What is Cloud Hosting?

Is cloud hosting right for you?

Cloud hosting allows users to acquire Web hosting services and resources when they want them. This implies that when you no longer need the services you stop using them. What’s important to know is that you only pay for what you use under a cloud hosting service, meaning it’s Web hosting on demand.

The ‘cloud’ merely refers to a network of servers needed to fill the demand. Therefore, the Web hosting provider’s resources are pooled to better serve multiple customers based on the changing demand of users.

You can see the cost savings this would allow. When your Web hosting requirements ramp up, there is no need to buy new servers or upgrade your hardware. Also, you can quickly and easily benefit from new technology upgrades particularly operating systems, databases and new software.

You can find cloud hosting providers we recommend, in our Cloud Hosting showcase.

Cloud computing is often the term employed to describe the “as a service” model over the Internet. You will see the terms infrastructure as a service (IaaS), platform as a service (PaaS), or software as a service (SaaS) used as you research the leading cloud hosting providers such as Rackspace Hosting, Amazon and SoftLayer.

Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) refers to outsourcing the equipment used to support operations, including storage, hardware, servers and networking components. In this model, the cloud service provider owns, stores, runs and maintains the equipment for the clients who are billed on a per-use basis.

Platform as a Service (PaaS) is another cloud service model allowing users to access hardware, operating systems, storage and network capacity to run, develop, or test new or existing applications.

Software as a Service (SaaS) refers to on demand software applications that vendors make available to customers over the Internet on a pay-as-you-go or leased basis.