Servers and Cloud Computing
Managed servers and private cloud, hosted in our own UK data centre
Most IT providers rent space in someone else’s cloud and pass the bill on. Rydal owns and runs its data centre in Huntingdon, so your servers sit on infrastructure we built, with engineers we employ, at a price that doesn’t change when a hyperscaler decides it should.
How can we help?
What is Cloud Computing?
Cloud computing allows your business to use technology without relying solely on physical servers or computers in your office. Instead, your data, applications, and IT services are securely hosted in the cloud, giving your team access to the tools they need from any location, on any compatible device. Whether you’re working in the office, at home, or on the move, cloud computing provides greater flexibility, scalability, and reliability while reducing the cost and complexity of managing on-site infrastructure.
Benefits of Servers and Cloud Computing
Business Transformation & IT
Our servers and cloud computing services streamline operations, improve business processes and maximise the return on your IT investment. We also help organisations develop digital transformation strategies that support future growth.
Cost Efficiency & Scalability
Cloud solutions reduce the need for costly on-site servers, software and infrastructure. They also allow your business to scale easily as your requirements change, without significant additional hardware investment.
Expert Support & Management
Our UK-based engineers build, manage and optimise your IT environment, whether on-premise or in the cloud. With flexible support options, fixed-fee IT support and ongoing consultancy, we help keep your systems reliable and efficient.
Security, Continuity & Backup
Enterprise-grade cloud backup and recovery solutions help protect your business against data loss, disasters and disruption. Secure, encrypted file-sharing also enables your teams to collaborate confidently with colleagues, partners and clients worldwide.
Integrated Digital Services
From cloud migration and hosting to Microsoft 365, network infrastructure and proactive monitoring, we provide the services needed to support your entire IT environment. Our managed disaster recovery and continuity solutions help improve resilience, reduce downtime and minimise risk.
Transform the Way You Work with a Free 30-Day Microsoft Copilot Trial
See what Microsoft Copilot can do for your business with a completely free 30 day trial from Rydal Group. Get AI built into Outlook, Word, Excel and Teams for up to 25 users, with expert setup and support from our IT team. Available to eligible Microsoft 365 Business clients with fewer than 300 staff.
Server & Cloud Computing Challenges Every Business Must Overcome
Technology infrastructure underpins every modern organisation, yet many businesses face growing challenges around server performance, cloud costs, security, compliance and scalability. Understanding these obstacles is the first step towards building a reliable, cost-effective infrastructure that supports long-term growth and operational resilience.
The server in the cupboard
Nobody will give you a straight answer
Ask three providers and you get three pitches: all-in on Azure, a new on-prem box, or "it depends". What you want is someone to look at what you run and tell you which option costs less and breaks less. For your business, not in general.
You've heard the cloud horror stories
The migration that took the business down for a weekend. The Azure bill that was triple the quote by month four. The accounts package that stopped working because it was never meant to run in the cloud. Those are real, and they happen when the planning is skipped.
Some of your systems can't move. Or shouldn't.
A legacy line-of-business app, a Sage install, a scanner that only talks to a local server. Most SMEs end up hybrid whether they planned to or not, and hybrid done badly means two environments and twice the problems.
When it's in someone else's cloud, who do you call?
Your data is in a data centre you'll never see, run by a company that doesn't know your name, and your IT provider says "we've raised a ticket with Microsoft". Accountability disappears into the gap between them.
The old server is a security risk, not just a slow one
Windows Server versions stop receiving security updates on a fixed schedule. Running one past that date is a Cyber Essentials fail, an insurance problem and an open door. A lot of businesses don't know which version they're on.
Servers and cloud, decided properly
An assessment that ends in a recommendation, not a brochure
We audit every workload, what it costs to run today and what it would cost in each option: public cloud, our private cloud, modern on-prem, or a mix. You get one document with a recommendation and the numbers behind it.
Our own data centre, forty minutes from Peterborough
Hosted servers in Rydal's Huntingdon data centre: UK data residency, fixed monthly pricing with no usage surprises, and the same engineers who built it answering the phone. For the workloads that suit Azure, we run those too.
Hybrid that's designed, not accumulated
The systems that need to stay local stay local, connected securely to everything in the cloud, backed up as one estate and monitored as one estate. One picture, one team.
Migrations rehearsed before they're real
Every cutover is tested on a copy first, scheduled out of hours and rolled back if anything's wrong. Your team logs in on Monday and the only difference is it's faster.
One team accountable, wherever it runs
Whether a workload sits in Huntingdon, Azure or your server room, you ring one number and we own the fix. No tickets raised with someone else on your behalf.
