Creating a website from the word go is a bit stressful as you have to make lots of decisions often in areas you don’t know a thing about. For example, which hosting plan is better, VPS or a cloud-based server? We will help get this straight by comparing these two popular hosting solutions to see which one is winning in terms of performance, security, scalability, and customization.
What is VPS Hosting?
Imagine there’s one big physical server divided into several smaller servers. Each one of these mini servers is called VPS, or Virtual Private Server. While physically belonging to the same “mother” server, every VPS performs as a separate, independent server.
Pros and Cons of a Virtual Private Server (VPS)
Benefits of VPS
- Top security. Although a virtual private server cannot boast the security benefits of a physical server (dedicated), it definitely beats a cloud server in data protection. “Private” means your VPS is closed to other accounts on the server, and data exchange is impossible. It works as a perfect shield against cyber attacks
- Easy customization. With root access to your physical server and unlimited control over its OS, you are free to install and configure software on VPS the way you like it
Drawbacks of VPS
- Unreliable performance. VPS’s performance is usually very high, thanks to being sectioned off from the main server and having its own portion of server resources. However, in the rare scenario, if multiple websites on this physical server happen to experience abnormally high traffic at the same time, the performance of your VPS may drop
- Poor scalability. VPS is sufficient for websites with stable web traffic. However, if you plan to scale up using ad campaigns or run an e-commerce website, which is subject to seasonal traffic surges, you better look towards more scalable hosted servers such as, for example, a cloud server
What Is a Cloud Server?
A cloud server is a network of interconnected virtual machines (servers) backed up with physical servers that can be rented for hosting a website. A cloud server works like a big VPS. The difference is that, instead of hosting your website on a separate powerful machine, all the processes are shared between many smaller machines.
Pros and Cons of a Cloud-based Server
Benefits of Cloud Server
- Fantastic uptime. As compared with other types of hosted servers, a cloud server has the most impressive performance due to the distribution of its processes between many servers in the network. If any of its machines fail or face abnormally high traffic, server cloud backup comes into play, and the party goes on
- Unlimited growth potential. As you develop your business, you may need more server power to support your website scale-up. Need additional storage? Your traffic soared? With so many resources available through a cloud network, there’s always room for more
Drawbacks of a Cloud-based Server
- Slack customization. Configuring your software in a unique way may be hindered by the myriad of servers involved in processing your settings. So if you plan to use custom plugins or scripts, you are better off with VPS.
- Compromised security. Although responsible cloud hosting providers try to minimize the vulnerability of their servers to cyber threats, you have to realize that due to shared access to files and data within a cloud, the risk of being hacked is high
VPS vs Cloud Server: What’s Your Best Bet?
Choosing a perfect server plan may be a daunting process as you have to weigh lots of details unique to your business. In most cases, it’s the scalability that becomes a decisive factor.
Here are a few final tips that will help you think in the right direction:
- Opt for a cloud server if you value fast, stable performance that enables your website to load fast and be available whenever people may need your services. Cloud server technology is also vital for e-commerce stores, media, and businesses with a growth strategy.
- Choose VPS if data security is your top priority, your traffic is stable, or you might need to use a specific type of software. Also, VPS is a good choice for complex web development projects that involve lots of customization.
As for us, cloud servers fit the needs of our projects the best so that’s the option we, at ABNK, are working with the most.
