This article will jump into what a dedicated server is, how it differs from other hosting options, and why it might be the best choice for your online needs. Whether you’re running a large e-commerce site, a resource-heavy application, or simply need enhanced security, understanding dedicated servers can significantly impact your decision-making. Stick around to uncover how upgrading to a dedicated server could be a game-changer for your online presence.

What Is a Dedicated Server? What Is It Used For?

A dedicated server is a single physical server exclusively used by one client, offering tremendous power and flexibility without the competition for resources found in shared hosting environments. It serves multiple purposes, from hosting large-scale websites to running intensive applications.

Business Uses for Dedicated Servers

Dedicated servers provide robust solutions for businesses with high demands. They excel in several key operational areas:

• Enhanced Performance and Reliability: A dedicated server ensures your business applications run efficiently with increased uptime. This setup provides a stable environment, critical for high-traffic websites or complex applications.
• Security and Compliance: If your business handles sensitive data, such as credit card information or medical records, a dedicated server supports enhanced security protocols. These might include SSL certificates and custom firewall configurations that are crucial for compliance with industry regulations like HIPAA or PCI DSS.
• Customization and Control: You gain full control over the server’s configurations. This customization allows you to tailor hardware and software to meet specific needs, optimizing both performance and resource usage.
• Scalability: As your business grows, a dedicated server can scale alongside it. You can upgrade physical resources like RAM and storage without migrating to a new server, making it easier to manage expansion seamlessly.

The Benefits of a Dedicated Server

When you choose a dedicated server, you gain enhanced performance. Unlike shared hosting, where resources are distributed among multiple users, a dedicated server reserves all its resources exclusively for your use. This setup ensures that your applications run more smoothly and load faster, which is crucial if your site handles high traffic or complex database interactions.

Security levels on a dedicated server are significantly higher. As the only user, you control the security settings, which reduces the risks of cross-site contamination and attacks that are more common in shared environments. Besides, compliance with data protection regulations is easier to achieve with a dedicated server because you can carry out necessary security measures tailored to your specific business requirements.

Customization is another major advantage — you have the freedom to configure the server environment according to your needs. Whether it’s installing specialized software, adjusting server settings, or choosing the operating system, a dedicated server provides the flexibility that shared hosting services can’t match.

Dedicated servers ensure better uptime and reliability. With hardware resources fully at your disposal, downtimes caused by other users’ traffic spikes or technical issues are virtually eliminated. This reliability is vital for businesses where online presence directly impacts revenue and brand reputation.

Scalability is streamlined with a dedicated server. As your business grows, you can easily upgrade your server’s capabilities without the constraints or competition from other hosted entities. This scalability ensures that your infrastructure evolves in step with your growth, avoiding performance bottlenecks and maintaining efficient operations.

By investing in a dedicated server, you’re not just buying a piece of hardware; you’re securing a foundation that supports and drives business growth through superior performance, security, and scalability.

How Does Dedicated Hosting Work?

Understanding how dedicated hosting operates will illuminate why it’s a premier choice for many businesses. A dedicated server is a physical server rented exclusively by you and not shared with any other clients. This setup ensures your resources — CPU, memory, and storage — are not drained by another company’s activities. When you choose dedicated hosting, a service provider configures and maintains the physical hardware, but it’s exclusively available to your organization. This means you benefit from full control over the server environment. You’re able to customize software, configurations, and operating systems to meet specific needs. Also, given the exclusivity, traffic from other sources doesn’t impact your server, ensuring stable and consistent performance.

First, your hosting provider installs the necessary hardware in a data center. These centers are designed to maintain optimal server conditions, including regulated climate and robust security measures—both physical and cyber. Next, the server connects directly to a high-speed internet network, ensuring rapid data transfer rates, essential for high-demand applications and large-scale operations. Maintenance and technical support form a significant aspect of dedicated hosting services. IT specialists handle necessary updates, security patches, and hardware issues, allowing you to focus more on strategic business activities rather than operational troubleshooting. Finally, dedicated servers offer enhanced security protocols, customized to protect your specific data and business processes. This setup often includes advanced firewall protection, intrusion detection systems, and regular security audits. 

If your business handles sensitive data, personal customer information, or requires compliance with industry regulations, a dedicated server provides a tailored environment to securely manage all these needs.

Why Should You Upgrade to Dedicated Server Hosting?

When considering an upgrade to dedicated server hosting, you engage in a decision that brings enhanced capacity and control. This switch primarily benefits your business in several fundamental ways, standing out particularly when your needs exceed the capabilities of shared hosting services.

Enhanced Performance and Reliability

Upgrading ensures your website operates with increased speed and efficiency. Unlike shared hosting, a dedicated server doesn’t have you competing for resources like CPU, RAM, or bandwidth with other users. High traffic volumes are handled smoothly, maintaining uptime and delivering a consistent user experience.

Advanced Security Measures

Security is paramount, especially when handling sensitive data. Dedicated servers provide an isolated environment, reducing the risk of cyber threats compared to shared resources. Administering your server allows for tailored security protocols, including firewalls, anti-malware systems, and regular updates, ensuring comprehensive protection.

Full Administrative Control

Having full control over the server environment is a significant benefit of dedicated hosting. You can optimize server settings, install the necessary software, and make adjustments based on the specific needs of your business. This level of control is crucial for businesses with specialized hosting requirements.

Scalability to Meet Business Growth

Dedicated servers offer scalability options that allow your infrastructure to expand in line with your business growth. Adding more storage, increasing processing power, or enhancing bandwidth can be done without disrupting existing operations, ensuring you can scale efficiently and effectively.

Use Cases of Dedicated Servers

Dedicated servers serve various roles beyond hosting large-scale websites and applications. Each use case benefits from the unique features of dedicated hosting, such as high performance, reliability, advanced security, and full administrative control.

Cryptocurrency and Blockchain Applications

Cryptocurrency platforms and blockchain networks require high computational power and security, making dedicated servers a perfect fit. Whether you’re running a cryptocurrency exchange, mining, or validating transactions on a blockchain, the enhanced processing capabilities and robust security of dedicated servers ensure seamless operation. This infrastructure helps handle the vast amounts of data required for transactions while maintaining the transparency and security that blockchain technology demands. The power of dedicated servers allows cryptocurrency exchanges, mining operations, and blockchain applications can ensure their platforms run smoothly, securely, and efficiently providing reliability and stability for your needs.

Gaming Servers

When you host gaming servers on a dedicated server, you benefit from low latency and high processing power, ensuring smooth, uninterrupted gameplay. Popular games like Minecraft and Counter-Strike significantly benefit from this setup, as they require stable connections and the ability to handle sudden increases in player numbers.

E-Commerce Platforms

Running an e-commerce platform on a dedicated server provides enhanced security and robust performance, crucial for handling high volume transactions and sensitive customer data. For example, platforms like Magento or Shopify thrive when hosted on dedicated servers because they can perform optimally without disruptions during high-traffic events like Black Friday.

Data Analytics

Dedicated servers are ideal for data-intensive applications, such as Big Data processing and real-time analytics. They allow you to use their extensive processing power and bandwidth to handle large datasets quickly and efficiently, enhancing your ability to make data-driven decisions swiftly.

Digital Content Creation

For content creators handling high-resolution video and images, dedicated servers offer the processing power and storage necessary to render and export media files swiftly. This setup ensures that digital content, whether for streaming or graphic design, is produced and distributed without delay.

How Much Does a Dedicated Server Cost?

Exploring the financial considerations of dedicated servers, prices can vary significantly based on several factors. Typically, dedicated server costs range from $80 to over $500 per month. The variance in pricing depends on the hardware specifications, bandwidth requirements, level of management provided, and additional services like backups and security measures.

Factors Influencing Dedicated Server Prices

• Hardware Performance: The server’s CPU, RAM, storage type, and capacity play pivotal roles in determining the cost. High-performing servers, equipped for processing large datasets or supporting high-traffic websites, invariably come with a higher price tag.
• Bandwidth Allocation: Servers that offer higher bandwidth to accommodate more significant data transfers cost more. If your operations entail sending, receiving, or accessing large amounts of data, you’ll need a plan with ample bandwidth.
• Level of Management: Managed hosting services, where the service provider handles maintenance and technical support, generally cost more than unmanaged services. Unmanaged servers, requiring you to perform updates and troubleshooting, could reduce your monthly fees but necessitate technical competence.
• Security Features: Enhanced security features, like advanced firewalls, intrusion detection, and DDoS protection, are crucial for sensitive data and critical operations, so adding to the cost.
• Support and Backup Services: Options for technical support, both in scope and availability, can affect pricing. Also, regular backups and disaster recovery services add layers of data protection and increase costs.

Estimating Your Cost

To estimate the cost of a dedicated server, review your business’s specific needs in terms of performance, security, and scalability. If your website sees high traffic volumes or you manage sensitive information, investing in higher bandwidth, enhanced security, and comprehensive support services might be necessary.

Understanding these factors ensures that you select a dedicated server that not only meets your performance requirements but also stretches every dollar of your hosting budget effectively.

How To Choose the Right Dedicated Server Plan for Your Needs?

Selecting the right dedicated server plan necessitates considering several factors that align with your specific online needs. Once you’ve resolved to upgrade to a dedicated server for its performance, flexibility, and security, follow these steps to ensure you get the most out of your investment.

Assess Your Website’s Requirements

Start by evaluating the performance and security needs of your website. Websites with high traffic volumes, those handling sensitive transactions, or housing large databases require robust security measures and higher performance standards. Analyze bandwidth requirements and processing power to avoid unnecessary costs or performance bottlenecks.

Compare Server Configurations

Different providers offer varied configurations that include CPU type, number of cores, RAM, disk space, and type of storage. For high-traffic websites or those running complex applications, servers featuring powerful multi-core processors and high RAM will provide smoother operations. Opt for SSDs over HDDs for faster data access times.

Evaluate Bandwidth Allocations

Ensure the plan provides adequate bandwidth, especially if your site streams high-quality media or handles large files. Most dedicated server plans come with a set amount of bandwidth; excess usage can lead to additional charges. Check if the host allows scalability in bandwidth allocation based on your site’s growth.

Consider The Level of Management and Support

If your team lacks technical server management expertise, consider a managed server plan. Managed plans typically include 24/7 support, automatic backups, malware scanning, and updates that can safeguard your website against new threats.

Examine Security Features

Given your previous emphasis on security, prioritize plans that provide advanced security features. These may include DDoS protection, firewalls, and SSL certificates. Security extends beyond digital protection, so ensure physical security measures at the data centers are also top-notch.

Balance Performance With Cost

While higher specifications generally come with higher prices, finding a balance between performance needs and your budget is crucial. Review the total cost of ownership, which includes setup, maintenance, and potential scalability costs, to ensure it aligns with your financial projections. Referring back to the performance, security, and scalability requirements previously discussed, diligently applying these steps will guide you in choosing the right dedicated server that fits both your technical and budgetary confines.

