A cloud server is a virtual server machine that operates in a cloud computing environment and makes its resources accessible to users remotely over a network. Cloud-based servers are intended to provide the same functionality, support the same operating systems and applications, and provide the same performance characteristics as traditional physical and virtual servers running locally.
Cloud servers are an important part of cloud computing technology. Widespread adoption of server virtualization has largely contributed to the rise and continued growth of utility-style cloud computing. Cloud servers power every type of cloud computing deployment model, from infrastructure as a service (IaaS) to platform as a service (PaaS) and software as a service (SaaS).
Cloud servers are often referred to as virtual servers, virtual private servers or virtual platforms.
How do cloud servers work?
Cloud servers provide multiple servers by virtualizing physical servers to make them accessible to users from remote locations. Server virtualization is often but not always done through the use of a hypervisor. The compute resources of the physical server are then used to create and operate virtual servers, also known as cloud servers. These virtual servers can then be accessed by organizations from any physical location through a working Internet connection and resources are allocated to users based on need. Cloud servers are provisioned and managed through cloud-based application programming interfaces (APIs).
In a public cloud computing model, cloud vendors provide access to these virtual servers, storage, and other resources or services in exchange for a fee.
Cloud deployment models generally fall into the following main architectures:
- IaaS. Cloud computing models that include only traditional infrastructure elements such as virtual servers, storage and networking are called IaaS.
- PaaS. PaaS products provide customers with a cloud computing environment with software and hardware tools for application development, which are powered by cloud servers, storage and networking resources.
- SaaS. In the SaaS model, the vendor delivers a complete, fully managed software product to paying customers through the cloud. SaaS applications rely on cloud servers for compute resources.
- FaaS. Function as a service is a cloud computing model that enables developers to execute code in response to specific events, such as HTTP requests, database updates or file uploads, without the need to manage servers. Although private cloud servers work similarly, these physical servers are part of a company’s private, owned cloud infrastructure.
Key differences between a cloud server and a traditional server
The choice between a cloud server and a traditional physical server is often based on an organization’s specific needs, resources, and growth plans. Although using cloud servers for computing tasks can provide customers with several distinct advantages over physical servers, certain use cases may prefer traditional on-premises servers.
The main differences between cloud servers and traditional servers include the following
Cost structure. Cloud servers typically follow a PAYG model, where businesses only pay for the resources used. Traditional physical servers require upfront capital investment for hardware and ongoing maintenance costs.
Location and management. Cloud servers are maintained by hosting cloud server providers and are accessed remotely via a virtual network or the Internet. Their physical infrastructure is managed in the provider’s off-site data centers. Traditional or dedicated servers are physically located on-site within an organisation and in-house IT staff are responsible for their maintenance, upgrades, and troubleshooting.
Scalability. Cloud server resources can be dynamically adjusted according to demand, enabling businesses to scale computing power up or down in real time. For traditional servers, scaling often requires purchasing and installing additional equipment and hardware, which can be time-consuming and costly.
Workloads. Cloud servers are generally ideal for organisations with variable workloads, while traditional servers are better suited for enterprises with consistent and high-demand workloads.
Reliability. Cloud servers typically have built-in redundancy, load balancing and failover options, which enhances reliability. For traditional servers, reliability depends on the organisation’s infrastructure and additional setups are often required to achieve redundancy.
