Author: Steve Salter

Cloud servers and dedicated servers both have their own advantages. The differences between a Dedicated Server vs Cloud Computing are significant and the selection between the two should be based upon individual needs. For those who are expanding into a web-based market, one should research the options carefully before making a commitment.

The major difference between the two is that a dedicated server is a physical piece of equipment housed in a room somewhere. Cloud computing, on the other hand, is a virtual server which allows customization, load balancing, and storage.

Structure
A dedicated server is a structure that works on a specified website that has been rented from a host. It has the advantage of providing services without the competition generally associated when multiple servers share a single site. Additionally, the monthly fee is always the same, regardless of how much navigation or space is used. Cloud computing, on the other hand, is capable of allowing for spikes in traffic, offers a broader range of exposure, and provides many amenities not available in the other option. Although it is a shared server, it can balance a higher load, easily expand websites based on individual needs, and provide hardware upgrades on a regular basis.

Scalability
Cloud servers enable vertical scaling by selecting the desired resources as and when required. Cloud servers also give you the capacity to add or remove memory, computing power, and hard drive space within a short span of time. However with dedicated servers, you are able to re size your hosting platform but it may take some time to add or remove the resources; this is because it involves the tasks like establishing a new server, upgrading software, and installing new software.

Reliability
Most people seem to like the idea that in the event of a Dedicated Server located in a  datacentre failing, someone will immediately run to fix it. The difference with the Cloud is that its’ providers have many data centres located all over the world, so if your instance goes down, or even an entire datacentre goes down, you simply start up a new instance somewhere else. The problem is solved in a matter of minutes.

Deployment Time
It is very easy to deploy a ready to use server in the cloud server framework. All that you have to do is select a package and the software. Your server will be configured within a short span of time, and it will be ready for use. In case of dedicated server, everything has to be done manually such as selecting and installing the hardware and installing the operating system.

Costs
This is the major point of difference between cloud servers and dedicated servers. In terms of cloud server hosting, the payment only has to made for the resources used and no extra payment is involved. Whereas in terms of dedicated server hosting, payment has to be made for all the resources that are provided even if not fully utilised.

Netcetera offer Cloud Solutions from as little as £14.99/pm for Windows and £14.00/pm for Linux.

Previous Post

• Q1 – What is Cloud Computing?
• Q2 – What are Cloud Services?
• Q3 – What are the Benefits of Cloud Computing?

• Q5 – What is the Future of Cloud Services?

Questions? Let us help!

To speak to one of our Sales Consultants about what our services can do for you, or for any other queries, please fill out our Enquiry Form or call 0800 061 2801 or click our Live Chat

 

There are lots of benefits in using cloud computing for companies.

Remote Access
Cloud computing means that staff can access the files and data that they need even when they’re working remotely and/or outside office hours. As long as they can get on the Internet, staff can access information from home, on the road, from clients’ offices or even from a smartphone such as a BlackBerry or iPhone. Staff can also work collaboratively on files and documents, even when they’re not physically together. Documents can simultaneously be viewed and edited from multiple locations.

Reduced costs
Cloud computing is often cheaper and less labour-intensive for companies too. There is no need to buy and install expensive software because it’s already installed online remotely and you run it from there, not to mention the fact that many cloud computing applications are offered free of charge. The need to pay for extensive disk space is also removed. With cloud computing, you subscribe to the software, rather than buying it outright. This means that you only need to pay for it when you need it, and it also offers flexibility, in that it can be quickly and easily scaled up and down according to demand. This can be particularly advantageous when there are temporary peaks in demand, such as at Christmas or in the summer, for example.

Highly Automated
IT personnel no longer need to worry about keeping software up to date. There is no need for IT to worry about paying for your future updates in terms of software and hardware.

Easy set up
Cloud computing can be very quick and easy to set up and run. Consider, for example, how quickly you can set up a Gmail or Hotmail account and start emailing – it takes minutes and all you need is a computer and the Internet. Downloading and installing software, on the other hand, takes much longer.

Storage
A major advantage of using cloud computing for many companies is that because it’s online, it offers virtually unlimited storage compared to server and hard drive limits. Needing more storage space does not cause issues with server upgrades and equipment – usually all you need to do is increase your monthly fee slightly for more data storage.

Resiliency and Redundancy
One of the benefits of a private cloud deployment is that you can get automatic failover between hardware platforms and disaster recovery services, to bring up your server set in a separate data center should your primary data center experience an outage.

Netcetera offer Cloud Solutions from as little as £14.99/pm for Windows and £14.00/pm for Linux.

Previous Posts

• Q1 – What is Cloud Computing?
• Q2 – What are Cloud Services?

• Q4 – When Should I Use a Cloud Server rather Than a Dedicated Server?
• Q5 – What is the Future of Cloud Services?

Questions? Let us help!

To speak to one of our Sales Consultants about what our services can do for you, or for any other queries, please fill out our Enquiry Form or call 0800 061 2801 or click our Live Chat

 

Now that the general term of Cloud Computing has been clarified, you are probably wondering about the specifics of the cloud services.

The general idea of the “cloud” is to store your media on the internet so you can access it from any device, anywhere, as opposed to leaving it on a hard drive. Now with cloud services, we can juggle around our data between multiple gadgets.

Services are made available to users on demand via the Internet from a cloud computing provider’s servers as opposed to being provided from a company’s own on-premises servers. Cloud services are designed to provide easy, scalable access to applications, resources and services, and are fully managed by a cloud services provider.

