own applications on this platform.
- Software-as-a-Service (SaaS): Considerably, this is often the “top-level” option. Whereby, the user can access the provider software, such as Office applications, without the burden of dealing with eloquent updates and functionality issues.
Notably, despite being wireless, cloud hosting services are not completely immune to run-ins with technical problems. What cloud hosting does offer, however, is the ability on the part of the user to redefine the use of the desired performance without having to completely exchange a server. Let’s consider more benefits below;
The Key Reasons To Switch To Cloud Hosting Today
In reality, at their own discretion, users are able to scale down processing power as well as work and hard drive storage. Usage fees follow a pay-as-you-go system and the basis of calculation in terms of measurements are either seconds, minutes, or even hours. Precisely, it’s this pay-as-you-go feature that makes using the cloud so affordable and cost-effective.
And unlike almost any other available server solution. This flexibility can save on the cost by eliminating the need to purchase a larger server. And also, whenever a need arises, the increase in capacity use can always come in handy. Likewise, it’s becoming increasingly common for medium-sized businesses to rent out IT resources.
More so, from professional hosting services, rather than buy them outright and have to supply their own specialists for maintenance. Some enterprises have even gone one step further and decided to use the processing power and storage capacity of an external hosting service.
Not forgetting, that the two most prevalent forms — of which are different types of dedicated hosting and virtual private servers. For a monthly fee, customers can hire specialized web hosting IT resources in various packages, which include features such as webspace, RAM, and CPU performance.
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The only difference between the two hosting services is the exclusivity of the available hardware components. More so, with virtual hosting, several users share the resources of one high-performing server. Using a dedicated server, on the other hand, the entire server and all its hardware components are available to a single customer.
As a result, this offers unrestricted performance, extensive configuration options, and maximum security. Considerably, for a long time, due to these merits, that’s why dedicated servers have been the best ideal models in terms of web hosting for most businesses. But, of course, not every company is seeking to carry out their online projects with predictable resources.
A dedicated hosting service won’t satisfy the demands of contemporary IT always — which requires fast and uncomplicated reactions to the user’s commands. That’s why a flexible cloud hosting service is, therefore, a great alternative. This’s a very relatively new form of web hosting — that combines a cluster of several connected servers.
Whereby, it offers a wide range of IT resources and a clear advantage over classic web hosting models. Still not convinced? The following points will persuade you to make the switch to cloud hosting. But, the end-user decision still remains yours.
1. Running Cost Reduction
Of course, the biggest advantage of a flexible cloud hosting service is the immense reduction in costs. Rather than wasting valuable resources on purchasing their own IT infrastructure, cloud computing allows users to save money and focus their attention on new projects.
With its pay-as-you-go structure, cloud users are provided with a refreshing change from traditional web hosting models. Whilst, avoiding a substantial fees demand even if the server is barely in use. The cost of maintenance, repair, and inventory of the IT infrastructure is also significantly lower with a cloud service provider, as the bulk of the necessary hardware is ready.
It is, therefore, possible for smaller enterprises using cloud hosting to have access to IT resources that had previously only been available to big businesses. The cloud’s emergence as a big player for IT-intensive businesses or other similar firms. Not forgetting, that there are more credits to account for, in part, due to the recent rising cases of many ‘start-ups’ boom.
2. Flexibility To Adapt IT Resources
Through virtualization, cloud hosting offers the flexibility needed to adapt IT resources promptly to a business’s demands. This is of particular importance to web projects with fluctuating traffic. For example, let’s consider a seasonal business.
Perse, it can easily increase a web store’s traffic tenfold — which can also improve a cloud server’s performance characteristics too. The key performance characteristics include RAM, SPU, or web space — in just a few clicks. It’s important to note, however, that projects with a growing user base can also benefit from a cloud-hosting model.
Migrating to a new server is inevitable for projects exceeding the peak power of their respective dedicated servers. On the other side, with cloud servers, an addition of an extensive resources range is possible at any time. This enables virtualization based on a network of closely linked server clusters.
3. Reduced Development Cycles
The cloud’s flexibility is particularly advantageous for start-ups and development departments of bigger companies. Pilot projects are able to maintain manageable investment costs, as the required resources are readily available.
Furthermore, testing and marketing of new applications are substantially faster. Instead of assigning the time-consuming and costly purchase of new hardware to an IT team, cloud hosting offers developers the opportunity to generate any number of test servers with individually scalable performance characteristics in the virtual environment.
This also allows cloud hosting to benefit from a redundant web server architecture of backups. This means that all the development stages are retrievable. Due to everything operating in the form of a reduced development cycle, cloud users do not only have an advantage against competitors, they significantly cut down on operating costs.
4. Data Security & Availability
Since the resources of a cloud server are available from a number of physical machines, cloud hosting users profit from an extensive server redundancy. This ensures that with each save, the server in the data center is at its optimal use.
In particular, optimizing its resources, means, that its ability to keep more than one backup copy of the user data is also unlimited. Potential outages of hardware components such as hard drive crash affect neither the data security nor the availability of the provided resources. Outsourcing IT services offers medium-sized businesses yet another added advantage.
And, that’s of being able to convert technical processes and security procedures internally at their own leisure. User data is sharable on several servers. Rather than being located on one physical machine. Likewise, with fewer requirements, the reduction of additional capacities is possible straight away. And, as such, idle capacity charges are, therefore, avoidable.
