There are many, many options on the market today when a company or business is looking for a way get their website up and running. However, this can sometimes be a problem, especially for the starting business. Which type of hosting should I use? What are the advantages and disadvantages of each? One question that often comes up what is the difference between cloud hosting and dedicated hosting, and what the advantages of each are.

To answer this, let’s split up the information and begin with dedicated servers. Dedicated hosting is known as one of the most flexible and ‘under-control’ servers for the business. This means that the business or client can have almost limitless control over the configurations and settings of the server, such as the hardware and software that it is running. Basically dedicated servers are an entire server that a client rents out to use, as opposed to a shared server or cloud server, where the server is shared. Dedicated hosting sounds great, and many clients agree, but they are also the most expensive type of hosting. This means that you are paying a lot for this kind of flexibility, and although some feel that the cost justifies their needs, it is not for everyone, especially if you don’t need so much freedom and flexibility.

Cloud servers are an entirely different way of going about the server game. Having a cloud server is kind of like…well, it’s really not like anything! With cloud servers the client’s data and website are spread throughout multiple servers, as opposed to simply renting out one, physical server. This has its advantages and downfalls, however more and more businesses and people are falling in love with the idea. One of the main advantages of cloud hosting is that it is considerably cheaper to having a dedicated server. You are not renting an entire server all to yourself, so your costs are much cheaper. In fact, one thing unique to cloud hosting is how the client is charged. With cloud hosting you basically pay for the amount of computing power that you are using, so if you need more or less every month, you will pay more or less that month. This can be a great way to get your information up and online without paying an arm and a leg. However, some people are concerned with the security of cloud hosting, as your data is no longer physically separated and controlled, but stored over multiple servers shared with other users. In fact, you don’t even know on which server your data is stored! This, for some people, is unacceptable.

In short, to decide which type of server you want to use, you need to decide what exactly you need, and what cons you are willing to put up with. If you want a big chunk of server all to yourself, with almost unlimited control, a dedicated server is recommended. However, you’re going to pay for this kind of freedom. Cloud hosting may be a better option for those more fiscally minded.