Whether you are a start-up or a brand, you must have come across cloud service many times. Knowingly or unknowingly, you are using cloud services almost every day. Cloud service opens a window of on-demand services to companies and customers.
Be it checking emails or collaborating documents, cloud services come to the rescue whether you are aware of it or not. This article talks about the top 10 best cloud services. We have reviewed the most popular cloud service providers, their price features and much more so that you can compare better and choose the one most suitable for you.
According to Cloud Adoption Stats, 94% of enterprises are using cloud services presently. You can expect it to reach 623.3 billion dollars by 2023. That’s huge!
Do you know why cloud servers are used so much? Because they are easy to scale up, scale down as well as turn off as compared to physical servers. It all started more than a decade ago when it was valued at less than 6 billion dollars. Since then, it has been skyrocketing.
Benefits
Before checking the list of the 10 best cloud services, let’s have a look at the benefits. In other words, what miracles a cloud service can do to your company!
1. Scaling ability
Any cloud service provider supplies infrastructure and software covering all of its sections. So your company is not required to invest in its resources or on sparing extra money; it starts with just managing the service.
This, in turn, helps your business to scale the solution as per requirements. For instance, if your workforce is expanding or suppose you need enhanced applications, you can always increase the number of licenses to accommodate them.
2. Reduced cost
Cost is a major factor in a company’s operations. There are many cloud services in the market that offer you monthly or annual subscription plans. It means you don’t need to pay the cost of an on-premises software license.
Your organization can access software, storage and more similar services without any need of investing in underlying infrastructure or maintenance. No cost for upgrades too. This saves you money, which you can invest in other things.
3. More flexibility
Cloud services give you the flexibility to choose on-demand and requirement-based services. For example, you have been using a particular application or platform for a long time but your company does not need it anymore.
Cloud services allow you to cancel a subscription or shut down any cloud service at any time. No restriction or compulsion, you see!
Types of Cloud Services
Basically, there are 3 types of cloud services. Depending on what kind of business or company you have, you can choose among the trio.
1. SaaS (Software-as-a-service)
This is the most recognized type of cloud service. It has a variety of services, like file storage, backup, web emails, and project management tools.
Examples of SaaS providers are G Suite, Dropbox, and Microsoft office 365.
2. IaaS (Infrastructure-as-a-service)
This platform has the infrastructure, which is used for managing SaaS tools. Here you get a complete data center framework. Forget about the tension of resource-intensive or on-site installations here.
Few examples of IaaS are Amazon Web services or AWS, Google Compute Engine, and Microsoft Azure.
3. PaaS (Platform-as-a-service)
This service is more like a web-based environment where you can build cloud apps as a developer. it gives you an operating system database with support for a certain programming language that you can use to develop cloud software. The best part is you don’t have to maintain the underlying elements.
IaaS vendors have PaaS capabilities.
According to Forbes, more than 74% of Tech Chief Financial officers believe that cloud computing is very effective for business. It shows greater results than a business without cloud computing.
10 Best Cloud Service Providers
1. Amazon Web Services (AWS)
If you ever bought anything online then chances are high that Amazon might not be a new name for you. Amazon has a cloud service named Amazon Web Services, launched back in 2002. Currently, it is the most popular cloud service provider across the globe.
AWS offers 165 fully-featured services that are used by millions of customers around the globe. When it is about revenue, it hiked up to 25.6 billion USD with a huge profit of 7.2 billion USD in 2018.
Services
There are hundreds of services offered by AWS, including Virtual Private Cloud, EC2, AWS DataSync, Amazon Cloudwatch, Relational Database Service (RDS), Simple Queue Service, Route53, and Crowd Trail.
Security
No one will choose a cloud service having poor security. Fortunately, AWS ensures that you get an advantage from a data center and network architecture to fulfill the security requirements.
They give you infrastructure security, data encryption, inventory and configuration, continuous monitoring and logging, and control of identification and access. AWS also offers penetration testing and DDoS mitigation so that you can stay relaxed. At present, AWS is offering services in 16 regions, including the US, India, China, and the UK.
Features
- AWS is a safe and secure cloud platform that has a lot of infrastructure services to offer, like computing power and database storage.
- Helps you to host a number of static websites.
- You can develop complicated applications and make them scalable and flexible with AWS.
- Anyone can gain hands-on experience with AWS for free of cost.
2. Microsoft Azure
Years after AWS, Microsoft Azure was launched. Since then there is no looking back. Now it has become one of the rapidly growing cloud services. It has got a 10 billion USD government contract.
Azure is a branded cloud service platform, which includes an operating system and developer options. You can use them to access and enhance all web-based cloud applications.
Services
Microsoft Azure has a galore of services to offer, namely Machine Learning, Blockchain, Containers, Database, DevOps, Identity, Integration, Management, Media, Microsoft Azure Stack, Mixed Reality, Mobile, Security, and many down the line.
Windows and SQL Server are present in the cloud through Windows Virtual Desktop. Mixed Reality Technology is in Azure Cloud. TFS and VSTS are available through Azure DevOps. Microsoft Office Suite, SharePoint, Power BI are available as Office 365 and PowerXXX tools.