Examples of cloud services include online data storage and backup solutions, Web-based e-mail services, hosted office suites and document collaboration services, database processing, managed technical support services and more.

But cloud services vary between companies so much so, that the buzzword can get awfully confusing. What exactly do you get? Is it just online storage? Or is it streaming media? Both?

Some companies may tout themselves as cloud services but are more akin to online backup or file sharing services. While there is certainly some overlap between each of these services, cloud services are unique because they allow you to view, edit and share files saved in the cloud. With some services, you can even sync your content across all your computers and devices.

Features
The most important factor to consider in a cloud service, are features, including the type of content that you can store. The best cloud computing services are those that allow you to upload and save any type of file you would usually save on your local hard drive, from word documents to music files and everything in between. Some services even allow you to keep email, contacts and your calendar in the cloud.

MobileAccess
Arguably one of the biggest selling points of cloud computing services is their wide-ranging access. Whether you’re on your work computer at the office or at home on your iPad, cloud services allow you to access your content anywhere, anytime and on any one of your devices.

Ease of Use
Considering how often you’ll  be likely to be accessing your content in the cloud.  It’s important to select a cloud service that is intuitive and straight forward. The service’s interface and tools should be easy to navigate and convenient to use.

Help & Support
Getting help when you need it is crucial when using any type of technology, including cloud services. Available support options should include technical assistance via telephone, email and live chat. The service should also provide a knowledgebase and user forums as resources.

Cloud services are an ideal way to manage all your digital content without limitations.

Netcetera offer Cloud Solutions from as little as £14.99/pm for Windows and £14.00/pm for Linux.

Previous Posts

• Q1 – What is Cloud Computing?

Next Posts

• Q3 – What are the Benefits of Cloud Computing?
• Q4 – When Should I Use a Cloud Server rather Than a Dedicated Server?
• Q5 – What is the Future of Cloud Services?

Questions? Let us help!

To speak to one of our Sales Consultants about what our services can do for you, or for any other queries, please fill out our Enquiry Form or call 0800 061 2801 or click our Live Chat

This is the most important question and of course as such comes first. So, what exactly is it?

The answer is in fact quite simple. The ‘cloud’ is actually the internet and the name comes from its representation in diagrams and visual graphic representations where it is represented as a cloud.

Whether you realise it or not, you’re probably already using cloud-based services. Pretty much everyone with a computer has been. Gmail and Google Docs  are two prime examples; we just don’t think of those services in those terms.

Imagine your PC and all of your mobile devices being in sync all the time. Imagine being able to access all of your personal data at any given moment. Imagine having the ability to organise and mine data from any online source. Imagine being able to share that data—photos, movies, contacts, e-mail, documents, etc.—with your friends, family, and co-workers in an instant.

In essence, personal cloud computing means having every piece of data you need for every aspect of your life, at your fingertips and ready for use. Data must be mobile, transferable, and instantly accessible

Cloud computing is not a tangible product, it’s not something that arrives in the post, it’s not something you can touch. Cloud computing is a subscription service whereby you access the services of a cloud storage provider over the internet. Rather than install a piece of software on to your PC or Mac, you access the software through a client user interface. The software itself is hosted on the vendors servers instead of your own.

Cloud computing is almost instantaneous. Unlike software which has to be customised to your needs, purchased, delivered, installed and users trained; cloud computing can be accessed the same day of purchase, the user interface downloaded and the backup completed.

There is no doubt that cloud computing is a simpler, more cost effective and a far better means of storage than software options. They say cloud computing is the future, when compared to software, you can see why.

Via the Managed Windows Cloud Server, Netcetera offers all the ease and simplicity of Shared Hosting, but with the scalability and resilience of the Cloud. For only £40.98/pm including the Essential Management Pack, FREE site migration, FREE Setup and a 7 Day Money Back Guarantee, this provides you with an agile infrastructure which allows you to focus on your core business.

Netcetera offer Cloud Solutions from as little as £14.99/pm for Windows and £14.00/pm for Linux.

See the difference that the Cloud can make to your business.

Next Posts

• Q2 – What are Cloud Services?
• Q3 – What are the Benefits of Cloud Computing?
• Q4 – When Should I Use a Cloud Server rather than a Dedicated Server?
• Q5 – What is the Future of Cloud Services?

Questions? Let us help!

To speak to one of our Sales Consultants about what our services can do for you, or for any other queries, please fill out our Enquiry Form or call 0800 061 2801 or click our Live Chat

 

 

 

The world of web is changing all the time. Developments that were seen as exceptional innovations just a few years ago are already becoming outdated. Electronic and computer technology help us share information and knowledge quickly and efficiently. What was previously slow and tedious is now easier and more realistic. Changes affect the world of support and web services, as well.

You have probably already heard the term “cloud computing”, but perhaps you are uncertain of the specific components of this innovative service. If you are thinking about moving to cloud services, you need to get some information in advance to help you understand the basics.

Below are the five most common questions which are asked about cloud services.  Over the following weeks , we will be publishing details about these questions which will help you to better understand the basics around cloud services as well as assist you to decide if it is a suitable option for you to consider for migration.

• Q1 – What is Cloud Computing?
• Q2 – What are Cloud Services?
• Q3 – What are the Benefits of Cloud Computing?
• Q4 – When Should I Use a Cloud Server rather than a Dedicated Server?
• Q5 – What is the Future of Cloud Services?

Questions? Let us help!

To speak to one of our Sales Consultants about what our services can do for you, or for any other queries, please fill out our Enquiry Form or call 0800 061 2801 or click our Live Chat