By Manoj Dhanda, Founder and CTO, Microhost Cloud
In today’s world, where data is the most valuable resource, there are many practical issues in the context of data storage and security. Over time, traditional servers and data centers have been unable to meet the burgeoning hosting needs of customers, which has resulted in the emergence of the modern day computing flagship – Cloud Computing.
Cloud hosting is the gateway to a scalable and secure web space used for data storage and management. As the name suggests, cloud is a virtual space that helps to host data and information on the internet where anyone can access it. Unlike traditional hosting, cloud-based hosting data is not stored on a single server. Rather, it’s a system of interconnected servers, bringing better organization and more flexibility to the board. But what else makes cloud computing so different from traditional hosting techniques? To understand, let’s take a look at why data storage is moving futuristically towards cloud computing.
The emergence of cloud hosting over traditional hosting
The evolution of cloud hosting began in the 1950s, due to the advent of mainframe computing, where multiple users used a single mainframe through dumb terminals. With the emergence of virtualization in the 1970s, running multiple virtual machines with a single physical resource became possible. Additionally, the introduction of virtualized private network (VPN) welcomed the concept of shared access which paved the way for various forms of cloud computing like Grid Computing, Utility Computing and Software as a Service. The arrival of Salesforce.com in 1999 and Amazon Web Services in 2002 further marked the cloud era ahead of us.
Why cloud hosting is the future?
We now know that cloud computing is a futuristic architectural development of IT services that is here to stay. Let’s dive deeper to understand how cloud hosting triumphs over traditional hosting to provide us with efficient data management in the virtual space.
● Improved server availability– Increased server uptime boosts your website performance by miles, and the absence of any single point of failure ensures protection against system failures. If one of the servers cannot work, the workload is transferred to another, which guarantees zero downtime for your website.
● Secure network– Unlike traditional hosting, the cloud allows you to back up your data, share resources and secure them at different levels. You can also ensure data security through cloud hosting with customer identity management, data isolation and segregation, backup recoveries and firewalls, and secure and encrypted solutions.
● Resource scalability– Adding or reducing resources in cloud hosting is simple. You can immediately configure and allocate resources on your server. Reduction or improvement of resources such as RAM, storage and bandwidth can be chosen from the band of resources managed by several servers. Plus, you have full control over the server (unlike traditional hosting), making the cloud a versatile and flexible tool to manage your business needs.
● Cost effective– Cloud hosting is more cost-effective and profitable than traditional hosting systems. In traditional hosting, you pay a fixed amount for the services whether you use them or not. But when using the cloud, you don’t need to make a capital investment and invest in the infrastructure itself. Simply put, you only have to pay for the resources and services you use.
● Global accessibility- Applications or information on the cloud can be accessed (regardless of any fixed physical location) as the servers are accessible globally from any corner of the world from PC or mobile. You can access apps at your fingertips using an internet connection through the cloud. Moreover, the cloud allows you to collaborate in groups and work as a team to create and share tasks.
● Latest technology– Newer and upcoming technologies are easier to leverage using the cloud. With it, you can customize your software applications and integrate them according to the latest software versions.
You can discover an array of benefits while using the cloud to meet your business needs. Therefore, it is safe to say that the cloud is the most promising among many hosting solutions and it is here to stay.
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