July 3, 2018
There’s no shortage of hosting options on the market today. Some of the most commonly compared options are cloud, hosted and managed solutions. But there are also hybrid solutions, which are possible when one packaged solution alone can’t address all the needs.
Here’s an introduction to the most common hosting solutions:
Hosted
Hosted solutions, also known as dedicated hosting, are a more traditional option where one server is reserved for your use only. This may mean your server is located on-site (at your office), or it could be off-site in a data center; either way, this server is yours and yours alone.
Plus – and this is important – your company is responsible for managing and monitoring it. This means you must have a team equipped with the knowledge and expertise to set up, maintain and troubleshoot this dedicated server.
Managed
Managed hosting uses a dedicated server in a remote location, very similar to a hosted solution, which means the server(s) are solely available to your business. The primary difference is the resources and support available to you through a Managed Services provider.
Advantages
- No platform management and maintenance
- No need for dedicated IT staff
- Customizable configurations and solutions
- Support and help desk availability
Cloud
Cloud hosting disperses resources between and across multiple servers. In other words, you won’t need to worry much about hardware dependencies, downtime and load spikes, because the heavy lifting is spread across a cluster of servers working together.
Primary advantages include:
- Cost-effective - because you only pay for services used
- Scalable - because bandwidth and hardware can be adjusted to align with use or needs
This solution is the best option for those who need access to powerful resources on a smaller budget. On the other hand, DedicatedHosting.com cited the Cloud Computing Journal saying, “There are 5 key challenges with enterprise cloud computing, including data governance, manageability, monitoring, reliability/availability and virtualization security.” This jargon essentially means that potential issues could arise when sharing computing resources with others, but to this argument, we have two solutions:
#1: Work with a Provider
If you work with an experienced service provider for cloud hosting solutions, they can help you identify which of the above challenges should be addressed for your needs. Then, together you can create solutions that solve any potential issues.
#2: Construct a Hybrid Model
In many cases, a hybrid hosting model is the best solution – because it can give you the best of both worlds. A hosted solution can fill any gaps in your cloud solution.
The growing trend is in creating hybrid solutions when a single solution cannot meet a business’ specific needs. Choosing the right hosting services is only possible when you have a complete understanding of the complex relationship involved in the different types of hosting, as well as your business requirements that need to be accommodated. Seeking advice from experienced specialists on what solution might work best for your needs can be beneficial.
