When it comes to web hosting, you have two primary options, shared hosting or VPS. You can go for shared hosting as it offers reliability, an easy to use user interface, and affordability all at once. While shared hosting is undoubtedly your best option when it comes to running a blog or a small website, you will definitely have to upgrade to look for a better hosting option when your website/blog grows in size and starts to get more traffic.
Virtual Dedicated Server (VDS) or Virtual Private Server (VPS) — as it’s commonly known in the UK — has become commonplace for all types of businesses these days. VPS is an upgrade from shared hosting services as it offers more server and bandwidth resources for your business. Having a VPS is like having a dedicated server, just less expensive. There are two types of VPS hosting services, managed VPS and unmanaged VPS. But what one is right for your business? Before we get into that, lets understand the difference between the two.
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What Is VPS Hosting?
VPS hosting is the stepping stone between shared hosting and dedicated hosting. It’s the best web hosting option for businesses with medium to large websites. Simply put, VPS hosting takes one large server and partitions it so there are several smaller servers on it. These partitions can reboot independently and run on their own operating systems. When you upgrade to VPS, your business gets one of these independent partitions as the server.
The Difference Between Managed and Unmanaged VPS Hosting
Managed hosting is exactly what it sounds like, you let your VPS hosting service take care of system and software updates on your request. If they are necessary, the webhost will do these things automatically. It’s a hands-off approach to running or maintaining a server, a feasible option for people who lack the technical knowledge or ability to run and maintain their own servers. Note that managed VPS hosting changes from one host to another.
So what are some of the advantages of managed and unmanaged VPS hosting?
Managed VPS Hosting
No Downtime
You don’t have to worry about downtime, or breakage of routers, and switches when you are under managed VPS hosting. The host takes care of all of that.
Customization
Managed VPS hosting allows full customization. You can choose to use new software, open source software, or your own software.
Easy Migration
Managed VPS hosting allows easy migration from server to server if you need more power or your current server fails.
No resource pooling
There is no pooling of resources between customers, no shared resources to slow you down.
Scalable
You have unlimited resources should you need more CPU or RAM to make your systems run faster and more efficiently.
Unmanaged VPS Hosting
Unmanaged VPS hosting, on the other hand, is designed for tech savvy people with the technical know-how to install software, upgrade, and maintain the server. Make sure that you are familiar with the server software as well as its operating system before you choose to work with an unmanaged VPS. This is because after the initial installation, you will be responsible for everything else that follows. Below are some advantages to consider:
Scalable
Allocate unlimited resources based on needs, you can create a new hard drive or change the size of the one you have at any time.
Flexibility
VPS hosts allow businesses to make changes as they grow. You will be able to make changes to the system to accommodate the growth of your website.
You can outsource
Since managing a VPS can be laborious and cost intensive, you can outsource the administrative functions to an expert.
Full control
Unmanaged VPS hosting gives you full control of your servers. No one outside of your company can access your data.
Speed
With unmanaged VPS hosting, you have all the resources you need to yourself, no sharing. This results in exemplary operating speeds.
When it comes to choosing between managed and unmanaged VPS hosting, the best option for a business largely depends on the owner’s/staff’s technical savviness. Factors such as cost and the type of applications you plan to run on the server also come into play.
Ready to get started with VPS hosting? At Hosting.co.uk, we offer a range of managed and unmanaged VPS hosting packages to suit the needs of many.
