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Cloud Hosting vs Cloud Computing.
Cloud Computing is the delivery of different services through the Internet, including data storage, servers, databases, networking, software and web applications. Cloud Computing makes it possible to save files and utilize resources for a variety of tasks to a remote database and retrieve them on demand.
Whereas Cloud Hosting can be considered a subsect of Cloud Computing. Cloud Hosting simply means that a website is hosted or can be hosted on several web servers located in Data Centers throughout the world.
Like Cloud Computing, with Cloud Hosting a website can utilize the power of several cloud based web servers and resources when needed, for example, in periods where a website is experiencing high volumes of traffic all at once.
The beauty of Cloud Hosting as with Cloud Computing is that resources, files and other data in the cloud can easily be accessed from anywhere in the world that is connected to the internet.
Web Hosting vs Cloud Hosting.
For normal Web Hosting, imagine you own a car. You might not always be using it, but it’s still yours.
Whenever you want to use it, you go to the same garage, open the same car door, and you’re in and ready to go. If you need to go across town, you turn on the ignition and drive. If you intend to take some passengers, you have a set amount of seats. That’s Web Hosting.
Your site is installed in a directory on a hard drive in a single computer physical server somewhere.
There will be a bunch of other sites on that same server as well, you’re all neighbors, but you have your own little piece of the neighborhood.
In regards to Cloud Hosting, imagine an international car rental chain. You don’t own any of the cars.
In fact, you have no idea who is going to be driving in which car on any given week, or even any given day.
But, when you need a car, you can make a car rental reservation. The car rental staff pulls up your information and has the car prepped and ready to go when you arrive.
The car is cleaned, the engine and tires are checked and the tank is filled with gas, ready for you to drive.
You don’t own it, you don’t know which car you’ll use until you get there and you don’t really care. It goes where you need to go.
If you suddenly have to drive a few extra colleagues and you need an upgrade, you can simply ask the front desk to get you a bigger car to accommodate your new needs.
Perhaps you need to move a few things over the weekend and need a truck. Maybe you’ve got a hot date and want to impress her with a hot car, a Limo, etc. This is Cloud Hosting.
Your car isn’t just sitting in a garage somewhere not being used, permanently waiting for you. Likewise, the ‘upgraded capacity for more passengers’, can be equated to ‘extra server space’.
This extra server space can literally host much larger files, handle higher, sudden bursts in traffic and use more resources upon demand depending on what is on them and how many users need access at any particular time, 24/7.
Wherever you want, and as much as you need, your files are then loaded temporarily and kept in any one of these servers, anywhere in the world. Alternatively, when your website isn’t in use, it’s not loaded anywhere.
In the vast majority of Web Hosting situations, a simple, cheap, Shared Web Hosting plan is fine and much easier to deal with.
But when it comes to being able to access increased server space, speed etc. at a moment’s notice or sacrifice downtime and possible lost revenue etc. then Cloud Hosting is the solution.
What is the difference between Cloud based Hosting and in house Hosting?
Cloud Hosting is when a website’s files are hosted on servers in many Data Centers scattered throughout the world. Whereas In-House Hosting normally refers to a website’s files being hosted on a local or more accurately put an In-House server.
What is the benefit of Cloud Hosting?
There are several benefits to Cloud Hosting.
These include:
- Minimal Downtime and Higher Uptimes and Availability.
- Faster Page Loading Speeds on average.
- Better Security.
- Flexible Pricing Structures.
- Easy to Scale Server Resources on demand.
- Safer From Server Hardware Issues.
Is Cloud Hosting cheaper than Dedicated Server Hosting?
On average Cloud Hosting is definitely cheaper than Dedicated Server Hosting.
This is because with a Dedicated Server all the resources on that server are yours to use and are not shared with anyone else.
Whereas in Cloud Hosting your website shares servers with thousands of other websites scattered throughout the world and Data Centers.
When should you use Cloud Hosting?
When your website(s) are experiencing higher levels of traffic, Cloud Hosting can be great for those who need to minimize their risks of downtime which could cost them in lost revenue etc.
In addition, you can grow your server usage and resources as you see fit, without experiencing any delays.
Finally, working with a high-quality Cloud Hosting Provider can offer you better and more reliable security, and faster website performance.
Where is Cloud Data stored?
Cloud Data is normally understood to be stored in Data Centers. These Data Centers contain large numbers of servers. In fact, Cloud Data is normally not stored in just one Data Center, but the data is usually stored in several Data Centers.
Are Cloud Servers faster than more Traditional Servers?
Actually, to my surprise I found that Cloud Servers are not only faster than Traditional Servers, but can be much faster than Traditional Servers. How?
Simply because of the ability to scale. Cloud Servers have theoretically an infinite amount of possibilities to scale compared to even the best Traditional Servers.
Even if you have the most up-to-date, advanced Dedicated Server, you will still be limited to that server’s capacity.
In addition, even the best Dedicated Servers can go down. Whereas with a Cloud Server not only do have access to virtually an unlimited amount of servers since most Cloud Servers aren’t limited to one singular data center, but downtime can be severely limited since if one server or even an entire data center goes down, your files have already been replicated onto multiple servers and multiple Data Centers.
Is a Cloud Server a Physical Server?
A Cloud Server is basically a collection of physical servers in multiple Data Centers. These Data Centers are commonly referred to as Data Farms.
How much data can you store on the Cloud?
There seems to be no limit to the amount of data you can store on the Cloud.
That’s why most Cloud Hosting plans are sold according to data limits, with the option to scale and pay for more data capacity as your website traffic and other resource needs increase.
You can do this simultaneously without the need to upgrade your plan in most cases.
Cloud Hosting vs Cloud Computing, conclusions.
As you can see in the Cloud Hosting vs Cloud Computing match up, It’s basically like comparing apples to apple trees.
However, when comparing Cloud Hosting to Traditional Web Hosting and even Dedicated Server Hosting, you will find the comparisons much more stark.
If you find your web hosting needs are in a constant state of flux and server downtime not only costing you frustration, but also revenue, then switching to Cloud Hosting is your solution.
