For those with special resource requirements, which cannot be met with standard server hosting solutions, a server in the cloud is an obvious choice. The server hosting provider Safe Swiss Cloud offers various options to rent such a server on a “pay as you go” basis.
Quick start: What is server hosting? > Variants > Operating Models > Advantages > Security > Solutions
What is Server Hosting?
Server hosting refers to the provision of computing and storage resources by an external service provider, like a cloud provider. The servers are provided from the service provider’s data centers. These are either physical servers or virtual servers (Virtual Server or Virtual Machine) or entire server environments.
Which variants of server hosting are available?
- VPS: virtual private server. This is a virtualized server with “root” / administrator access for the customer. The server is directly connected to the Internet and accessible via its own public IP address. The advantage of this variant is the fast provisioning and uncomplicated handling.
- Dedicated server: This is a physical server (also called “bare metal” server) with “root” / administrator access for the customer. The server is directly connected to the Internet and accessible via its own public IP address. The advantage of this variant is having direct access to the underlying hardware.
- Cloud server: Here we are talking about virtualized servers in virtual data centers. This offer is aimed at customers who want to operate a number of servers and design their own network. The advantage of this variant is the high flexibility combined with the possibility to set up entire IT infrastructure environments as well as the scalability of CPU, RAM and storage.
Operating Models
For server hosting, especially in the cloud, there are basically two operating models to choose from:
- Self service: the customer operates the servers provided by the external service provider on a self-service basis or
- Managed server: the servers are operated by the external service provider (managed server) on behalf of the customer.
Server hosting with the Open Cloud by Safe Swiss Cloud.
High flexibility and full control for your IT infrastructure.
What are the advantages of self-service?
The customer operates the servers hosted by the cloud provider themselves. The advantage is that the customer’s IT team has direct access to the environment provided by the cloud provider and perform all operations on the server. The customer’s IT team performs security updates and can determine the timing and process. The same applies to the execution of backups. The customer can carry out its own backup scheme and remain flexible and independent. The same applies to monitoring and the selection of anti-virus systems.
The cloud provider does not access the customer’s environment during normal operation. This is a significant advantage for customers with special compliance requirements.
Safe Swiss Cloud offers the option that the customer can always access the expertise and help from Safe Swiss Cloud engineers even when operating under a self-service scheme. The customer therefore remains the master of their environment and can rely on a safety net provided by Safe Swiss Cloud support.
What are the advantages of a managed service for servers?
A managed server offers the advantage that the customer does not have to take care of keeping the servers up to date. The hosting or cloud provider provisions the servers and manages the servers on behalf of the customer. This typically includes tasks such as performing regular security updates, carrying out backups according to a selection of predefined backup schemes, monitoring of servers and applying antivirus programs. At Safe Swiss Cloud, monitoring is supervised by Safe Swiss Cloud engineers who take action in the event of alerts by the monitoring system.
The customer can therefore rely on an up-to-date system throughout the entire term of the contract.
What is the advantage of server hosting by an external provider?
The advantage of server hosting by an external provider is that the customer does not have to worry about the basic operation of the underlying IT infrastructure. This ranges from the operation of the data center to the provision of ready-to-use servers and entire server environments, including networking. It also includes the availability of storage infrastructure designed for backups. Depending on the provider, it is possible to get access to different cloud platform technologies such as VMware-based platforms or platforms based on Openstack or Kubernetes. Customers can thus build upon these building blocks and concentrate on their own core competencies such as the development and operation of software.
How does server hosting improve your security?
Ensuring a high level of security for the basic IT infrastructure is one of the core tasks of hosting and cloud providers. This includes, in particular, physical security in the data center. At Safe Swiss Cloud, this involves highly secure data centers that meet Tier 3 standards and are subject to regular external audits.
In addition to the basic security, the customer has access to additional security products and security services, which are used at the level of the customer account. These include solutions such as two-factor authentication for secure access to customer environments, solutions for protection against ransomware or independent backups that remain accessible in case of ransomware incidents on the customers main IT infrastructure.
What is the difference between commodity hosting and Safe Swiss Cloud cloud solutions for businesses?
Commodity hosters often advertise cheap offerings for certain types of servers. These servers are often not what is appropriate for mission critical application hosting and what the customers need often cost a lot more. Low prices are often associated with compromised in quality. This manifests itself in less reliable and lower performaning systems or in restrictions regarding the functionality of the offered systems.
Safe Swiss Cloud specializes in high-quality infrastructure for companies that require high performance and high infrastructure availability. All Safe Swiss Cloud platforms offer redundant, clustered SSD volumes, which avoid data failures at the logical level while delivering high performance.
For which industries are Safe Swiss Cloud solutions suitable?
Server hosting and other cloud solutions from Safe Swiss Cloud are suitable for companies that have high requirements for performance, availability, compliance and security. The Swiss location and the fact that it is a purely Swiss company makes Safe Swiss Cloud the ideal partner for companies in the financial services and health care sector and other companies with compliance requirements. Large enterprises, IT service providers and software companies all rely on Safe Swiss Cloud’s secure and compliant cloud solutions.
Server hosting with the Open Cloud by Safe Swiss Cloud.
High flexibility and full control for your IT infrastructure.