Non dedicated server vs. Dedicated: The differences
More and more business today is being done in the cloud. While this offers amazing flexibility and accessibility advantages, everything you use in the cloud still needs to be physically stored somewhere, and that’s the role a server plays in your system. There are two types of servers you can use; a dedicated server or a non-dedicated server.
Whether you own a successful small business or are considering upgrading your company’s online presence, it’s important to understand the difference. Dedicated and non-dedicated servers both offer their own advantages. One is cheaper and more flexible; the other is more secure and catered exactly to your entity’s needs.
Here’s the difference and some considerations to keep in mind.
Non-dedicated server vs. Dedicated server: What is the difference?
Dedicated Server
The major advantage of a dedicated server is that it’s all yours. This ensures (or at least limits) the potential of things like crashes, lagging, or security breaches.
However, it costs more to have your own home online. That’s one of the major differences between the two types of servers.
But you get what you pay for; typically dedicated servers also mean you pay for top-of-the-line customer service.
Non-Dedicated Server
If you don’t have the budget or technical know-how to run your own server, a non-dedicated option could be a great fit.
For those asking, “What is a non-dedicated server?”, it can be summed up pretty easily. It is shared between people. They are essentially turkey products, meaning you can set it up and have secure hosting through a third party right away.
Data classification
Data classification is all about how sensitive your data is and, therefore, the level of information security required for keeping it secure and limiting the ability to access that data. The main consideration should be based on the level of sensitivity and the impact to your organization and clients should it be disclosed, altered, or destroyed without authorization:
– Public Data – little to no risk should the information be accessed.
– Private Data – a moderate level of risk should the information be disclosed.
– Restricted Data – serious impact should there be any unauthorized activity.
Governance
Governance refers simply to the outline of the structure that decides how your data is classified. There are a variety of factors that will impact the creation of your governance structure and data model, based on the kind of information your organization keeps and the expectations for that information’s security.
For example, a financial institution would classify most of its data as restricted, since it comprises confidential and highly sensitive information about its clients. A disclosure could lead to serious issues such as identity theft, so they would need to choose a dedicated server. Whereas, in contrast, an advertising agency may have some confidential information about its clients and employees, but, by and large, there is no inherent risk to any one person or the general public should the information be disclosed. Thus, using a non-dedicated server would serve their overall purposes.
Data Sovereignty
Data Sovereignty is the laws of the country in which your data and server are located. For example, some countries will openly allow data to be accessible globally, so working in the cloud is acceptable and a shared server option is viable. However, in other countries, this is illegal or can only be allowed by permission from the government, so dedicated servers are needed.
Something else to keep in mind; for countries like the United States, current laws, such as The Patriot Act, allow the government to access your data at any time for any reason regardless if your server is dedicated or non-dedicated.
Conclusion
So, what is the difference between dedicated and non-dedicated servers?
Basically, a dedicated server is yours. No one else shares it with you. A non-dedicated server is a cheaper hosting option where you share an IP address with others.
Depending on your budget and security requirements, one may be favorable than the other.