Managed, Cloud, and Hosting - oh, my! If there’s one question we get about hosting technologies more than any other it’s, “What’s the big difference, and how does it affect me?”
It’s really no wonder that people are confused. With so much technological jargon flying around, the lines are bound to get blurred and make it difficult for folks to figure out the key differences between the characteristics of each. That’s why we’re here: to clear things up for you so that you can make the best decision for your business.
Managed Hosting
If you hear someone talking about “managed hosting”, they’re referring to a system that relies on a dedicated server that’s located in a remote, offsite location. Any server resources, including processor time, storage, bandwidth, etc. are made solely available to the subscriber, and the subscriber’s individual needs dictate the choice of server that’s used. Similarly, the operating system is often selected by the subscriber. They can also take advantage of partially managed services such as security, upgrades, and backups right along side fully managed services like setup and installation.
So why would you go this route? The biggest advantage to managed hosting is that you don’t have to worry about maintaining and securing your services on site, nor do you need to pay the money required to employ a dedicated IT team. You can do this all while resting assured that your system is up-to-date and that the network is secure and well-maintained.
Cloud Hosting
Cloud hosting is the latest industry buzz, but it’s also the most commonly confused method for hosting. People toss the word “cloud” around willy nilly without really knowing what they’re talking about. In a nutshell, cloud hosting has to do with dispersing specific resources across multiple servers. In other words, if you’ve got resources or tools required to maintain your business website or handle day-to-day business operations, they can be spread out across multiple services and rendered and accessed whenever they’re needed. The advantage here is that subscribers can enjoy freedom from being dependent upon on-premise hardware and can avoid load spikes. It’s also a really cost-effective way of running a business, as users only subscribe to the resources they require.
Traditional Hosted Services
Now we move on to what is known as a “hosted” service. Although managed and cloud services are forms of “hosting”, this section is strictly dedicated what is known as traditional hosting. This is a particularly cost effective method and requires zero system admin skills. It’s great for really simple website hosting, but as soon as things grow more complex, users begin to notice problems. This is especially true when it comes to enjoying the luxuries of technical support, bandwidth, processor time, and storage space.
Virtualized Hosted
In virtualized hosting, multiple domain names are usually hosted on a single server but with the ability o handle each domain as a completely separate entity. It makes it possible for subscribers to get set up domain name registration (as well as multiple domain names that refer back to the source), ample storage space, email addresses, and a director setup. This particular option, though, offers less data and isn’t ideal for businesses with a lot of resource needs.
Understanding the key differences between different types of hosting will empower you to make the right decisions for you enterprise - whether that means favoring one over the other or going with a hybrid solution. Finding the perfect balance is only possible when you stay on top of tech changes and are willing to grow with an ever-evolving industry. Need help navigating the system? Give PhoneSuite a call today!
