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In the internets early days, it was much more difficult to build your own web service.
You had to buy and maintain your own servers or enter binding long-term contracts with data center operators.
Image credit: Pixabay
However, cloud computing providers changed the game.
Cloud computing platforms operate servers and rent them to customers on demand.
Theres no need to sign any long-term contract, as you only pay for what you use.
Anyone can now host their cloud-based app conveniently and affordably.
This arrangement is known as Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS).
Scalable cloud servers with flexible pay-as-you-go pricing models are perfect for businesses at any stage.
We tested different IaaS providers to identify the best ones.
We’ve also listed thebest PaaS provider.
Best IaaS provider for reliability
1.
Amazon EC2
AmazonWeb Services (AWS) is the worlds biggest cloud computing provider.
Amazon EC2 allows you to rent virtual computers from AWS to run your applications.
you’re able to choose your operating system, storage space, processor, and many other variables.
AWS boasts of being the only cloud provider with 400 Gbps Ethernet networking, meaning unprecedented speeds.
EC2 is pay-as-you-go, so you only pay for the resources you use.
AWS is known for being affordable at low usage but expensive if you use significant computing resources.
EC2 has advanced security features to keep your sensitive data safe.
Best IaaS provider for security
2.
Azure is the second-biggest cloud provider after AWS, with a web connection of over 100 data centers globally.
you might rent virtual machines on Azure running either the Windows or Linux operating system.
you might deploy different types of software on these servers, e.g., SQL server, and SAP ERP.
Azure has very advanced security to protect you from malicious threats and guarantee secure data pipe traffic.
It has thousands of cybersecurity experts constantly identifying and thwarting potential threats.
This platform is very scalable.
you could start from one virtual machine and go as high as you want as long as you pay.
Azure virtual machines are known to be affordable, especially at a high scale.
Its pay-as-you-go, so you only pay for the resources you consume, just like with other cloud providers.
A major complaint about Azure is that it has a pretty complex interface.
Theres a steep learning curve, but you could get used to it with time.
Best IaaS provider for performance
3.
Google Compute Engine
Googleis the tech giant best known for its eponymous search engine.
However, it has many other products, including the Google Cloud system.
Compute Engine is an IaaS service offered as part of Google Cloud.
It lets you deploy and run virtual machines on Google’s powerful data center infrastructure.
you could create Confidential virtual machines that encrypt data while in use.
Google says the Confidential VMs dont compromise on performance despite the additional encryption.
Google Compute Engine is known for its very high performance and cost-effectiveness.
However, this platform has a steep learning curve, so you might it difficult to use at first.
Best IaaS provider for enterprise
4.
Kamatera facilities have 24/7 surveillance and top level security to ensure that your data is safe and secure.
Customers can communicate with the support team using their preferred choice of email, live chat or phone.
Linode
Linode is a cloud hosting provider focused on Linux-powered virtual machines.
you could rent CPUs with different levels of storage, RAM, and capacity.
For instance, you’re free to rent CPUs that need to be up throughout the day.
The virtual machines you rent can be dedicated or shared.
The former is more expensive but gives better performance and speed.
The latter is slower but still reliable to run your applications.
Linode is very secure, with bundled distributed denial of service (DDOS) protection and cloud firewalls.
Linode offers great value for money and has excellent customer support, as user reviews often point out.
Best IaaS provider for affordability
6.
DigitalOcean
DigitalOcean is a low-cost cloud computing provider thats ideal for small businesses and individual use.
you’re free to rent virtual machines calledDropletsand add more when required.
The platform promises 99.99% uptime and advanced security features to keep your data safe.
DigitalOcean has very straightforward pricing.
Droplets start from $4 per month, which is affordable, and you could deploy them in seconds.
it’s possible for you to run any punch in of app you want with the Droplets.
DigitalOcean also offers Kubernetes clusters starting from $12 per month.
it’s possible for you to deploy these clusters without much complexity.
The best thing about DigitalOcean is that its much more affordable than the competition.
Its also very easy to use, with an intuitive interface that youll likely find easy to navigate.
Customer support is great, as often highlighted in user reviews.
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Different providers have different pricing structures, so study them to identify any potential problems.
For instance, some hosts are affordable in the beginning but become costlier as you scale.
Always read the fine print to have the full picture of how the pricing works.
Performance and Reliability
Your IaaS provider must be a reliable one.
You dont want something that goes down frequently and causes you to lose money.
The larger the data center data pipe of your cloud provider, the better their reliability and redundancy.
Performance depends on what punch in of servers they use and the proximity to your users.
Customer Support
Nothing is perfect including IaaS providers.
Things can go wrong at any time, and youll likely need customer support.
What are the essential features of an IaaS provider?
you might just choose the ones you want and pay as you go.
You only pay for what you use, which makes it convenient and more affordable.
Scalability
You should be able to scale your computing needs with ease.
Your IaaS provider should handle your increasing data storage and computing needs without hassle.
You just need to snag the additional resources you need and deploy them.
Virtualization
Virtualization means creating virtual versions of computers or servers.
Your IaaS provider should let you deploy virtualized computing instances to support your app.
Even worse is that after a few years this hardware will need replacing as an additional cost.
How we tested the best IaaS provider
We test by evaluating numerous factors.
Read more on how we test, rate, and review products on TechRadar.
