A hosted application is any program that runs on someone else’s infrastructure rather than on your own. These hosted apps are available through the Internet and offer a web-based user interface via which users may interact with them. Hosted programs are frequently provided as Software-as-a-Service (SaaS).
In other words, Application hosting enables you to run your applications on servers or in a cloud hosted by a service provider, such as Amazon Web Services (AWS) or Google Cloud Platform (GCP), which offer the foundations for hosting your apps.
WordPress is an example of a hosted application that everyone is familiar with. If you wanted to start a blog, you’d have to download WordPress and spend hours installing and configuring it before you could post. However, thanks to WordPress.com application hosting, you can visit the website and start immediately after establishing an account. This is because WordPress.com provides a pre-installed and pre-configured version of WordPress.
The Benefits of Application Hosting:
There are various advantages to hosting apps on remote workstations. For starters, it saves money because you don’t have to invest in constructing and maintaining the underlying hardware and software and basic IT infrastructure. This is highly advantageous because the underlying hardware is frequently unused.
Furthermore, you only pay for the services you utilize with application hosting. In addition, it is far more scalable than traditional on-premise hosting since you can provide more capacity to manage peak demand requirements with only a few clicks. You may begin small and scale up as needed without incurring the fees associated with pre-purchasing extra server capacity. Read more about Linux Shared Hosting – A Cheap Hosting Solution for beginners
Application hosting also improves availability by decreasing downtime since most reputable providers have sufficient redundancy to handle hardware breakdowns and other errors. In the same line, cloud providers spend on improving the security of their servers, and in reality, most trustworthy ones adhere to high ISO security requirements.
Finally, because the hosted application is available through the Internet, all authorized users may access and work remotely.
The expense of hosting an application:
There is no shortage of cloud hosting companies from which to host your apps. Because they do not all charge the same price for their services, certain crucial aspects determine the ultimate cost of hosting apps.
The type of application to be hosted is the most significant consideration. Some applications require additional processing power, while others necessitate a large amount of storage. The hosted application’s technical needs will determine the exact cost of application hosting.
The type of server is another component that determines the cost. Shared and dedicated servers are the most frequent. While dedicated servers are more expensive than shared hosting servers, each offers pros and disadvantages.
In addition to selecting the kind of server, the plan’s term will influence the overall cost of hosting the application. Instead of charging a one-time fee, most application hosting services charge a monthly membership fee. While most platforms provide flexible tenures, we recommend that you pick a long-term plan, which will be less expensive than monthly subscriptions.
Choosing a Platform for Application Hosting
Are you convinced of the advantages of application hosting? The next step is to look for a hosting company to satisfy all of your needs without breaking the wallet. Here are some of the critical aspects to look for when selecting an application hosting provider:
- Application compatibility: Just as no two apps are alike, no one-size-fits-all solution exists for application hosting. The software needs of your application will determine the characteristics that the hosting platform must provide.
- Onboarding procedure: Depending on the application you need to host, many hosting platforms will provide a one-click setup to simplify the deployment process. However, deployment is only one piece of the puzzle; you’ll also need to investigate the platform’s administration tools and analyze their documentation and other resources to get started with the platform.
- Security features: When it comes to cyber security, you should constantly be on the offensive, mainly since data breaches are alarming. Keep a watch out for hosting platforms that invest in infrastructure security against physical and online assaults.
- Reliability and uptime: Whether on-premise or in the cloud, Servers must occasionally go offline for maintenance and other reasons such as defective hardware and other disturbances. Check the length of time a service is affected by these difficulties. Many respectable companies offer 99 percent uptime, and some even issue a guarantee to back up their promises.
- Support and service: Because most firms provide round-the-clock assistance to their customers, you’ll need the same level of care from your application hosting provider. Look for a platform that offers 24/7 customer service and communication options such as live chat, email, or phone.
- Data export services: While it is pretty usual for all providers to allow you to export your data from the provider, it is still a good idea to look for this feature. Application providers may fail, which is a genuine issue and is frequently highlighted as one of the drawbacks of hosting apps on a distant platform rather than on-premise. However, exporting your data will allow you to transition it to another platform with minimal downtime.
