Let’s break it down: you’re looking for cloud hosting but unable to decide between the different options available. So, what are the most crucial factors you should prefer for the final decision? That we’ll find out today.
For instance, this guide will take you through the 7 most important factors you must consider when choosing cloud hosting. By the end, you’ll know exactly what aspects of a cloud provider to look for, to ensure you get the best bang of your bucks.
That said, let’s roll in.
Data Center Security
Your server security is important. If a cloud provider doesn’t offer a secure enough data center, you should avoid it at any cost.
That’s why all big companies opt for trustable and managed cloud hosting providers like Devrims and Kinsta who are using Google Cloud, DigitalOcean, Microsoft Azure, and AWS as their Infrastructure. Some other reliable cloud providers include Vultr, Linode, and Cloudways.
There are different aspects of the data center security of a cloud hosting service. The most important one is multi-layer security. Whichever cloud service provider you pick, make sure it offers multi-layer security to ensure your server & data are protected and secure.
Some amazing security features you could opt-in for include:
- Multi-factor Authentication — It makes sure no one but you can access your server, data, and databases.
- Data Encryption — It helps to make sure your data is secure and isolated to prevent data loss and leak.
- Intrusion Detection — It monitors networks or systems for malicious activities and viruses.
- Prevention Systems — A network security to detect and prevent identified threats and to keep your data safe.
- Security Firewall — A network activity device that monitors all the incoming and outgoing traffic according to the security policies of the network.
Pricing Plans & Renewal Rates
A cloud hosting service can have the best features in the world. But, if it falls outside your budget, it’s of no use to you.
As a rule of thumb, cloud hosting comes in all sizes in terms of price tags.
- Managed cloud hosting services like Kinsta and Devrims start from as low as $15/mo.
- On the other hand, cheap cloud hosting services like Vultr start from as low as $2.50/mo.
Whichever cloud hosting service you choose, make sure you can afford its pricing in the long term. For that, you need to have an estimate of how much you’d like your app or website to grow.
For instance, if you purchase cloud hosting from Devrims at $10/mo and launch an application using a DigitalOcean server, you should know that you will be charged according to their “pay as you go” model, which means if you exceed the allowed bandwidth limit and your website/app traffic grows exponentially or vice-versa, your billing will be generated accordingly.
Managed vs Unmanaged Cloud Hosting
Cloud hosting is of two types: unmanaged cloud hosting and managed cloud hosting.
The regular cloud hosting is unmanaged. In unmanaged cloud hosting, you’re provided with administrator-level access to your cloud server. So, you’re free to use the operating system of your choice as well as set your custom firewall policies.
On the other hand, in managed cloud hosting, your cloud hosting service is responsible for looking after & managing your server. This way, the team might be responsible for setting your server up, configuring it, and installing suitable scripts & OS.
So, should I opt-in for unmanaged cloud hosting or managed cloud hosting?
Well, if you’re willing to just host your website or app and are open to learning how to manage a server, unmanaged cloud hosting is a good way to go.
But, if you want to manage your clients’ projects on the servers and would like to outsource the tasks of managing the cloud server, managed cloud hosting should be your preference.
Data Backups & Server Snapshots
Hardware failure is the reason for data loss in 40% of cases. Other main reasons are human error and data breaches.
One way or another, keeping your data protected should be a concern when choosing cloud hosting. And data backups tend to be an effective way to protect data as you can recover it anytime.
But sadly, not all cloud hosting providers offer data backups. Some of them don’t offer it at all while others may charge a lot for data backups. So, when choosing cloud hosting for your website/app, make sure it offers reliable data backups at a cheap rate.
Server snapshots are pictures of your server’s file system. Of course, you wouldn’t want to lose your server file system configuration. Server snapshots ensure your configuration remains protected.
Some cloud providers offer server snapshots by default while others lack it. We prefer those who offer snapshots.
Customer Support
Imagine you lose your cloud server configuration without knowing what happened. Or, your server goes down. What will be the first thing that you do?
Well, if your cloud provider offers a customer support service, you could probably contact them and explain to them your issue. If the customer support repressive is good, they’ll probably help you overcome your issue.
But, many cloud hosting platforms lack customer support which is a considerable downside. We recommend a cloud host that offers a 24/7 customer assistance service.
Ease of Use
If cloud hosting is too hard to manage, what’s the use?
Ease of use is one of the most crucial factors to consider when choosing a cloud hosting service. It determines what kind of experience you’re going to have with the platform. If a service is easy to use, it can save you lots of time in the long run. Furthermore, the ability to seamlessly access QuickBooks remotely within your chosen cloud hosting service can significantly enhance operational efficiency, simplifying financial management tasks and ensuring greater convenience in your workflow.
So, make sure you go for an easy-to-use cloud provider when looking for one.
Server Uptime Commitment
Whether you’re purchasing cloud hosting for your blog, e-commerce website, drop-shipping store, or portfolio, having your website running 24/7 is essential for professionalism.
However, the availability of your website solely depends upon the cloud hosting service you pick. The better uptime or SLA a cloud provider guarantees, the more your website will be available.
We recommend that you aim for a 99.99% average server uptime. It translates to 52 minutes and 35 seconds of downtime a year which is pretty reasonable for maintenance, etc. Anything below 99.95% is not recommended and could hurt your brand/website.
Key Takeaways
What are the key factors to consider when choosing a cloud hosting service? Here are the takeaways:
- Make sure to consider data center security when choosing a cloud hosting service to ensure your server is safe, protected, and isolated.
- Before you sign up at a cloud host, be sure you’re comfortable with its pricing. Also, look at the renewal rates to avoid inconvenience over time.
- Determine whether to go for an unmanaged cloud hosting service or a managed one, according to your needs.
- Whichever cloud service you pick, look out for data backups and server snapshots for the protection of your data and server configurations, respectively.
- A cloud hosting with 24/7 customer support should be your preference to ensure the provider has your back in case you overcome a critical issue.
- Choosing an easy-to-use and reliable cloud provider should be your priority.
Author Bio:
Hammad here, I am the digital marketing lead and acquisition manager at Devrims – a managed cloud hosting company. I love finding the right opportunities to build brand reputation. Apart from work, music and cars is what interest me the most.
