Recently, we’ve been seeing a few articles about how the cloud is going to kill all Dedicated Server Hosting an how the Cloud Computing will kill the Server market.

We’re here to say that no, the cloud isn’t killing dedicated servers. It’s much more complicated than that. And, the dynamic between dedicated servers and the cloud is still changing. But we’re already beginning to have a good look at what things will look like when the “dust settles”.

 

The Myth of Cloud Affordability

One of the main arguments against the Dedicated Server is that you’re paying for resources you don’t need. Cloud hosting offers a pay as you go, model, only charging you for resources used. While this sounds good on paper, it’s not so clean cut.

It’s true that 30% of all dedicated servers aren’t working to their maximum potential. But, this shouldn’t let you think that dedicated servers are a bad value.

Instead, the opposite is true! Dedicated servers are often 3x cheaper than comparable cloud hosting setups. Even when paying for more resources than you need it’ll cost less than the cloud! For organizations with a predictable demand for server resources, dedicated servers are almost always the better choice.

However, there are instances when the cloud does work out to be more affordable. Primarily this occurs during two scenarios:

  • You’re computer and storage needs are small.
  • You experience peak loads that come infrequently and unpredictably.

 

Flexibility and Ease of Management

When it comes to flexibility and ease of management, a cloud server is almost always best. They can be provisioned instantly and canceled just as quickly. Plus they feature more powerful automation capabilities.

The exception can be when using major cloud providers like AWS. These cloud hosts require you to learn proprietary knowledge which can complicate management. They also pose a risk of vendor lock-in.

 

Raw Performance

Next, there’s the debate over performance. As we uncovered in our studies during the creation of our “AWS vs Dedicated Servers: A Guide to Choosing the Best Hosting Option” eBook, cloud hosting performance lags behind dedicated servers.

It makes sense when you think about it! A cloud host needs to purchase many servers in bulk to support the high levels of flexibility and scalability offered to customers. This means they’ll be slower to switch to the latest generation of processors, RAM, and storage. Dedicated servers however often boast the latest gen hardware.

The performance difference between two generations of processors is usually 10%. When coupled with next-generation RAM and storage, you’re looking at a noticeable increase in performance. For organizations needing the highest performance, a dedicated server will be ideal.

 

Conclusion

So, where does everything sit? Well, if you fall into the following categories, the cloud is best for you:

  • Your computer and storage needs are small.
  • You experience high, unpredictable, and infrequent peak loads.
  • You need ease of management and flexibility.

If the following applies to you, a dedicated server is more suitable:

  • You have predictable resource usage.
  • The best performance possible is what the business need.
  • Cannot take a risk vendor lock-in.
  • The business is large enough that dedicated servers are more affordable.

 

ServerPronto offers all dedicated server packages.

Author

Anthony is a tech fiend. As a child, he dreamed of seamless integrations between hard drives and brains as a method of enhancing the human brain. As an adult, he enjoys more rational ventures into tech such as experimenting with and writing about the latest technologies and softwares.

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