Will Cloud Computing replace traditional dedicated server hosting?

Cloud computing is becoming extremely popular in the business world, and the term cloud computing may have a different meaning in the IT world than it does in the business world. Nevertheless, consumers and businesses are moving to the cloud at a rapid pace. It may be difficult to predict, but some have even suggested that cloud computing may eventually replace dedicated server hosting completely.

Those who believe cloud computing is the future of hosting point out that its flexibility is one of the key features that attracts users. With cloud computing, it is much easier to switch gears and adjust to changing markets when you do not have to pay out-of-pocket expenses for costly upgrades, third-party add-ons, or other major software changes. As part of the cloud subscription, businesses get the services they need when they need them.

Those who disagree with this hypothesis would argue that dedicated server hosting is not going anywhere. Many individuals and businesses need dedicated servers and enjoy the freedom that comes with being able to manage them and configure them however they want. This is especially true of users who rely on and prefer free and open source software. It is also appealing to companies with sensitive or highly secure information, such as banks and intelligence organizations.

Even those cloud supporters who believe cloud computing will take the “lion’s share” of the market do not believe traditional dedicated server hosting will fade away completely. Some companies may even prefer managed dedicated server hosting as an alternative to cloud hosting.

A third possibility is that many organizations will adopt a hybrid hosting methodology, combining both cloud hosting with dedicated hosting. These organizations are the ones that will likely be in the majority for years to come. For example, they may host certain groupware applications in the cloud but may continue to host their financial service sites on their own servers. Others will host their web applications on their own servers while using content delivery networks (CDN) to host their static files, such as images and videos.

Cloud computing will definitely be a part of hosting for many years to come, but it is safe to say that dedicated server hosting will be as well.