Types of Cloud Servers: What are Cloud Server Services?

A cloud server is a good choice when you want to host your websites or applications. However, many people may confuse about which kind of cloud servers to choose. In this article, we will talk about the 4 types of cloud server models. For example, private clouds, public clouds, hybrid clouds, and multi-clouds. Additionally, we will mention the 3 kinds of cloud services.

Then, you will be able to select the correct cloud service by referring to their service-oriented architecture. These types will let you know more about how a cloud server affects your business.

What is a cloud server?

Similar to a VPS (virtual private server), a cloud server is also a kind of virtualized server. Authorized users can access a cloud server remotely only via a network. Although it is virtualized, a cloud server provides similar functions, operating systems (OS), and applications just like a physical hosting server.

Types of cloud server

What are public clouds, private clouds, hybrid clouds, and multi-clouds? If you think the differences between them are only in the locations and ownership, you may be wrong. Let’s explain more as follows:

Public clouds

Usually, a third-party provider will create and manage the public cloud environment. Multiple organizations share the cloud server environment by using the public Internet. You may have heard of some of the largest public cloud providers, such as Alibaba Cloud, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google Cloud, IBM Cloud, and Microsoft Azure. No matter whether hosting service middle providers or some small website owners can rent services from these public cloud owners.

Traditional public clouds always created their data centers in remote locations. Location distance usually causes latency issue between servers and end users. However, today’s public cloud providers have started offering cloud services on clients’ on-premise data centers. That avoid some latency issues.

What is the most distinguishing feature of the public cloud? It is partitioned and redistributed to multiple tenants. People may think the tenants in the public cloud must pay the rent, but some big public cloud owners have opened the free rent model.

Private clouds

A specified user or group usually creates a private cloud for dedicated usage. People can create the environment behind the organization or group’s firewall.

However, currently, private cloud resources will not have to be from on-premise IT infrastructure. Many groups begin to build their private cloud from a rented data center. That makes location and ownership not the recognized features of the private cloud anymore.

In this situation, private clouds can be divided into more types:

Managed private clouds

If a private cloud is deployed, configured, and managed by a third-party provider, we call it a managed private cloud service. Many small business owners will choose this kind of service as having no skilled staff to help manage the cloud environment.

Dedicated clouds

We can create a dedicated cloud in a public or private cloud. The dedicated cloud is usually used for a group that needs separate data management.

Hybrid clouds

Hybrid cloud, as its name shows, is a mixed environment with two or more public clouds or private clouds. An organization in a hybrid cloud environment can make use of both types of cloud platforms. It enables them can select the correct cloud freedom based on specific data needs.

For example, a company might provide services via a public cloud, but save sensitive information on a private cloud.

Multi-clouds

All hybrid clouds are multi-clouds. However, not all multi-clouds are hybrid clouds. Multi-clouds may be created by different cloud providers. And it becomes a hybrid cloud only when you connect and integrate multiple clouds.

A multi-cloud environment will be a good choice when you need to control sensitive data or disaster recovery. It helps enterprises to improve the cloud environment security and performance.

What is a cloud service?

If a cloud provider creates a cloud environment, how can they provide services to you? Here we will talk about the cloud’s “as-a-Service” solutions: IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS.

Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS)

LaaS means a cloud service provider serves you with the infrastructure management service. They manage the actual servers, network, virtualization, and data storage through an internet connection.

The user can access the cloud service through an API or dashboard to manage the operating systems, apps, and middleware. However, the provider will take responsibility for outages, repairs, and hardware issues. This is the typical deployment model of cloud storage providers.

Platforms-as-a-Service (PaaS)

If a cloud provider serves you with a cloud software platform, we call it PaaS. In this service, the provider manages hardware and software platforms. The user only needs to handle the single application running on the platform and app data.

Software-as-a-Service (SaaS)

If a cloud provider serves you with managed software applications, we call the service SaaS. Usually, users can access the managed apps via web or mobile. The provider will handle any updates or issues on this app. SaaS providers may also install an app on some users’ local devices to make more access methods and provide better experiences for users. If you need to experience a good SaaS, you can try Cloud Clusters which includes dozens of frequently used applications.

Which cloud server should I use?

Before choosing the cloud server type, you will need to consider your business situation first.

If your business has a high workload or data size varies greatly, the public cloud may be better.
If you can predict your business scale, you can choose the private cloud.
A hybrid cloud is an environment that can match flexible requirements. Any workload can hosts anywhere as the cloud includes private and public clouds.

When you consider cloud service type, you should examine the cloud servers that the provider uses, such as the type, configuration, and virtualization technology. Combine your ability to manage the cloud environment, and select the proper cloud service solution.

What is a cloud server?