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What is Cloud Hosting?
Cloud hosting refers to a server and network infrastructure that enables access to applications and websites using cloud resources. Essentially, it involves outsourcing computing and storage resources to an external service provider that offers infrastructure services. Cloud hosting allows applications or websites to be hosted on virtual and physical cloud servers, eliminating the need for server equipment and providing enhanced flexibility and scalability.
Cloud hosting services have gained traction in recent years due to the various benefits and unique features they offer to clients. Cloud hosting providers primarily handle the setup, infrastructure, security, and maintenance of the cloud hosting environment. They may also offer clients the ability to scale servers or update hardware and applications online. The availability of remote storage and cloud infrastructure usage has contributed to the popularity of cloud hosting among organizations and businesses.
Key features of Cloud Hosting
- Applications and websites can be deployed on a cloud network instead of relying on a single server.
- Organizations and businesses can manage their computing resources and data storage needs through cloud hosting, paying only for the resources they use.
- Greater scalability of resources tailored to the users’ needs.
- SQL databases like MySQL or NoSQL can be used in cloud hosting.
- Cloud hosting supports IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service), PaaS (Platform as a Service), SaaS (Software as a Service), and serverless computing.
- Solutions on cloud hosting are automated and controlled through APIs, web portals, or applications.
List of top cloud hosting services and providers
There are numerous cloud hosting service providers, each offering a unique range of functionalities and usability for both technical and non-technical user bases. A good cloud hosting provider should provide flexibility, scalability, affordability, accessibility, security, optimal data storage, and high-speed site usage. By assessing the needs of your business, you can find the cloud hosting provider that best fits your requirements.
Some of the top cloud hosting service providers include the following:
Hostinger
Hostinger is best for businesses of any scale – small to large, with a 30-day money-back guarantee available. It provides an innovative control panel for efficiently managing the server. Hostinger has data servers in many locations around the world, thus providing three times more speed than other cloud hosting providers.
Host4Geeks:
Host4Geeks offers high-quality, cheap reseller hosting and cloud hosting solutions that empower businesses with cost-effective and reliable hosting services. With our cheap reseller hosting plans, you can effortlessly manage multiple websites and clients, while our cloud hosting ensures exceptional performance and scalability for your online ventures. Experience top-notch hosting without breaking the bank, only with Host4Geeks.
Cloudways
Cloudways is a cloud hosting provider best suited for WordPress websites, with nominal pricing plans starting at $10/month. It also supports all PHP apps and offers features like optimized stack, managed backups, managed security, and complete monitoring. It allows unlimited application installations with easy DNS management support and a built-in MySQL manager.
Liquid Web
Liquid Web is a cloud hosting provider best suited for critical websites and applications that require a large amount of cloud storage per month. It is particularly suitable for large-sized businesses. Liquid Web performs PCI Compliance Scanning and offers DDoS protection for Windows and Linux servers.
HostArmada
HostArmada is great for small to mid-sized businesses, offering greater storage facilities than Cloudways and Hostinger. It is also more affordable than most other cloud hosting platforms, with strategically optimized cloud hosting plans. HostArmada provides high uptime speed with automatic daily backup facilities.
Raksmart
Raksmart offers a large variety of hosting solutions with ample storage capacity, but it is slightly pricier. The hosting solutions can be customized according to preference. Raksmart also has data centers in different countries worldwide, offering a wide range of hosting solutions to satisfy various storage and cloud needs.
HostGator
HostGator is another affordable option for cloud hosting, offering a 45-day money-back guarantee. It is suitable for small to large businesses with small storage requirements, particularly those requiring WordPress hosting, website building, VPS hosting, and dedicated hosting.
1&1 IONOS
IONOS is one of the best scalable platforms available, ideal for startups and businesses that are uncertain about the amount of storage they would require. It offers hybrid cloud options, online advertising facilities, etc. It also has a 30-day money-back guarantee.
InMotion
Small organizations, startups, and businesses can benefit the most from InMotion Hosting. It offers a range of hosting services, such as VPSs, dedicated servers, and managed hosting options, but provides a limited amount of storage. It also offers the best help and support features to clients, including a 90-day money-back guarantee option.
Kinsta
Kinsta is suitable for both big and small-sized businesses and offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. It provides managed WordPress hosting services and ensures security with hardware firewalls, SSL support, and DDoS attack detection.
CloudOye
CloudOye is best suited for small and medium-sized businesses with extensive storage services. It provides cloud storage, databases, backups, and much more. Its services mainly cater to IT, manufacturing, retail, finance, education, and the public sector.
A2 Hosting
A2 is another top-rated cloud hosting provider that offers an anytime money-back guarantee and hosts an array of impressive cloud service features. It provides one of the fastest hosting experiences through the turbo server option and ensures security through SSL certificates. It also supports WordPress, along with other sites such as Magento, Drupal, and Joomla.
Hostwinds
Hostwinds provides a 60-day money-back guarantee and offers different plans for Shared Hosting, VPSs, and dedicated servers. It also provides enterprise-grade security through quality data centers and firewalls.
