Compute-what? What actually is a Cloud Server?
A cloud server is a virtual server that draws its computing resources (CPU, RAM, storage) from a pool of physical servers in a data centre. The idea is simple: instead of renting a complete physical dedicated server, you flexibly utilise exactly the resources you need—virtualised and accessible via the internet at any time.
Perhaps you have already stumbled across the term "Compute Instance" with us or other providers. Do not let this confuse you: "Compute Instance" is merely the technical term for a cloud server. From a technical perspective, both terms refer to the same product: a persistent virtual machine that functions like a classic server. You have full access, can install operating systems, and run applications just as if the computer were physically standing beneath your desk.
Why are Cloud Servers so important? The 5 biggest advantages
Compute instances are the heart of modern IT infrastructures. They solve the rigid problems of physical servers (high acquisition costs, long delivery times, maintenance effort) through a flexible model.
1. Extreme Scalability (Flexibility) Does your demand change? Your infrastructure changes with it. You can add further instances with a simple click.
2. Maximum Cost Efficiency With physical servers, you pay for the hardware regardless of whether it is utilised to 10% or 100%. With cloud servers, you only pay for the resources you actually book or consume—often on an hourly or even minute-by-minute basis (pay-as-you-go).
3. Rapid Deployment (Agility) Waiting for hardware deliveries is a thing of the past. You can deploy a new cloud server within minutes via a web interface or an API, whether for a quick test or a major new project.
4. High Availability & Performance Professional cloud platforms run on redundant enterprise hardware. If a physical component fails, your instance is often automatically restarted on different hardware. Furthermore, modern NVMe storage ensures extremely fast load times.
5. Full System Control & Security You receive a fully-fledged, persistent virtual machine. Unlike container solutions, which are often based on immutable systems, here you have a permanent environment that you can customise and manage individually. With full root access (or admin rights), you are free to decide on the operating system, deep system configurations, and security policies. Providers like 23M guarantee GDPR compliance through data centres located in Germany.
The new Compute Instances from 23M
With our new compute instances, we offer you a high-performance and highly flexible infrastructure designed specifically for professional requirements.
When do I need a Cloud Server? (Typical Use Cases)
Compute instances are more flexible. They are suitable whenever you require computing power but do not wish to manage physical hardware.
Web Hosting & E-Commerce: Ideal for agencies, start-ups, or shops. Start small and scale as traffic grows.
Development & Test Environments: DevOps teams love cloud servers. They can quickly clone test environments (staging), build CI/CD pipelines, or try out new software in isolation.
Application Hosting: Whether ERP systems, CRM software, databases (such as MySQL or PostgreSQL), or container workloads (Docker, Kubernetes)—instances provide the necessary platform.
Data Processing & Analytics: Large amounts of data can be processed quickly and cost-efficiently on temporarily booked, high-performance instances.
Handling Peak Loads (Hybrid Cloud): Is your physical server reaching its limits (e.g., Black Friday or a product launch)? Handle the additional requests temporarily with cloud servers.
The new Compute Instances from 23M: The Cloud Server "Made in Germany"
With the new compute instances from 23M, we offer you a high-performance and highly flexible infrastructure designed specifically for professional requirements in Germany and Europe.
We combine the advantages of the cloud with strict German data protection standards.
The highlights of our platform:
Need-based Computing Power: Scale freely from small instances up to 16 vCPUs and 64 GB RAM per instance.
Two High-Performance Storage Types:
High Availability (NVMe): Up to 2000 IOPS, ideal for web servers and standard applications.
High-IOPS (NVMe): Up to 8000 IOPS, perfect for compute-intensive databases and Big Data.
Hourly Billing: Maximum cost control. You only pay for what you use.
Flexible High-Speed Network: Includes public IPs, private networks (for internal communication), configurable firewall rules, and native IPv6 support.
100% GDPR Compliant: Your data remains in Germany—secure and protected in our own data centres.
Expandable Block Storage: Flexibly add up to 10 TB of additional storage to your instances as needed.
Full Control: Root access, API control, and the ability to integrate your own images (BYOI).
Start your project with 23M now!
Benefit from a scalable infrastructure with the highest data security.
Select & start your Cloud Server now – High-performance, secure, and "Made in Germany"!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about Cloud Servers
We have collected the most common questions we receive regarding compute instances and cloud servers:
Question: What is the difference between a Cloud Server and a Dedicated Server? Answer: A dedicated server is a physical server that you rent completely for yourself. You have 100% of the hardware performance, but you also pay 100%, regardless of how heavily you utilise it. A cloud server (compute instance) is virtual. It shares the physical hardware with other instances (but is securely isolated), yet is more flexibly scalable and cheaper to start with.
Question: What is the difference compared to a vServer (VPS)? Answer: The boundaries are fluid. "Cloud Servers" (compute instances) are technically the evolution of classic vServers. They usually offer higher availability (as they are not tied to a single physical machine) and significantly more flexible billing (hourly instead of just monthly).
Question: How secure is my data on a Cloud Server? Answer: Security depends on two factors: the provider and you. The provider (like 23M) secures the infrastructure (data centre, network, hardware redundancy) and compliance with standards such as the GDPR. You as the user are responsible for security within the instance (operating system updates, firewall rules, strong passwords).
Conclusion
Cloud servers, technically known as compute instances, have become an indispensable part of the modern IT world. They are the answer to the call for agility, cost efficiency, and scalability.
Whether you are running a web application, processing complex data, or building a scalable infrastructure for your company—our new 23M Compute Platform offers you the necessary performance, flexibility, and the security of a German provider to implement your projects successfully.
