Andrew Sirianni

Are you considering launching a website or online web application? Then chances are that you are also considering (or will consider) how to host your solution. One possible alternative is "the cloud". While not a completely new service, cloud hosting has changed the options available to provide a more "flexible platform". Here are some ways that cloud hosting can benefit your business.

For more information about The Cloud and What Is the Cloud, please refer to a previous article we have posted:
What Is The Cloud?

1. cPanel on Steroids

If you have hosted a website you will know about cPanel. This is a staple system when hosting in a dedicated/shared hosting environment. However Cloud Hosting is cPanel on Steroids - it gives you much more flexibility, scalability and monitoring of your site. It also allows you to deploy additional resources when your website is experiencing extra loads.

I have also found that many cloud panels are alot more intuitive and easy to interpret that cPanel systems. As such, they provide a much easier way to manage your website/web application.

2. You Launch the Site; They Make it FLY!!

When hosting in the cloud, you simply choose the platform you need and the cloud hosting provider will ensure that this is optimised for the intended purposes. In many instances, the cloud provider can be the same people who make the operating system/software - so they now how to establish the cloud for the best results.

As a user this means that you no longer need to worry about the configuration of your site/web application - you simply have the build the site and leave the system configuration to the cloud provider.

3. Optimised Platform

Continuing on from the previous argument, a cloud platform will often be an optimised platform. Ensuring the latest versions of software, patches and upgrades will ensure that the system is always performing at an optimum.

Whereas in the past you may have had to purchase a version of a Server (ie Microsoft Server 2008), then the configuration/upgrades of this server would rest with you. In the cloud, the cloud provider will be responsible for this. And more often than not they will use the leading software.

For example, when hosting on a Microsoft Cloud, you are hosting with the people responsible for the server software. As such, the hardware, software and settings will be implemented as the system was designed them to be - ensuring an optimised platform.

4. Back-ups & Support

In the outsourcing of cloud hosting, you are also employing a support team to assist you in ensuring the uptime and stability of your hosting environment. As part of this solution, many cloud hosting providers offer back-up solutions as a piece of mind to your hosting.

5. Up-to-Date Software

In addition to points raised earlier, cloud hosting can be a great way to ensure that your hardware and operating software is always kept up to date. This is because the hosting party will be responsible for maintenance and management of this - and often they are very skilled and experienced in this area. The result is that you can be confident that your solution is running on current system architecture.

So if you're considering launching a website or web application, consider using the cloud as a way to host your solution. The cloud has significant benefits by way of redundancy and scalability and can come into use for organisations who need an "elastic" hosting solution. In addition, with the cloud becoming more prevalent in recent times, it has also become a cost-effective solution to hosting.

If you're considering using the Cloud for your business hosting needs, contact us to find out what your options are. We can assist you in finding and reviewing alternate solutions to find the strategy that best suits your requirements.

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