5. Cloud Hosting Environment
Cloud hosting not only offers businesses immense advantages; the environment also profits from sharing individual components of the IT infrastructure. The design for a data center’s cloud server has far more effective processes for power supply. As well as good ventilation measures, and fire safety than those available in internal servers.
Furthermore, numerous hosting providers use climate-neutral electricity and renewable energy for the maintenance of their data centers. Also, due to the legal requirements for the provision of hardware resources, web hosting service providers are constantly working to safeguard their data security in accordance with national and international legislation.
The Data Storage Security Concerns Plus Other Safety Perks
Well, when assessing the safety of stored data in the cloud, there are two important aspects to take into account. Firstly, the location of the server and the location of the contracted service provider’s legal headquarters. Cloud server service providers fall under the same legal jurisdiction as the registration country. Significantly, this is very important.
Obviously, because much regional variation exists among cloud services. For instance, American data protection laws are considerably less stringent than those in Germany. In order to provide maximum security for their data, potential customers should carefully look into important legal matters before deciding to enter into a contract with a provider.
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That’s why, for this reason, the likes of IONOS allow the customer to freely choose between different locations for their data centers (Germany, Europe, USA). On the other side, security threats or breaches are not to ignore when considering using cloud hosting services. Not to mention, other, more traditional servers, can also be lacking on this front.
As we’ve seen, the advantages of cloud computing are quite numerous. Mostly, considering that cloud servers often operate through the internet. Thus, access to data is theoretically possible almost anywhere in the world. Seamlessly, there are some of the best data storage security methods plus other safety perks put in place to make sure everything runs smooth.
1. Prerequisite Platforms
The greatest advantage cloud hosting offers, however, is its unique pricing model. Unlike typical service solutions, users do not have to fret about fixed monthly rates. Instead, they only pay for the true amount of the data they use. Whether commuting by rail or just waiting at the airport, users have the flexibility to choose between working on company projects.
Or rather, stream music and videos on the go. No matter what’s the storage purpose, data maintenance is always according to the highest industry standards. But, internet access remains the only prerequisite for use. What’s more, for any additional demands, contacting the provider can simply sort them. That’s if the need for extra applications, computing capacity, or storage arises.
2. Powerful Applications
As I’ve mentioned, cloud servers specific tailored to hardware. Hence they carry with them a low risk of breakdown. For this reason, they are particularly very suitable for hosting websites. Or rather, online stores that rely on high volumes of traffic to suit their numerous clientele.
As an example, Microsoft Azure, formerly known as Windows Azure, is Microsoft’s public cloud computing platform. It provides a range of cloud services, including computing, analytics, storage, and networking. Users can pick and choose from these services to develop and scale new applications, or run existing applications, in the public cloud.
Likewise, you can consider a Software developer like eZuce — that’s now acquired by CoreDial, for your information — to speed up deployment by 98 percent and reduce costs by 20 percent. Particularly, when it switched to a high-performing cloud hosting platform. That said, you can read the Case Study (152 KB) for more details with a few key takeaways.
3. Flexible Deployment
From an IT perspective, the flexibility of rapid solution deployment for an evolving business need is very critical. Both to the client and the service provider. However, it’s not the case in an established environment with a long history of IT implementations. For one thing, it is not easy to deploy a new solution within weeks.
More so, without affecting the existing infrastructure or the available funding in a big way. In that case, cloud hosting provides the options and advantages of quicker solution deployment. As well as low costs of implementation and operations.
Keep in mind, that many organizations today have enough experience with cloud hosting — they prefer it more to traditionally deploying their applications. And, for one thing, it’s quicker to deploy hosting data content on the cloud. It also ensures the scalability, availability, and performance needs of the deployment.
4. Responsive Interfaces
By the same token, cloud service providers (and there are many, like IBM Cloud) have also matured their service solutions and delivery models. Thus, they are able to deliver many vendor agreements. Let’s say; like in form of an SLA Agreements.
At all costs, there is a reason to use the Service-Level-Agreements (SLA) in any given business — you’ll achieve much more certainty and success. Cloud hosting systems have evolved to provide simplified and centralized IT services and management capabilities. This approach to centralized administration aids both the service solution provider and the product users.
Particularly, in terms of defining, delivering, and tracking SLAs automatically on the web. Most cloud hosting services are provided through an easy-to-use, web-based user interface. Especially, for software, hardware, and service requests, that require instantaneous delivery.
5. Unlimited Pools
In both in-house and cloud hosting approaches, the non-functional requirements of scalability, reliability, and high availability remain the same. But, cloud hosting provides a much broader pool of IT resources to deliver scalability, reliability, and availability. With a higher degree of confidence.
SDE automatically and dynamically provisions the compute, network, and storage resources to your application needs. And, as such, it helps with maximizing efficiencies and optimizing services, a win-win for both users and the service provider. Even the software and hardware updates can happen automatically. It is as easy as Online Store Shopping if may add!
Thus, cloud hosting remains to be a prominent deployment option for business clients of all industries. Given this guide, if you are not already there, now is a perfect time to consider it. As a strategic way to get on board with cloud hosting.
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Finally, before I conclude, it’s my hope that the above-revised profile guide on cloud hosting benefits was of much help to you or your business. However, if there’s anything here that is confusing, just let us know. Or rather, share your additional thoughts, contributions, opinions, suggestions, or even more questions (for FAQ Answers) in our comments section.
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