How to choose hosting for your chat application
When you build a new application, you are focused on creating functionality and meeting deadlines. But it’s also important to choose the correct way to host the backend part of your application. This will ensure the smooth performance and the security of the customer data.
Ways to host your chat application
Hosting is a platform for storing and managing site or app files. You rent server space from a hosting provider and your application gets the necessary power and support ensuring its smooth 24/7 performance. Let’s see the default chat hosting options available for the QuickBlox customers.
Multi-tenant Shared server
Public cloud is the most common way to use cloud technology. All hardware, software, and infrastructure belong to the provider and is maintained by its specialists. A standard set of available services (OS images, WAF, mail, databases, FTP / SSH access) are ready for quick setup on it. Customers only rent the necessary computing power.
Benefits
Multi-tenant hosting offers the following benefits for the users:
- Cost-effectiveness
- Immediate start
- Scalability
- Reliability
Drawbacks
Since the public cloud is a multi-tenant environment, it is not suitable for all workloads. Certain applications and business functions have stricter requirements to performance, availability and chat security. The main drawbacks of multi-tenant servers are:
- Less data control
- No choice of server location
- Maintainability
- No service SLA guarantee
Dedicated server (your private cloud)
Choosing a dedicated server installation for your chat application, you rent a private cloud. That means that all the resources will be provided only to your organization. You have full control of maintaining server software and any custom configuration changes.
Private clouds offer predictable workflow with QuickBlox SLA guarantee and full customization of software. That’s why they are the choice of big organizations, state-owned companies or institutions with defined security requirements.
Benefits
- High reliability
- Full server and data control
- Support under SLA
- Choice of the server location
- Release management and software updates
- Quick Migration from Shared server
- No internal DevOps resources are needed
Drawbacks
- A cloud hosting account is needed
- Infrastructure provisioning is needed
On-premise installation
With the on-premise installation, you are fully responsible for setting up and managing your server infrastructure. You have your own physical servers located within the walls of your organization or in any data center. You are also responsible for server configuration and administration.
On-premise installation guarantees the highest level of security, since no third parties (including the hosting vendors) have physical and remote access to your servers. The on-premise installations are not as popular as dedicated clouds due to the complex and expensive management. They are mainly used by companies with the strictest security requirements.
Benefits of on-premise hosting
- Enhanced security
- Full server and data control
- Choice of the data center location
Drawbacks
- Internal DevOps team is needed
- Full Infrastructure management is needed
- More complex maintenance process, which leads to slower support.
QuickBlox options
QuickBlox offers its customers managed and self-managed shared and private, as well as an on-premise installation for their chat application. Let’s consider the possible hosting solutions for your chat app.
Multi-tenant Shared server
From your infrastructure to your end-user experience, QuickBlox allows maintaining excellent chat app performance. Using our Basic, Startup, and Growth plans, you get an account on our AWS-hosted instance with community & ticket support.
Enterprise dedicated cloud
For our Enterprise customers, provide the following options:
- Dedicated AWS / GCP / Azure / AliBaba cloud
- Flexible chat customization: number of users, devices, data retention, storage and traffic, attachment size
- Possibility to change chat app configuration according to your needs (HIPAA configuration, HA/DR configuration, advanced security and monitoring)
- Possibility to use software add-ons (conference call server, dedicated TURN server, custom identity provider, API integration)
- Personal account manager and prioritized support
On-premise installation
On-premise Enterprise instance is a deployment of QuickBlox chat software inside the customer’s data center. Compared with default Cloud hosting installation there are specific support and troubleshooting processes. In this case, the QuickBlox team is limited with access to the instance after the installation.
On-premise installation is a custom solution and it means that after software setup and testing we won’t have any access. We can discuss the best solution and what kind of support you will need to get.
Conclusion
Understanding your business needs and priorities is the key to making the best, most-informed decisions. QuickBlox has a variety of ready-made solutions to help your company with any type of deployment and keep your data secure. Contact us to discuss the best plan and custom options for your business needs.