Your servers, in our building, forty minutes away
Rydal acquired Merula and its Huntingdon data centre in 2024, bringing more than thirty years of hosting and ISP expertise in-house. It’s where virtually all of our hosted services run. It’s not a partner facility, a reseller agreement or a logo on a slide. It’s ours.
What that means for you
Your data stays in the UK
Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire. UK data residency by default, with no awkward answers for your clients, your insurer or the ICO.
A fixed monthly price
No per-gigabyte egress fees, no compute spikes, no quarterly surprise. You know what hosting costs before you sign and it stays that way.
The engineers who answer the phone are the ones in the building
No ticket raised with a third party. Hands on your hardware within the hour if it's needed.
Built to stay up
Full UPS, resilient generators with over three days of fuel, managed cooling, and over £1 million invested in the facility.
Connected properly
Resilient, carrier-neutral links to London, Manchester and Cambridge, and because we're also an ISP, we can deliver the connectivity into your office too.
You can come and see it
Clients are welcome to visit.
What we host there
Private cloud servers, built and managed for you
Colocation if you'd rather keep your own hardware in our racks
Off-site backup and disaster recovery replication
Hosted voice and connectivity for the rest of the Rydal group
How we move you, without the drama
- We audit what you run. Every server, application and data store, what it costs today and what depends on it.
- We agree the goal. Lower cost, less downtime, remote access, or retiring old kit. The plan is built around that, not around a product we want to sell.
- We tell you what moves and what stays. Some systems belong in the cloud, some belong in our Huntingdon data centre, some are fine where they are. You get a straight recommendation for each.
- We choose the right home for each workload. Private cloud, Azure or hybrid, with the cost of each side by side.
- We rehearse before we migrate. Every cutover is tested on a copy, scheduled out of hours and reversible.
- We manage it afterwards. Monitoring, patching, backup and support from the same team that moved it.
Pro-Active Ransomware Detection
Hosted here, protected by Cyber360
Every server we host or manage is covered by our managed security: endpoint detection, 24/7 SOC monitoring and immutable backups. If you want the detail, it’s on the Cyber Security page.
File-sharing solutions
Files, without the file server
For most businesses, secure file sharing means SharePoint and OneDrive configured properly: one structure, the right permissions, backed up independently of Microsoft. We set it up as part of your migration or as a standalone Microsoft 365 project.
How we get you started
No jargon, no pressure, just a clear path from where you are to genuinely secure.
Free audit
Our 45-point review of your systems, returned as a clear red / amber / green report.
Tailored plan
From your audit, we’ll build a tailored proposal that suits your business needs.
Seamless rollout
Our in-house team deploys and configures everything, working around your business.
Always-on protection
Continuous SOC monitoring, reporting and support — with one team accountable, 24/7.
What makes Rydal different?
We combine expert technology, personalised support and a people-first approach to deliver solutions that are built around your business, not just the technology you use.
Supporting Businesses Across the United Kingdom with Trusted Technology Solutions
- Peterborough, England (Head Office)
- Lichfield, England
- Huntingdon, England (Data Centre)
- Coventry, England
Awarded for Excellence
Rydal Comms is ISO 9001, 27001, and 14001 certified — a mark of our quality, security, and environmental standards.
Frequently Asked Questions About Our Cloud Computing & Servers
No jargon, no pressure — just a clear path from where you are to genuinely secure.
What is cloud computing, and how can it help my business?
Cloud computing allows your business to use IT resources such as servers, storage, applications, and processing power over the internet. Instead of relying entirely on hardware at your premises, you can access the technology you need through a cloud environment. This can make it easier to support remote working, scale your infrastructure, and manage IT costs.
What cloud computing services does Rydal offer?
Rydal provides cloud solutions designed to support different business requirements, from hosted infrastructure and cloud storage to cloud migration and managed cloud environments. We can help you identify the right approach for your business and ensure your cloud services are properly configured, maintained, and supported.
Is cloud computing suitable for small businesses?
Yes. Cloud computing can be a practical option for small businesses that want access to reliable IT infrastructure without taking on the full cost and responsibility of maintaining their own servers. Rydal can help you choose a solution that fits your current needs while allowing room for future growth.
What are the main benefits of moving to the cloud?
Moving to the cloud can give your business greater flexibility, easier access to data and applications, and more options for scaling IT resources. It can also reduce the need for on-site infrastructure and make it easier to support employees working from different locations.
Can Rydal help us move our existing systems to the cloud?
Yes. Rydal can help businesses plan and manage cloud migrations, including assessing existing infrastructure, identifying suitable cloud services, and moving data or applications where appropriate. We focus on making the transition as smooth as possible while helping you avoid unnecessary disruption.