How Can Hivelocity Support Your Dedicated Server Requirements?

Choosing Hivelocity for your dedicated server needs ensures you’re equipped with top-tier resources tailored to your specific online demands. Whether you’re running large-scale applications or managing high-traffic websites you’ll find that our solutions offer the stability performance and security you require. 

Our team is committed to providing you with comprehensive support and advanced customization options making it easier than ever to scale and maintain your online presence effectively. With Hivelocity you’re not just getting a service provider but a partner dedicated to your success.

Check out more about our dedicated server options here or take a look at our pricing. We’re here to help you take your server needs to the next level!

The post What is a Dedicated Server? Understanding Its Benefits and Uses for Your Website appeared first on Hivelocity Hosting.

Enter the world of dedicated servers — a game-changer for businesses looking to scale efficiently and securely. By opting for a dedicated server, you’re not just purchasing hardware; you’re investing in a robust foundation for your digital presence. 

This article will guide you through the benefits of dedicated servers and how they can revolutionize your online operations, ensuring you’re well-equipped to make a well-informed choice.

Why Would You Buy a Dedicated Server?

If you’re experiencing slow website loading times during peak traffic, buying a dedicated server might be the solution you’re looking for. Unlike shared hosting, a dedicated server offers you exclusive access to its resources. This transition can significantly improve your website’s performance and reliability. Here are a few reasons you might consider making the switch to a dedicated server:

• Enhanced Performance and Speed: Dedicated servers provide all their processing power solely to your website, ensuring faster load times even during high-traffic periods. For example, an e-commerce site during the Black Friday sale would perform much better on a dedicated server.
• Improved Security: With a dedicated server, you’re not sharing space with other businesses which could be potential targets for cyber threats. This separation significantly reduces your vulnerability, giving you control over security protocols.
• Greater Control and Customization: You’ll have root access to configure and optimize your server based on specific needs without restrictions. If your business uses special software or has high spikes in traffic, adjusting server settings for optimal performance becomes possible.
• Scalability: As your business grows, your server can too. You can add more storage, upgrade capabilities, or increase bandwidth easily, without having to migrate to a new server or service.
• Reliability: Dedicated servers are known for their uptime and stability. If your business relies heavily on your online presence, this reliability is crucial for maintaining customer trust and satisfaction.

Investing in a dedicated server offers these compelling advantages, especially if your business is scaling up and you’re looking to enhance user experience significantly. Through customization, improved security, and increased performance, dedicated servers provide a robust platform for your growing online needs.

Things To Consider Before You Buy a Dedicated Server

Assessing Your Needs

Before purchasing a dedicated server, it’s critical to evaluate exactly what your business requires. Consider the types of applications you’ll run—whether they are resource-intensive software or standard office tools. For example, a graphic design company would require significantly more processing power and memory compared to a local bookstore listing its inventory.

Performance Requirements

The performance of your dedicated server is key. You’ll need to decide on CPU type, memory size, and disk space based on the workload. If your website handles complex queries and traffic spikes, opt for a high-frequency CPU and ample RAM.

Potential Downtime

Minimizing downtime is crucial, as it can directly impact your revenue and brand reputation. Inquire about the server’s uptime guarantee.  A reliable provider usually offers at least 99.9% uptime, ensuring your operations remain stable.

Available Customizations

Customization allows you to tailor server settings to your specific needs. This can range from adjusting server configurations to choosing the hardware setup, such as SSDs for faster access or more energy-efficient components. The ability to modify your server environment plays a pivotal role in optimizing performance.

Security Features

Security is paramount when you operate online. Look for servers that offer robust security features including DDoS protection, SSL certificates, and managed firewalls. These tools help safeguard your data against attacks and breaches.

Data Backups

Regular data backups are essential to prevent data loss due to hardware failures or cyber-attacks. Ensure your server provider offers automated backup solutions that make it easy to restore your data whenever necessary.

Network Quality

A high-quality network ensures faster access to your data and applications, enhancing the user experience. Check the provider’s network speed and bandwidth provisions, as these will affect your website’s loading time and the overall efficiency of data transfer.

Customer & Technical Support

Exceptional customer service and technical support can significantly ease the management of your dedicated server. Look for services that offer 24/7 support through multiple channels like phone, email, and live chat.

Scalability

As your business grows, so will your server needs. A good dedicated server provider offers scalable solutions that allow you to upgrade resources without significant downtime or data migration issues.

Available Control Panel & Operating System Options

Choosing the right control panel and operating system (OS) is crucial for managing your server effectively. Popular OS options include Windows Server, Ubuntu, and CentOS, each providing different levels of customization and functionality. Similarly, control panels like cPanel or Plesk simplify server management tasks with user-friendly interfaces.

Price

Finally, consider the cost. While dedicated servers provide numerous benefits, they come at a higher price point than shared hosting. Balance your budget with your needs to find a server that provides the best value without compromising on essential features. Remember, a dedicated server is an investment in your business’s foundation. Taking these factors into account will help you choose the most suitable option, thereby enhancing your online presence and supporting your business’s growth.

Buy a Dedicated Server With Hivelocity

Choosing the right dedicated server is a pivotal decision for your business. It’s essential to weigh your performance requirements against potential costs while not compromising on security and scalability. That’s where Hivelocity comes into the picture.

Choosing Hivelocity for your dedicated server ensures you are partnering with a provider that prioritizes performance, security, and reliability. Our state-of-the-art data centers, equipped with cutting-edge hardware, guarantee optimal uptime and lightning-fast speeds. With a team of experts available 24/7, you can trust that your server is in good hands, ensuring your business runs smoothly and efficiently. At Hivelocity, we offer a range of customizable server solutions to meet your unique needs, whether you’re a small business or a large enterprise. 

Ready to elevate your hosting experience? Contact us, check out our pricing, or buy a dedicated server today to get started.

The post Buy a Dedicated Server: Top Considerations for Purchasing the Right Server for Your Business appeared first on Hivelocity Hosting.

In a surprising move, GoDaddy has announced the discontinuation of its dedicated server services as of August 2024, leaving many customers scrambling to find a reliable alternative.

Why GoDaddy is Ending Dedicated Server Services

In a recent support center article, GoDaddy announced it would discontinue its dedicated servers in favor of VPS. While GoDaddy’s decision to phase out dedicated server offerings is unclear, it closely aligns with its strategy to streamline its product portfolio in favor of virtualization, leaving many businesses without the robust, dedicated hosting solutions they rely on. They now require customers to move to a comparable VPS or transition to a different provider. The article encourages customers to proactively move their hosting to a new VPS or dedicated provider and offers a free one-month coupon to assist with the transition. The support article does not specify when they will power off the old dedicated servers, but this will likely happen shortly after they complete migrating accounts.

This sudden move and quick turnaround have left many in the industry questioning why GoDaddy has made this decision. Dedicated servers, which require more intensive management and technical expertise, may not fit well with GoDaddy’s shift towards more automated, user-friendly services.

Why Hivelocity is a Strong Choice

For those seeking a reliable alternative to GoDaddy’s dedicated servers, Hivelocity continues to invest in dedicated server technology, ensuring that businesses have access to powerful, customizable, and scalable hosting solutions for both Linux and Windows. Our dedicated servers start at just $40/month. Use code 50OFFINSTANT at checkout to get 50% off your first month on any instant server purchase. Here’s why Hivelocity stands out:

• Customizable and Scalable Solutions: Tailor your dedicated web hosting services to fit your specific needs. Choose from a variety of hardware configurations, and use Hivelocity’s API and Terraform provider for automatic resource scaling. Benefit from hourly billing, with the best pricing available through quarterly and annual commitments. Additionally, our infinitely scalable object storage comes with no egress fees.
• Global Data Centers: With 50 state-of-the-art data centers across 6 continents, Hivelocity allows you to select server locations that best serve your audience. Our extensive network ensures you can reach 80% of the global internet population in under 25 milliseconds, reducing latency and improving load times for a better user experience.
• Top-Ranked Support: Enjoy exceptional support with responses from experienced engineers in under 15 minutes. Rated highest among hosting providers on TrustPilot, G2, HostingAdvice.com, and TechRadar, our support team is available 24/7/365 to meet all your web hosting needs.

Conclusion

GoDaddy’s decision to discontinue its dedicated server services represents a major change for many users who depend on them. Fortunately, Hivelocity provides a powerful alternative with exceptional performance, flexibility, and support tailored to modern businesses. 

For those transitioning from GoDaddy’s dedicated servers, Hivelocity offers instant and customized dedicated server solutions and a strong commitment to customer satisfaction. Discover how Hivelocity can make a difference for your organization. Contact us now to learn more—call or chat with us today.

The post GoDaddy Discontinues Dedicated Server Services: Why Hivelocity is Your Top Alternative appeared first on Hivelocity Hosting.

Looking for a way to be the first to hear about Hivelocity’s new product launches? Sign up for our new products email list! This list is your ticket to being the first to hear about our exciting new product launches.

In the coming months, Hivelocity is excited to release our latest product launch: our Virtual Private Server (VPS) solution. VPS uses virtualization technology to divide resources on a physical server that is shared with other users. While you get a dedicated server space, with a reserved amount of resources, their resources will never overlap – even with a server that may have multiple users accessing it at once. This is a powerful solution for businesses and individuals searching for a hosting solution that offers a balance of flexibility and affordability. By signing up for our email list, you’ll be the first to receive all of the details on our VPS launch, including pricing, specifications, and launch date.

But that’s not all – by subscribing to our email list, you’ll also be the first to know about any other new products we have in the pipeline. Whether it’s a cutting-edge solution, an advanced security feature, or a new data center location, our email list subscribers will always be in the know. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to stay ahead of the curve.

The post Sign Up to Stay in the Know: Hivelocity’s VPS Solutions Coming Soon! appeared first on Hivelocity Hosting.

As more organizations seek an alternative to the outrageous data egress fees and inherent risks of the cloud, many forward-thinking companies are turning to dedicated server hardware and bare metal clouds as their digital infrastructure solution. With increased processing power, improved reliability, greater customization opportunities, and thousands of dollars in potential savings, bare metal offers the best of both worlds: cloud-like convenience plus the dependability of dedicated hardware.

But what really is a bare metal cloud? Is it that different from public cloud providers like AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud? Is “bare metal” just the next buzzword?

In this article we’ll analyze bare metal as it compares to more traditional cloud infrastructure, take an in-depth look at its many benefits, and help you build your case for making the move to a bare metal cloud solution with Hivelocity.

Bare Metal Cloud vs. Public & Private Cloud

To understand the performance and cost benefits of a bare metal cloud compared to more traditional cloud solutions, it’s essential to first understand the differences between public cloud, private cloud, and a bare metal cloud operating with dedicated server hardware.

Bare metal offers the best of both worlds: cloud-like convenience plus the dependability of dedicated hardware.

What is the Public Cloud?