DreamHost
DreamHost is one of the cheapest pricing options, offering different plans for WordPress, VPSs, dedicated servers, shared hosting, and cloud hosting. It provides an open-source infrastructure with a custom control panel.
SiteGround
SiteGround also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee and is suitable for enterprises of all sizes. It provides services for WooCommerce, WordPress, Drupal, Joomla, Magento, and PrestaShop, along with constant security monitoring.
Bluehost
Bluehost is another highly-rated cloud hosting service provider that offers services like shared hosting, VPSs, and WordPress hosting. There are various pricing plans available for different services used by the users. It offers services for Shared hosting, WordPress, VPSs, Dedicated Hosting, and Reseller Hosting. It also offers customizable websites.
Kamatera
Kamatera offers great customization features in cloud hosting and is suitable for businesses of all types and sizes. It is user-friendly and offers products for developers, IT managers, and system administrators. Scaling options for scaling up or down are also available, along with the option to add new components.
Serverspace
Serverspace is simple to use, with high-performance servers that are affordable for everyone. Flexible plans with a 10-minute billing cycle allow for a pay-as-you-go approach, with a money-back guarantee for a refund at any time.
Benefits of cloud hosting
Cloud hosting has provided many benefits and unique services to businesses and organizations in terms of cost efficiency and storage services, with added security and maintenance. Here’s a list of the top benefits enjoyed by organizations using cloud hosting services:
- Distributed Infrastructure: Cloud hosting providers offer services through servers that are distributed across multiple virtual machines, which can be based anywhere. This ensures maximum efficiency and availability of resources.
- Affordability: Cloud hosting is an affordable alternative to the traditional dedicated server model. It reduces the overall cost of operation and capital required without the need for physical space for hardware and virtual resources. Computing and storage resources can be spread across many virtual machines (VMs), and clients can pay for the services they use. Cloud hosting is efficient and affordable for businesses and organizations of any scale.
- Reliability: Organizations can avoid hardware failure by using cloud hosting services from a remote cloud server, which provides hundreds of servers with multiple redundancies. This ensures ongoing availability of services.
- Security: Cloud hosting providers take responsibility for security and typically have multiple security measures in place to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive data and protect against security breaches.
- Flexibility and scalability: Cloud hosting services are designed to be flexible and scalable according to the needs of a business. There are no restrictions or limits based on the physical constraints of a single server. Additional servers can be added to handle high traffic.
How to Choose the Right Cloud Hosting Provider?
There are many options to choose from, but when it comes to selecting the right cloud hosting solution for your business, it is important to know the criteria to look for in a cloud hosting platform. Here’s a comprehensive list of things you should consider while choosing your cloud hosting provider.
- Security: Security breaches and compromises are constant threats to organizations and businesses of all sizes around the world. To avoid falling victim to such security threats, it is important to follow cloud hosting security best practices, such as antivirus or malware scanning, installing SSL certificates, and implementing automated backups. When choosing a cloud hosting provider, consider factors such as the level and types of encryption offered by the platform and the security tools included in the chosen plan.
- Variety of services: Cloud hosting services should be chosen to cater to the specific needs of businesses. Therefore, you should look for specialized cloud hosting providers that offer packages capable of providing the services required by you or your business. It is also important to ensure that the software stack used for development is compatible with the cloud host.
- Features: In addition to key performance indicators like uptime and execution speed, you should also consider what additional features are likely to make the overall package efficient for your use.
Conclusion
Cloud hosting services have revolutionized the information technology industry by providing remote cloud storage services and resources at a low cost, with customizable packages. These cloud hosting solutions have streamlined business operations while boosting connectivity. Now, you can receive cloud computing training and become a master of the cloud lifecycle by acquiring essential skills to seamlessly deploy, train, and manage workloads on cloud platforms. Join the best cloud training course on KnowledgeHut’s Cloud Computing Courses with Certification and become a driving force in the dynamic industry of cloud computing and cloud hosting.
FAQs
How Do You Choose the Right Cloud Hosting Provider?
Choosing the right cloud hosting provider should depend on quite a few factors, including the type and extent of security services provided, the type of services provided, along with support and additional facilities. Affordability and the extent of storage and customization features should also be considered, depending on the size and needs of the business. Start-ups may benefit from smaller storage and cheaper pricing options and scale up or down according to their needs. Similarly, large-sized businesses will require ample storage space with faster services and higher security protocols in place.
What is the difference between cloud hosting and shared hosting?
Shared hosting allows many different websites to share the resources and space of the physical servers. In the case of cloud hosting, sharing of resources is not necessary, and users get the freedom to create and manage hosting on the servers with ample room for customization. Cloud hosting is flexible and easy to use with great scalability and performance. Users also get various pricing options and customizable features curated according to the needs of their individual businesses. The auto scaling option available in cloud hosting allows adding more resources to the servers in case of traffic spikes.
Can we change between hosting providers?
It is possible to change cloud hosting providers, but it is important to check with your current cloud hosting service provider if they offer migration services. So, it is wise to check the availability of migration services in case you need to shift to another cloud hosting provider that will suit the later needs of your business. Some cloud hosting providers may even offer free migration services, so you can benefit from such platforms if you’re aware beforehand.
