Web hosting vs. cloud hosting: what's the difference?
A growing number of businesses go online annually. This is not surprising because the future is in online sales. According to forecasts, only in the U.S, the number of online shoppers will increase to 300 million by 2023, which is 91% of the total population of the country. The beginning of activities on the internet begins with the creation of the site, its design, and functionality. This is an important part because the functioning of a web resource is impossible without hosting.
At the moment, there are two main types of hosting used by site owners: web hosting and cloud hosting. Each type of hosting offers its own advantages, so it’s important to understand the fundamental differences between the two before determining the best solution for your business. In this article, we'll cover the key differences in web hosting vs. cloud hosting.
However, all of the above does not matter if the hosting does not work well. This means that all the effort spent on the common ground will be in vain. After all, the user will not see them or leave the site before evaluating its merits.
That is why it is important to have a basic understanding of cloud computing and have a clear set of requirements when choosing a hosting provider. If you're still not fully familiar with the fundamentals of cloud computing, you should start with the basics first. Our Cloud Literacy Learning Path is a guided learning experience that helps you understand what the cloud is made up of and how it can help your organisation. Once you master the basics, you can then dive into any of the learning paths on AWS, Azure, Google Cloud Platform,or any other technology from our extensive Training Library.
What is web hosting?
Web hosting is a service that involves storing site files on a server. Thanks to web hosting, it is possible to display the site every time a user requests your domain name. In the traditional sense, there are two types of web hosting, virtual or dedicated. In the first case, the company hosting the site buys a certain amount of space on the server.
As a rule, server resources are used simultaneously by several web resources. The second option assumes that the site owner pays for full control over one or more servers. This means that you do not need to share resources with other sites. Its cost is higher and special service is required, however, for some companies, it is justified. At the same time, shared hosting is the most common.
What is cloud hosting?
Cloud hosting represents storage located in virtual space. Instead of paying for a fixed space on the server, you need to pay for the resources used now. This is a relative novelty when compared with its predecessor, which has already existed for many years and is understood by its functioning for users.
Key differences: web hosting vs. cloud hosting
Cloud hosting and traditional web hosting are significantly different from each other. Each of them has a number of advantages and depending on the needs, each will have the best option. Therefore, we have prepared the distinctive features of these species, so that it is easier to understand in which case to use a particular variety.
Control
Web hosting provides limited space and power. Moreover, it can be provided to one or several customers. As a rule, at the initial stages, websites give preference to shared hosting, as it is more economical, and the company providing services is responsible for the management, support, and security. This removes part of the work from the owner of the resource and does not require deep knowledge in this area. Cloud hosting consists of several virtualised servers that are synchronised, which allows for a balanced load.
When creating a website, you must remember that the effectiveness of its existence is determined by many factors. You need to think carefully about the concept, USP, appearance, and convenience. There should be no errors since this can negatively affect the reputation and trust in the resource. Therefore, think carefully about each step and use spell checking services, such as Prowritingaid, or donate to special companies such as Essay Tigers for proofreading. You can choose any option, the main thing is that it solves the tasks. This will help to become better and create a positive image.
Resources
In most cases, companies providing web hosting services offer additional services. This can be automatic backups, free domain registration, and much more. This enables a novice internet entrepreneur to quickly receive the necessary additions to the site and launch his web resource as soon as possible. Cloud hosting gives the client root access to the control panel and provides assistance if disaster recovery is required. And in case of errors, you can switch to another server and continue working.
Scalability
Over time, you may want to scale. Using traditional hosting, when there are not enough resources, has two options for the outcome of events. You are changing your plan or service provider. Cloud hosting has more flexibility. To scale does not require a server restart, and this can be done at any time. The distribution of resources is carried out as quickly as possible and there is no need to wait, as is the case with web hosting.
A flexible payment system allows you to not overpay, freeing up unnecessary space. In the end, companies often overpay for unused resources by choosing a web hosting service. In the cloud, you can connect any additional resources that you need, be it RAM or network bandwidth. This will take just a few clicks. The site owner decides when he needs how many resources and pays only for what he really uses. We give an example for a better understanding.
Suppose you have stable traffic on your site, but by launching an advertising campaign, you have received a great response and the number of visitors has increased dramatically. You can immediately respond to the load and avoid failures with cloud hosting.
Sometimes it is very difficult to predict rapid growth, and you do not want to lose some of the users due to a server failure. In this case, cloud hosting is very appropriate because it completely solves the problem. According to data, poor page loading can lead to a drop in revenue. The ratio is a loss of up to 1% for every 100 ms of page load time delay, and faster-loading pages led to an increase in conversion by 16.5%.
Security
Reliable web hosting providers protect your server from malicious activity. They protect against data hacking, allowing customers to keep their information confidential. As a rule, security measures include automatic scanning of programs for viruses, SSL certificates, various plug-ins, and protection against spam and viruses.
Despite the high reliability of traditional web hosting providers, the cloud in many ways bypassed them. This is an even safer way to store data. The above security methods are complemented by the ability to install web application firewalls, advanced monitoring systems.
Cost
Cost may vary by provider. However, the fact remains that when you purchase a traditional web hosting, you pay for fixed resources. In the case of cloud hosting, you only pay for consumed resources. Which is more profitable depends on what you need.
Conclusion
And yet, which option is better? This will depend on individual needs. If you are planning steady growth, without fast jerks and tariff plans, the web hosting provider is ideal for you. If you understand that you want to grow dynamically and gain flexibility, then it is definitely better to choose cloud hosting. Study the offers of companies, compare with your own needs and you will certainly choose the best type of hosting.