Cloudscale.ch Introduction

Cloudscale.ch is a Swiss web host provider specializing in secure, cloud VPS solutions. Founded in 2014, they offer a self-service cloud platform designed specifically for developers and individuals concerned about privacy.

Services and Specializations

Cloudscale.ch only offers cloud VPS solutions. Since their clients are primarily developers, you won’t find the typical flashy sales pitches or elaborate list of server specs that you expect from most hosts. Instead, they take a very simple approach to ordering service. First, you register for a free account. Next, you select from one of their pre-configured servers, depending on the amount of RAM and CPU you need. Then you select the amount of SSD storage you require. Finally, select the operating system. They offer several Linux distributions, as well as FreeBSD.

Once you’ve configured your server, you need to put money on your account to launch it. The site quotes prices on a per-day basis, so you can make a small commitment to start and test everything out before putting more money down.

Once you have money on your account, you can launch your server and set it up how ever you like.

Infrastructure

Cloudscale.ch servers are located in Switzerland and are ISO 9001 and ISO 27001 certified.

Security

When you’re ready to launch your server, you can select either a password or SSH Key to secure it. Cloudscale.ch recommends using an SSH key.

Support and Customer Service

Customer support is available through an online ticketing system or email. Support is only available for issues with service; they do not provide server management, application, or database support.

Uptime Guarantee

Cloudscale.ch offers a 99.99% uptime guarantee. They calculate service levels on a quarterly basis, and provide a 10-day window to request a credit should they fail to meet their SLAs.

Billing and Payment Policies

Before launching your server, you need to add credit to your Coudscale.ch account, which can be done via Visa, MasterCard, American Express, PayPal, and PostFinance. After your server is launched, you will need to maintain adequate funds in your account for renewals, or your account may be suspended until additional funds are added.

What We Couldn’t Find

Because Cloudscale.ch caters primarily to developers, they don’t go into much detail regarding what you get with your server. The assumption is that you’ll get exactly what you want to install. That means:

• They mention a “simple control panel,” but don’t specify the type of control panel or list any of its features.
• It is unclear whether any scripts are available for easy installation, or if any programs come preinstalled.
• There is no mention of any backup options or data security measures in place (aside from SSH access), so the assumption is that you will need to set those up on your own.
• Support times are not provided.

Conclusion

Clouscale.ch makes it simple to configure and launch a cloud server. Their daily pricing structure means that you can easily ramp up or scale back at a moment’s notice. They are ideal for anyone looking for a secure, private hosting solution in Europe.

That said, while launching your server is simple, this is not the host for beginners. They don’t give any information about their control panel, and they don’t provide assistance for setting up your server or installing applications. If you’re looking for simple hosting, you should consider a managed server. On the other hand, if you enjoy this kind of freedom, Cloudscale.ch is definitely a solution worth considering.