Cloud promises versus reality
A decade ago, the pitch was simple: move everything to AWS, Google Cloud, or Azure. Don’t worry about servers. Just deploy and scale.
For many, that promise delivered. For others, reality differed:
- Unpredictable bills spiking without warning
- Proprietary services existing nowhere else
- Complexity requiring specialized expertise
- Dependency on single providers for everything
The result: a growing movement of developers and companies returning to self-hosted infrastructure.
Understanding vendor lock-in
Vendor lock-in occurs when applications become dependent on services existing only within one provider’s ecosystem.
AWS examples alone:
- Lambda: Serverless functions with AWS-specific triggers
- DynamoDB: NoSQL database with proprietary APIs
- SQS/SNS: Message queues tied to AWS infrastructure
- API Gateway: HTTP routing integrated with AWS services
- Aurora: MySQL/PostgreSQL “compatible” but with AWS-specific features
Building on these services means migrating away requires rewriting significant application parts. That’s lock-in.
Google Cloud and Azure have their versions: Cloud Functions, Firestore, Cloud Pub/Sub, and dozens more.
Hidden costs of “managed” services
Managed services seem convenient until bills arrive.
Consider a simple example: PostgreSQL database.
| Option | Monthly cost (approximate) |
|---|---|
| AWS RDS (db.t3.medium) | $60-100+ |
| Google Cloud SQL | Similar range |
| Self-hosted on VPS | $20-40 for entire VPS |
Managed services cost more with less control. Need to tune PostgreSQL settings the provider doesn’t expose? Too bad.
Multiply this across databases, caches, queues, and other infrastructure for substantial differences.
Why developers are self-hosting again
The self-hosting movement isn’t nostalgia. It’s practical:
1. Cost predictability
VPS with fixed resources costs the same monthly. No surprises. No usage-based billing spiking during traffic bursts. Exact payment knowledge.
2. Portability
Standard tools work everywhere:
- PostgreSQL runs on any Linux server
- Redis is identical on AWS or personal VPS
- Docker containers deploy anywhere
- Nginx configuration transfers between providers
Build with open-source tools for movement to any provider, or on-premises, without code rewrites.
3. Simplicity
Single well-configured VPS handles more than most applications need. Kubernetes, service meshes, or auto-scaling groups aren’t required for business applications serving thousands of users.
Sometimes a server running Nginx, PostgreSQL, and your application is sufficient.
4. Control
When something breaks at 3 AM, SSH into your server and fix it. No waiting for status pages or support tickets.
5. Privacy and data sovereignty
Data lives on controlled servers in chosen locations. No questions about jurisdiction passage or access.
Modern self-hosting
Self-hosting doesn’t mean 2005-era physical server racking. Modern self-hosting combines:
- VPS providers like ColossusCloud delivering virtual servers in minutes
- Infrastructure as code with Ansible, Terraform, or simple shell scripts
- Containerization with Docker for consistent deployments
- Managed backups without managed database pricing
Cloud computing convenience without proprietary service lock-in.
When major clouds still make sense
Self-hosting isn’t universally right. Major clouds excel at:
- Massive scale: Millions of requests per second
- Global edge networks: CDN and edge computing at hundreds of locations
- Machine learning infrastructure: GPU clusters and pre-trained models
- Compliance certifications: Specific regulatory requirements
For startups, small businesses, and most web applications, these features are overkill. Well-configured VPS instances handle loads fine.
Starting self-hosting
If considering the move, start small:
1. Identify portable technologies
Replace proprietary services with open-source alternatives:
| Proprietary service | Open-source alternative |
|---|---|
| AWS Lambda | Node.js/Python on VPS |
| DynamoDB | PostgreSQL or MongoDB |
| SQS | RabbitMQ or Redis |
| S3 | MinIO or direct file storage |
| CloudWatch | Prometheus + Grafana |
2. Start with non-critical workloads
Move staging environments or internal tools first. Learn operational requirements before migrating production.
3. Choose reliable VPS providers
Look for:
- Predictable pricing without hidden bandwidth or API charges
- Multiple locations for geographic redundancy
- Good network connectivity with low latency to users
- Responsive support when help is needed
At ColossusCloud, our VPS hosting provides exactly this: straightforward pricing, multiple data centers, and support from experienced teams.
4. Invest in automation
Write scripts for:
- Server provisioning
- Application deployment
- Backup and restore
- Monitoring and alerting
This investment pays off quickly when spinning up identical servers in minutes.
Infrastructure independence mindset
The self-hosting movement is really about infrastructure independence:
- Applications shouldn’t be married to one provider
- Standard tools and protocols beat proprietary APIs
- Simpler architectures are often better architectures
- Knowing infrastructure deeply beats abstracting it away
Going all-in isn’t required. Even moving some workloads to portable infrastructure reduces dependency and provides options.
The bottom line
Major cloud providers built amazing technology. But their business models depend on making leaving difficult.
Self-hosting on VPS infrastructure provides:
- Predictable costs instead of usage-based surprises
- Portability to move between providers
- Control over entire stacks
- Simplicity without unnecessary complexity
The self-hosting movement isn’t anti-cloud. It’s pro-choice: the choice to run infrastructure wherever makes most sense for business.
Ready for self-hosted infrastructure? Explore VPS plans.