For years, everything in IT has revolved around "the cloud". However, there is actually no such thing as one cloud. From private to hybrid and multi to public cloud, almost every infrastructure is cloud-capable - including physical servers. In practice, most companies use a combination of numerous different infrastructures, all of which have their own advantages and disadvantages. The advantages of the public cloud and hyperscaler offerings are well described. At the other end of the cloud spectrum are dedicated servers, which can play an important role in the cloud mix, especially for predictable workloads. This is because they offer companies a unique combination of performance, security and control compared to other infrastructures. One major advantage is that dedicated servers do not have to be shared as a single-tenant option. There are also numerous other factors that speak in favor of using dedicated servers. Here are the four most important ones.

1. dedicated servers reduce complexity

"Keeping it simple" is a mantra that influences many IT decisions. Cloud operations can be very complex in practice, which usually entails additional costs for technical support. With dedicated hosting, on the other hand, there is no need to worry about the complexity of the solution. Dedicated servers are a good alternative for companies that have neither the right staff nor the expertise within the company to operate the cloud professionally. Software solutions that are already in use can be taken along so that the IT team does not have to get used to the new environment.

2. dedicated servers can be operated like a cloud

The cloud is known for its simple configurability and flexibility. However, dedicated servers can also be operated in the same way with the help of cloud-like automation. The time required to manually configure server hardware can also be minimized through the use of automation. Automation also helps to redistribute available resources to where they are most effective. For example, additional machines can be made available as required, completely without human intervention. This allows the desired performance level to be guaranteed at all times. Dedicated servers thus offer the best of both worlds: They combine the performance and security of dedicated hosting with the flexibility and responsiveness of the cloud. The IT team retains full control and is also completely independent of cloud providers.

3. dedicated servers reduce the total cost of ownership

Dedicated solutions can be just the right thing for those who calculate with a sharp pencil. In contrast to on-premises servers, which require a high initial investment in addition to regular support and maintenance, dedicated server solutions are billed on a monthly basis. This makes dedicated hosting much more budget-friendly than in-house hardware operation. Cloud hosting generally offers a cost advantage at the lower end of the spectrum. However, the more the user scales up and the more resources they require, the higher the costs. Dedicated servers, on the other hand, usually come with a higher initial cost, but offer more reliable and cost-effective scaling as a business or its traffic grows.

When deciding on a hosting solution, the company should consider both future and current growth in terms of total cost of ownership (TCO). It is not uncommon that operating an infrastructure via a cloud service can be many times more expensive than via dedicated servers. The difference often lies in predictability. With dedicated hosting, the monthly bills are clear from the outset. With cloud hosting, there can be a few surprises at the end of the month when you look at the bill - for example in terms of network usage or computing power. Dedicated servers offer a way out of the cloud to regain independence.

No one has to start from scratch

The good news is that if a company wants to set up its first hosted infrastructure with dedicated servers, it doesn't have to reinvent the wheel. There are many tools on the market that can make it easier to get started and deploy and manage hardware as easily as VMs.

The selection aspects

The author: Rene Ceslik is Manager Customer Care at Leaseweb Germany.

© Leaseweb

The most important aspect when choosing the right infrastructure is the detailed coordination with the exact requirements of the company. There are use cases in which the flexible public cloud offerings of hyperscalers can be useful. However, there is a surcharge for this flexibility. At the same time, there are numerous use cases that speak in favor of dedicated servers. Dedicated servers offer full control over the infrastructure without vendor lock-in. This not only applies to administration - the hardware can also be configured to suit your needs. Racks can be configured individually, including physical network components. In many cases, there is no need to compromise on functionality. This is because dedicated servers can be operated like a genuine cloud environment with the right tools. Dedicated servers offer performance, security and control, simplicity and often lower total cost of ownership. Dedicated servers can be the better solution for many companies - whether for running a high-traffic website, storing and processing large amounts of data or supporting business-critical applications.