With hosted data management, a service provider administers IT services, including infrastructure, hardware, operating systems, and system software, as well as the equipment used to support operations, including data storage, hardware, servers, and networking components.

The managed service provider (MSP) typically sets up and configures hardware, installs and configures software, provides support and software patches, maintenance, and monitoring.

Services may also include disaster recovery, security, DDoS (distributed denial of service) mitigation, and more.

Hosted data management may be provided on a dedicated or shared-service model. In dedicated hosting, the service provider sets aside servers and infrastructure for each client; in shared hosting, pooled resources and charged for on a per-use basis.

Hosted data management can also be referred to as cloud services. With cloud hosting, resources are dispersed between and across multiple servers, so load spikes, downtime, and hardware dependencies are spread across multiple servers working together.

In this arrangement, the client usually has administrative access through a Web-based interface.

Another popular model is hybrid cloud hosted data management – where the administrative console resides in the cloud but all the data management (analyzing data, moving data, accessing data) is done on premise. Komprise Intelligent Data Management uses this hybrid approach as it offers the best of both worlds – a fully managed service that reduces operating costs without compromising the security of data.