Which is better, a cloud server or a dedicated server?
Choosing the right hosting environment is critical to the successful growth of your business. Businesses operate differently depending on their
customer base, their need to process information or orders, and the speed of market change required. A recurring theme is that digitization
must succeed in today's economy. Ultimately, we reach a fork in the road where cloud servers compete with physical servers to determine the
best hosting environment.
Cloud servers and dedicated servers serve different roles, it can be difficult to assess the best environment for a particular organizational goal.
Before deciding which environment is right for your business, you should understand the pros and cons of each environment.
What is a cloud server?
A cloud server is a centralized collection of server resources that are hosted and distributed over a network and available on demand to multiple
users. Customer data and other resources are more readily available and distributed efficiently across multiple devices in different locations.
Benefits of cloud server
1. Data Agility
Your data is easily transferred between physical parent servers with fast data. Cloud server has an application layer, your data flows quickly and
easily between the physical resources that make up the cloud architecture.
2. Simple and secure remote BDR
Data redundancy and backup are easier to create because copies of your data are automatically distributed across multiple physical devices
without human intervention.
Disadvantages of Cloud Servers
While a cloud environment can be highly successful under the correct circumstances, there are some drawbacks to consider:
1. Noisy Neighbor
Because the virtualized operating system is part of the parent server that several accounts can share, there is a risk of over-allocated physical
resources on the parent machine increasing. Noise concerns are inherent in most shared cloud systems and are regarded as one of the key
downsides of this form of architecture.
2. Latency concerns
Accessing data via the cloud is primarily determined by the speed of your internet connection. Even if your physical office has a fast, dependable,
and secure internet connection, you may still suffer latency issues when reaching your cloud servers.
What is a physical server?
A physical server is a handcrafted piece of hardware composed of physical components placed in a specified configuration to accomplish a
certain business goal. They are robust computing devices that can be totally customized. You will almost definitely have privileged user access to
the entire system as the owner, allowing you to access, install, and configure the software of your choice.
Benefits of a Physical Server
1. No Noisy Neighbor
Because this server's physical resources are dedicated, there is no noisy neighbor issue. You get entire and undivided hardware utilization, whether
it's all NIC (Network Interface Card) throughput, all CPU threads, or complete disk read/write capabilities.
2. More precise information regards system performance
This configuration is also a significant advantage when determining the number of devices required. It gives you full visibility into how your applications
are using the hardware and whether they are achieving the desired results.
Disadvantages of Physical Servers
1. Manual hardware upgrades
Changing dedicated servers frequently necessitates downtime. Because there are no more resources to unlock or activate for you to use during the
hardware switch, each update requires actual changes to the hardware itself, complicating your operation. You must adhere to the schedule
established by your computer expert.
2. Machine must be turned off to upgrade
While some server enclosure models may include hot-swappable and hot-pluggable components, specific changes cannot be done without turning
the entire device off. Furthermore, if your infrastructure demands a certain machine for which there is no spare or highly available partner machine,
it can have a severe influence on your application or website.
Comparison of Cloud and physical servers
Both systems offer many distinct features that can be used for a variety of reasons. Here is a brief overview of some of the important factors to consider
when comparing cloud and physical servers:
1. Security
A physical server will provide much more security than a cloud server. If security is one of your top priorities, a dedicated environment with no noisy
neighbors and full control over system resources is essential. However, if your business handles sensitive data or is subject to strict compliance
rules, a physical server may be the best choice.
2. Flexibility
Consider a cloud environment if you expect your business to grow rapidly, or if you expect your data to move for other reasons. All your important files
are stored in the cloud so you can easily move or transfer them.
3. Scalability
Physical servers can be easily scaled up using routers and switches, but a cloud environment is a better solution for growth and scaling. Users can
easily add resources with just a few clicks. However, to expand server functionality, you need to manually upgrade the physical server hardware.
Harness the Power of Your Hosting
There are several choices when it comes to hosting your business online. When you start comparing cloud servers vs physical servers, the differences
can be confusing. Whether you think a cloud server, physical server, or hybrid cloud solution best suits your needs, ACM will guide you throughout the
process to reach a workable solution. Please contact ACM today at 6295 5962 or drop us an email
at info@achievement.com.sg.
