GITBOOK-121: New articles for Hosting and Key Features and Benefits of Cloud

Author: eshanrnh

umbraco-cloud/SUMMARY.md

@@ -7,6 +7,8 @@
 * [What is Umbraco Cloud?](explore-umbraco-cloud/what-is-umbraco-cloud/README.md)
   * [Frequently asked questions](explore-umbraco-cloud/what-is-umbraco-cloud/frequently-asked-questions.md)
   * [Umbraco Cloud Plans](explore-umbraco-cloud/what-is-umbraco-cloud/umbraco-cloud-plans.md)
+  * [Hosting with Umbraco Cloud: Cloud vs. Self-Hosted](explore-umbraco-cloud/what-is-umbraco-cloud/hosting-with-umbraco-cloud-cloud-vs.-self-hosted.md)
+  * [Key Features and Benefits of Using Umbraco Cloud](explore-umbraco-cloud/what-is-umbraco-cloud/key-features-and-benefits-of-using-umbraco-cloud.md)
 * [Technology](explore-umbraco-cloud/technology-overview/README.md)
   * [Repositories in a Cloud Project](explore-umbraco-cloud/technology-overview/repositories-in-a-cloud-project.md)
 

umbraco-cloud/explore-umbraco-cloud/what-is-umbraco-cloud/README.md

@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ description: >-
 
 # What is Umbraco Cloud?
 
-Umbraco Cloud is the fully managed, flexible, and scalable way to build and host Umbraco websites — all in one place. Built on top of the open-source Umbraco CMS and hosted on Microsoft Azure, it gives developers, editors, and teams everything they need to deliver fast, secure, and future-proof digital experiences.
+Umbraco Cloud is the fully managed, flexible, and scalable way to build and host Umbraco websites, all in one place. Built on top of the open-source Umbraco CMS and hosted on Microsoft Azure, it gives developers, editors, and teams everything they need to deliver fast, secure, and future-proof digital experiences.
 
 Umbraco Cloud takes care of installation, infrastructure, and security. You will also get the tools to work with your project in the Cloud or locally. Local development starts with cloning the project down to your PC or Linux/macOS.
 
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ When you are ready to show your work to the world, Umbraco Cloud provides a safe
 
 *  Fully managed hosting: Hosted on Microsoft Azure with automatic backups, global CDN, HTTPS, and scaling built in.
 * Out-of-the-box DevOps: Use Git-based workflows, built-in CI/CD, and structured environments (Development, Staging, Live) to deliver with confidence.
-* Easy collaboration: Invite team members, manage access, and deploy content and code with ease — all from the Cloud Portal. 
+* Easy collaboration: Invite team members, manage access, and deploy content and code with ease, all from the Cloud Portal. 
 * Security and reliability: Backed by secure infrastructure, automated TLS, point-in-time restores, and Cloudflare protection for performance and safety.
 * Built for growth: Start small and scale as needed, with flexible environments, external integrations, and support for custom workflows and packages.
 

umbraco-cloud/explore-umbraco-cloud/what-is-umbraco-cloud/hosting-with-umbraco-cloud-cloud-vs.-self-hosted.md

@@ -0,0 +1,71 @@
+---
+description: >-
+  A quick overview of how Umbraco Cloud provides secure, scalable, and fully
+  managed hosting.
+---
+
+# Hosting with Umbraco Cloud: Cloud vs. Self-Hosted
+
+Umbraco Cloud offers fully managed hosting for your Umbraco projects, leveraging Microsoft Azure. This means you don’t have to worry about setting up infrastructure, servers, or deployment pipelines. Everything is included and optimized for running Umbraco projects at scale.
+
+Whether you're launching a new site or migrating an existing one, choosing between **Umbraco Cloud** and **self-hosted Umbraco** depends on your project's requirements, team setup, and compliance needs. Here's a breakdown to help you make a decision.
+
+| Feature                     | Umbraco Cloud                          | Self-Hosted Umbraco                                   |
+| --------------------------- | -------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------- |
+| **Hosting infrastructure**  | Managed by Umbraco on Azure            | Managed by you (Azure, AWS, on-prem, etc.)            |
+| **Setup Time**              | Minimal, creates a project in minutes  | Manual configuration is required                      |
+| **Upgrades (CMS + Deploy)** | Automated and guided                   | Manual updates needed                                 |
+| **Deployments**             | Built-in workflows via Umbraco Deploy  | Custom pipeline setup needed                          |
+| **Upgrades and Backups**    | Automatic and included                 | Manual or via custom setup                            |
+| **CI/CD Support**           | Built-in automated deployments         | Custom pipelines (e.g., Azure DevOps, GitHub Actions) |
+| **Monitoring and logging**  | Integrated dashboards and logs         | Must integrate with external tools                    |
+| **Security and Compliance** | WAF, HTTPS, MFA, ISO-certified hosting | Your responsibility                                   |
+| **Support**                 | Included with selected plans           | Community or third-party support                      |
+
+## Shared vs. Dedicated Hosting
+
+Umbraco Cloud offers:
+
+* **Shared Hosting** (default): Your site runs in an isolated environment on shared infrastructure that is optimized for performance and security.
+* **Dedicated Resources**: Available for high-traffic or security-sensitive projects with full tenant isolation. For a full overview of configuration and pricing, refer to the [Dedicated Resources page](https://umbraco.com/products/umbraco-cloud/dedicated-resources/)
+
+ For plan-level details, see the [Umbraco Cloud Plans](https://umbraco.com/products/umbraco-cloud/pricing/).
+
+## When to Choose Umbraco Cloud
+
+Choose **Umbraco Cloud** if you want to:
+
+* Launch quickly with minimal infrastructure setup.
+* Automate deployments, upgrades, and backups.
+* Focus on building solutions, not managing servers.
+* Collaborate smoothly across teams with built-in workflows.
+* Receive support and platform updates directly from Umbraco HQ.
+* Align with best practices for security, scaling, and deployment.
+
+#### Ideal for
+
+* Digital agencies
+* Internal development teams
+* MVPs and large-scale web projects needing quick iteration and long-term stability
+
+## When to Choose Self-Hosted Umbraco
+
+Choose **self-hosted** Umbraco if you:
+
+* Require complete control over your hosting and stack.
+* Must adhere to specific security, legal, or compliance requirements.
+* Have in-house DevOps expertise and want to tailor CI/CD workflows.
+* Need integration with private networks or legacy systems.
+* Prefer a different cloud provider or on-premises setup.
+
+### **Ideal for**
+
+* Enterprises with strict governance
+* Custom architecture requirements
+* Projects with highly specialized hosting needs
+
+## Resources
+
+* [Umbraco Cloud Overview](https://umbraco.com/products/umbraco-cloud/)
+* [Security on Umbraco Cloud](../../build-and-customize-your-solution/set-up-your-project/security/)
+* [CI/CD on Umbraco Cloud](../../build-and-customize-your-solution/handle-deployments-and-environments/umbraco-cicd/)

