Cloud Hosting is one of the types of website hosting wherein websites and web applications are made accessible by using cloud resources. This type of hosting service doesn’t deploy solutions on a single server. It relies on a network that consists of interconnected physical and virtual cloud servers which host a specific website or an application. The cloud spreads the data across numerous, interconnected servers, which exist in a wide geographical area and it ensures enhanced flexibility, data security, seamless backup, high uptime and scalability.

Since cloud hosting is one of the types of web hosting, let us touch upon web hosting in brief. Web hosting is a service that is offered by web hosting companies and it provides server space along with all the necessary technologies that are required for making a website accessible over the Internet. Web hosting is of different types, such as cloud hosting, shared hosting, dedicated hosting, VPS, reseller hosting, WordPress hosting etc. Terms such as, the “Top Cloud Hosting Company”, the “Best Cloud Hosting Company”, the “Best Cloud Hosting Provider” refer to those web hosting companies that have been providing outstanding cloud hosting services consistently.

Key features of Cloud Hosting

The main features of cloud hosting are mentioned below, in no particular order.

• Resources can be scaled based on the requirements of the users.
• Solutions are automated as well as controlled through the aid of APIs, mobile apps and web portals.
• Businesses pay only for those resources that they use.
• SQL (including MySQL) or NoSQL databases are supported.
• Solutions and applications are not deployed on an on-premises single server.

Managed Cloud Hosting

Managed cloud hosting is a cloud hosting service in which the service provider is responsible for the backend maintenance, administration, monitoring and resolving problems for the cloud computing resources of a business. In most cases, the service provider that provides managed hosting also provides the servers and the cloud hosting environment. In managed cloud hosting, enterprises share as well as access resources (databases, hardware and software tools) over a remote network through multiple servers that are in another location.

Delivering security and consistent availability are the main aims of managed cloud hosting. When a business opts for cloud hosting that is managed, it leverages from the expertise of the service provider’s IT department. In this type of cloud hosting, the hosting provider takes care of the server maintenance and management, installs security patches, performs backups, provides regular updates, ensures server upkeep etc. Hence, it does away with the worries of a website owner when it comes to setting up cloud infrastructure and managing the servers.

Managed cloud services usually include (at the infrastructural level) DNS management, system monitoring, alerting along with reporting, system administration and operations, a single point of contact for support, architecture guidance, developer support and training, security and compliance management, performance testing and tuning, database administration, backup and disaster recovery and round the clock support.

With regard to application and tools, cloud services that are managed include application deployment, scaling and lifecycle management, managed virtualization on VMware vCloud, specialized database management, management of Microsoft apps, DevOps automation tools, management of eCommerce and digital experience platform and OpenStack Private Cloud deployment and management.

Managed cloud hosting is an ideal hosting option for businesses that are either new or lack the technical knowledge and expertise that is required for this purpose. Moreover, those enterprises that face constraints with regard to time and/or are not prepared to address server requirements find it suitable.

Benefits of Fully Managed Cloud Hosting Services

There are many advantages of a fully managed cloud hosting service, such as advanced caching, dedicated customer support, enhanced security, regular monitoring, automated data recovery as well as backup and easy workload. These will be discussed in more detail in this section.

Managed cloud hosting enables automated caching facilities as it provides prebuilt packages that are equipped with caching features. Hence, the execution of the caching process becomes automatic and eliminates the need for human intervention. Such a cloud hosting service has relevant processes segmented and aligned to enhance caching capabilities and save time. Another advantage of managed cloud hosting is the availability of dedicated customer support, wherein an expert team manages the website maintenance services round the clock. Enhanced security is ensured in fully managed cloud hosting service with the aid of data storage solutions that are designed to be extremely secure and which provide backup facility that is seamless. In this type of hosting facility, cybersecurity protocols are applied effectively in order to ensure privacy. Additionally, managed hosting services conduct monitoring regularly and provide performance evaluation through reports. These reports that get generated, ensure that a website owner has an in-depth view of his website in order to make informed decisions.

Automated data recovery and backup is another major benefit of a fully managed cloud hosting service, wherein the service provider is responsible for ensuring the same regularly and on-time. Lastly, it eases the workload of the website owner. When managed hosting is not availed, the website owner has to set up the infrastructure manually, connect the software etc. It is not only time consuming but also often requires a dedicated IT team to perform the needed tasks. This is not the case with managed cloud hosting, where the service provider is responsible for all these tasks. Hence, the website owner does not need to grapple with any activity that is related to setting up or maintaining his cloud computing resources.