The public cloud, otherwise known as “the cloud”, is a digital infrastructure solution that utilizes public internet lines to move and store data for users around the world. Emphasizing scalability and convenience, the cloud’s decentralized infrastructure allows for ease-of-access to crucial data, leading to highly collaborative working environments across vast physical distances. Regardless of location, users around the world can simultaneously access and edit data, ensuring an organization’s critical applications are always available.

But while the cloud has many immediate advantages, as those who have come to rely on it will often tell you, it has its disadvantages as well. This is especially true when it comes to security, performance, and long-term cost.

In reality, the cloud is just a newer version of shared hosting. Utilizing massive, hyperscale data centers, services like AWS and Azure build their cloud infrastructure over networks of interconnected servers. These dedicated servers act as pooled resources which are then partitioned into virtual machines (VMs) and sold to customers as cloud instances. Because these VMs represent only fractions of the actual dedicated servers powering them, their performance is limited and their security isn’t as tight as non-internet-based solutions. Users can increase their system’s performance by adding more VMs, but as their reliance on the cloud grows, the cost of their data transfer grows as well. In the end, these data transfer fees can cost organizations thousands of dollars each month.

As costs skyrocket, many businesses seek out alternatives to the public cloud. It’s only then that too many realize they’re stuck. With their company’s infrastructure built entirely with proprietary software, it can become incredibly time-consuming and expensive for an organization to switch from one cloud provider to another. This leads to vendor lock-in, the concept that a company is too reliant on its service provider to even have the option to leave.

The end result? Many organizations find themselves forced to stay with the cloud, even as it proves increasingly expensive, their larger business decisions now guided by the financial consequences of their digital infrastructure.

So, what’s the solution?

What is Private Cloud?

For many, the most compelling alternative to the public cloud is a private cloud solution. Like the public cloud, private cloud solutions are built from networks of interconnected dedicated servers sharing resources and linked via the internet. The key difference is, rather than utilizing public internet to connect these devices, a private cloud is linked together with a single organization’s, or group of organizations’, internal network. In other words, rather than a loose network of servers supporting thousands of unassociated users across the world, private clouds are operated independently by organizations for the exclusive usage of their own members. This leads to greater control and much higher security.

In this way, private cloud networks offer users the same system-wide benefits as the public cloud while minimizing its downsides. In return for a higher initial investment, organizations can reduce external risks by keeping their data secure within a controlled environment.

Now, private cloud still has its drawbacks. Managing a private network requires a higher degree of technical skill than simply signing up with a public cloud provider. Depending on existing in-house resources, your organization may already have an IT department capable of handling this. For those that don’t, it’s an important extra consideration.

Additionally, unless your organization already owns a significant number of dedicated servers, the process of building your private cloud network from the ground up is financially equivalent to constructing your own data center. For these reasons, making the switch to a private cloud can have a large financial impact on your organization’s IT budget, depending on what resources you already have available.

So, if a public cloud and private cloud are really only differentiated by the networks they run on, then what’s a bare metal cloud?

What is Bare Metal?

At its core, a bare metal cloud is a single-tenant hosting solution powered by dedicated server hardware. With their own RAM and CPU, dedicated servers offer users a more powerful, stable, and customizable solution than the public cloud. Choose your preferred operating system, install any desired applications, and utilize your entire server’s resources as needed.

At the end of the day, any hosting package you use is actually a form of dedicated server hosting. Whether it’s shared web hosting, virtual private servers, or one of the major public cloud solutions, all these hosting methods are utilizing dedicated server resources to power their processes. The difference comes down to how much access you, the user, have to the underlying hardware.

Dedicated servers offer users a more powerful, stable, and customizable solution than the public cloud.

Need 100% of your system’s RAM for a resource-intensive application? Want to emphasize system efficiency for running processes seamlessly? Storing large volumes of private customer payment information?

When you own the entire server, you retain control over all this and more. Why limit yourself? If a cloud instance is just a fragmented piece of a dedicated server, why pay for a partial hosting solution when you can improve your system’s power, security, and reliability, just by taking control of the full machine?

But what do these advantages really look like? Is bare metal right for every user and organization? Most importantly, is bare metal right for your business?

The Benefits of Bare Metal Hardware

There are a multitude of benefits associated with dedicated servers and bare metal clouds, ranging from higher processing power to tighter security and long-term savings. In the sections below, we’ll cover these advantages in-depth and demonstrate how a bare metal cloud solution from Hivelocity can help bring financial predictability and system-wide reliability back to your digital infrastructure.

Increased Power

Increased processing power is the most immediate benefit of bare metal hardware. When it comes to CPU-intensive processes, nothing can beat the computational speed of a dedicated server. After all, if a shared instance is only a fraction of the system’s total resources, wouldn’t access to the entire system automatically prove more powerful?

As a result of this increased processing power, dedicated servers complete tasks and queries more quickly than non-dedicated solutions. The faster your system can sort through large volumes of data, the better your customers’ user experience and the more likely they will remain loyal to your brand.

Therefore, dedicated servers not only keep companies more competitive, they also remove barriers to future growth opportunities, ensuring your organization is never limited by its digital infrastructure.

Greater Reliability

When it comes to bare metal, reliability means two things:

1. First, reliability means the predictability of knowing your applications and instances will consistently run as intended. When you control 100% of the available resources, you avoid the risks of overlap inherent to a multi-user environment. This allows administrators to build hyper-precise systems with focused, intentional resource usage.
   
2. Second, reliability also means trust. It’s knowing your system will be up and running when you and your customers need it, supported by a world-class network and a team of hosting industry veterans. Hyperscale data facilities like those used by the public cloud, aren’t focused on maintaining 100% uptime; it’s a numbers game to them. At Hivelocity, we provide exceptional service every time. Backed by our 99.99% Uptime Guarantee, you can rest easy knowing your data is in the hands of true industry experts.

Higher Security

Whether it’s meeting strict data regulations required for HIPAA and PCI compliance, or simply taking a proactive approach to data security to minimize risk, a dedicated server solution offers unbeatable protection against external threats. After all, when you control the machine, you control its security. You decide which forms of software and hardware firewalls are implemented and who has access to what. You choose who, if anyone, shares that digital space with you, and maintain control over what traffic you want coming in and out.

With cyber-attacks growing more frequent and data leaks occurring constantly, your customers want protection, not excuses. The fact is, premium security solutions are more important than ever.

Improved Flexibility

Anything that can be done on the cloud can be done on a dedicated server: it’s just a matter of having the right tools. Better yet, dedicated server solutions allow administrators the freedom to use the specific software they prefer, from the operating system to every application installed.

Prefer a certain virtual machine manager? Need a custom combination of VM and containerization? Prefer Windows-based solutions rather than running Linux?

With a private dedicated server, you control everything. Build your system the way you want and make updates or changes as desired to ensure your infrastructure remains cutting-edge. Hivelocity’s non-proprietary, open-source solutions, let you retain full control over your system: decide which 3rd party applications to utilize, automate your infrastructure with IaC tools like Terraform, and remain free from the trappings of vendor lock-in.

More Affordable

One of the biggest selling points of the cloud is its purported affordability. While the upfront investment of a dedicated server hosting solution can certainly prove more expensive than signing on with a public cloud offering like AWS, it doesn’t take long for hidden costs and outrageous data egress fees to tip the scales back in bare metal’s favor. The truth is, the potential savings of switching to bare metal are massive. Depending on the volume of data your organization is using on a monthly basis, you could be saving thousands of dollars every month by switching to a dedicated server hosting solution.

Curious to see what you could be saving? Read on for a side-by-side comparison of data egress fees between Hivelocity and the big three public cloud providers, as well as a few crucial customer testimonials from organizations who have saved thousands by making the switch to bare metal hardware.

Who Benefits the Most from Bare Metal?

As demonstrated above, there are many benefits to bare metal. While the initial upfront cost of a bare metal cloud may serve as a barrier to entry, the fact remains that these premium solutions have become increasingly necessary investments for enterprise-scale operations or those businesses looking to grow. Depending on the size of your organization, the volume of data you move on a monthly basis, and your intended growth trajectory, a bare metal dedicated server solution may be exactly what your organization needs to achieve its technical and fiscal objectives.

Any organization that prioritizes growth, security, and financial predictability, will benefit from using dedicated server hardware.

But what do these companies look like? Who stands to see the most benefit from bare metal?

When looking at companies with the greatest potential for savings by switching to bare metal, those who utilize or produce resource-intensive software, especially those within the Infrastructure as a Solution (IaaS) and Software as a Solution (SaaS) spaces, are some of the first that come to mind. For these companies especially, the bandwidth costs of running their services through the public cloud can accumulate quickly. If your company utilizes virtual reality, augmented reality, or artificial intelligence technologies, chances are you’re paying a lot for the cloud services necessary to run these resource-intensive tools.

But let’s say your company works in the media & entertainment industry, providing streaming services or competitive gaming experiences for users around the world. Not only do these types of services move massive amounts of data, but they do so in an environment where every millisecond of latency can put their customer’s loyalty at risk. When fast buffering times and decreased lag mean the difference between success and financial ruin, it’s imperative you place your company in the hands of a service provider you trust.

Alternatively, let’s say your organization is a hosting provider managing shared hosting instances for your customers. The more powerful and reliable your service provider is, the better the experience will be for your customers and the more likely you are to see large-scale growth. This is true of those in the retail space as well, both traditional brick-and-mortar establishments as well as large e-commerce shops.

The fact is, any organization that prioritizes growth, security, and financial predictability, will benefit from using dedicated server hardware. Scale or upgrade on your schedule, build the ideal system for your organization’s specific needs, and do it all while saving thousands of dollars on your monthly bill.

Sounds too good to be true? Let’s take a look at the numbers.

Saving Thousands with Bare Metal

At first glance, it seems impossible that a dedicated server solution could be more affordable than the public cloud. After all, with package deals and rotating sign up bonuses, you can practically start using the cloud for free. Spin up an instance in minutes, access it from anywhere, and do it all for pennies: it’s part of what makes it so enticing.

The reality is though, the “affordability of the cloud” is a calculated illusion. We cover this in-depth in our article, Is Your Cloud Too Expensive?, where we show a side-by-side comparison of data egress fees charged through AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud, but for the sake of convenience, we’ve copied the table from that article into the space below:

*pricing per GB may vary by location

As you can see in the table above, the true cost of the public cloud isn’t in partitioning instances: it’s in moving data. If you’re a customer of AWS moving 150TB of data each month, your organization could be paying over $12,000 a month in additional fees on top of your expected costs. That same amount of data egress with Hivelocity would only cost you $1,300 a month. That’s thousands of dollars every month, tens of thousands of dollars every year you might be wasting.

The true cost of the public cloud isn’t in partitioning instances: it’s in moving data.

But this is just an extreme example, right? Surely there aren’t actual users out there moving that much data and paying that much in overage fees?

