Cloud Server
A cloud server is a virtual IT infrastructure resource that is delivered over the internet, which is distributed to multiple users, on-demand. Cloud servers have two categories: Physical and logical. Logical cloud servers use virtualization, where a hypervisor is used to separate applications from the physical server. Physical servers on the other hand deliver resources through the internet remotely.
How does It work
Before trying to understand how a cloud server works, it is critical to note that a cloud server is a IaaS cloud deployment model.
Virtualization is the main component in how a cloud server works. Using a hypervisor installed on physical servers, resources are combined and pooled to create virtual servers. The resulting resources are then delivered to single tenants or multiple tenants through the internet.
Cloud servers can be located at any data center across the globe.
Type of Cloud Server Deployment Models
There is a lot of mis definition of terms in the IT community where the three models of cloud deployment are mistaken for cloud types. Cloud deployment simply refers to how cloud platforms are hosted, implemented, and who has access to the resources. There are three main types of cloud deployment models:
1. Public cloud
This is a deployment model where cloud service providers provide resources such as storage, applications, or VMs remotely to users. Anyone can use the public cloud and comes highly recommended for developers with budget constraints.
2. Private clouds
Private clouds are different from public clouds in a sense that resources are used by a single organization and reside behind a series of firewalls. This improves flexibility and security in an organization.
3. Hybrid cloud
This is a cloud that is created by combining a private cloud with a public cloud. There are two ways in which hybrid clouds are created. The first type of hybrid model is where data and applications run in a private environment while other less important applications run through public clouds.
The second hybrid model is Cloudbursting, where organizations store data and run applications in the private cloud, but use the public cloud for scalability.
Some other cloud deployment models include multi-cloud and the community cloud.
Benefits of Using a Cloud Server
Cloud servers have played a major part in the transition from the industrial age to the information age. Here are some key benefits of cloud servers:
Scalability: As a company grows, IT needs to increase to meet the changes. Cloud servers have the ability to scale up or down based on business needs.
Cost-friendly: Instead of buying hardware and other essentials to build IT infrastructure, companies and developers with budget constraints opt for cloud servers since they are cheap, reliable, and save deployment time.
Reliability: Companies can concentrate on what they do best, knowing that their data is safe and secure in case of a failure in one of the main components of an IT infrastructure stack.
Stable, fast, and secure: Many companies don’t have the resources to create and maintain high-performance infrastructure. Cloud servers provide access to fast and secure resources while keeping the cost to the bare minimum.