What is a cloud service?
The cloud is a term used very widely online, and encompasses a range of technologies, techniques and services. It differs from standard physical servers, by focusing on IT and resource usage. Find out what a cloud service is, and the ways it can benefit your business.
Definition of a cloud service
A cloud service provides storage and access to IT systems and applications over the internet. This way, companies and individuals with a website no longer need to have a physical server to store and access data. Cloud computing services typically include databases, software, networks, analytics, and other features that can be used through this type of infrastructure.
Files, programs and data can be viewed anywhere by cloud users, and they do not need to be stored on a computer hard disk or a dedicated server. With cloud services, user data is accessed remotely in datacentres. These datacentres transmit different resources via the internet, so you can avoid the hassle of building an IT infrastructure on your own hardware.
OVHcloud offers several cloud computing solutions that you can select to fit your needs. You get options and computing capabilities that match your requirements — all at the lowest cost — with the right platform for you. With cloud services, you can focus on your core business.
The different types of cloud services
There are four main types of cloud services: private cloud, public cloud, hybrid cloud and multi-cloud.
Private Cloud
A private cloud is a dedicated server that can be accessed from everywhere. It manages computer data for employees of the same company, for example. The Private Cloud can be hosted internally, or with the help of a service provider that hosts it in a datacentre. A dedicated cloud offers advantages such as flexibility, and the ability to adapt quickly to your needs, particularly in terms of usage and performance. You get better control over your server’s data and management, and you can access both private networks and dedicated resources. This type of hosting also offers a high level of confidentiality, and optimised security systems.
Public Cloud
The Public Cloud is very easy for companies to use, as the cloud service provider manages the hosting solution on its own infrastructure. OVHcloud takes care of your system updates, server management, and guarantees security for your data. The Public Cloud offers advantages in terms of cost control, as you only pay for the features you use, when you use them. It is also flexible, and can be structured in different ways.
SaaS, IaaS, PaaS: comparison
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Type of cloud infrastructure |
Summary |
Specific aspects |
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SaaS: Software-as-a-Service |
The SaaS model, Software-as-a-Service, is the most common type of cloud service. Many people use it daily, and it makes the software accessible on the internet via an application or web browser. |
SaaS solutions do not require any hardware installation or management, and are highly popular with companies. They lower maintenance costs, and do not require a hard drive to be installed. |
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IaaS: Infrastructure-as-a-Service |
IaaS (Infrastructure-as-a-Service) provides users with basic IT infrastructure capabilities such as data storage, networking, servers and hardware — all in the cloud. |
The user has access to as much data storage and computing power as they want, so that they can handle traffic spikes if they need to. |
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PaaS: Platform-as-a-Service |
PaaS (Platform-as-a-Service) solutions are used to develop and deploy web applications. |
This cloud service supports the full application lifecycle, helping users create, test, deploy, manage and update the entire infrastructure in one place. PaaS also includes development tools, middleware and strategic intelligence solutions.
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Hybrid Cloud
The Hybrid Cloud combines public and private cloud solutions, and is agile. It combines the advantages of both cloud services. The hybrid cloud involves data being exchanged between the private cloud and the public cloud, via an encrypted connection. This infrastructure offers greater flexibility, as it shifts IT workloads between both private and public clouds to suit changing needs and budgets.
Multi-Cloud
The multi-cloud service offers several cloud types, whether they are private or public. This is why it is different from the hybrid cloud, which can offer two different types of cloud services.
How does a cloud service work?
- Size your requirements to fit your project. Before you dive into the search for a cloud infrastructure, first you need to identify exactly what you are looking for. First of all, you need to assess your IT environment, your current resources and what you want to achieve. Next, you need to determine the degree to which the cloud features need to be adapted to fit your needs in terms of security, mobility, automation, speed, etc. To take these decisions, you will need to consider the company’s digital environment, as well as its traffic performance.
- Choose your cloud type carefully. Once you have listed your web project’s requirements, it becomes easier to choose the best type of cloud for your needs. Compare the features and advantages of the infrastructures we offer, and choose the one that best suits your needs.
- Set up services. Networking is the backbone of your IT infrastructure. You should consider the bandwidth that best suits your workloads, the data processing speed, network integration with datacentres, etc. OVHcloud has the networking capabilities necessary to help you achieve your goals.
- Create a disaster recovery plan. There are many different types of risks and incidents that could affect your cloud. A datacentre fire, a cyber attack or even a hardware failure can all affect a company’s digital activity. However, it is important to keep in mind that you can protect yourself upstream. Set up a disaster recovery plan before a disaster strikes, so that you can minimise the impact. This involves recovering your data, and restoring your services.
What are the benefits of cloud services?
Scalability
Organisations can easily change the features of their cloud solution to suit their changing needs, and growing business. In particular, they can increase or reduce their storage capacity during high traffic spikes — so cloud services represent a highly adaptable, customisable option for companies. For example, when an organisation experiences seasonal traffic fluctuations, the cloud can be used to manage traffic spikes easily.
More flexibility
By outsourcing your business hardware and software management to an external organisation, you save valuable time and energy that would otherwise be spent planning, upgrading and constantly implementing a new IT infrastructure. OVHcloud offers users peace of mind by taking care of the software services, cloud storage, security, and automatic updates your business needs. This means you can stay focused on your growth, development and customer satisfaction. With these scalable, pay-as-you-go solutions, you can meet your business needs in a timely manner.
Lower costs
Since most of your hardware and software requirements are moved to an online space, cloud computing can often help you reduce capital expenditures. You simply need to pay for the storage space and services you need, when you need them.
Optimised speed
With cloud computing, you can deploy your service quickly in just a few clicks — and this rapid deployment delivers the resources your system needs in minutes. A cloud hosting plan also improves your website’s performance by boosting page-loading times, which in turn promotes a higher SEO ranking.
Pay-per-use
OVHcloud offers pay-as-you-go pricing, which means that the cloud space can easily be increased or decreased as your needs change. As a result, you will not be charged for services you do not use.
OVHcloud: Your cloud service provider
OVHcloud offers different cloud solutions for businesses and individuals: Bare Metal Cloud, Hosted Private Cloud, Public Cloud and VPS.
With bare metal cloud, you get a dedicated server that provides all of the machine’s physical resources. Data is transmitted more quickly as a result, so you get all the computing power you need. This hosting solution can be adapted to suit all web projects, no matter what your business needs and requirements are.
The Hosted Private Cloud solution offers businesses a private infrastructure with high availability, so they can focus on their core activity. Sensitive data confidentiality and scalability are included in this private cloud solution, to adapt to each company’s needs.
The Public Cloud is recommended for companies that want to manage their budget and only pay for what they use. With the Public Cloud, you can choose from a range of infrastructure types to suit your company’s specific business needs.
A VPS is a virtual private server that offers guaranteed performance, security and versatility for hosting websites and software applications. With this scalable solution, you get unlimited traffic on your VPS server.