The truth is these users are a lot more common than you think. Just ask Vince Albanese, a Hivelocity customer of over 15 years who saves $15,000 a month with his hybrid cloud dedicated server solution. Or Robbie Byrd, owner and operator of the not-for-profit 9/11 in Realtime project, who was forced to shut down his AWS-hosted website after two days of data egress resulted in a $10,000 bill. Just talk to fleet management SaaS provider Fleetistics, who cut costs by over 25% by moving off Azure’s cloud and switching to Hivelocity’s bare metal. Or artificial intelligence pioneers Klink AI, who are saving 500% by running a bare metal kubernetes-based solution instead of AWS.

These customers aren’t rare. At Hivelocity we meet users and organizations like these every day: businesses making the switch to bare metal and saving hundreds of thousands as a result. Who’s to say your organization couldn’t be saving thousands too?

Making the Switch: Hybrid Cloud

Let’s just say what everyone is thinking: large-scale data migrations and infrastructure shifts are massive undertakings. The time, money, and human resources needed to pull off a successful migration can put a strain on even the most well-funded IT department. There’s a reason companies don’t switch their digital infrastructure more than they have to. The associated risks are large and the work involved can be huge. But that’s exactly what makes hybrid cloud such an enticing solution for more and more companies.

Similar to bare metal, a hybrid cloud is a cloud hosting solution that utilizes custom combinations of public cloud services and dedicated server hardware to create highly specialized environments. These hybrid clouds are built to utilize the best of both solutions allowing users to keep the public cloud services they find most useful while cutting out the rest. By offloading onto bare metal any processes which require high computational power or those most responsible for negative financial impacts, companies can improve output while reducing costs.

Hybrid cloud allows organizations to start small, offloading data and processes one server at a time until the perfect balance is achieved.

Best of all, because hybrid cloud solutions use a mix of technologies, they act as an ideal entry point for organizations considering the switch to bare metal. Simply assess which parts of your public cloud solution are the most essential and trim the fat on the resource-extensive processes draining your budget. At Hivelocity our dedicated server solutions start at less than $100 a month and can be upgraded as needed, allowing you to test the potential for a hybrid cloud solution with minimal financial risk.

In this way, hybrid cloud allows organizations to start small, offloading data and processes one server at a time until the perfect balance is achieved. Along the way you might find that an all bare metal solution is the best fit for your organization or alternatively a blended, hybrid solution may prove the best means of meeting your company’s specific goals and needs.

Either way, when the potential monthly savings could save you thousands of dollars, hybrid cloud offers a simple, affordable means of testing these advantages in a low risk, high reward environment.

So, Is Bare Metal Right for Your Business?

As with everything in life, there is no one-size-fits-all solution to hosting. Depending on your organization’s size, data usage, and growth trajectory, your ideal infrastructure solution may involve parts of public cloud, hybrid cloud, or bare metal in different degrees. The key is to remember that savings and performance improvement opportunities are always out there. Whether you drop the cloud entirely or augment your cloud services with bare metal hardware, your business could be one of the many in a position to save thousands on your monthly IT bill by making the switch to a bare metal cloud solution.

So if your organization relies on the cloud in any capacity, if you utilize or have ever considered resource-intensive applications like AI, or if you’ve ever looked at your hosting bill and thought “that’s just too high,” consider making the switch to Hivelocity. We’re in the business of helping others succeed. We can help you too.

Come see what the Hivelocity difference means for your organization. Call or chat now.

– Sean Kelly

The post Bare Metal Cloud? The Case for Dedicated Server Hardware appeared first on Hivelocity Hosting.

September 11th, 2001 is a date which will live in American history forever: a moment frozen in infamy. The 9/11 terrorist attacks were a tragedy which set in motion an era of change throughout the United States and across the global community as a whole. For those of us who witnessed the events of that day firsthand, glued to our TV screens as the reports and rumors poured in, the footage of the planes striking the Twin Towers is an image we may never forget. But while most of us can recall exactly where we were when we heard the news, for Robbie Byrd, his relationship with the events of 9/11 is a little more unique.

In 2001, Robbie was an 18-year-old college sophomore, attending classes, working for the school paper, and dreaming of a future in journalism. When he awoke late on the morning of Tuesday the 11th to news of the World Trade Center attacks, there was no way Robbie could have known the effect that day would have on him, the United States, or the world as a whole; no one did. “My perspective on the world changed in two and a half hours,” says Robbie, reflecting on his memories of the day. Throwing on his clothes, Robbie raced to the office of the school newspaper. While many of us were still questioning what had just happened, Robbie was already in the process of compiling a special edition report on the incident, trying to analyze and make sense of a crisis still unfolding around him. In the twenty years since that day, Robbie’s work as an investigative journalist has found him covering other major stories of crime and tragedy, but like many Americans, the events of 9/11 have stuck with him. In many ways, they remain fresher in his mind than the average person’s.

Robbie is the creator and host of the 9/11 in Realtime project, a not-for-profit educational aid designed to compile and preserve audio and video data from 9/11 into a unified, interactive resource. Its goal? To ensure future generations understand the role 9/11 has played in American history and to give them a glimpse into the dreadful atmosphere of that day, as felt by millions of Americans.

“My perspective on the world changed in two and a half hours.”

First launched in conjunction with the 20th anniversary of 9/11 and originally hosted on AWS, Robbie’s project was intended for a small, specific audience: educators; students; a few curious individuals. But when a sudden surge in exposure resulted in 36,000 visitors over a two-day period, Robbie unexpectedly found himself on the hook for a $10,000 data egress bill from Amazon. On September 13th, 2021, just two days after the launch of his website, Robbie was forced to take down the page or face even higher fees. In the days and weeks which followed, Robbie found himself on a journey that would eventually bring him to Hivelocity, the new home of the 9/11 in Realtime project.

But how did it all happen? Could Amazon’s fees really be that high? Is Robbie’s experience with AWS unique?

To answer these questions, we need to go back to the beginning: to the early days of the 9/11 in Realtime project and the unforeseen events that led Robbie to Hivelocity.

What is 9/11 in Realtime?

Intended as a teaching aid, the 9/11 in Realtime project is a non-linear timeline designed to capture the anxious climate of 9/11 by compiling audio and video data from a multitude of sources into a single, multi-faceted asset. “Imagine sitting in a giant control room, with every piece of media from that day on monitors surrounding you, including coverage from every major network from 12am that morning until 12pm that night,” says Robbie in reference to the project. By selecting a TV channel and a time of day, users can jump back and forth between broadcasts leading up to, during, and after the attacks. Even the website’s user interface is an homage to the era, with panels and features designed to mimic the layout of old Macintosh computers.

Beginning roughly three years ago, the early days of the project were born out of a mix of curiosity, frustration, and a desire to preserve a slice of history at risk of being lost to time. “The project actually started as a way to learn more about how video players and video distribution work,” says Robbie, whose background is in both Journalism and Technology. Initially, the idea just represented a strong cross-section of interests and a means of experimenting with content delivery optimization. It wasn’t until one of the developers helping Robbie with the project admitted that he was too young to remember much from that day, that Robbie realized there was a need here he could meet. Inspired by the Apollo in Real Time project, a similar website which compiles interactive data for the Apollo 11, 13, and 17 launches, Robbie wondered if he could provide a similar experience focused solely on the events of 9/11. What started as a small experiment with just three videos quickly grew into a massive collection of data, housing nearly 72,000 news items.

“Imagine sitting in a giant control room, with every piece of media from that day on monitors surrounding you.”

With the 20th anniversary of the attacks approaching, Robbie found himself disappointed by the lackluster efforts being put forth by the major news outlets: reused footage and repackaged tributes recycled for posterity but providing no new insight or interactivity. “The experience had become kind of stale, almost sanitized. It was hard to not become numb.” Beyond this, many of the 9/11 memorial websites were in bad shape, lacking necessary updates and falling behind on their hosting fees. Thinking of his mother-in-law who works as a teacher, Robbie found himself wondering how today’s students, those too young to have witnessed 9/11 firsthand, could possibly understand the importance of this day without access to the necessary resources and artifacts.

Thus, the 9/11 in Realtime project was born.

2021 and the Early Days with AWS

In the beginning, Robbie never thought his work would draw much attention. The Internet is filled with hundreds of thousands of websites, and while a need for this resource existed, the likelihood that many would ever see Robbie’s pet project were slim. Designed as a tool to help educators supplement their curriculums, Robbie was more focused on getting his project live than optimizing video formats for cost-effective delivery. It just wasn’t the priority.

Seeking convenience and hoping for some leniency in pricing, Robbie turned to AWS for his website’s hosting needs. He had experience building with the platform, and while Robbie points out that setting up infrastructure through Amazon can be difficult, keeping it up and running once it’s established is relatively painless. Beyond that, Robbie hoped that by utilizing some connections he had to Whole Foods Market, a subsidiary of Amazon, he might be able to keep pricing for his website reasonably affordable. After all, the 9/11 in Realtime project is a free teaching aid designed to spread awareness, not reap a profit. Unfortunately, like many ex-AWS customers who end up abandoning the service, Robbie’s experience did not go as intended.

It all started in the days leading up the 20th anniversary of 9/11. Hoping his project would be noticed by teachers and educational professionals, Robbie posted a link to his new memorial site in Reddit’s r/Education subreddit. After the post was blocked by the page’s moderators, Robbie ended up reposting the link to a different subreddit, r/InternetIsBeautiful. The post started gaining traction, and before Robbie knew it, traffic to his website had spiked significantly. That’s when HackerNews took notice. Featuring Robbie’s 9/11 in Realtime project on the front page of their website, HackerNews got thousands of new eyes on the site. From there, traffic exploded and in just two days Robbie had over 36,000 visitors, resulting in nearly 100 TB of outbound data transfer. Because these levels of traffic were completely unexpected, Robbie hadn’t optimized his video format and caching for delivery.

Suddenly, two days of data egress had resulted in a $10,000 bill from Amazon.

Robbie attempted to speak with Amazon on multiple occasions. He applied for promotional credits hoping to bring down his bill but was denied. After several failed attempts, AWS simply advised Robbie to close out his account, and on September 13th, the site was pulled offline.

In the end, the only party claiming a profit was Amazon.

Suddenly, two days of data egress had resulted in a $10,000 bill from Amazon.

Robbie tried to mitigate the damage, relaunching his site as a static, single-page website through Google Cloud in the hopes of getting the content back online. While these efforts were an effective stopgap, he still had 600 gigs of video content to contend with. Without cloud storage through AWS to rely on, Robbie was forced to utilize records available from the Internet Archive, whose older MP4 format videos proved less than ideal for the dynamic needs of live streaming.

Unsure of what to do next, Robbie was stuck between two bad options: underperforming content or overpaying for hosting. Thankfully, that’s when an unexpected third option appeared, offering Robbie a way to complete his vision for the site without breaking the bank in the process.

