VPS vs Cloud Hosting: What’s the Difference?
Whoever works with projects on the internet knows the importance of having good hosting for projects. If you’ve ever seen your own website offline, you will understand that this is the worst nightmare for digital entrepreneurs, IT, or support workers. And if you have not gone through it, it’s certainly something you want to avoid, isn’t it? Lately, there has been much talk about VPS vs Cloud Hosting, and that’s what we’ll cover in this post.
Although both terms represent hosting types, there are several differences between VPS and Cloud Hosting.
Customization
Customization with VPS hosting is very similar to that of a dedicated server. You have full root access with complete control over the OS as well as the website and all software. You can customize and configure as desired as if you had a separate server. Each physical host system can run only one operating system, so your choice of OS may be limited if the hosting company only runs one type of virtual hosting machine. Linux systems are generally more common than Windows systems for this type of hosting.
Customization with cloud hosting expands to include the possibility to tweak network architecture, firewalls, load balancing, and IP addresses. However, the need to distribute functioning across many servers may leave less control over some hosting settings. Both Windows and Linux clouds are readily available, so you will get your choice of OS. Because a cloud environment is more complex, it may require more technical expertise to configure, especially to gain the full advantages of the cloud network.
VPS vs Cloud Hosting: Scalability
It is challenging to scale your resources or plans with VPS Hosting. You have access to some extra memory and CPU power above and beyond the amount dedicated to your virtual machine, but the physical host has a fixed amount that it can deliver. If you need more, you will have to get a new plan and may experience downtime while you migrate to a new solution.
Because Cloud Hosting provides so much processing power, it is more reliable and scalable. You can upgrade your RAM and CPU resources on-demand with a single click whenever your website traffic spikes.
Performance
VPS hosting assures a fixed level of performance because a guaranteed level of system resources is dedicated to your virtual server. However, high demand by your server or another virtual server on the same physical host may impact performance if you both need the extra resources at the same time or if your server needs more than the physical host can provide.
A VPS is also potentially a single point of failure because if the physical host server fails, all VPSes on that machine fail. VPS hosting can be adapted to a cloud network and some providers offer plans that include failover to alternate servers.
Cloud hosting assures high availability and uptime because of the multiple servers in a redundant system. If a server fails, its files and functional responsibilities are instantly migrated to another server with no downtime. Memory capacity and CPU power also expand on-demand to meet your needs or compensate for those of another customer without impacting other users in the network. It is ideal for sites that may experience wide fluctuations in traffic volume.
VPS vs Cloud Hosting: Security
The security of VPS hosting is almost on par with that of a dedicated physical server. The VPS is independent of any other VPSes on the same physical host as if it were a separate machine, but poor security measures taken by the owner of one VPS could affect others on the same physical server. However, this possibility is much less likely than with shared hosting. The centralized location of the physical host offers added security to those operations with critical data whose location must be known and restricted to comply with data security regulations.
The security of cloud hosting is also quite high. Your server is completely separated from other clients, as with a VPS. However, the web-based nature of the infrastructure might make it more vulnerable to attacks since it is physically distributed and thus harder to secure. In addition, since the data is housed in many locations, it may not be possible to comply with some regulations on data security.
VPS vs Cloud Hosting: Cost
The cost of VPS hosting is higher. You get exclusive access to your server’s resources, and they guarantee you to use them alone. Occasionally, the hosting package includes ancillary services like management and support that also add to the cost.
The cost of Cloud Hosting is lower than VPS Hosting because you share the server space with other users.
Is VPS or Cloud Hosting for You?
By now we have given you enough tips to navigate the labyrinthine trail of hosting choices. Armed with this knowledge, at every step, you can ask the right questions and confidently take the correct turn toward your goals.
How much hosting firepower do you require? And how much are you willing to spend?
Generally speaking, VPS hosting represents a more expensive but more powerful route for steadily growing businesses. Cloud hosting presents a more affordable option with widely varying degrees of scalability for the more tentative site owner who isn’t sure how many resources they’ll need in the long run.