The Best Cloud Solutions for Crowdfunding Platforms

When deciding about launching a crowdfunding platform, you have to think not only about its functionality but also about where you want to store the data you collect and where the platform is going to be hosted.

Crowdfunding platforms rely on some sort of cloud hosting solutions for crowdfunding platforms, use white-label crowdfunding software that already has some server or decide to store data locally on a physical server to have full control over the server infrastructure. 

Cloud hosting for crowdfunding platforms

Cloud hosting offers maximum flexibility and is cost-efficient. It allows businesses to store their data based on demand and pay for only those resources that they use. This hosting type ensures enhanced performance along with robust security and reliability.

Pros of cloud hosting solutions for crowdfunding platforms:

• Scalability – you can add more resources as soon as you need them.
• Cost efficiency – you pay only for what you use.
• Reliability – distributed networks reduce the probability of downtime.
• Performance – cloud-based hosting solutions utilize the most advanced technologies to boost the platform performance and minimize the loading time of pages.
• Security – providers apply the most advanced security measures to protect user data and infrastructure.

Cons of cloud hosting solutions for crowdfunding platforms:

• Internet dependence – this hosting type relies on the availability of the internet this is why businesses that use cloud hosting are exposed to network outages.
• Overrunning costs – some businesses tend to add more resources than they need which results in overpaying. 
• Limited customization options – businesses have limited control over the hosting solution, this is why the customization options of a hosting solution are limited.

Dedicated server for crowdfunding platforms

With dedicated hosting, businesses have exclusive access to the server. It offers a business complete control over all server configurations and ensures optimal performance, enhanced scalability, and top security. 

Pros of dedicated server solutions for crowdfunding platforms:

• High performance – a business benefits from quicker website loading times and top website responsiveness.
• Enhanced security – the business can implement all security measures that it needs, including implementing customized security measures.
• Total control – the company has total control over the server and can install custom applications, modify configurations, and modify performance because it has root access to the server.
• Scalability – A company can scale resources based on its needs.

Cons of dedicated server solutions for crowdfunding platforms:

• Higher cost – a business is responsible for the server cost and its upkeep. This is why dedicated hosting is normally more expensive than other options.
• Technical expertise – a company is responsible for the server maintenance, upgrades, and setup, and thus, it has to have specialists who understand the technology.
• Resource restrictions – even though scalability is very high, resources such as RAM are still limited. This is why before picking a dedicated hosting server, the company has to make sure that the server has enough resources to expand in the future to meet the business needs.
• Potential over-provisioning – some companies tend to employ more resources than they need and end up paying for those services that are not used.

Top hosting providers for crowdfunding platforms

There are many hosting providers for platforms to work with. We’ve picked the top 4 that are distinguished by their reliability, security, and functionality.

Digital Ocean

Digital Ocean offers a developer cloud: a network of virtual machines that allow a business to scale with the business growth. Digital Ocean has a focus on working with developers, not with common users, this is why it is packed with heavy-duty tech tools. It offers different solutions for different use cases, from scalable droplets for app deployment to its solutions for file storage and database hosting.

Extra encryption is included by default to ensure top security. Businesses can also implement their own security measures to enhance the security level.

Digital Ocean allows a business to pick where the primary server will be located, from Germany to India, the USA, and Singapore. 

On top of web-based control commands and command lines, Digital Ocean offers a bunch of APIs, and one-click installers, and has collaboration tools for teams and a wide range of tools for developers.

The emphasis of Digital Ocean is to provide top functionality and scalability for developers at a reasonable price. This is why it is a good choice of a hosting provider for a crowdfunding business.

AWS (Amazon Web Services)

AWS is a mature cloud-hosting service provider that offers the most competitive set of tools and a good choice of third-party integrations. 

Along with primary cloud services such as compute, databases, storage & content delivery, and networking, AWS offers mobile, management tools, developer tools, security and enterprise apps, IoT, and others. A business can control all of them with extensive admin controls that can be accessed via a secure web client. 

AWS offers a bunch of useful tools including encryption keys creation and management, auditing, monitoring and logging and others.

With over 105 availability zones within 33 geographical regions, AWS is a perfect solution for businesses located in any part of the world. Recently, a new AWS Middle East (UAE) region consisting of three availability zones has been opened. With it, customers get more choice and flexibility to leverage the advanced tools and technologies of the leading cloud provider.

Oracle

Oracle offers off-the-shelf and customizable solutions by offering over a hundred cloud services along with industry-specific and cross-industry applications on a single globally available cloud platform.

With Oracle, businesses can plan and build solutions to run anywhere, even across clouds, with optimal performance, compliance, and resiliency.

Oracle Cloud spans over 48 interconnected commercial and government cloud regions, with each region providing over 100 Oracle Cloud infrastructure services. 

Oracle’s pricing is consistently low across all the regions, The pricing structure is simple, transparent, and predictable. 

This provider is especially interesting for those who are planning to launch a crowdfunding platform in Saudi Arabia. Saudi regulators require data to be stored locally for businesses that operate in the region, and Oracle has servers there. 

Microsoft Azure

Microsoft Azure is one of the major players in the public cloud arena. It allows you to publish and manage your website easily, without any need to work with the underlying servers, network assets, or storage. It also works well with configurable third-party software.

Microsoft Azure is available in 140 countries, including the USA, Canada, Europe, and Asia-Pacific region with facilities in China, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, and Australia. Africa and the Middle East are still not covered, but the provider has four facilities listed for launch in those regions. 

To get support, one has to subscribe to a support package. There are four plans available: developer, standard, professional, and premier. For developers working on a non-production website, a developer plan with mail support during business hours is sufficient. 

Launch your crowdfunding platform with LenderKit

LenderKit is a white-label crowdfunding software provider who works with all the hosting providers described above. 

When we launch your crowdfunding platform, we can set it up on our server or your infrastructure whether it includes working with one of the providers or simply using a physical server in your office. 

Minimum server requirements for crowdfunding platforms

When choosing a server, just make sure that it complies with the minimum requirements for your LenderKit product such as a Virtual Private Server (VPS) with an Ubuntu server 22.04 operating system with root SSH access. 

Here are the minimal hardware requirements:

• 4 vCPU (2 vCPU for non-production)
• 8GB RAM (4GB RAM for non-production)
• 80GB SSD disk space

You can start with Digital Ocean because it’s the cheapest one and offers a Basic Droplet with 4 vCPU, 8GB RAM or consider something more robust such as AWS – the number one hosting provider based on the number of services available. You can start with t3a.large EC2 instance.

Ready to launch your crowdfunding platform and want to have all the tech aspects covered? Reach out to LenderKit to explore the white-label investment software solutions for your alternative investment business.