Choosing the right hosting option for a website requires careful consideration. You need something that supports all your needs while staying within the allocated budget range. Shared hosting may be a smart choice for those with a small website and without much web hosting experience or traffic.
However, it doesn’t offer enough security and full utilization of the server resources. That’s why many opt for dedicated hosting. They believe it’s the only solution in terms of more control and management of the website. There is a third option, though – virtual private hosting.
But what exactly is virtual private hosting, how does it differ from dedicated and shared hosting, and is it the right hosting solution for you? You’ll find out in this article.
What Is VPS?
Virtual Private Servers or VPS hosting plans provide a website environment for you and other users while giving everybody full access to the hosting resources. You might wonder, how is this possible? Well, this hosting plan partitions off each website by utilizing virtualization technology and allowing each site to use all its tools.
In a nutshell, each website has its own space on the VPS hosting plan.
VPS has a higher price tag than a shared hosting plan. Nonetheless, it boasts functions of the dedicated hosting plan, making it a more desirable option for those expecting to grow their business.
It’s important to remember that users have access only to their websites on this hosting plan. They can’t manage other platforms even though they’re stored on the same hosting plan. Moreover, there’s no risk of the harmful neighbour effect. If one of the websites experiences a surge in traffic, it won’t slow down your website.
How Do Other Hosting Options Compare With VPS?
When deciding on the hosting option, most users choose between shared, dedicated, and virtual private server hosting plans. But what do these plans offer, and how do they differ? Let’s find out.
A shared hosting plan is the simplest of the three and suitable for those without much web hosting experience or need. Namely, your website and others share the same hosting server. It’s appropriate for those running a small company or personal website, for example. Such websites generally don’t need much customization and have less traffic.
On the other hand, the other two hosting plans (dedicated and VPS) are more suitable for middle-sized businesses or larger websites that require more features.
A dedicated hosting plan supports only one website. Put simply, the whole server is at your disposal, along with its resources. It’s an excellent option for those planning to grow their business and website as it supports high traffic and growth. But it’s also an expensive solution for most.
Finally, a virtual private server combines the best qualities of the previous two options. It’s much cheaper than dedicated hosting but offers similar flexibility. However, unlike dedicated hosting, it hosts multiple websites, but they have access to all the server’s resources. Middle-sized businesses often choose this option because of its price and customization abilities.
Benefits of Using VPS
Now that you’re familiar with what each plan offers, let’s explore why VPS is slowly becoming a favourite among many folks:
It’s Scalable
Businesses and websites should grow together. If a server can’t support traffic increases, you risk losing your visitors and their trust. That’s why the hosting server you choose should have scalability properties, and luckily, VPS does.
Specifically, even if you decide on the functions you want from VPS, it’s possible to upgrade or even downgrade the plan. For example, if users expect their business to grow, they can increase RAM or CPU power. And even in the event of having to downsize the company, it’s possible to downgrade the resources. And the best thing – there’s no need to hire someone to manage these settings. VPS lets users make these changes with a few simple clicks.
That way, VPS adapts to the current needs while allowing users to manage the changes on their own, without having to depend on other parties.
It’s Affordable
In the past, businesses on a budget would have to choose shared hosting because dedicated hosting was too expensive. Because VPS supports multiple websites, it’s much more affordable than dedicated hosting. That makes VPS an attractive solution for many businesses that need a hosting solution but can’t spend too much money.
It’s Customizable
If users want to customize VPS, they can do so – VPS offers its users more control by giving them the option to pick between a managed and an unmanaged plan. Those confident in their hosting skills can opt for the unmanaged plan that lets them tweak the server to support their needs fully.
If you opt for that plan, you have more control over the server’s resources and the ability to customize it. But don’t worry, this doesn’t mean there isn’t support you can contact. After all, your business depends on the website and its performance. That’s why you can typically reach out to a customer service representative to help you solve any issues, even if you’re on a managed plan.
It’s Secure
Although VPS stores multiple websites, it gives each of the user root access. That said, you can utilize its advanced security functions to ensure your website is secure. What does this mean in practice? Although you share hosting with other websites, there’s no way neighbours will access the files you’ve secured.
It Increases Reliability
When a website experiences a traffic surge, it can often lead to downtime. This can affect your business and harm the website traffic. But with reliable hosting, that shouldn’t be an issue. Although VPS stores multiple websites, it treats each of them as separate entities. So if one website experiences downtime, it doesn’t affect your website at all. Such a hosting characteristic is vital for business growth.
Who Should Use VPS?
Utilizing VPS is a great solution for many people. Here’s why you might consider it:
Your Website Has High Traffic
As mentioned, VPS won’t disappoint if you’ve got high traffic. Even those that experience occasional surges can benefit from investing in VPS. For example, for e-commerce, VPS is a fantastic solution as it won’t let you down when you need your website the most.
You Need Secure Backup
If a company requires a secure backup environment, VPS can provide it. Besides offering a certain amount of space, users can downgrade or upgrade it, depending on their current needs.
You Want to Test Staging
If you’re a web developer, you might also benefit from VPS. Namely, web developers use VPS to test the website and see if the created changes work well. VPS allows them to check how the website behaves before it goes live.
If You Utilize a Sandbox
Many companies use a sandbox to test their software for potential malfunction and bugs. The great thing is that besides enabling users to examine platforms or software, there’s no need to hire another individual to set everything up.
Is VPS Right for You?
As technology advances, more businesses are looking for perfect hosting to support their website. While shared hosting may be suitable for some, it doesn’t offer enough functions and security. On the other hand, dedicated hosting can be a costly option for many. That’s where VPS comes in handy.
It boasts incredible features; it’s affordable and designed to support the needs of various types of businesses. It’s also a better solution than shared hosting as it provides more security and flexibility. On top of that, its scalability enables companies to tweak it as the brand grows and experiences more traffic.
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