The choice of cloud hosting services provider in India should be realized according to whether a provider is 'best' concerning individual or business needs. Uptime, advanced features, support, and cost are some of the essential factors that apply to this decision. So here it is, a detailed overview of some top cloud hosting service providers of India, without associating with or promoting any specific brand.

Uptime & Reliability

Uptime is one critical factor that any cloud hosting service must possess. High uptime levels from a provider ensure that your website or application remains accessible to users continuously. Most service providers who have been in the cloud hosting business for many years guarantee an uptime rate of between 99.95% and 99.99%. High uptimes will mean that your services are reliable and can be accessed.

Advanced Features

Some other advanced features of these applications are auto-scaling, advanced security features, data analytics, and load balancing. To name a few, from different providers, some businesses need special requirements that they would want to be accommodated by the provider, such as machine learning and Internet of Things integration or big-data processing. Here are some advanced features that go with it:

Auto-scaling: Dynamically resizing resources based on a request for optimum performance.

Load Balancing: Traffic is directed to different servers to ensure optimal performance with improved reliability.

Security: Advanced security, including DDoS protection, firewalls, and encryption.

Data Analytics: Data analysis and interpretation tools for better business decisions.

Customer Support and Managed Services

The type of customer support and the presence of managed services will significantly determine the cloud provider to choose. It is these 24/7 customer support services with a reputation for resolving issues quickly and effectively that most clients prefer. Managed services can prove very useful when businesses do not have adequate in-house expertise for the management of the cloud. The aspects to consider fall under the following categories:

a) 24/7 Support: Avail round-the-clock support through all possible support services, such as phone, chat, and email.

b) Managed Services: Cloud management support, including the setup, monitoring and maintenance of the cloud.

c) Reputation: Providers with a good level of customer satisfaction and problem resolution.

Pricing Models

The pricing models vary from one provider to another. For instance, some offer pay-as-you-go, while some may be entirely subscription-based. The total cost of ownership includes hidden fees for data transfer, storage, and additional services. Here are a few pricing considerations:

1) Pay-as-You-Go: Actual usage-based charges, best suited for businesses with fluctuating demands.

2) Subscription Based: Aimed at businesses with a good idea of their usage, it involves a flat monthly or yearly fee.

3) Hidden Fees: Watch for separate costs associated with data transfer, storage, and other services.

Cost-effectiveness of Scalability

All this, of course, is also dependent on the options to scale provided. Businesses anticipating growth will do well to consider how easy and cost-effective it will be to scale resources with a given provider. Things to consider:

1) Resource scaling: The ability to increase/decrease the resources at will with low downtime and costs.

2) Future growth: At the current infrastructure of the provider and their ability to meet your expanding requirements in the future.

My personal experience:

I have used Cyfuture Cloud hosting services in the past, and I find them to be decent and cost-effective. This makes Cyfuture Cloud a perfect balance of reliability, state-of-the-art features, and excellent support for your business needs. But, as already mentioned, the best provider for you will depend specifically on your very own requirements and priorities.