The 9/11 in Realtime Project Moves to Hivelocity

In September of 2021, when HackerNews featured the 9/11 in Realtime project on their homepage, the abundance of traffic generated unintentionally resulted in the project’s removal from AWS. In a twist of fate, this exposure is also indirectly responsible for the website’s eventual preservation.

By chance, one of the individuals who took notice of the frontpage feature was Mike Architetto, founder and CEO of Hivelocity. Bookmarking the 9/11 in Realtime project, Mike returned a few days later hoping to explore the site in depth, only to discover the page had been taken offline. Concerned and hoping to assist, Mike reached out to Robbie himself, inquiring about the website’s fate and offering Hivelocity’s services as a solution. It was exactly the break Robbie needed. Now, with Hivelocity’s sponsorship and two new servers positioned in strategic geographic locations from among Hivelocity’s 40 available edge-ready data centers, the 9/11 in Realtime project is up and running in its new home, yielding better performance while operating at a fraction of the price.

Since making the switch to Hivelocity, Robbie has found three solutions to his biggest pain points: a sustainable cloud storage option, great bandwidth for video streaming, and the superior computing power of dedicated servers to help optimize video quality. By re-encoding his videos using multi-bandwidth options, Robbie is able to more efficiently optimize his content delivery around the end user, avoiding the shortcomings of the MP4 format, and providing a faster, smoother streaming experience. By keeping his data closer to his users, Hivelocity’s edge solutions are helping Robbie improve the time to first byte on his videos, a crucial component of user-engagement. With testing underway for a new global server load-balancing system, Hivelocity may soon be able to provide even faster results for streaming media providers, decreasing load times further.

With his videos operating more effectively, Robbie now has time to focus on other areas of the project, including UI updates to allow for a more mobile-friendly user experience and filtering through the remaining audio content he’s collected. Robbie’s ultimate goal is to utilize the 9/11 in Realtime project as a framework for a larger learning management tool. His hope is to create a resource where teachers can take any period in history, compile audio and video resources from places like YouTube, mix in images from the Internet and their own notes into an interactive timeline, creating a means to experience these historical artifacts in a more immersive way.

Since making the switch to Hivelocity, Robbie has found three solutions to his biggest pain points: a sustainable cloud storage option, great bandwidth for video streaming, and the superior computing power of dedicated servers to help optimize video quality.

Now, thanks to Hivelocity’s aid, not only is the 9/11 in Realtime project back online, but Robbie’s even planning out future projects, including a similar website built around data covering last year’s January 6th insurrection. Unlike 9/11, which occurred 20 years ago, the January 6th riots are much more recent, and the stockpile of available data is massive. With 2TB of raw video already compiled, Robbie’s biggest need is a team of content reviewers who can help sift through and analyze the data. Those interested in volunteering are welcome to contact Robbie through his email at: me@robbiebyrd.com.

Lastly, Robbie says he’s, “humbled and grateful that people found the site and are using it,” and encourages anyone who’s interested in donating to instead send their donations to the 9/11 Memorial Museum. A large portion of the audio and video data his website utilizes originally came from the 9/11 Memorial Museum, and in Robbie’s opinion, they do an even better job of telling the story of that day than his project does.

The Takeaway

While Robbie’s story and use case are unique, his experience with AWS, unfortunately, is not. What the public cloud promises in convenience and scalability, it makes up for in data transfer fees. Oftentimes, it’s only after an organization or individual has become reliant on the provider’s services that these hidden fees begin to add up. At that point, it can be nearly impossible to extricate yourself from the provider, leading to many finding themselves trapped in vendor lock-in. With Hivelocity covering the data transfer fees for the 9/11 in Realtime project, Robbie’s solution is unique, however even at full price Hivelocity’s data transfer fees can save users thousands of dollars on their monthly IT bills. For those interested in a more concrete analysis of our services and pricing, check out our article, Is Your Cloud Too Expensive?, where we cover in-depth comparisons of the three major public cloud providers vs. our own services.

At the end of the day, the best hosting and digital infrastructure solution is the one which best serves you. If you’re currently drowning in public cloud fees and unsure of where to turn, it might be time to consider your other options. A bare metal cloud from Hivelocity might be the exact solution you’re looking for.

At Hivelocity, we believe that when our customers succeed, we succeed as well. Call or chat with an expert today and see what the Hivelocity difference can mean for your organization.

The post Hivelocity Hosts the 9/11 in Realtime Project appeared first on Hivelocity Hosting.

Colocation is a concept as old as dedicated servers themselves. The fact is, bare metal solutions require dedicated space and experienced technicians. When ideal conditions are necessary to keep your servers running smoothly, why not entrust your hardware to facilities built around their maintenance? By housing your servers in a larger provider’s data center, you not only gain access to premium security, cooling, and the fastest networks possible but a slew of associated financial savings as well. For many organizations, colocation has been a tried and true solution for decades.

But with the rise of public cloud providers like AWS and Azure, has colocating dedicated servers become an outdated infrastructure solution?

Ten years ago, there are many who would have told you “yes.” However, as these early adopters have come to realize, the cloud is not some perfect panacea: for all its perks, its flaws are just as prevalent. The fact is, renting your digital infrastructure on-demand will always be more expensive than owning your servers outright. Even if it doesn’t seem that way when you’re signing the contracts, the fees do eventually add up.

Now, with many early adopters approaching or passing the ten-year mark with their public cloud solutions, market trends are revealing a growing move towards colocation, a resurgence in dedicated bare metal server solutions, and an increasing reliance on hybrid cloud infrastructure.

In this post, we’ll look at some of the evidence supporting the growth of colocation, its projected market potential over the coming years, and why your organization would benefit from a hybrid cloud colocation solution with Hivelocity.

Market Trends, Annual Growth, & Projected Totals

Colocation is booming. According to a new report available through ResearchandMarkets.com, the Global Colocation Market is growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.44%. Assuming this trend continues through 2028, the report predicts global market growth for the colocation industry to rise from roughly 41 billion in 2020 to 101 billion by 2028. Another report from Grand View Research, places these numbers even higher, estimating the current market value for colocation at 44 billion with a 13.3% CAGR.

In other words, in spite of the cloud, reliance on colocation is still growing.

But why? Why are more and more companies moving back to colocation-based solutions for their digital infrastructure?

The fact is, renting your digital infrastructure on-demand will always be more expensive than owning your servers outright.

There are many reasons companies are making the switch to colocation. Whether it’s a desire to reduce public cloud costs and diminish overall reliance, a move towards smaller, greener alternatives to swelling hyperscale data centers, or a need for the location-specific advantages of newer edge facilities, there are many factors contributing to this move away from purely cloud-based solutions.

In the end, the question isn’t, “why are so many companies choosing colocation?”, but rather, “is it time for MY company to consider colocation too?”

Why Colo? The Advantages of Colocation

There are numerous advantages associated with colocation. In the days of on-premise dedicated servers, the key benefit of colocation was reducing physical space requirements. Instead of building server rooms to house your servers on-site, colocation allows companies to utilize the existing square footage of an established provider. This means you not only save on the costs of building and maintaining server rooms, but it also means that future growth opportunities aren’t limited by a lack of physical space to expand in.

Beyond the issue of space, utilizing the larger facilities of a true data center also translates to price breaks in electricity costs and access to superior networks. Because these facilities move large volumes of data, they wield increased power when negotiating with electricity and networking service providers. This can lead to significant price breaks which are typically transferred along to customers as an incentive for using their services.

Additionally, it’s important to remember that a data center’s business relies on its reputation. Mistakes are costly and second chances are rare. For that reason, colocation facilities emphasize reliability, implementing various fail-safes and essential emergency precautions to mitigate disaster. This not only protects their business but yours as well, ensuring the best protection for your servers and data. It also means these data centers seek out the best talent in the industry, hiring technicians who are truly experts in their fields. With 24×7 support staff on-site, issues can be resolved as they arise, offering immediate responses when timing is critical. Through managed service packages, these skilled technicians often serve as crucial lifelines for their customers, offering peace of mind and providing their expertise. Even better, because of the scale these facilities operate at, retail colocation providers are able to offer this level of support at a fraction of the cost of hiring your own full-time, in-house technicians. That means cost savings for you and less stress on your employees.

Now, in the age of the cloud, this concept of “on-premise servers” is mostly gone. With everything stored and running through various cloud services, the risk of physical space limitations is practically non-existent. As a result, the new rise of colocation isn’t due to people moving servers offsite, but rather a move from on-demand virtual instances, to dedicated bare metal resources. In other words, the biggest advantages of colocation today revolve around superior computational power and cost savings opportunities.

In spite of the cloud, reliance on colocation is still growing.

But what about the bare metal options being offered by providers like AWS?

While it’s true that an increasing number of cloud providers are offering bare metal solutions to their customers, the options available are typically limited. After all, the cloud business model is built around selling pre-made packages. Out-of-the-box functionality often comes at the loss of flexibility.

Instead, by purchasing and housing dedicated servers through a retail colocation facility, organizations are able to specify every element of their underlying hardware and software. Prefer a specific control panel or server brand? When purchasing or storing servers through a colocation provider, your options aren’t limited to the provider’s preferences. Want to keep your data stored in a specific country? By housing your bare metal solution in an edge data center, you can keep your servers where your clients are, reducing latency and improving user experience. In short: when you colocate with a dedicated server, you retain control over all these choices and more.

Now, proponents of the cloud will be quick to point to its convenience, ease, and scalability as clear advantages of a public cloud solution. After all, these elements have become essential factors in building modern digital infrastructure. Can bare metal really provide that same level of functionality?

Put simply — Yes. At the end of the day, every cloud solution is running on top of bare metal resources. The difference comes down to a question of access: how much are you actually able to interact with or manipulate the underlying hardware. As a public cloud customer, that access is incredibly limited. However, when you own the servers, you have full access to everything.

What actually makes the cloud so convenient comes down to a blend of virtualization & containerization, orchestration tools for cluster management, and the ability to upgrade infrastructure on-demand. These three components are essential for dynamically creating and managing instances, but these tools aren’t limited to the cloud. With a dedicated server, free solutions like Proxmox VE and Kubernetes can give you the same degree of custom instance management. Orchestration tools like Terraform and Ansible let you integrate and automate these instances using simple code, helping to unify your infrastructure across the board. Better yet, the open-source, vendor-agnostic status of many of these solutions means you’re not limited in the tools you utilize. API hooks let you integrate easily with third-party applications and control every inch of your digital infrastructure from the same place.

At the end of the day, every cloud solution is running on top of bare metal resources. The difference comes down to a question of access.

Beyond these similarities, what’s unique about a true bare metal solution is you also have the option to forgo virtualization entirely, running your applications directly on your server’s OS. For resource-intensive processes, especially those utilizing AI, the elimination of a hypervisor can lead to significantly faster outputs and higher reliability. Best of all, you can still scale and descale your infrastructure as needed using instant-deployment dedicated servers. This ability to grow on-demand can even be automated, allowing your cluster’s resources to operate with maximum efficiency. For more information on how you can easily integrate the Hivelocity Public API with your favorite orchestration software, check out our API documentation pages.