Security
Azure has advanced security products and services. Some of them are:
- Azure Active Directory,
- Security Centre,
- VPN gateway,
- DDoS protection,
- Information protection,
- Dedicated HSM, and
- Application gateway.
Azure has a high level of global availability and offers more data centers than any other cloud service. It has 90 compliance certifications to give. These are global, region-specific, US government-based, and industry-specific.
Features
- Users love Microsoft Azure for its deploying, designing and managing features. You can also manage applications through the network.
- Supports databases, operating systems, tools, programming languages, and frameworks.
- You can get a free trial version for 30 days.
3. Google Cloud
‘Google’ is the most common word that we come across every day. The name Itself is enough, no? Google launched a cloud service that primarily functions on internal applications of Google; Google Cloud
Launched in 2010, Google Cloud has now acquired a reputable place in the market. Google Compute Engine, Biteable, Google App Engine, Big Query, and Google Cloud Functions are the most used Google Cloud services.
A well-established infrastructure serves as the major asset and benefit for the firm. Google Cloud services are available in 20 regions, 61 zones, and more than 200 countries. Its annual revenue is close to 8 billion USD.
Services
Some of the top products and services offered by the Google Cloud platform are:
- Algorithm and machine learning
- API Management
- Compute
- Healthcare and life sciences
- Networking
- Security e and identity
- Google maps platform
- Security and Identity
- Android Enterprise
- Firebase
- Apigee
- Google hardware
- Orbitera.
Google Cloud Certifications
- Associate cloud engineer
- Professional cloud architect
- Professional data engineer
- Professional cloud developer
- Professional cloud network engineer
- Professional Cloud Security engineer
Features
- This platform utilizes resources like computers, virtual machines, and hard disks that are located at Google data centers.
- It is also integrated storage that many developers and enterprises use for storing live data.
- Free trial available.
- You can also select among the various payment plans. The plans are flexible and based on a pay-as-you-go scheme.
4. Alibaba Cloud
Alibaba Cloud is a Chinese cloud computing services provider that is the subsidiary of
Alibaba Group. Headquartered in Singapore, Alibaba Cloud was established in 2009 to serve its own (Alibaba’s) eCommerce ecosystem but now it is for the public.
It primarily offers services to online businesses. Alibaba Cloud operates in 23 regions and 63 zones. It makes 5 million USD annually.
Services
There are many products and services offered by Alibaba Cloud. Elastic computing, storage and CDN, Networking, Database services, Security, Monitoring and Management, Application services, Media services middleware Apsara stack, etc., to name a few categories.
Certification
Alibaba Cloud encourages training and certification. Here you can get more than 130 online and offline certification courses that will help you to tackle cloud solutions with all-time available Alibaba Cloud products. These certifications benefit customers, developers and partners who are on the lookout for cloud solutions.
Features
- Alibaba Cloud computing service is around 50% of the entire Chinese cloud market. Business Insider reported that Alibaba’s paying customer base has exceeded the 1 million user mark in the year 2017. This indicates that it is rapidly growing.
- Guarantees 99.9% availability. You can get unlimited data storage capacity with high security.
- Its management tools are superb that give you advanced customizing flexibility. You also get an access control service.
- It has a flexible plan that gives you a refund once you stop using it.
- Has a higher number of VM processors.
5. IBM Cloud
There are 3 categories under IBM Cloud:
- Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS),
- Software-as-a-Service(SaaS), and
- Platform-as-a-Service(PaaS).
IBM Cloud focuses on the client-centric deployment, flex image technology, and customization. One of the crucial features is integration capability.
Some products of IBM have now turned out to be brand names in the market, like IBM SoftLayer, IBM Bluemix. Why do you need IBM cloud? Because it enables any business to be agile and resilient. This is what IBM’s official site says!
Safe
Its trust score is 47 out of 50, in Fortune 500. Also, 10 largest banks and 10 largest airlines that trust IBM Cloud. So you can think of it as a trustworthy cloud service provider.
Services
IBM Cloud says you can browse more than 200 products by registering or subscribing. You can get a no charge light account that expires NEVER! With that, you can access more than 40 services. AI helps to optimize predictions, make big decisions. Hybrid cloud offers a platform to build and manage clouds and get access to Red Hat.
Features
- Offers IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS. These are available through cloud delivery models.
- You can select or pair any tools, data models or delivery models to design a next-level service and application.
- IBM Bluemix helps to incorporate excellent cloud communication with services to your IT environment.
6. Kamatera
If you prefer a cloud service with very low maintenance but high performance then Kamatera is the best one.
The cost is also very very low when you compare it with other cloud services in the market. Expect the rates to begin with as low as $4. You can also subscribe for a 30-day free trial to check whether it works out for you or not.
Services
By using Kamatera you can create your own website and beat single or multiple web services on a hosted web server. Plus, you can set up CPU and RAM to fit specific requirements without panicking your budget.
It helps you to build an application that has reliable uptime and delivers optimal performance. Now you can choose that ‘one’ server you always looked for.
