Summary

Moving applications to DigitalOcean can offer several advantages, including improved performance, scalability, and reliability. However, before making the switch, it’s important to consider a few key factors to ensure a smooth migration. In this blog post, we’ll explore some important questions to ask before migrating and the pros and cons of moving to DigitalOcean. I started hosting my application on Amazon Web Services(AWS) and I quickly realized that I did not use 90% of the features that were being offered, so I decided to prioritize simplicity over the robustness of AWS.

Questions to Ask Before Migrating

  • What is the current performance of your application, and how could it be improved with DigitalOcean’s infrastructure?
  • What are the current costs of running your application, and how do these compare to DigitalOcean’s pricing?
  • What are your current storage and bandwidth needs, and how will DigitalOcean meet these needs?
  • What level of support do you need for your application, and how does DigitalOcean’s support compare to your current provider?
  • How will you ensure a smooth migration, and what are the potential risks and challenges of the migration process?

Pros of Moving to DigitalOcean

  • Improved performance and scalability due to DigitalOcean’s high-speed SSDs and flexible infrastructure.
  • Enhanced reliability and uptime with DigitalOcean’s redundant data centers and automated failover capabilities.
  • Affordable pricing options, with predictable costs based on usage and no hidden fees.
  • Simple and intuitive user interface for easy management of infrastructure and applications.
  • Access to a wide range of pre-built applications and tools to speed up development and deployment.

Cons of Moving to DigitalOcean

  • Lack of some advanced features and customizability options that may be available with other cloud providers.
  • Limited geographic coverage, with data centers located primarily in North America, Europe, and Asia.
  • May require more technical expertise to manage infrastructure and applications, compared to managed hosting solutions.
  • Potential risks and challenges associated with the migration process, including data loss or downtime if not executed properly.

Currently, I am working with the basic $6 droplet for hosting my applications behind an NGINX reverse proxy. I am satisfied with the level of performance and the intuitive user interface for getting a server up and running quickly.