Cloud Server Vs. Dedicated Server – Which is Best for Hosting?

To cloud or not to cloud – in the 21st century, that’s the question. When you’re looking for a platform on which to build a website there are two roads to go down, but it’s often tough to know what to choose. So let’s take a detailed look at cloud and dedicated server-based hosting. How do they both work? What types of businesses and websites do they suit? When might it be good to use each? What are cloud servers? ‘The cloud’ as a concept is a theoretically-inexhaustible online network where dat

Written by TheGenieLab

Jun 25, 2014

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When you're looking for a platform on which to build a website, there are two roads to go down: cloud servers and dedicated servers.

What Are Cloud Servers?

Cloud servers let you rent server space from a third party and save your data to an online storage system, rather than using a specific physical server.

Pros: flexibility to amend storage as needed, cost-effective (pay for what you use), easy to set up, reliable (rarely goes down since it consists of multiple servers), no geographic limitations, and space-saving.

Cons: risk of over-dependency on one provider, requires internet access, can be slightly slower than a physical server, less control over software/hardware, and potential privacy/security concerns since storage is shared.

What Are Dedicated Servers?

Dedicated servers are the traditional way to store data — physical space that isn't shared with anyone else, set up in-house or via a third-party data centre.

Pros: high performance and consistent speed since only you use it, deeper customisation options, fewer security vulnerabilities, and complete control over sensitive data.

Cons: more expensive to run and maintain, requires in-depth technical knowledge, can take up significant physical space, and rigid specifications that are harder to update.

Which Is Best?

The best solution depends on the size of your website, your future plans, your industry, and your budget. Talk to us today at TheGenieLab about what you want from a fresh website — we'll help you identify what you need. Call 01633 415 364 or email wish@thegenielab.com

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