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.

References

• DigitalOcean Documentation