A server is a device and/or a program that provides functionality for other client devices and/or programs. The aforementioned functionalities are services that can range from transferring data, sharing resources, and performing computations, among others. A single server can serve multiple clients and a single client may use multiple servers. The most common servers are print servers, managed Linux servers, web servers, gaming servers, application servers, database servers, file servers, and mail servers.
There are two main types of servers
1. Cloud Server
These are servers that exist over a shared and virtualized cloud network managed by the cloud hosting provider. (You do not need to own or rent any hardware) The servers are used on a pay-as-you-go basis and can be altered in real-time according to the need of the client. This means you will not be paying for any unused server space or service. Cloud servers can be programmed to emulate the performance and security of a windows dedicated server. The user will benefit from sharing the hardware and other customer resources over the cloud. This is ideal for small scale and medium scale companies that have limited resources and are not sure about the magnitude of the footfall, services, and the required space.
Advantages:
Pre-installed elastic web server support.
Custom stack software optimized for CMS websites.
Allocation of resources (such as SSD storage, load balancing, database layers, CDN integration) can be tweaked on demand.
More allocation of RAM, CPU cores, I/O processes than shared hosting plans.
Lesser chances of the website going offline due to excessive traffic or shortage of space.
2. Dedicated Server
A dedicated web hosting server is a physical server that is owned or rented exclusively by one company. Dedicated web hosting servers are known to have state of the art performance and security protocols. Dedicated server windows hosting is usually used by larger companies that have an accurate determination of their footfall, services, and the storage space required by them. These businesses are often known to use input-output heavy applications and big data platforms.
Advantages:
Proximity to the data center.
Foreign exchange savings.
More control over sensitive data and server management is not outsourced.
Cutting edge security protocols and performance attributes.
Summary
While cloud-based servers are cheaper and customizable, windows dedicated server provides more control and security over your sensitive data. The user should weigh the pros and cons of both dedicated as well as cloud servers and make an informed decision. Connect with an established company offering dedicated Windows server hosting services in India to discuss your requirements.