In the end, bare metal can do everything the cloud can do and more — often at a fraction of the price.

Hivelocity Colocation & Hybrid Cloud Solutions

The fact is, for all its convenience and name recognition, the cloud isn’t perfect. Data transfer is expensive and the stress of complex workloads can quickly grind systems to a halt. With many early cloud adopters reaching their ten-year mark with these services, market trends are showing a growing movement back to more traditional hosting solutions. These companies are realizing that combining elements of their current cloud solutions with the underlying resources of a true bare metal server can provide them with hybrid solutions which offer the best of both worlds. In doing so, they’re proving that you don’t have to eliminate your reliance on the cloud completely to regain control over rising costs. By strategically implementing the right hybrid solutions, you might save as much as $15,000 a month, or, depending on your usage, potentially even more. The right solution for your organization is out there — it just might not be the one-size-fits-all package pushed by public cloud providers.

Bare metal can do everything the cloud can do — often at a fraction of the price.

Instead, through a blend of colocation, bare metal servers, and public cloud integration, your digital infrastructure can remain cutting-edge for years to come, all without breaking your budget.

So, call or chat with one of our agents or request a quote today through our colo page and see how colocation and a dedicated server solution from Hivelocity can help you avoid the financial pitfalls of the cloud. Whether you need instant servers or a fully-custom solution, Hivelocity is the hosting provider that’s got your back.

Come see what the Hivelocity difference can mean for you and your organization.

– Sean Kelly

The post Colocation Resurgence: Global Growth 2022 & Beyond appeared first on Hivelocity Hosting.

Before the start of 2020 and the global spread of COVID-19, the cloud was already a fixture in our lives. With its mix of features and options, the cloud offers large organizations a sense of convenience and flexibility few were previously accustomed to. With providers shifting more infrastructure and software tools to cloud-based monthly subscription models though, companies have been forced to change the way they budget their IT expenditures. Many have struggled to make this transition. With the wide-reaching effects of Coronavirus and the move to remote working environments, this problem has only grown. As companies fight to keep up, it becomes harder and harder to track and accurately predict their cloud expenditures. The result? Rampant cloud sprawl and diminishing returns. But with the future undoubtedly moving towards the cloud and cloud-like technologies, what can your organization do to limit these consequences to your bottom-line?

In this article, we’ll explore the financial intricacies and risks the cloud poses, take a look at some of the pricing differences between the big three providers and their dedicated server alternatives, and offer some potential solutions on how to bring predictability back to your IT budget.

Want to skip straight to our price estimates or another specific section? Use the table of contents below!

The Growth of Multi-Cloud, Hybrid Cloud, and Cloud Sprawl

When the cloud first gained traction in the tech world, it was categorized using the following three monikers: Public, Private, or Hybrid. Public clouds ran on the networks of external companies and were shared by large groups of users, Private offered users a single-tenant alternative, and Hybrid served as a combination of the two, using a mix of cloud technology and traditional dedicated servers. As cloud solutions have grown though, we’ve seen the rise of another type of cloud infrastructure: Multi-cloud.

Multi-cloud is the idea that instead of using a single cloud solution to meet infrastructure needs, an organization may utilize several cloud solutions in unison. This multi-cloud mindset has lent itself to a rise in hybrid cloud environments as well. With more companies seeing the cloud not as a singular, fix-all solution, but rather just one of many tools on their belt, we’re seeing the creation of intricate hybrid solutions becoming more and more common.

There’s a problem with this though. As the number of cloud platforms a company works with grows, it becomes easier and easier to lose track. Even when working with a single platform, as new testing instances are created and recreated, they eat up resources and pile on costs. Unless these instances are deconstructed afterwards, they continue to persist. Over time, the monetary consequences of these forgotten instances can add up. This is called Cloud Sprawl, the uncontrolled growth of cloud resources surpassing an organization’s actual needs.

Now though, take this issue and multiply it across multiple cloud platforms. As more and more tools switch over to cloud-based models, the number of different cloud platforms a company works with continues to grow. At a certain point, it becomes very difficult to keep track of these expanding services. Often, it’s not until a company receives its bill that it starts to realize just how out of control this situation has become.

The Risks of Cloud Sprawl

There are two major risks associated with cloud sprawl: financial drain and security vulnerabilities.

The first point is rather obvious. As your company begins implementing more and more cloud-based tools or virtual machines, the resources and resulting costs needed to run and store data for these tools adds up. After all, bandwidth isn’t free. While a single abandoned VM isn’t likely to break the bank, as these instances increase, their impact grows more potentially devastating. This is especially true if you’re part of a large organization which relies on heavy communication between departments. If the proper oversight isn’t there, it can be very difficult to identify these issues before they take their toll.

As the number of cloud platforms a company works with grows, it becomes easier and easier to lose track.

The second major consequence of cloud sprawl is its risk to your organization’s security. The more information floating around unsecured, the more points of entry a hacker has when launching an attack. Often when creating test environments, operations teams will copy over at least a portion of the data present in the production environment for testing. While this helps ensure the test environment remains true to its production counterpart, it also leaves this data vulnerable. In the event this testing environment is abandoned after use but not deleted, that data persists. If this instance remains forgotten, it is unlikely to be as secured as the rest of your infrastructure. This creates easy vulnerabilities which can leave your organization open to attack.

But if cloud sprawl is such a risk, why aren’t companies doing more to fight it?

The issue is, even when an organization is aware it has unused infrastructure taking up bandwidth and creating vulnerabilities, depending on its size and structure, it can be very difficult to hunt down and remediate these instances. This wastes time and resources your average IT team can’t spare. The result is, the issue gets pushed back, losing priority until it’s often too late. This is especially true as multiple cloud solutions become integrated together. While these multi-cloud environments give companies more customizable infrastructures, they can also create problems, then obscuring them beneath layers of overlapping platforms.

In addition to cloud sprawl being a difficult issue to solve once it’s taken root, it can also be a difficult problem to avoid in the first place. Even with proper planning, as your cloud infrastructure grows to meet your rising needs, it becomes very difficult to predict the actual impact these services will have on your IT budget.

But why is that?

The Deceptiveness of Cloud Pricing

A few years ago, we noticed we were getting a lot of feedback from new customers reporting they’d switched over to us after paying unpredictably high charges through AWS. At the time, we did some research into the cost differences between AWS and traditional bare-metal solutions and compiled our findings. The results of our investigation are posted here, Why Switching to AWS May Cost You a Fortune, but the main takeaway of this study was that for customers with heavy bandwidth usage, cloud solutions like AWS could end up costing hundreds if not thousands of dollars more per month.

In the years since then though, other major players have risen up the ranks bringing greater competition to the world of public cloud solutions. But, have these changes translated to actual cost savings for their customers?

Let’s take a look.

The Big Three: AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud

In today’s current public cloud environment, there are three main cloud-based IaaS tools controlling the majority of cloud solutions: Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform. While Microsoft and Google both hold respectable shares of the market, it’s Amazon who remains the undisputed king.

Curious to see how Amazon’s pricing had changed over recent years, I loaded up the AWS cost calculator, and re-entered the same input and output values used in our original post covering AWS’s pricing. While the interface has changed slightly, I was surprised to find their prices hadn’t. Although the cost of data transfer and storage drops slightly with each passing year, the cost for inbound and outbound data transfer through AWS has not. These are the price estimates I received before factoring in anything other than bandwidth:

Amazon Web Services (AWS) Price Estimates

• 3,000GB outbound, 300GB inbound (10Mbps) – $268/month
• 9,000GB outbound, 1,000GB inbound (30Mbps) – $808/month
• 15,000GB outbound, 1,500GB inbound (50Mbps) – $1,457/month
• 30,000GB outbound, 3,000GB inbound (100Mbps) – $2,859/month
• 150,000GB outbound, 15,000GB inbound (500Mbps) – $12,410/month

At the time of our original posting, we estimated that the average user, transferring 10TB of bandwidth a month, would pay at least $600 more each month using AWS over a dedicated server. This comparison was based on the price difference between AWS and a Quad-Core Xeon CPU with 8GB RAM, a 500GB Hdd, and including 10TB of bandwidth. Back then, a server like this would have cost you about $100 to $200 each month.

But bandwidth and storage for dedicated servers has grown even less expensive over the years. Today, you can buy an instant deployment server through our dedicated servers page, ready to deploy in an average of 7-minutes, with specs twice as high, for half the price.

For example, an E3-1230 Quad-Core Kaby Lake Server, with 16GB of RAM, a 240GB SSD, and 20TB of bandwidth (roughly 60Mbps of sustained throughput) can be purchased for only $95 a month. This same level of bandwidth if purchased through AWS would cost you over $1,500 a month. That’s a savings of over $1,400 each month while utilizing your own dedicated hardware and resources. This means not only cost savings for you, but higher reliability and security as well.

For customers with heavy bandwidth usage, cloud solutions like AWS could end up costing hundreds if not thousands of dollars more per month.

But this is just one side of the equation, and AWS is just one of several providers. Surely in such a competitive market place, one of its competitors can offer users a better price.

Seeking to test this theory, I loaded up the Microsoft Azure estimate calculator and began plugging in some bandwidth numbers. The first thing I noticed was that Azure’s cost calculator is less user friendly than it’s AWS counterpart. The second thing I noticed was the pricing, which, while less than AWS, is only nominally so. Azure’s calculator doesn’t have a place for separate outbound vs. inbound data, only an outbound GB transfer. So, using the same outbound GB ranges as with AWS, here are the estimates I received:

Microsoft Azure Price Estimates

• 3,000GB – $260.57/month
• 9,000GB – $782.56/month
• 15,000GB – $1,285.53/month
• 30,000GB – $2,530.53/month
• 150,000GB – $11,206.13/month

While these prices are slightly lower, they still pale in comparison to the equivalent costs one would see using a dedicated bare-metal solution.

To finish out the big three, I decided to take a look at Google Cloud as well. Again, the prices here are lower, but still considerably higher than a bare-metal solution. Here’s what I found:

Google Cloud Price Estimates

• 3,000GB – $237.49/month
• 9,000GB – $712.46/month
• 15,000GB – $1,112.84/month
• 30,000GB – $2,020.88/month
• 150,000GB – $9,285.20/month

As you can see, while users can save money choosing Google Cloud over AWS, even with this better pricing, they would still be looking at potentially paying over $1,000 more each month for their bandwidth than they would using a dedicated bare-metal solution.

