Cost saving
Avoid capital investment and ongoing maintenance for on-premise hardware and software. You’re charged based on usage.
What is Cloud Service?
Cloud service is the on-demand delivery of computing power, database, storage, applications and other ready-to-use computing resources over the Internet—usually with pay-as-you-go pricing.
You have probably used cloud service, even if you don’t realize it. If you use an online platform to send email, edit documents, listen to music, watch videos, play games or store photos, it is usually cloud that is making it all possible. Cloud has allowed corporations to fully transform how they operate.
Cloud service, explained in one minute
Cloud service lets you rent computing resources like servers, storage, and databases over the internet. Instead of buying and maintaining on‑site hardware, you provision what you need, scale up or down as demand changes, and pay based on usage. Depending on the model (IaaS, PaaS, SaaS), you manage different parts of the stack while the cloud provider manages the rest.
Cloud services you can start with
Pick a service based on your workload. If you need maximum control, start with a server. If you want to move faster, choose a managed or integrated solution.
Core computing services
Cloud Server
Based on cloud technology, Cloud Server has all the capabilities of a physical server as well as the flexibility that a physical server lacks.
Usage: Website, online shop, application and game
OpenCloud Server
OpenCloud is built with OpenStack. Run modern stacks like DevOps pipelines, CI/CD, Kubernetes (K8s), and containers on a secure cloud platform.
Usage: Website, new start-up, education
Managed Multi-Cloud Solution
Professional solution architecture design with 24x7 bilingual technical support. Get flexibility and scalability across clouds for DevOps, security, and Kubernetes (K8s).
Usage: New retail, gaming and enterprises
Related computing services
Cloud Hosting & Email
Get your website online and deliver email with your own domain name and blazing speed.
Usage: Basic website and email
Dedicated Server
Lease an entire physical server and get full control and more flexibility than shared hosting.
Usage: Website with huge traffic, backup, database, application and email
Server Co-location
Professional server management in top-level data centers with reliable infrastructure and high speed connection.
Usage: For servers that need to be hosted and managed in Hong Kong
How cloud computing could help you
Different delivery models solve different problems. Choose based on who your users are, how much flexibility you need, and where you want to focus (operations vs development).
Launch a new application or website
Test and development environment
Scalable cloud database
Deliver your service platform to others on demand
Share media over the internet
Backup and disaster recovery
Big data analysis and management
Collaboration within an organization
Cloud services delivery model (IaaS / PaaS / SaaS)
The main difference is who manages each layer of the stack. Use this to match your team’s skills and responsibilities.
| Layer | On-site physical server | IaaS | PaaS | SaaS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Application | You | You | You | Provider |
| Database | You | You | Provider | Provider |
| Middleware | You | You | Provider | Provider |
| Operating system | You | You | Provider | Provider |
| Virtualization | You | Provider | Provider | Provider |
| Security | You | Provider | Provider | Provider |
| Servers | You | Provider | Provider | Provider |
| Storage | You | Provider | Provider | Provider |
| Networking | You | Provider | Provider | Provider |
You: managed by you•Provider: managed by your cloud service provider
Why move to cloud?
Cloud is often compared to on-site servers and traditional data centers. Here’s why many companies switch to cloud.
Data security
Sensitive data is stored in cloud provider facilities that often deploy stronger security measures than most businesses can afford.
Flexibility
Scale computing power quickly to meet fluctuating demand without planning and installing new physical servers.
Performance
Benefit from economies of scale and deploy closer to users to reduce latency and improve experience.
Which cloud services fit your needs?
Choose based on your usage, organization size, and specific requirements.
Small businesses or personal use
Enterprises and sophisticated applications
Cloud solutions
Talk to UD about your cloud plan
Tell us your workload and goals. We’ll recommend a cloud setup that matches your budget, performance needs, and support expectations.
FAQ
What is the difference between IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS?
IaaS gives you servers and infrastructure, so you manage the OS and applications. PaaS abstracts more layers so you can focus on development. SaaS is fully managed software you use directly, with the provider managing almost everything.
When should I choose a dedicated server instead of cloud?
Choose a dedicated server when you need full hardware control, consistent performance for high traffic workloads, or specific compliance requirements that are easier to manage on a single physical machine.
How do I decide between a single cloud and a multi-cloud setup?
A single cloud is simpler to operate. Multi-cloud can reduce vendor lock-in and improve resilience, but it adds complexity. If you need a balanced design across clouds, a managed multi-cloud solution helps you handle architecture and operations.
