Key features to look for in a bare metal cloud provider

Bare metal is nothing more than a physical server dedicated entirely to a single tenant, without any virtualization layer that typically exists in public cloud environments. Something only top bare metal cloud providers excel at.

Also known as dedicated servers, bare metal servers in a cloud environment offer the flexibility and scalability often associated with virtualized solutions but with the raw power of single-tenant hardware.

Throughout this list, we’ll explore the key features you should look for in a bare metal cloud provider to ensure optimal performance, reliability, and value for your specific use case. Already know what you're looking for? Create your account on Latitude.sh and get started.

Wide Range of Hardware Configurations

One of the most critical features of a bare metal cloud provider is the ability to choose hardware configurations tailored to your workload.

Different applications have diverse requirements, from high-performance computing to data storage and bandwidth-intensive operations.

A good provider should offer a wide range of configurations, allowing you to select CPU types, memory sizes, storage capacities, and network throughput that align with your needs.

For example, some workloads may only require modest resources, such as a server with 6 cores, 32 GB of RAM, and a 500 GB SSD for general business applications.

Others, like large-scale data processing, demand cutting-edge configurations, including 64-core processors, 1.5 TB of RAM, and multiple high-capacity NVMe drives.

Providers like Latitude.sh excel in this area, offering flexible options that range from cost-effective setups for smaller operations to high-performance configurations designed for enterprise-grade workloads.

This breadth ensures you can scale resources effectively as your business grows or as your workload demands evolve.

High Bandwidth

High bandwidth is critical for supporting data-intensive workloads like streaming, gaming, and AI-driven applications. A strong bare metal cloud provider not only delivers robust network performance but also ensures transparency and control over usage.

This begins with detailed tracking of total data transfer, including both inbound and outbound traffic, helping businesses monitor their usage accurately.

Providers should also offer clear insights into data flows across specific regions, enabling better resource planning. Usage charts are particularly valuable, providing a visual breakdown of bandwidth consumption over time.

These charts highlight daily patterns and peak usage periods, making it easier to optimize performance and plan for high-demand events.

To help manage costs, providers often include free data transfer allowances, with unlimited inbound traffic and generous egress quotas.

These quotas are typically pooled across all servers within a project and shared within the same region, offering flexibility for businesses to allocate resources efficiently.

Such transparency in bandwidth management not only enhances operational efficiency but also ensures predictable performance, empowering businesses to scale confidently without hidden costs or surprises.

Global Data Center Availability

When choosing a bare metal cloud provider, the availability of data centers across multiple regions is a key factor in ensuring performance, redundancy, and compliance.

A global network of data centers allows businesses to choose the most optimal locations for their workloads, reducing latency and improving reliability.

Latitude.sh stands out with its extensive global footprint, offering data centers in key locations around the world.

These include Buenos Aires, Sydney, Sao Paulo, Santiago, Frankfurt, Tokyo, Mexico City, Singapore, London, Ashburn, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, Miami, and New York.

Each of these locations is equipped with multiple products and various certifications, ensuring that customers have access to highly reliable infrastructure with compliance standards suited to diverse industry needs.

This global presence not only facilitates low-latency connections for users but also provides flexibility for businesses expanding across regions.

Whether it's supporting local markets, optimizing performance for global users, or meeting regulatory requirements, a provider with a broad data center network is crucial for scalable and efficient cloud operations.

DDoS Protection

Robust security measures are essential for ensuring that your servers remain operational and your data is safe.

One of the most critical threats businesses face is Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks, which can overwhelm servers and disrupt services.

Many providers rely on third-party services to manage DDoS protection, but the best providers take a more proactive, in-house approach to ensure seamless service and optimal performance during an attack.

At a high-quality bare metal cloud provider, you should expect DDoS protection that is fully integrated into the network infrastructure, rather than simply rerouting traffic when under attack.

This ensures that your servers remain unaffected, with no added latency or service disruptions.

Leading providers use advanced networking features to prevent attacks from causing significant downtime, and they actively mitigate threats at the source rather than relying on third-party solutions.

A powerful DDoS protection infrastructure should handle the most sophisticated threats, including everything from traditional floods (UDP, DNS) to more complex application-layer attacks.

It’s important that this protection extends across multiple layers—3, 4, and 7—ensuring a comprehensive shield. Ideally, it’s also included at no extra cost, making security accessible to all users.