For those who’d like to see a quick side-by-side comparison of these providers’ pricing, I’ve included a comparison table below:

Provider	3,000GB Out	9,000GB Out	15,000GB Out	30,000GB Out	150,000GB Out
AWS	$268/month	$808/month	$1,457/month	$2,859/month	$12,410/month
Azure	$260.57/month	$782.56/month	$1,285.53/month	$2,530.53/month	$11,206.13/month
Google	$237.49/month	$712.46/month	$1,112.84/month	$2,020.88/month	$9,285.20/month

Now, this is of course an oversimplification of a complex issue. The truth is you’ll never be paying for just bandwidth in either of these scenarios. There is much more that goes into running a server or utilizing a cloud service than just the flow of data back and forth. The hardware and software you use, the way your infrastructure is set up, managed vs. unmanaged services, there are virtually infinite combinations of features that can be added, and these additions are rarely free. Looking at bandwidth only is a quick way to compare services, but it’s a short-sided means of decision-making.

So, in an effort to better compare the services offered by these providers to those available through Hivelocity, I decided to compare what a similar server build would look like across the various providers. Here’s what I discovered:

Provider	Instance Type	Cores	Memory	Drive	Storage	Network	Monthly Price
Hivelocity	E3-1230 v6 3.5GHz Kaby Lake	4 Cores / 8 Threads	16GB	240GB SSD	200GB Cloud Storage	20TB on a 1Gbps port (~60Mbps)	$133/month
AWS	Linux on c5d.2xlarge	8 vCPU	17.2GB (16Gib)	1 x 200GB NVMe SSD	200GB General Purpose SSD	20TB Outbound Data Transfer	$2,297.62/month
Azure	DC4s v2	4 Cores	16GB	E15: 274.9GB (256GiB) SSD	200GB Temporary Storage	20TB Outbound Data Transfer	$2,510.21/month
Google	n1-custom-8-16384	8 vCPU	16GB	1 x 402.7GB (375GiB) Local SSD	200GB (186.3GiB) Stored Data	20TB (18,626.5GiB) Data Transfer	$1,621.21/month

Now, as I’m sure you’ve noticed, the values in this table are not all the same. There are a few reasons for this. Unfortunately, using the options available within the pricing calculators, it seems impossible to create a truly identical build across the board. While some values, such as bandwidth and storage space, can be specified exactly, others must be selected from a dropdown list of options. Many of these components, such as Cores, Memory, and Drive, are often grouped together, further reducing options for custom specifications. On top of this, some providers list their values as Gigabytes (GB) while others list them as Gibibytes (GiB), requiring necessary conversions to ensure values remain identical. I’ve listed these conversions where applicable.

Additionally, there is the issue of whether or not a vCPU is actually equivalent to a Core. While your average cloud provider would have you believe that a virtual core is the same as a physical core, this isn’t entirely accurate. It’s similar to how the dedicated server I selected features 4 Cores but 8 threads. The threading technology does improve processing, but this isn’t the same as having 8 physical cores. This is why for both AWS and Google Cloud, I’ve selected options with 8 vCPU, as realistically, these options are more equivalent to 4 true physical cores. For those who may be concerned that this distinction is unfairly affecting the pricing of these builds, I did test them with 4 vCPU options as well. In both cases, the difference accounts for less than $200 a month (about $160/month for AWS and about $50/month for Google). While this could certainly make a difference over the course of a year, when your monthly bill is already in the thousands, this difference feels inconsequential.

So, to combat these limiting factors and keep these builds as similar as possible, I decided to assign priority levels to each component. Focusing first and foremost on network bandwidth and the number of cores, I selected options which allowed these values to stay identical across all four builds. From here, I chose the available RAM options which were most similar, saving the drive selection and storage for last. This does result in a range of variations between the sizes of the drives used, but it should be noted that in all these cases, the specific drive selected made little impact on the overall cost. For example, the Google Cloud 1 x 375GiB Local SSD is the largest drive on this list. However, its addition adds only $30 to the monthly bill for this build. The pricing for the other drive options appears comparable to this. Others will note that the AWS NVMe SSD drive is actually a superior device to a standard SSD drive. While this is true, it’s up to you to determine if this difference justifies the thousands of dollars more a month you’d be spending using AWS.

In the end though, what this experiment really proves is just how challenging it can be to achieve a true side-by-side comparison of these providers. Even when looking at only a handful of available options, it remains incredibly difficult to determine the real value of these services. This is where most eCommerce experts would argue for the usefulness of customer reviews in helping to make purchasing decisions. Sometimes, the raw numbers just don’t paint a clear enough picture.

This experiment proves just how challenging it can be to achieve a true side-by-side comparison of these providers.

So, to get a better idea of some of the additional factors that go into making these complex infrastructure decisions, I reached out to a customer of ours who is personally familiar with the advantages and disadvantages of both the cloud and dedicated server solutions: Vince Albanese.

How Hybrid Cloud Saves Vince Albanese Over $15,000 a Month

Vince Albanese has been a customer with Hivelocity for 15 years. He’s been a customer with AWS for even longer. Over the years, he’s developed software for companies including Revolution Money, an online banking alternative to PayPal which was eventually purchased by American Express, and Certainty, a technology which leverages distributed ledger to provide immutable transactional control over communications, document sharing, intellectual property, and asset management. Serving clients in the legal, accounting, wealth management, human resources, and healthcare markets, the data Certainty uses must remain compliant with multiple external regulation standards. This creates a major limiting factor Vince must remain aware of when making decisions, and is one of the key factors that led him to the hybrid solution he uses today.

It took a willingness to experiment with new technologies, but Vince eventually found a hybrid solution that was perfect for his needs.

In his time as a customer with both our company and AWS, Vince has utilized a variety of services. However, when he first signed up with Hivelocity, it was for a very specific reason. As his AWS use had expanded, his associated costs had grown out of control, becoming harder and harder to accurately predict. Suddenly, he was spending almost $20,000 a month to run his applications through AWS. That’s when Vince started colocating with us, utilizing his own servers but housing them within our facilities. By doing so, he brought his monthly bill down to only a couple thousand dollars a month.

But there was an issue still. Because of the highly regulated nature of the data he works with, Vince must meet the highest levels of security and privacy compliance. While these days all Hivelocity data centers are HIPAA, PCI, and SSAE-16 SOC 1 and SOC 2 compliant, at the time when Vince joined us, we were not. Even if we had been, having a compliance certified data center is only one piece of the puzzle. A user’s hardware and business operations must meet certain standards as well and certification of this requires auditing. Although Vince could save significant money using an entirely dedicated server solution, in order to assure his infrastructure setup met necessary standards, he would have to spend a small fortune on auditing and potential upgrades.

This was one of the benefits of AWS for Vince. Because AWS meets these compliance standards, users who keep their data stored in the AWS cloud meet this same level of compliance as well.

So, if Vince stayed with AWS, he could more easily meet his compliance regulations, but by staying with a dedicated server setup, he could drastically reduce monthly costs and improve performance. He was stuck between a rock and a hard place.

It took several years of trial and error, and a willingness to experiment with new technologies, but Vince eventually found a hybrid solution that was perfect for his needs. Using Docker containers stored on dedicated servers to run his applications, Vince continues to utilize AWS, keeping his data stored securely behind their firewall. This combination allows Vince to meet his necessary compliance standards while still utilizing dedicated hardware for the heavy lifting. The servers he uses can be deployed instantly as needed, and a reusable configuration code lets Vince quickly provision these servers to all be identical. This keeps costs to a minimum and has brought predictability back to his budgeting, reducing latency and improving performance at the same time.

But this is just one solution to a very specific problem. It’s likely Vince’s circumstances and tech needs are not the same as yours. Because of the strict regulations associated with healthcare providers and legal groups, the ability to meet compliance has to remain one of his biggest considerations. This resulted in a hybrid infrastructure that allows Vince to meet his security obligations while still limiting his overall reliance on the cloud, keeping costs manageable. What worked for him, probably isn’t the ideal solution for you. But there’s an important lesson here.

The takeaway from this is that Vince was willing to experiment, to try out and test different methods until he reached an ideal solution. When I asked Vince what his advice would be for others facing similarly difficult decisions, he told me that five years ago, the solution he currently uses wouldn’t have been possible. It’s thanks to new technologies he’s been able to achieve this solution. His advice to others, is to keep an eye on new technologies. Just because your current configuration gets the job done, doesn’t mean there isn’t a solution that can do it better or cheaper.

Hivelocity: Your Private and Hybrid Cloud Provider

The truth is, it’s daunting making big infrastructure changes. Even with thousands of dollars on the line, untangling yourself from a platform and its services is a time-consuming and miserable task. Beyond the work involved, the potential risks of major infrastructure shifts leave many IT managers unwilling to welcome change until it’s forced on them. While this reaction is understandable, it isn’t always what’s best for their organizations.

When facing major issues that require big decisions, you don’t have to wait until it’s too late. Start planning today and you can limit the negative effects of cloud sprawl on your organization’s resources and finances. With a hybrid cloud solution, you can utilize the best features of both the cloud and dedicated hardware. Keep the pieces that work for you and avoid those that simply hurt your budget. Best of all, this transition doesn’t have to happen all at once.

Not sure if a hybrid cloud solution is right for you? Try it and see. Talk with our cloud experts and start slowly. If the changes you make look promising, then transition more as you see fit. You don’t have to operate with an all or nothing mentality.

In the end though, if you want to know whether one service can provide greater benefits than another, the only way to truly know is to start a conversation with the provider. Every user’s needs are different and every organization is bound by different limiting factors. The right solution for you is out there. It may just not be the obvious one.

So if you’re curious, if you’ve been considering making a switch to a more dedicated solution, or if you just want to know if you could be saving money somewhere else, give Hivelocity a call or start a live chat today. Talk to our sales agents, discuss your current setup and your plans for the future, and get a quote. After all, the fastest way to know if our services are right for you is to ask.

With an abundance of custom-built solutions available, Hivelocity is the service provider you’ve been looking for. We think customers like Vince would agree. His 15 years as a client are a testament to that.

– Sean Kelly

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Game development is a highly lucrative and incredibly competitive industry. The potential financial gains of creating a successful game are immense but the consequences of failure can be costly. Beyond the inherent risks, the necessary tech investments into game servers and network capabilities can be quite expensive. With the rise of the smartphone though, the wide-spread acceptance and integration of gaming into daily life has only grown. With so much potential revenue floating around out there, it’s of little wonder why developers are always searching for the newest hit. After all, who wouldn’t want to make the next Minecraft, Angry Birds, or Fortnite?

But, in an industry overflowing with talent and catering to an audience that is constantly growing and hungry for the newest content, why is it that so many great games never see the success they deserve?

The infrastructure that supports your game is as important as the game itself.

The truth is, gamers are a fickle audience. With so many games available and new releases emerging constantly, it takes more than a good idea to keep your players’ loyalty. Sometimes it’s not the quality of the concept that determines a game’s longevity, but rather the quality of its execution. In other words, the tech running behind the scenes of your game is often as important as anything your players see.

