Picking between a cloud server and a dedicated server in Australia can be challenging, as both offer ample resources to support different sizes of business. Both have their own unique features, so choosing one requires a lot of weighing.
A cloud server works like a virtual server where the data is distributed across several physical machines. Meanwhile, with a dedicated server, a physical machine is dedicated completely to a single user.
In this article, we will understand cloud servers vs dedicated servers to help you buy domain names and hosting for your growing business environment.
What is Cloud Server And Features
A cloud server is an internet-based infrastructure that allows the remote computing of server resources. It is a compact version of an on-premise computer, like your laptop.
Powered by server virtualisation, it works extremely differently from traditional web hosting. Unlike traditional web hosting, it does not centralise; rather, it uses a network of servers to host a website.
Therefore, every time a user needs data, it retrieves it from the server’s network. This distributed approach ensures higher availability, scalability, and reliability.
Features
- Cloud servers are handled through a third party, making them less expensive to buy and maintain
- With efficient control, panel configurations are click-based
- Based on pay-as-you-use, making it pocket-friendly
- Good level of scalability
- Offers strong backup as data gets stored on the cloud
- Anytime, anywhere, access to your data
- Bost software functionality and performance as no diverted resources
What is a Dedicated Server And Features
A dedicated hosting server is a powerful, traditionally based physical server where one user has the whole and sole resources. Such isolation ensures better control flexibility to customise the environment according to users’ needs.
Features
- Dedicated infrastructure to handle large volumes of traffic
- High level of customisation with flexibility
- No dependency on other server environments enhancing security and downtime
- The dedicated IP address for the website
- Better performance stability and reliability.
Difference Between Cloud Server VS Dedicated Server
| Serial No | Cloud Hosting VS Dedicated Hosting | Cloud Server | Dedicated Server |
| 1 | Performance | With a cloud server, the request usually passes through a storage area network (specialised high-speed network)that helps to access and consolidate storage devices. However, this kind of scalability and data management through SAN can lead to latency and slow down the process of data retrieving and writing. That means that compared to direct or local storage, it can potentially increase the travel time, causing delay. | Dedicated servers have strong processors dedicated to a single hosting environment that ensures robust performance. |
| 2 | Scalability | Cloud servers are quick and super scalable as they have virtual and divided web hosting environments. | Scalability with a dedicated server requires more prior planning of resources and not an immediate one. |
| 3 | Server Management | Cloud server as a managed server environment. | Server management, which is a dedicated server, means the whole and sole needs to be dedicated for management and monitoring. The owner is completely responsible, especially since you have not opted for managed dedicated hosting services. |
| 4 | Cost | The cloud server has a low entry cost due to a lack of hardware infrastructure. Further, it is based on a pay-as-you-use model with on-demand resource adjustment. | Cloud servers offer long-term cost benefits as the cloud can cost more for bandwidth, disk space, and SQL storage. |
| 5 | Migration | The migration of a cloud server is quick and easy, as it doesn’t require any downtime while carrying out-migration. | The process of dedicated server migration is complicated as the server needs to be down, and choosing an appropriate time for it can be tricky. |
| 6 | Deployment | With preconfigured templates, deploying a cloud server is quick and easy. It shares hardware resources among multiple virtual servers, making deployment easy without any additional hardware. | Deploying a dedicated server is a long process, as physical allocation, hardware installation and networking configuration are required. |
| 7 | Best Choice For | Cloud server works best for Less traffic eCommerce websites Small businesses that host application Hosting email | A dedicated server works best Hosting a website with a large traffic volume Hosting apps with high-processing CPU, RAM and disk space Hosting customer-sensitive data |
Conclusion
Cloud vs. dedicated server: Your choice between the two options completely depends on your hosting requirements. Dedicated server hosting is a preferred choice when businesses need complete control over their hosting environment.
A cloud server works best when businesses are seeking a cost-effective, flexible, and scalable environment to manage fluctuating workloads. So, understand features and their differences to understand your web hosting requirement before making a decision.