When an attack exceeds capacity, advanced providers will employ strategies like null-routing affected IPs temporarily, allowing time to regroup and ensure minimal disruption across their network.

This approach not only keeps your infrastructure safe but also ensures the transparency and reliability of the service you depend on.

With advanced networking features, including access control lists (ACLs) and port management, these providers deliver a holistic security solution that works seamlessly with their bare metal cloud offerings.

API and Automation Capabilities

In the world of cloud computing, having the ability to automate and integrate processes is key to increasing efficiency and reducing operational complexity.

A powerful API can be a game-changer for businesses looking to streamline server management, integrate with other systems, and customize their infrastructure to meet specific needs.

The Latitude.sh API is a robust tool that provides full programmatic access to all resources on the platform.

With this API, users have the flexibility to manage and control their entire environment, enabling them to automate routine tasks, create custom dashboards, and build seamless integrations with other systems or applications.

This level of control is invaluable for businesses that require a tailored infrastructure solution or want to integrate server management directly into their internal processes.

Whether you're handling large volumes of data or managing complex systems, the API is designed to help you get the most out of your resources.

In addition to managing servers, the Latitude.sh API supports automation, which means you can schedule actions, configure servers, or even deploy new instances without manual intervention.

This reduces the risk of human error and speeds up the response to changing business needs or traffic spikes.

Overall, having access to a flexible, high-performance API simplifies infrastructure management and enables businesses to scale and adapt more quickly.

With automation at your fingertips, managing a complex server environment becomes a streamlined process, allowing you to focus on growth and innovation.

Fast Deployment

The ability to quickly deploy and scale infrastructure is a vital advantage, especially for companies that need to respond swiftly to changing demands.

Traditional cloud infrastructure can be slow to deploy, requiring complex configurations, long setup times, and extensive technical knowledge.

However, with a provider like Latitude.sh, getting your dedicated servers up and running has never been easier or faster.

Latitude.sh stands out for its incredibly fast deployment process. After creating a free account, users are immediately taken to a straightforward dashboard where they can begin building their infrastructure.

The interface is intuitive, allowing users to set up projects and configure their servers with just a few simple clicks. From choosing server options to selecting your data center location, the process is designed to minimize complexity and maximize speed.

The server selection itself is flexible, with options ranging from smaller configurations like the c2.small.x86 to robust models such as the rs4.metal.xlarge.

This scalability ensures that users can easily find the right configuration, whether they need something lightweight or high-performance for demanding applications.

When it comes to deployment speed, Latitude.sh is among the fastest in the industry. In fact, with some server configurations, deployment takes as little as 5 seconds, which is notably faster than many other top providers.

This is particularly beneficial for businesses that need to quickly spin up new resources, whether it's for new product launches, traffic surges, or testing environments.

Once your server is deployed, the process of scaling is just as seamless. Latitude.sh offers flexible billing options, including hourly and monthly plans, allowing you to scale up or down based on your needs without worrying about complex pricing or long-term commitments.

The transparent billing ensures there are no surprises, and you only pay for the resources you actually use.

With global data center availability, fast deployment times, and the ability to easily scale up as your business grows, Latitude.sh ensures that you have the tools you need to stay ahead of the competition and meet your infrastructure requirements at any given moment.

SSH Keys for Secure and Efficient Server Management

In addition to providing fast and straightforward deployment options, Latitude.sh also ensures that your server management is secure and hassle-free by offering SSH key support.

SSH keys are a secure method of logging into your server without the need for passwords, utilizing cryptographic techniques to encrypt communication between the client and server. This ensures that your data is protected from unauthorized access.

For users comfortable with SSH, the process is seamless and can be done directly from the terminal window on Linux and macOS, or through third-party applications on Windows.

Latitude.sh’s support for SSH keys means that once you deploy your server, you can quickly and securely log in, modify configurations, and maintain control over your server infrastructure, all without the complexity of managing traditional passwords.

This simple yet powerful tool is essential for developers and system administrators who need secure access to their servers while maintaining operational speed. It’s another layer of flexibility and security that enhances the overall experience of deploying and scaling with Latitude.sh.

Latitude.sh offers everything mentioned above. Create a free account for a more efficient way to manage your workloads.