What is the difference between a cloud server and a dedicated server?
Are
you confused about your options when it comes to hosting your application or
website? If you’re not sure whether cloud servers or dedicated servers are
the right fit, then keep reading.
Cloud Servers
If
you need to optimize IT performance without the huge costs associated with
purchasing and managing a fully dedicated infrastructure, cloud servers are a
great option. Many small and mid-sized businesses, and those with variable
demands and workloads, find that cloud servers meet their needs effectively.
Cloud
servers can be configured to provide levels of performance, security and
control similar to those of a dedicated server. But instead of being hosted on
physical hardware that’s solely dedicated to you, they reside on a shared
“virtualized” environment that’s managed by your cloud hosting provider. You
benefit from the economies of scale of sharing hardware with other customers.
With
cloud servers, you only pay for the exact amount of server space used, and have
the benefit of infinite flexibility. You can scale resources up or down
resources depending on demand, and avoid paying for idle infrastructure costs
when demand is low.
Dedicated Servers
A
dedicated server is a physical server that is purchased or rented entirely for
your own business needs. Dedicated servers are great for large businesses,
organizations that require exceptionally high levels of data security, or
organizations that have predictable demand necessitating all of their servers
running 24x7x365. Businesses using I/O-heavy applications such as databases and
Big Data platforms also find significant value in bare metal dedicated
hardware. Businesses using dedicated servers still need the IT capacity and
expertise to manage the ongoing maintenance.
Cloud Servers vs. Dedicated Servers — Your Questions
Answered:
- How quickly
can I have resources online? With
cloud servers, you can have resources online within minutes. But with dedicated
servers this can take considerably longer, even weeks in some
circumstances.
- Can I upgrade
the RAM, disk space and CPU? The
answer is yes for both cloud and dedicated servers. The key
difference here is that with cloud servers, this can be achieved in only a
few clicks or even automated using an API. However, with dedicated
servers, this is a manual process that would require a scheduled
maintenance window.
- Can I achieve
High Availability quickly and cost effectively? Again, yes for both options.
However, this can be achieved very quickly with cloud servers. You
can configure an HA environment quickly with multiple cloud servers and a
load balancer within minutes. While you can request an HA environment
within a dedicated infrastructure using multiple dedicated servers and a
dedicated load balancer, this can take hours or even days to
build. Another key difference here is that building a HA environment
in the cloud can cost up to 60% less.
- Are tools
available for auto-scaling, auto-provisioning and auto management? Yes, in a cloud environment these
tools are readily available via the community-driven open development API.
While tools are available in a dedicated environment, you may have to wait
for vendor-driven development.
- Can I easily
run cost-effective segmentation of resources? Compartmentalizing your
resources by function allows for easy scalability, management and resource
segmentation. This can be achieved cost effectively in the
cloud. However, this type of compartmentalization is very expensive
to achieve with dedicated hardware.
- Is monitoring
available and can I get technical support? The answer to this is yes
for both options.
- Can I address
stringent security and compliance needs? If this is a requirement,
then dedicated hardware might be the best choice for your business.
Complete compliance with most regulations can be achieved in a dedicated
environment.
- Can I address
stringent security and compliance needs? If this is a requirement,
then dedicated hardware might be the best choice for your business.
Complete compliance with most regulations can be achieved in a dedicated
environment.
- Can I manage
my servers on-the-go using a mobile device? Yes, both iOS and Android
operating systems are compatible with cloud servers. This is not the case
with dedicated hardware and management is a manual process.
And
one question we hear a lot:
Can I run cloud resources and dedicated resources in one
environment?
Gone
are the days of the one-size-fits-all approach to cloud solutions. That’s
why we’re here to help. The cloud is a powerful technology, but it isn’t the
complete answer for every business and every workload. You need the
ability to use the cloud for applications where it’s best suited, and run
dedicated hardware where needs require.
Combining
the power of dedicated hardware with the flexibility and agility of the cloud
is something we’ve done since we launched our pioneering RackConnecthybrid technology. This combination
creates an even more compelling proposition in terms of both price and
performance.
The hybrid cloud is a real game changer, allowing you to combine public cloud
with private cloud or dedicated hosting and leverage the best of what each has
to offer to meet your needs. Use the public cloud for non-sensitive operations,
the private cloud for business-critical operations, and incorporate any
existing dedicated resources to achieve a highly flexible, highly agile and
highly cost effective solution.
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