When someone builds you a web application, it needs to “live” somewhere so your team can access it. That somewhere is a server — and in 2026, it’s almost always in the cloud.
What the Cloud Actually Means
The cloud is just someone else’s computer. Specifically, it’s a data centre run by companies like Amazon (AWS), Google, or Microsoft (Azure). Your application runs on their servers and your team accesses it through a web browser.
Why Cloud Hosting?
- No hardware to buy: You don’t need a server under your desk.
- Access from anywhere: Your team uses a web browser — it works on any device, anywhere with internet.
- Automatic backups: Modern hosting platforms back up your data automatically.
- Scalability: If your team grows from 5 to 50, the hosting scales with you.
For a small business web app, cloud hosting typically costs £0–£20 per month. Many platforms offer free tiers that handle small applications perfectly.
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