What is Cloud Hosting?
Cloud hosting is where you essentially host all or part of your IT infrastructure via the internet.
There are 4 different types of cloud hosting businesses adopt, these are: On-Premises, IaaS, PaaS and SaaS. Our helpful infographic below details what typically sits under each of these services.
Software as a Service (Saas)
A SaaS cloud service provider manages your entire infrastructure for you as a service. This includes everything from your servers to network, applications and data storage. The user has access through an online virtual desktop, and essentially rents the infrastructure for a monthly service fee per user. The managed service provider will ensure that your data is protected by the appropriate level of cyber security, back ups and updates will be automated and the cloud services provider is responsible for the upkeep of the server. This works well looking for organisations wishing to streamline IT procurement, reduce running costs, increase workflows, and improve security.
Platform as a Service (PaaS)
PaaS is where part of your infrastructure is moved over to the cloud for greater accessibility. Typically, your data and applications will be moved over to a cloud service and you will gain access via the internet. The user will be responsible for everything else including data storage and networking. This is an ideal solution for organisations looking to improve workflows by using the latest software applications, but offload the storage of these applications to an external cloud-based server.
Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)
With infrastructure as a service everything with the exception of networking, virtualisation, data storage, and servers is hosted on the cloud. This is a good start for businesses looking to embrace cloud services, but still maintain their network internally. By offloading half of your business applications to the cloud you will benefit from increased support and automated processes however, you will still own and need to maintain your company servers.
On-Premises
You will host all of your company applications, data, etc and maintain your own network and servers, but you will use a managed IT partner to provide technical and day-to-day support across your organisations IT infrastructure, paying a monthly service fee. This is a great option for businesses looking to minimise staff downtime and those seeking peace of mind that should they encounter a problem, their issue will be resolved quickly and professionally.
Common cloud computing questions:
Which cloud computing option should I use?
Firstly, this isn’t a decision many business owners can make on their own and this is where Ghost Enterprises can help. We will evaluate your IT strategy, assess your growth plans and make an informed decision on the best option for your business.
Are cloud services more secure?
Advancements in the security of cloud services happen all the time. With cloud services, backups and software updates are automated resolving any potential security issues in real-time. A reputable cloud services provider like Ghost Enterprises will also use the highest specification technologies to protect your company data. Your cloud services provider will also be able to grant or remove permissions and users easily, minimising any internal security breaches.
Is it easy to migrate to the cloud?
When moving all or part of your IT infrastructure to the cloud, your cloud services provider will work with you to ensure a smooth transition, one of the biggest benefits of moving to the cloud is that your services provider will be able to monitor all of your cloud-based applications, identifying and resolving issues before they occur. As we’ve mentioned in this article, cloud services are more automated and responsive and actions happen in real-time.
Our team of IT experts work in partnership with businesses to understand their business requirements and formulate an IT strategy that not only supports their business today, but also their future plans. So whether it’s deciding if the cloud is a good fit for your business or you simply need on-hand technical support, Ghost Enterprises can help.
– By Holly