After all, technology is constantly improving. This means that the industry standards and expectations placed on developers are continuously evolving as well. As the resources needed to build modern games grow increasingly demanding, the strains they place on your network increase as well. You may create the best game in the world, but if it can’t run smoothly due to high latency and bandwidth issues, it’s only a matter of time before your player-base moves on.

This is why the infrastructure that supports your game is as important as the game itself.

With the rise of cloud computing though, many companies have chosen to sacrifice performance in the name of cost-reduction. That’s not to say that the cloud isn’t useful. However, when running resource intensive software simultaneously receiving inputs from thousands of players in an industry where even milliseconds matter, can you really afford to trade away control over your network? As it is, many customers of cloud providers have been disappointed to learn that their expenses are often higher than expected. What if there was another way?

At Hivelocity, we provide high-end dedicated servers at affordable prices, sustained by a world-class network and industry-leading support. If you want to provide your players with the best, you’ve come to the right place.

Not a game developer? If you’re a player considering investing in a private server for your favorite game, check out our Game Server Solutions page for more information and a list of our available servers.

10 Reasons Why Hivelocity is Your Perfect Game Servers Solution

If you’re a game developer hoping to give your players the best gaming experience possible, here’s 10 reasons why we think Hivelocity is your perfect game servers solution.

#1. Edge Locations for Reaching a Global Audience

As a game developer, you know that location and speed matter. When the stakes are high, proximity can be the difference between victory and defeat. Why limit yourself? Take your game servers where your players are.

With 40+ data centers in 29 global markets around the world, Hivelocity is a leader in international edge computing solutions. Reach 80% of the world’s internet population within 25ms. Give your players an experience that keeps them coming back for more.

Not sure how edge computing can benefit you? Check out our article, What is Edge Computing?, to learn how edge solutions can directly benefit your company.

#2. Dedicated Bare-Metal Solutions

We’ve all experienced the consequences of lag when gaming. High latency can destroy great games, driving player-bases elsewhere and damaging your company’s credibility. While the cloud has its advantages, when every millisecond counts, nothing beats the reliability of a bare-metal solution.

With instant and custom dedicated server solutions built to your needs, take back control of your game’s performance and stop paying to share bandwidth. Don’t see a solution that looks right for you? Consult with our team today and let us build you a custom solution perfect for your needs. Call or chat now to get started!

#3. Instant Dedicated Server Deployment

Scalability is crucial in the competitive world of gaming. As your player-base increases, so too will the strain placed on your systems. Don’t let hardware limitations hold you back. With our Hivelocity Instant Deployment servers, you can scale easily and quickly alongside your community.

By simply choosing your OS, network, and add-ons, you can instantly deploy 4 to 20-Core servers as needed. With an average 7-minute deployment time, you can rest easy knowing your new server will be up and running within the hour.

#4. Fully Automated Deployment through our Hivelocity API

We know you’re busy. Between meeting player demands, troubleshooting technical issues, and building a loyal community, who has time to sit on long sales calls? With our Hivelocity API, you can save yourself time and stress by automating the deployment of your game servers using the OpenAPI Specification interface.

To get started, just create an account through our myVelocity portal and add a payment method to begin deploying bare metal solutions quickly and easily.

#5. A Network Like No Other

A strong network is the backbone of any good hosting company and the cornerstone for every server that utilizes it. With over 1000 network peering connections, our massive self-healing network is designed for stability in all circumstances.

Featuring 29 global markets with infrastructure deployed on six continents, our 850Gbps capacity network serves customers from 130 countries and is built to handle large volumes of data with ease. Should one or more carriers experience an outage, traffic is quickly and automatically rerouted to the best available option, ensuring your servers stay up and your players remain connected.

#6. 40 Gbps Unmetered Ports

Extraordinary games require extraordinary hardware to support them. Eliminate the fear of overage costs with one of our unmetered port solutions. Hivelocity offers users dedicated ports ranging from 1 to 40Gbps, all of which run on our top-rated global performance-based network.

Looking for something even better? Reach out to one of our sales agents via phone or chat to discuss custom solutions designed to fit your company’s needs.

#7. Protection Against Even the Largest Attacks

When players can’t access your game’s servers due to an external attack, it damages your community and undermines your hard work. With cyber threats growing more frequent every day, you can’t afford to not plan for the worst. At Hivelocity, all our servers come with basic DDoS protection. Utilizing our proprietary FENS system, we’re able to protect our entire network from most common DoS and DDoS attacks, blocking 90% of malicious traffic before it reaches your servers.

Looking for even greater protection? For just $15/month per server, you can upgrade your security further by adding in our Server Defense System. As your first line of defense, it inspects inbound traffic, reacting instantly and scrubbing packets the moment a threat is detected. Give your users continuity even in the face of massive and complex attacks.

#8. Managed Services

Keeping your servers running smoothly takes time and resources. Why spend manpower installing updates when your time is better spent elsewhere? Let our highly trained staff of IT experts handle your servers’ maintenance so you can get back to the game.

For a detailed list of features included in our Managed services plan, check out our Server Management page. Questions about something specific? Call or chat with an agent today!

#9. 24/7 On-Premise World Class Support

Support makes all the difference. Your customers expect the best and ours do too. When issues arise at 4am, you don’t want excuses, you want solutions.

At Hivelocity, we know that when our customers succeed, we succeed. With 24/7 on-premise staff, help is only ever a phone call or support ticket away. With an average 15-minute ticket response time, your concerns will be met with solutions in minutes, not hours or days.

#10. 99.99% Uptime Guarantee

We’ve been in this business a while. We understand the impact downtime has on your reputation. Sometimes, the consequences of even temporary delays can be irreversible. Why risk it? Put your trust in a proven network carefully maintained by industry veterans.

With our 99.99% uptime guarantee, you can relax knowing your game’s servers and the players who rely on them are always in capable hands.

Take Your Game to the Next Level

With our superior blend of edge locations, high-performance network, and top-of-the-line support, Hivelocity is an ideal game server hosting solution for businesses providing competitive and mobile gaming experiences to customers around the world. Now that you know a few of the ways in which Hivelocity can help your business conquer the competition, there’s only one question left to ask yourself:

Are you ready to take your game to the next level?

With 40+ data centers in 29 global markets around the world, Hivelocity is a leader in international edge computing solutions.

Contact our sales team and let Hivelocity build your perfect game server solution today!

Your Turn!

We want to hear from you! Are you a game developer looking for a better alternative to high latency and crowded networks? Is your cloud solution proving more expensive than you bargained for? Leave a comment below! If you found this article helpful, be sure to share it on your favorite social media platforms, and don’t forget to like us on Facebook!

-Written by Sean Kelly

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About Feedonomics

• Feedonomics combines best-in-class technology and service to list products everywhere people shop online, including Google Shopping, Amazon, Facebook and Instagram.
  
• Our HQ is in Los Angeles but we have offices around the world in Denver, Texas, North Carolina, Australia, and Manilla. Our full-service team of over 150 helps many of the world’s most prolific advertising agencies and brands, including over 30% of the top 1,000 internet retailers.
  
• We are one of the top 100 fastest growing companies in America, and my brother and Cofounder, Robert, recently got awarded Forbes 30 under 30.
  

How Did You Start Feedonomics?

Our story started when my brother Robert and I were working at a large agency in Los Angeles, managing advertising campaigns and product data for over 50 large retailers, including some very large publicly traded companies, whose stock price relied on our work! We tested and tried every legacy product feed platform out there in the marketplace. We became increasingly frustrated when we experienced firsthand the shortcomings of those platforms. Some of them were incredibly slow and couldn’t handle any kind of meaningful scale, and others had terrible support. You would ask a question and they wouldn’t answer it for a week. Meanwhile, your performance is suffering and you could be out tens of thousands of dollars in revenue.

Armed with this knowledge and the fact that my brother and I are software engineers, we set out with the vision of creating the leading feed platform in the industry.

We quickly realized that other agencies, brands, and retailers have the exact same problems that we had, and Feedonomics was born. We lived the challenges and solved our own problems, so our pitch was very compelling.

It was a challenge in the beginning. We aren’t backed by any kind of venture capital. The money we put into this business came from our own pockets and we continue to reinvest in ourselves. Every major decision we made was carefully weighed. Our persistence paid off and we have made great strides since our early days.

Challenges with Cloud Hosting

Since starting just over 5 years ago, our growth has doubled every year both in terms of revenue and the massive amounts of data we process. We needed a cloud hosting service and solution provider that could scale with our rapid growth.

Our Experience

Feedonomics processes over 6 billion product rows per day, with over 2 million data transformational rules. Because we deal with such massive amounts of data across hundreds of servers, bandwidth egress charges can be unfathomably expensive. Hivelocity was able to save us tens of thousands of dollars every month when compared to what costs would have been on Azure or AWS.

Even more than cost, the thing that drew us most to Hivelocity was their Support Team’s reputation for super fast and super knowledgeable assistance. They have absolutely lived up to their reputation and have been there any time we have needed them.

For us, downtime means that we are not able to reflect inventory and price changes from online retailers to their advertising channels and marketplaces, which can result in massive revenue loss and wasted advertising spend. For example, a client might run into oversold issues on Amazon if we can’t update their inventory quickly enough. We have experienced close to 100% uptime every year we have done business with Hivelocity enabling our customers to maintain steady margins.

During Hurricane Harvey in 2017, when we had many of our servers in a potentially affected area in Florida, we worked very closely with the Hivelocity team to build redundancy in other data center locations. As it turns out, Hivelocity’s Florida data centers never missed a beat but their ability to quickly deploy geo-redundant solutions for us made the whole experience calm and comforting.

We get incredible support from Hivelocity, usually within minutes!

• From Technical
  • Jake Bryant
  • Donald Bennett
  • Lance Tuller
  • Dan Protich
  • Kevin Comerford
  • Steve Clayton
  • Ryan Arp
  • (I’m sure I’ve forgotten a few!!!)
    
• To account management
  • Lee Linton
  • Sasha Yetter
  • Steve Eschweiler

Something intangible about Hivelocity that has been a big deal for us is their personal touch. These guys have thousands of customers and are big enough to provide us with millions of dollars in infrastructure, yet they always make us feel like we are their most important customer and our needs are their number one priority. Right down to sending us a picture of our actual server the day we signed up for our first system with them.

Their customer service is really just the best.

Hivelocity provides dedicated servers, bare metal cloud, and colocation hosting solutions to customers from over 130 countries worldwide. Featuring 38 world-class, edge-ready data centers, strategically positioned in 36 cities, across 4 continents, Hivelocity’s expansive global footprint allows users to reach 80% of the world’s internet population in under 25 milliseconds. All of their data centers are SSAE-16 SOC1 and SOC2 certified, and HIPAA and PCI compliant services are also available. With award-winning 24/7 support, an average 15-minute ticket response time, and an SLA-backed 99.99% network uptime guarantee, Hivelocity is the hosting provider you can rely on.

Download a free PDF of this case study: Feedonomics Case Study

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