Today’s businesses have several options available when it comes to hosting, whether it be for hosting a website, email, or anything in between. Free hosting solutions generally aren’t the best choice for a growing business, as their resources are limited. Shared hosting and cloud hosting services have become increasingly popular, though dedicated servers continue to offer the greatest flexibility and customization.
In order to make better-informed decisions regarding which option is best for you, it’s important to understand how cloud hosting and dedicated hosting services differ. Similarly, you must know the potential advantages and drawbacks of each.
What’s the Difference Between Cloud Hosting and Dedicated Hosting?
It’s no secret that cloud server hosting is becoming increasingly popular among growing businesses. Specifically, a dedicated cloud server runs as a virtualized hosting platform; basic server hardware offers a base level of support, whereas a public cloud kept inside a data center can host multiple servers on the same hardware. What this means for the user is that they’re able to get the resources they want quickly and easily.
Dedicated server hosting, on the other hand, is a bit different. Rather than being a virtualized hosting option, dedicated servers are hardware that is hosted and maintained within a physical data center location. In other words, your dedicated server can always be traced back to an exact location (such as a specific bay within a hosting company’s data center). There is nothing “virtual” or “cloud-based” about it.
Advantages and Potential Drawbacks
As you can see, cloud servers and dedicated servers are very different hosting options. And of course, they come with some inherent advantages and possible drawbacks. One of the biggest advantages of a dedicated cloud server, for example, is how quickly one can be set up. Because these virtual servers are cloud-based, it is possible to set one up in a matter of seconds. With dedicated servers where there is a physical need for space and resources, it can take a few hours to set one up and be ready to go. Cloud hosting, because of its virtual nature, also tends to be more affordable than dedicated hosting (though this is not always the case).
On the other hand, a dedicated server offers a number of benefits that a cloud dedicated server simply cannot. For starters, dedicated hosting offers unrivaled security, which is a must for any business that handles sensitive data (such as payment information or health records). A dedicated server also offers power and speed that you can’t find with a cloud server. These servers can be optimized and customized for speed that meets a company’s specific needs.
Which Hosting Solution is Right for You?
Now that you have a better understanding of the differences between cloud hosting and dedicated hosting, as well as the inherent pros and cons that come along with each, which is the better choice for you? Many people will find that a dedicated server is still the most practical choice when it comes to web hosting and other needs. The added security, speed, and peace of mind are worth it – as is the ability to customize.
At ReliableSite, we take great pride in our dedicated hosting options. Contact our team today to get started in setting up a dedicated server for your business.