The journey of understanding different types of servers enables the users to choose better and yield optimal results. Learning some basic differences between a cloud server and a traditional server becomes imperative.
There are various web hosting services available that utilise different kinds of servers to host web-based sites or applications. Cloud servers are used for cloud hosting and computing, while traditional physical servers are used for other types of hosting like shared, VPS, and dedicated hosting.
Let us begin the blog by understanding the definition of these two types of servers: Cloud vs Traditional Server.
Cloud Server
Cloud servers are servers that are virtually hosted by strong hardware support. But let us simplify it to understand it better!
The cloud server holds all the important tools and technologies required by you to host a website or web application. You can access the cloud remotely and utilise all the necessary resources for your hosting job.
There are computers around the world that host these clouds, i.e., servers, and you can conveniently utilise the resources you require for web hosting.
Traditional Server
A traditional server is an on-site server that is present at your office or workplace, where you perform all the hosting tasks for your website or application. The server can either be managed and maintained by your IT personnel and team, or the web hosting service providers undertake all the maintenance and management.
The management part of it is decided at the time of buying or at the time of renewal. So, it is advisable to make informed decisions because it may get difficult to scale the physical server according to the increasing needs of the website or application.
Let us understand the differences in the features with the help of the benefits and drawbacks of these servers.
Traditional Server vs Cloud Server: Advantages And Disadvantages
- Advantages of Physical Server
- The servers are highly capable of performing critical processing and computing tasks. This offers improved overall performance.
- The bare-metal servers provide the safest environment for a website or application to flourish. One is isolated from other websites, and there is no sharing of resources, which leads to enhanced protection.
- Disadvantages of the Physical Server
- The initial investment is high and may seem expensive for many.
- Scalability with physical servers is not as straightforward as it is for cloud servers. It requires a number of purchases and integrations in order to scale a physical server in addition to the need for a bigger physical space.
- Advantages of Cloud Server
- Cloud servers are highly scalable and flexible, which makes usage easy.
- Cloud server for small businesses is the best choice since it provides a cost-effective structure as cloud server hosting works on the pay-as-you-go model.
- Disadvantages of Physical Server
- The users have limited control over the servers.
- There is a potential data security concern since the hardware shares resources with numerous tenants.
Ending Note
There are some apparent differences between the two servers. From their functionality to features and benefits to drawbacks, these servers cater to their specific crowd. Opt for the one that best suits your business model, requirements, and budget.
