Managed Cloud Hosting: Definition and Features
Discover how managed cloud hosting can revolutionize your business operations. Learn about its key features, cost-saving potential, and efficiency gains in this informative guide.
Joel Burch
COO
Managed cloud hosting providers are not only cost-efficient but also help businesses enhance process efficiency, security, and time to market. Companies can profit from cost-efficient, high-quality solutions without investing their own resources in equipment and labor. Explore all the advantages of managed cloud web hosting for your business.
What is Managed Cloud Hosting?
Managed cloud hosting is a service where a third-party provider takes responsibility for the management, maintenance, and optimization of cloud infrastructure service on behalf of a business.
What is the difference between Cloud Hosting and Managed Cloud Hosting?
Cloud hosting and managed cloud hosting differ primarily in the level of service and support.
Cloud hosting refers to the use of virtual servers hosted on a cloud infrastructure, where businesses are responsible for managing and maintaining their own cloud resources. Managed cloud hosting, on the other hand, involves a third-party provider handling the administration, security, and optimization of the cloud environment.
These differences are key to understanding the long-term implications of choosing an in-house cloud vs. a managed cloud hosting solution.
The following table summarizes the features of both options.
Unmanaged Cloud Hosting
Managed Cloud Hosting
Access to Cloud
Providers offer access to the cloud infrastructure but users are responsible for installing applications, tools, etc
Providers handle all technical aspects including setup, maintenance, and support of the cloud infrastructure
User Responsibility
Users are responsible for managing and maintaining applications, tools, and the operating environment
The provider manages, maintains, and ensures smooth operation of all technical aspects
Technical Management
Requires users to have or acquire technical knowledge for setup and ongoing management
The provider's expertise ensures all resources on the managed cloud server are efficiently handled
Support
Limited or self-service based; users must solve technical issues on their own
Comprehensive support provided by the provider, often including 24/7 assistance
Ideal For
Individuals or organizations with the technical capability to manage their cloud environment
Businesses seeking to focus on core operations without the hassle of managing cloud infrastructure
Main Features of Managed Cloud Hosting
Managed cloud hosting provides businesses with a range of features to simplify cloud management and enhance operational efficiency.
Server Management
When choosing a managed cloud hosting solution, customers don’t need to administer the server infrastructure, as this is done by the provider. This includes configuring, monitoring, and maintaining servers to ensure optimal performance and reliability. Providers handle tasks such as server provisioning, updates, and patches, as well as managing hardware and software resources. This enables businesses to focus on their core activities without needing to worry about the technical aspects of server management.
Security
Managed cloud hosting providers implement robust security protocols, including firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and encryption to safeguard sensitive information. They regularly perform security audits and vulnerability assessments to identify and address potential threats. Additionally, managed cloud web hosting offers automated patch management to ensure that systems are up-to-date with the latest security updates. This comprehensive approach helps prevent unauthorized access, data breaches, and other security risks, providing businesses with a secure and compliant cloud environment.
Scalability
Managed cloud providers offer flexible solutions that allow businesses to scale up or down easily, so that they have the right amount of resources at any given time. This can include increasing storage, processing power, or bandwidth during peak periods. This ensures optimal performance, cost-efficiency, and the capacity to handle growth or changes in business needs without disruptions.
Monitoring
Monitoring involves the continuous observation and analysis of various aspects of the hosting infrastructure. This includes real-time performance monitoring of servers, networks, and applications, proactive alerting for potential issues or anomalies as well as the adherence to regulatory standards. While companies would need to use a lot of resources to maintain monitoring tasks, managed cloud hosting providers have the economies of scale to ensure their servers are up to date on all aspects.
Support
Depending on the providers, support typically includes 24/7 technical support for troubleshooting, expert advice on configuration and optimization, cloud migration assistance when transitioning to the cloud, and ongoing consultation to align hosting solutions with business needs. Support teams also handle service requests, manage updates and patches, and provide regular communication in multiple languages to ensure customers are informed and satisfied with their hosting environment's performance and reliability.
Cost-efficiency
Managed cloud hosting offers significant cost savings by maximizing performance while minimizing expenses. This is accomplished through scalable infrastructure, enabling customers to pay solely for the resources they utilize. Consequently, this approach reduces overhead costs related to hardware maintenance and upgrades.
Time to Market
Providers offer streamlined processes for provisioning and scaling infrastructure, which reduces setup times significantly compared to traditional IT environments. Automation tools and templates further accelerate deployment. Additionally, managed services such as monitoring, security, and cloud security compliance assistance expedite time-to-market by offloading operational tasks. This allows businesses to adapt to market changes promptly, and maintain a competitive edge in their respective industries.
How can Divio Support your Managed Cloud Web Hosting Requirements?
Divio combines all your cloud services on one single platform, which makes it easy to develop, run, and operate web applications. Dockerized applications and built-in development tools streamline the development process and enhance your productivity, while managed and automated cloud back-up solutions reduce the risks for your organization.
Divio further provides an advanced control panel to streamline application management and configuration. Collaborative features support teamwork and project management, enhancing efficiency throughout the entire application development, deployment, and maintenance life cycle.
Scale Your Processes with Divio Today
Divio offers everything you need to simplify your deployment workflows and ensure reliability with automated back-ups and dedicated support.
Even better: Your cloud setup is optimized to save you up to 60% over what you’re currently paying.