G1Joshi DigitalOcean
DigitalOcean (DO) focuses on simplicity and developer experience. In 2025, it has expanded into Managed AI (GenAI Platform) and robust PaaS offerings (App Platform).
When to Use
- Startups / SMBs: Predictable pricing, simple UI, no "cloud shock" bills.
- Simple VM Hosting: Droplets are the gold standard for "Just give me a VPS".
- Managed K8s: DOKS is a very affordable compliant Kubernetes service.
Core Concepts
Droplets
Virtual Private Servers (Linux VMs).
App Platform
PaaS (Platform as a Service). Point it to a GitHub repo, and it builds/deploys/scales your app.
Spaces
S3-compatible Object Storage with a built-in CDN.
Best Practices (2025)
Do:
- Use VPC: Isolate your Droplets and Managed Databases in a private network (enabled by default in new projects).
- Use Cloud Firewalls: Block all ports except what you need.
- Use App Platform: For web apps, avoid managing Droplets. Let DO handle the OS patching and scaling.
Don't:
- Don't ignore backups: Enable automatic backups for Droplets and Databases.