Dedicated Vs. Cloud Hosting: Which Is Right For You?
Are you trying to decide if your website needs its own dedicated server or is a cloud service secure and reliable enough to get the job done? While both are powerful and reliable options, there is quite a difference between a cloud server and dedicated server. Before you decide between a dedicated server vs. cloud hosting, here are a few things you should consider, and the different options available to you.
The Difference Between Cloud and Dedicated Server
A dedicated hosting ecosystem does not utilize any virtual technology. Instead, all the resources come from a single physical server. When you have a dedicated server, you are isolated from all other people; only you and your website(s) will be hosted through the server. That means all the resources, including bandwidth load, RAM, storage, and the type of processor can be customized and dedicated towards your site.
A cloud server hosting is a virtualized hosting platform, where websites can draw resources from a virtual cloud of servers in seconds. Extremely flexible, it allows you to scale up and down effortlessly.
Both cloud servers and dedicated servers can perform the same core actions, including store data and information, as well as receive, process and return a request for that information. Both cloud and dedicated servers can handle high levels of traffic, all while remaining stable and secure.
Cloud Vs. Dedicated Server: Cost
When you first sign up for a cloud server package, it tends to be cheaper than a dedicated server. However, it can quickly become more expensive as the company scales up and requires more resources. Because users are charged for the amount of resources used, the monthly billing statement could vary from month to month. Therefore, dedicated servers, while more costly upfront, might be a better value because it can deliver a more reliable performance, especially when hosting multiple sites.
For more information check out our dedicated pricing pages:
Cloud Vs. Dedicated Server: Performance
Dedicated servers tend to deliver a better performance compared to cloud hosting. For companies who need quick processing and information retrieval, dedicated hosting does it faster because all data is processed locally, with no lag time.
Cloud servers, on the other hand, have to access data through the SAN, and then that process is routed through the hypervisor. The extra processing can add a tiny bit of more time. While it might be just 1/10 of a second more, it could make a difference to some companies and websites.
Cloud Vs. Dedicated Server: Storage
Dedicated servers are created differently from a cloud server. The scalability of a dedicated server is determined by the number of Distributed Antenna System (DAS) arrays. However, cloud storage can expand or contract as needed. The cloud storage can be added without any lag time. Of course, the cloud tenant is charged for the extra resources used. A dedicated server will need more resources and time to change processors and usually will require a complete migration.
Private Cloud Vs. Dedicated Server
A private cloud combines some of the best parts of both cloud servers and dedicated servers. Like cloud hosting, a private cloud provides a flexible virtual server ecosystem. However, it is more similar to a dedicated server in the aspect that the private cloud is accessible only to a single organization. This makes it a good solution for companies who don’t want to share a cloud hosting environment with other users but also still want the benefits of a virtual infrastructure.
Dedicated Cloud Vs. Private Cloud
A dedicated cloud is a cloud infrastructure that only one tenant can access. That tenant is completely isolated, and the environment was created to help reduce downtime while still promoting performance and flexibility. Many businesses like using a dedicated cloud because it allows them complete control and many different customization options such as storage and bandwidth.
A private cloud is often confused with a dedicated server. A private cloud will be scalable and is dedicated to the needs and goals of a single organization. It will be maintained by one individual company and might be based on infrastructure or resources already found within the organization’s on-site data center, or at a new, off-site infrastructure. Regardless of where the data center is kept, it is controlled by the company. This does add more complexity to the situation, and the company will likely need to have an IT team available to help implement a private cloud.
Shared Hosting Vs. Dedicated Hosting Vs. Cloud Hosting
Shared hosting compared to dedicated and cloud hosting is on the completely different end of the spectrum. Shared hosting is far better suited for newer websites that don’t see a ton of daily traffic, or have low-resource needs. If you don’t have complex or customized server configuration needs, then likely shared hosting is right for you. However, if this is the case, and you see high levels of traffic and have a feature-rich website, then dedicated hosting or cloud hosting might be right for you.
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- You may be also be interested in reading more about Cloud hosting vs. VPS