umbraco-cloud/explore-umbraco-cloud/what-is-umbraco-cloud/key-features-and-benefits-of-using-umbraco-cloud.md

@@ -0,0 +1,86 @@
+---
+description: Discover some of the features of Umbraco Cloud.
+---
+
+# Key Features and Benefits of Using Umbraco Cloud
+
+Umbraco Cloud is a fully managed, scalable platform built to simplify and enhance the experience of building, deploying, and maintaining Umbraco websites. 
+
+Whether you're a developer, digital agency, or enterprise team, Umbraco Cloud empowers you to move faster, collaborate seamlessly, and stay secure by default while running on modern best practices.
+
+This article highlights the most valuable features and benefits of Umbraco Cloud.
+
+### Fully Managed Hosting on Microsoft Azure
+
+Umbraco Cloud hosts your projects on trusted Microsoft Azure infrastructure, ensuring:
+
+* High availability and performance
+* Data privacy and security
+* Azure-backed reliability and global scalability
+
+### Smooth Deployments & Built-In CI/CD Workflows
+
+Deploy faster and safer with a modern, built-in developer experience:
+
+* Git-based deployments with environment-aware configuration
+* Content and media transfers/restores between environments
+* Built-in CI/CD pipeline support for GitHub Actions and Azure DevOps
+
+For more information, see the [Deployment](../../build-and-customize-your-solution/handle-deployments-and-environments/deployment/), [CI/CD on Umbraco Cloud](../../build-and-customize-your-solution/handle-deployments-and-environments/umbraco-cicd/), and [GitHub Actions](../../build-and-customize-your-solution/handle-deployments-and-environments/umbraco-cicd/samplecicdpipeline/github-actions.md) articles.
+
+### Faster Project Setup with Baselines
+
+Umbraco Baselines allows you to use a base project as a template for creating more projects. This is ideal if you're planning on building multiple similar websites. For more information, see the [Baselines](../../begin-your-cloud-journey/creating-a-cloud-project/baselines.md) articles.
+
+### Automated Upgrades and Hotfixes
+
+Stay secure and up to date with automated CMS upgrades, including:
+
+* Automatic minor and patch updates
+* Security fixes and latest feature rollouts
+* Upgrade notifications and version history
+
+For more information, see the [Product Upgrades](../../optimize-and-maintain-your-site/manage-product-upgrades/product-upgrades/) article.
+
+### Security by Default
+
+Umbraco Cloud includes multiple layers of security so your team doesn’t have to manage patches or infrastructure hardening manually:
+
+* HTTPS is enabled by default
+* Optional basic authentication per environment
+* Environment-specific hostname settings
+* Secrets management
+* Support for external login providers (for example, Microsoft Entra ID, Auth0, Google, and so on)
+
+For more information, see the [Security](../../build-and-customize-your-solution/set-up-your-project/security/) article.
+
+### Multi-Environment Workflow
+
+Every project comes with mainline and flexible environments (based on the plan), so you can:
+
+* Deploy between mainline and flexible environments 
+* Test safely before going live
+
+For more information, read the [Environments](../../begin-your-cloud-journey/project-features/environments.md) and [Flexible Environments](../../begin-your-cloud-journey/project-features/flexible-environments.md) articles.
+
+### Insights and Performance Monitoring
+
+Get visibility into site health and performance:
+
+* Application Insights for performance and logging
+* Usage statistics via the Cloud Portal
+* Alerts on downtime or performance issues
+
+For more information, see the [Application Insights](../../expand-your-projects-capabilities/external-services/application-insights.md) article.
+
+### Unlimited Team Collaboration
+
+Umbraco Cloud is designed for modern teams and agencies:
+
+* Role-based permissions
+* Organization and project-level user management
+* Environment-specific access control
+
+For more information, see the [Managing Team Members](../../begin-your-cloud-journey/project-features/team-members/) article.
+
+And that’s just the beginning. Explore even more features, benefits, and capabilities on the [Umbraco Cloud Product Page](https://umbraco.com/products/umbraco-cloud/) and the [Umbraco Cloud Pricing](https://umbraco.com/products/umbraco-cloud/pricing/) page.