Posted on November 27, 2020
Cloud
Is your business thinking of hosting its data and applications on the Cloud?
By the end of the year, 67% of enterprise infrastructure will be hosted on the Cloud. The continuing change to Cloud computing will see eighty-two percent of businesses move their workload to the Cloud. And the COVID pandemic has only increased that shift.
If you’re uncertain whether your business should use Cloud hosting then this article is for you.
We ask what is Cloud hosting and outline some of the main benefits. We then compare public versus private Cloud solutions. Then share how to choose the best Cloud provider for your unique needs.
Read on to learn why Cloud hosting is the best IT solution for your company.
Traditional dedicated hosting offers just one server to store and serve data.
That presents problems for large volumes of data and user numbers. The single server struggles to cope as more visitors use its resources. And too many requests make the system crash.
Cloud hosting overcomes those limitations by combining several servers to save and serve data.
The Cloud is another word for the Internet. Cloud servers reside in large data centers with a permanent Internet connection. They combine as a cluster to balance demand and offer the quickest service because they’re physically closer to the user.
Cloud hosting has quickly become the preferred option for many companies.
By spreading the workload, Cloud solutions provide a faster experience. They can store many types of data. And they’re less expensive to run.
The benefits of a Cloud server approach can’t be understated. From lower costs to upscaling and enhanced security, Cloud hosting can transform how businesses work.
We’ve gathered together 5 reasons to explain why you should consider the Cloud for your company.
Traditional VPS or dedicated web hosting charges a flat fee per month. Bandwidth and storage are tightly regulated and any additional fees get charged at a high rate.
Cloud hosting prices are based on:
NETdept, for example, charges $20 per month for a server with 2GB RAM, 2 vCPU cores, and 3TB of bandwidth.
It’s almost impossible to find a similar deal with non-Cloud products. Not to mention they don’t have multiple regions for you to choose from.
The closer the server is to your clients the faster the service.
S3 Cloud object storage works purely on storage and bandwidth usage.
S3 compatible storage allows you to access and manage data over a compliant interface. Although Amazon pioneered the system, NETdepot offers the same quality service at a fraction of their prices.
What happens when your host’s hard drive becomes full or you run out of resources?
Cloud hosting uses horizontal scaling to offer an infinite amount of processing power and storage. That means instead of boosting a single server, the load is balanced by adding extra servers as required.
This fluid approach allows your IT systems to grow in line with your company without downtime.
No more having to install extra hardware. The Cloud offers it all and it activates when you need it.
Just one-percent of downtime per year equates to 88 hours.
Those eighty-eight hours see no trading online. You have to answer support requests from customers asking why they can’t use your site. And your internal systems become unresponsive when they try to download data from your offline content.
NETdepot offers 99.9% uptime for all our customers.
We understand how vital a 24/7/365 system is to your business. And with Cloud hosting, that uptime is a reality.
Storing data on the Cloud may seem less secure than local storage. A recent study showed that two-thirds of organizations see security on the Cloud as their biggest concern.
In reality, storing data on the Cloud is actually more secure than saving it on a local network.
Cloud providers constantly monitor for intrusions and threats on their systems. Dedicated software picks-up on attempted intrusions and shuts them down immediately. Systems are also bolstered by online threat detection apps that prevent billions of hack attempts each day.
Physical security is also better than a locally networked service.
Data centers are ultra-secure buildings guarded by security personnel. No one can easily break in and steal a computer.
However, every system has its weaknesses.
Poor passwords and configurations can cripple security. The same goes for Cloud hosting, although many providers offer 2-factor authentication.
That’s why it’s essential to choose a Cloud host that can give you security advice and guidance.
Because the Cloud is a multi-server setup it means that there’s no single point of failure.
If one server stops working then another automatically takes its place. If the worst does happen, information is re-routed to the new server.
Data gets backed up on an on-going basis too.
Traditional web hosting meant arranging back-ups yourself. But the Cloud automates this process.
You can then download data if you wish as an extra copy or rollback if you need to with a click of a button.
There are two ways to host your company’s data on the Cloud: using public hardware or purchasing your own private computers.
Public Cloud hosting uses shared physical hardware that’s owned by a third-party. Businesses ‘rent’ servers or storage services.
This is usually carried out on a pay-as-you-go basis.
Cloud providers charge a fee for data storage and add bandwidth charges. Everything’s included in the price with built-in failsafe features and a control panel.
You can choose the spec of the servers too. So if you require a high-end machine with extra RAM and CPU cores you can.
Private Cloud hosting offers a dedicated solution aimed entirely at your business’s requirements.
Servers are either hosted on-site or within a rack in a Cloud provider’s data center. The latter option splits a rack into quarters, called rack units.
Servers can be purchased on the company’s behalf and configured remotely. Or the server can be mailed and installed. Then it hooks into the data center’s network to take advantage of its vast bandwidth and resources.
Many small or medium-sized businesses utilize a shared Cloud system. We’ve already highlighted some of these benefits but cost and scalability are at the top.
The pay-as-you-go cost model is perfect for companies who need to monitor their IT spending.
As they’re only charged when resources get used there’s no chance of overspending. A sudden drop in demand will mirror a drop in costs. Managers can also check usage online and budget accordingly.
Expanding businesses especially see the real benefits of Cloud computing.
As the system is designed to scale, extra site traffic doesn’t require migration to another server. The elasticity of the Cloud means the extra workload gets re-routed with no visible drop in performance.
Enterprises and organizations requiring the utmost security should choose a private Cloud solution.
Although public Cloud services offer excellent security, a private server ensures authenticated access. It’s also a requirement for different industry types e.g. those that need HIPAA compliance.
Private options also offer complete configuration over each server.
Custom software can be installed and customized as required. Additional servers can get added and work together. Everything’s controlled remotely through a secure connection.
If your business wants to move to the Cloud what provider should you choose?
Here’s a simple checklist to help you decide:
Naturally, you should check how much the provider will charge to use its services.
NETdepot is always up-front about our charges. You can calculate how much you’ll save directly from our website.
And with 80% savings compared to Amazon, you know you’ve made the right choice.
Migrating from any system is never easy, especially when it comes to transferring data and apps.
Look for a provider that can help you make the shift. They should provide guidance and assistance no matter what system you currently use.
NETdepot helps companies migrate from AWS and Azure to take advantage of our low costs. We also can assist you to move from a traditional hosting environment to the Cloud.
Cloud hosting isn’t the future because the revolution has already begun.
NETdepot is a premier Cloud service provider.
We have helped countless companies realize their IT goals over the past 20 years. Clients from around the world rely on us to host and serve vital business systems every day.
With four data centers located across the US, we offer complete Cloud solutions for every requirement. That includes private and public Cloud servers, bare metal servers, and co-location.
Contact us today to see how NETdepot can save you 80% on Cloud solutions compared to Amazon AWS.
With no overages or hidden fees, choose the best Cloud hosting service. Choose NETdepot.