Tips to Host Your Business Mobile App in 2024

Due to the global spending on cloud services, mobile app hosting on cloud is trending among businesses.

A decade ago, you had to have a website to market your products or services online to a global audience. Today, having a website is not enough to meet your target audience’s needs – you have to have a user-friendly mobile app.

Indeed, mobile apps have become crucial in the modern business world, and are proven to add on to the conversion and can be an excellent way to create a smashing impression by imparting a pleasant user experience. And if you have a business app, a backup mobile app server is a must.

In this write-up, we will pull up some tips that will help you host your mobile business app.

Why Do You Need a Server for Your Business Mobile App?

You cannot successfully market your product or service with a business mobile app that only has client-end processing. You definitely need a backend (app server hosting) for your app.

A mobile app backend is that component of your application which handles business logic, data storage, a lot of processing, and security. If your business app uses one or more of the following features, you will need a backend:

• Extended security
• Usage analytics
• Communication between users
• Advertisement handling
• Push notification service

Unless your mobile app performs ultra-simple tasks, you will need a mobile app backend.

The blend of client-end processing and backend server for mobile apps support further helps in lowering the barrier for users’ who have lower-spec devices. Such users will be able to use your app, and you’ll have more control over the kind of user experience you wish to deliver.

Tips to Manage Mobile App Backend

According to an RSA’s Group report, transactions from mobile browsers and apps account for over 71% percent of the total illegal transactions. Also, it was discovered that about 10,000 rogue apps were responsible for 28% of all the originated attacks.

Therefore, you should host the business mobile app in a fast and secure server to avoid inconveniencing the users. To host your app, mobile app hosting services should have the following skills:

• Database management
• Network infrastructure, including web servers
• Big data management
• Modern cryptography to ensure security
• Server-side programming
• Mobile telecommunications networking

Imperative Mobile App Hosting Tips

You have at least three significant hosting options for your business mobile app. Let’s cover each one in-depth, so you can actually weigh your options while planning the roadmap.

1. Code Your Mobile Backend Using Tools from Cloud Service Providers

It’s wise to use the existing tools and templates to code the mobile backend. Some Cloud providers such as Google, Microsoft, and Amazon offer robust tools that can help you code your backend.

Although it is not as easy as using MBaaS, still, you can rely on the Cloud provider’s market-leading services. In turn, Cloud service providers will help you to address the app hosting requirements effectively.

2. Code Your Mobile Backend Yourself

Coding mobile backend on your own is a challenging task among the three options that we have listed, but it comes with some benefits. Most importantly, self coding offers you tons of customization options.

However, if you’re running on a cramped budget, you can easily opt for VPS (Virtual Private Server) hosting services like Hostinger, to get your app’s backend up and running. It’s key to find a flexible plan that both meets your requirements, but doesn’t break the bank. Meanwhile, when you’re saving on the hosting solution, you can hire a developer or consultant to help you with the setup.

After coding the backend, you will need to find a provider to host your mobile app because it entails a high learning curve, as it requires a wide range of skills we mentioned earlier to bind it effectively.

NOTE: The option is only advisable to consider if you need high customization and have the expertise to achieve it.

3. 'Mobile Backend as a Service' (MBaaS)

MBaaS providers are the most manageable option for hosting business mobile apps. The provider hosts the app and helps you achieve an accelerated Time-to-Market (time between the first product idea and its possible availability on the consumer market). Hence, it’s crucial that you choose the most appropriate MBaaS for the app.

It is worth noting that hosting business mobile applications with cloud hosting is valuable in case you’re trying to reach a wide audience. In fact, cloud hosting presents a compelling value proposition.

The following are the advantages of cloud hosting for a business mobile app:

• Guaranteed Uptime: By nature, cloud hosting is incredibly reliable due to its use of multiple servers. If one goes down – your site is simply fetched from another one.
• Improved Speed: To improve loading speed, cloud hosting typically has the ability to use multiple servers at the same time, or the ones closest to your visitor’s location.
• Dynamic Scaling: Most cloud hosting platforms can dynamically adjust the resource allowance, making sure your site has as much bandwidth as it needs. It will also aid you in negotiating the high-traffic periods that slow down your site or app.

Services Offered by Prominent MBaaS Providers

MBaaS service provider manages mobile backend, so you should know what features and services they should possess. The following are the notable features of an MBaaS company:

• Push notifications
• User authentication and management
• Secure infrastructure and storage
• Geolocation services
• Ability to navigate various mobile platforms and devices seamlessly
• APIs depending on your app requirements
• Persistent data storage
• Ease of use
• Superb customer support
• Ability to leverage microservice architecture
• Analytics

Top-quality MBaaS includes a cloud database, messaging, storage, and user authentication. It offers hosting services and includes crash reporting features and testing tools, as well. Additionally, the use of Google Firebase would enable you to analyze user interactions and includes indexing, dynamic linking, and analytics.

Benefits of Using MBaaS

Below are reasons why you need to consider cloud hosting for enterprise mobile applications:

• Reduced Costs: It eliminates the need to purchase and maintain costly hardware, which, in turn, increases operational efficiency and cuts down the mobile app hosting costs.
• Compatibility: You may experience compatibility issues if you use your own server for your mobile apps. Cloud hosting enables you to capitalize on its interoperability, instead of centering on differences in the operating systems.
• Speed: Your business’ needs may change with time. Cloud hosting makes more sense as it enables you to upgrade the subscription easily and quickly at affordable costs while scaling seamlessly.
• Analytics: All data is stored in the cloud, including employee information and the way they use resources. This data can further be used to analyze the service and its impact on the intended users.
• Redundancy and Security: When you host data in the cloud, accidental erasures and hardware crashes are almost eliminated, as the information always has multiple copies. Moreover, cloud-hosting providers use sophisticated security measures, ensuring that only authorized users can access the organization's data.

Wrapping It Up

You should analyze your hosting requirement carefully to use the best hosting option for your business mobile app. In most cases, MBaaS offers the highest benefits, especially if your priority is Time-to-Market.

However, if you need a high customization level, you may have to code the mobile app backend yourself. In this case, even mobile app backend services can also help. But do remember, it comes with an array of complexities and challenges.

We hope that after reading this article, you have a better idea of ‘how to host a mobile app‘ and what to look for when choosing where to host your business mobile app.