
Cloud Hosting & Hardware Hosting: The Differences
In the previous blog, we explained what cloud hosting and hardware hosting exactly entail by means of a comparison. In this blog, we will delve deeper into the differences between the two.
We will explain the advantages and disadvantages of both types.
Cloud Hosting
In the previous blog we already mentioned that Cloud Hosting can be a lot more flexible, but also that Cloud Hosting might not be suitable for the more complex shops. Here are all the advantages and disadvantages.
ADVANTAGES | DISADVANTAGES |
FlexibilityBecause a website is hosted on the cloud and therefore stored online, it is easier to scale up and down. This does not happen automatically but it can be done faster if there is room for it. | Less quick detection of problemsBecause Cloud hosting parties do not have the hardware themselves, they cannot carry out any maintenance on it. It is therefore very difficult to detect when something goes wrong with the hardware. |
Less down-time when scaling up or downUnfortunately, it is unavoidable that a site will experience down-time during up- or downscaling. A major advantage of cloud hosting is that down-time during up- and downscaling is less than when a shop is hosted on hardware. | Heavy shops can become slowerBecause heavy shops often require more capacity from the hardware, these shops may become slower due to cloud hosting. The information must be requested from the disks via a diversion, which can cause the speed to deteriorate. |
Cheaper entry rateThe most commonly used cloud hosting packages are often much cheaper in their starting price. The hosting party does not have to carry out any maintenance on the hardware, so the service can also be offered more cheaply. | Complex shops can be difficult to scale up or downAlthough it is relatively easy to scale up and down for small shops, this is very difficult for heavy shops or large shops (10.000+ visitors). This often requires a lot of customisation, which in turn makes it more expensive. Also, scaling up or down takes a lot longer with heavy and/or large shops. |
Shops in multiple countriesCloud hosting makes it easier for webshop owners to set up a shop in different countries. This is because data centres in other countries can be used. | Service less fastWith many cloud hosting parties, support is not as fast. |
Environmentally friendlyBecause cloud hosting offers the possibility to optimally arrange the servers by using virtualisation, less space is needed and therefore less energy is consumed. There is, however, a small note to this: this is only possible for less complex shops, and reserve space will always be needed to absorb any fluctuations. | Less transparency in costsWith cloud hosting, someone could go “outside a bundle” if more capacity is used than initially thought. Because it is so flexible, it is not always clear in advance how much additional costs may be incurred. |
Hardware Hosting
In the previous blog we already mentioned it: hardware hosting seems “old fashioned”. In reality, hardware hosting is still very relevant, especially for large and/or complex web shops.
Below is an overview of the advantages and disadvantages.
advantages | disadvantages |
Stability & speedBecause there is no intermediate layer between shop and hardware, shops can be hosted faster and more stable. For small shops, this will not make much of a difference, but for complex and large shops, this is often a considerable difference. | Expensive entry rateBecause hardware hosting packages are primarily focused on the heavier shops and on personal support, the entry price is often considerably higher than that of cloud hosting packages. |
Problems more quickly visibleBecause the hardware is managed in-house, problems are often detected and solved quickly. | Less flexibleThere is a misconception that scaling up or down is not possible with old-fashioned hardware hosting. This is not entirely true; it is indeed possible. |
Fast & personal serviceMost starter packages with hardware hosting parties are often linked to personal service and advice. There is no need to contact external parties; all knowledge is available in-house: you have an expert on the phone or in the chat. | |
Transparent priceWhen choosing a hardware hosting package, the capacity your webshop needs will always be taken into account, which is why the price is always easy to estimate in advance. | |
Better insight in usageBecause everything is self-managed in terms of hardware, the reading of consumption is faster and more visible. This is mainly an advantage for the hosting party, most cloud hosting parties also offer customers a dashboard where the usage can be found. |
Conclusion
All in all, there are quite a few differences between cloud hosting and hosting on hardware. As with many other complex issues, the key is to look carefully at what suits your shop best.
Complex, heavy and/or large shops might be better off with a hardware hosting party and small, medium and/or simple shops might be better off with cloud hosting parties.
Want to know more about how we at MageHost can host your complex webshop safely and quickly? Read our article on data safety: Worry free data security at MageHost. Would you like more information on how we can help you? Contact our team for personal advice.
Are you looking for a good cloud hosting provider? Take a look at the site of TWS or contact us to find the best cloud hosting partner for you.