Development servers adjust R&D resources as per requirements. Database server deploys a solution-based database on a virtual machine. It supports all kinds of servers and optimizes daily-based performance.
It has a WordPress server on which you can publish your website and manage it. It will be quick and scalable. There are additional services like email server, CRM server, backup server, IoT server, and VoIP server.
Features
- This cloud service has a tailored VPS hosting. You pay only for what you use. No extra charges. Users can customize the hosting service as per requirements.
- You can add as many or remove services without paying any penalty.
- Guarantees 99.95% uptime.
- Provide 24 hour out of 7 and 365 days tech human support.
7. Oracle Cloud
Oracle is not as popular as AWS or Google but it is not uncommon. People who have ever searched the internet about cloud services must have come across Oracle.
Oracle Cloud is well known for delivering high-performance on-premises computing power. It offers real-time services. By mixing autonomous service integrated security solutions with several computers it has gone to the next level for providing cloud solutions. It is a subsidiary of Oracle Corporation, which provides IaaS, PaaS, SaaS, and DaaS.
Services
Under the IaaS category, it offers computer storage, networking, governance, Ravello or DNS monitoring, database, and load balancing.
Oracle offers PaaS services like Data Management, Application Development, Integration, Business Analytics, Content, Security and Enterprise. It also has SAS services, including CX, HCM, ERP, EPM, Analytics, Data, Blockchain, and SCM. While Oracle Data Cloud is one kind of Oracle Data as a Service (DaaS).
Features
- As mentioned above, services of IaaS, PaaS, SaaS, DaaS are available here. It helps you to reduce IT complications and thus, your business transforms quickly.
- SaaS cloud service provides a secure and data-driven environment.
- PaaS cloud service is beneficial for independent developers and IT enterprises to connect, secure, share and strengthen data.
- IaaS cloud service is a subscription-based integrated service that eases all kinds of workload running of your enterprise.
8. Cloudways
Agencies, small and medium businesses, and developers see Cloudways as an ideal hosting provider. Do you know why? Because they look for a managed hosting platform that requires the least hassle. Cloudways serves the purpose.
Cloudways is a PaaS-based cloud service that also includes 5 IaaS services, namely AWS, Google Cloud, Linode, Vulte, and Digital Ocean.
With Cloudways you can deploy as many PHP applications as you want. These range from WordPress, Custom PHP, Magento, to WooCommerce, all on its managed servers.
Services
There are tons of things in the cloud web hosting stack to offer, like NGINX, Apache, Redis, Memcached, and MariaDB. It is a win-win situation when it comes to security. Firewalls, TFA, IP whitelisting, and some more security things safeguard the hosting platform.
Features
- 24/7/365 assistance for a worry-free experience. Now you can track the most complex queries.
- They inform you instantly if your stack or server is not functioning. It has powerful monitoring tools.
- Under premium support, you can submit online tickets. It helps you to gain quick response, mostly takes 2 hours.
- PHP 7 is responsible for significantly fast working.
- SSD-based hosting reduces page load duration by 3 times.
- It has auto-healing and well-managed cloud servers.
9. Adobe
If you’re a student or a teacher, you must have used Adobe at some point in your life.
Be it photo editing or graphic designing, we have scrolled it many times. But they also have a big cloud service storage.
If you look at the website, you will land on a very appealing page. But this cloud service is not limited to students or teachers only but many photographers, businesses, and more people from other niches are also using it.
Services
Adobe’s cloud service is a bit different from other cloud service providers. Adobe Acrobat is a leading PDF solution while E-signatures help to edit signatures and sign online forms. On Acrobat Reader you can see, sign and annotate all kinds of PDFs. You can convert PDFs into Excel or Word files in a few minutes using Acrobat Export.
Features
- Adobe has Adobe Creative Cloud, Adobe Experience Cloud, and Adobe Document Cloud that provide cloud services.
- On Adobe Creative Cloud you can utilize tools to edit videos, photos and create graphics.
- Through Adobe Experience Cloud you can generate campaigns and use them for advertising.
- Adobe Document Cloud servers the purpose of digital documentation solutions.
10. pCloud
You can use pCloud for storing, sharing and working on all kinds of files. Anyone can access it anytime. pCloud offers facilities of teams and access levels, shared folders, comments, and activity monitoring. It has a big storage space to offer you unmatched security and an excellent scalable system.
Features
- Do all sorts of file management on the web, desktop, and mobiles.
- Comes with a wide range of options for file sharing.
- You can also save file versions for a fixed time.
- You can back up all the photos of social media to keep them with you forever.
- Unbeatable data security via TLS/SSL encryption.
Verdict
It won’t be fair to name only one cloud service provider. No doubt AWS is leading because of its executing capabilities but Azure is no slacker. Azure and AWS are racing neck-to-neck, with the former growing faster than the latter. Also, Google Cloud ranks third.
So if you ask about one cloud, it would be difficult to answer because one size is not a good fit for all. So, depending on your business needs and budget, you can choose any one of these 10 cloud providers we just talked about.
It has been seen that full-fledged organizations use more than one cloud service provider. So, it’s upon you to figure out the best option(s) for you!