Cloud Servers vs Local Servers

glowing server lights

For small-to-midsize businesses (SMBs), growing and competing without the resources and advantages of a larger company is a challenge. One of the best ways to stay ahead of the curve is by leveraging tools to help equalize your performance. Cloud services help to bridge the gap with extensive functionality, powerful features, and ease of use. You might think that it’s better or more secure for your company to host everything, but that isn’t necessarily true. Learn more about the differences between cloud servers vs. local servers below.

About Cloud Services

Once you understand what the cloud is and how it works, it’s easy to see why so many businesses use cloud-based apps and servers. While it’s a somewhat nebulous term, “the cloud” simply means software or services that you can access from anywhere, provided you have an internet connection. These clouds are located on servers or networks all over the world. The most popular cloud applications on the market include names you’ve heard of and have likely used before, like Dropbox, Microsoft Office 365, WordPress, GitHub, Slack, and Adobe Creative Cloud to name just a few.

Cloud Servers vs Local Servers

There are a few major differences between the cloud and local servers. The primary one is that unlike local or dedicated servers – which are physically bought or rented and maintained by your own IT staff – cloud servers are shared among users. As a result, you get the resources you need at the scale you need them in a virtualized environment managed by the cloud hosting provider.

Why Cloud Servers are Better for SMBs

  • Space – no need for dedicated servers or server rooms
  • Storage – your sensitive data is stored and can be backed up in the cloud
  • Security – built-in safeguards help to keep your information locked down
  • Automatic Updates – no need to perform or track these upgrades yourself
  • Accessibility – work from anywhere, even on mobile devices, using Wi-Fi
  • Expense – a predictable cost per month or year is better for your budget

Should You Make the Switch?

In short, the difference between cloud servers vs. local servers is a matter of perspective. Cloud servers provide space, storage, security, accessibility, and automatic updates while remaining affordable. So, are they right for you?

Look at your business needs and your operational goals. Will you be able to compete using your own servers? Can your company’s budget cover the expense of trying to host all your software and services, let alone the upgrades and maintenance they’d require? Consider these things when looking at cloud servers vs local servers for your business. The fact is that cloud services provide practical and convenient options to help you meet the challenges of a complex digital marketplace. Not to mention it takes a lot of the burden off your already-stressed IT personnel and resources.

Learn more about cloud solutions and other managed IT services that can streamline and improve the way you do business. Contact us for a consultation.