Odoo is an enormously popular ERP, boasting around 12 million users. But to take full advantage of its 30 business apps and advanced functionality, many businesses choose to host their Odoo in the cloud. The cloud not only alleviates the pressure of maintaining an Odoo-capable on-premise infrastructure, but it also makes it available to a distributed workforce. This creates a more scalable, flexible solution.
However, as you think about where you should host your Odoo ERP, not all hosting solutions are created equal. Using this guide, you can pinpoint exactly what to look for in a cloud provider to get the most out of Odoo hosting features.
The Odoo Versions the Host Solution Is Compatible With
First things first: The hosting solution has to be compatible with the version of Odoo you want to run. While this shouldn’t be difficult, it’s an obligatory checkbox you need to swipe.
If you want to run a much older, legacy version of Odoo, such as Version 14, this could be a challenge. But if you’re running Version 15, 16, or 17, you should be able to find a hosting provider.
You also want to be sure that your hosting provider also gives you support for Odoo’s apps and modules. Since Odoo comes with such a vast array of tools, you’re bound to have questions or hit an occasional snag. So you want a hosting solution that specializes in Odoo and can answer questions and get you back up and running as soon as possible.
The Amount of Storage Space You’ll Need
Many of Odoo’s functions may not demand a ton of storage, such as its accounting, timesheets, and planning apps. On the other hand, several of Odoo’s apps can be space-hungry, depending on what you use them for.
To illustrate, suppose you want to use Odoo’s ecommerce app, which enables you to create a product catalog. If you use high-resolution images and videos and have many products, you may need many gigs of disk space. If that’s the case, you may want to opt for a provider that can give you at least 100GB of hard disk space.
When evaluating your storage requirements, here are some things to keep in mind:
- The Odoo apps you’ll use
- The number of users you currently have
- Your plans for future expansion, such as hiring more people or merging with another company, which could bring a sudden influx of Odoo users
- The size of any database you may choose to back up in Odoo
Another consideration is the type of storage. You want solid-state drive (SSD) storage because it’s faster than a hard disk drive (HDD). A hard disk drive has to physically spin to locate files, but an SSD finds information faster because it doesn’t have any moving parts.
The Amount of RAM Your Team Will Need
Odoo doesn’t necessarily need a lot of Random Access Memory (RAM) to run because it’s a relatively efficient ERP. However, if you have many users using Odoo apps at the same time, then the amount of RAM your hosting solution provides could become an issue.
RAM refers to the amount of data a computer or server can store for quick access by applications. For example, if a computer has 1 gigabyte of RAM, it can store up to 1 gigabyte of information that it can provide to an app right away. In this way, the app doesn’t have to pull data from its much slower hard drive. The result is faster, smoother operation.
Calculating exactly how much RAM you’ll need is difficult because it depends on what each user is doing. But to help you get started, here are a couple of ballpark suggestions, assuming that all users are working with Odoo at the same time:
- For 5 or fewer users, 2 gigs of RAM should be enough
- For a small business with around 20 users, 8 gigs of RAM should be plenty
The Hosting Provider’s Security Options
With cyber attackers lurking around the internet, you need a hosting solution that includes security features with its offering. For instance, the provider should include:
Secure Socket Layer (SSL) Certificates
An SSL certificate enables your web browser, such as Chrome or Safari, to communicate safely with websites, such as the one hosting your Odoo instance, via the SSL protocol.
Your hosting provider needs to offer SSL certificates because without them, you can’t access Odoo via HTTPS, and if you managed to access it, you wouldn’t be able to encrypt the data moving to and from your computer or other device.
Automated Backups
If your provider gives you automated backups, it boosts the resiliency of your business in the event of an incident that results in loss of data. You simply revert to the backup your provider set up. This enables you to maintain continuity and avoid extended — and expensive — downtime.
Managed Support for Issues and Installations
If there’s a security issue, such as data theft or unauthorized access, you need a hosting provider that can guide you to a quick resolution. A hosting solution with a deep understanding of the Odoo landscape is the best choice to mitigate any of these kinds of issues.
Also, whenever you have to install 3rd part apps or add-ons, you run the risk of introducing security vulnerabilities, so you want a hosting provider that knows how to walk you through installations without sacrificing the security of your digital ecosystem.
Scalability
Your hosting provider should also make it easy to upgrade or downgrade your service between plans. Some companies have to add employees during busy times or to meet short-term goals. Others end up merging with another organization and have to adjust the services they use. Anytime you add users or points of entry into your system, you run the risk of security incidents. So, regardless of your scaling needs, you should have a provider that’s flexible enough to meet them — all while ensuring the security of your Odoo environment and the assets connected to it.
DDoS Protection
Distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks involve overwhelming an app with requests so it’s too busy to serve legitimate users or needs to shut down. If your provider gives you DDoS protection, it can detect DDoS attacks and prevent them from interrupting your Odoo sessions.
It’s not hard for hackers and wannabe attackers to find DDoS software and networks on the dark web. To prevent these kinds of assaults, you’ll want a hosting solution that provides DDoS protection.
Get Powerful, Secure Odoo Hosting
Host4Geeks can tailor your hosting solution according to how you plan on using Odoo. We can tell you how much storage is necessary, the amount of RAM you’ll need, and the kind of performance you can expect from Odoo given the parameters you choose. To get started, connect with Host4Geeks today.
