What is a Cloud Server?

A Cloud Server, also known as Virtual Server or Virtual Private Server, is a logical server that is created, hosted, and delivered through a cloud computing program over the internet.

Basically, a cloud server is an IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service) based cloud service model. In some aspects, cloud servers work just like physical servers, but the functions, services, and capabilities that they provide are very different.

Cloud servers are of two types:

1. Physical – This type of server can be accessed remotely. However, it is not distributed or shared, and it is also known as a dedicated cloud server.
2. Logical – A cloud server is logical when it is delivered through server virtualization. In this type, the physical server is divided into two or more logical servers. Each of these servers has a separate operating system, user interface, and apps. However, they share physical components from the underlying physical server.

There are several benefits of a cloud server. Some of these are as follows:

• Cost-Effectiveness – The client pays for only what they use at a certain time.
• Scalability– The client can access extra resources when required.
• Easy Setting up – Setting up a cloud server doesn’t require too much time and effort
• Reliability – If there’s any issue with a server, the resources are shifted to other available servers, and so the client doesn’t face too many issues.

Cloud servers are virtual servers that are built and run on the cloud computing technology. The services are offered over the internet and does away with the need of deploying expensive hardware on the computers. Cloud services are offered as utility services and not sold as a product. Cloud servers can be easily set-up and does not have much upfront investment to be done by the customers. It is an affordable cloud hosting platform and a metered service. Customers rent a virtual server space and pay for it on an hourly basis using the pay-as-you-use model. The client can scale up their resource requirements adding what they require to manage high traffic and discard those they may not use. Cloud servers are also more reliable and as it has a cluster of servers and in case a component fails, resources are automatically diverted from the other components available. This improves upon the limitation of a dedicated server which runs on one single hardware and is prone to one point of failure. Cloud servers allow storage of any type of data and offer efficient and affordable backup and disaster recovery solutions. Cloud servers provide services on demand. The user can access their websites and applications from anywhere, on any device and at any time.