A reputable website presence is the most demanded thing these days as the internet creates a massive hype for companies. Just about everyone who owns a website needs a web hosting company with solutions that suits their needs. This article focuses on VPS hosting, but before we put this topic under the microscope, let us break down web hosting into a crystal-clear definition.
Web hosting is a service that gives you access and storage space on a super computer aka a ‘server’. This server is always turned on and creates a gateway for your website’s data to be accessed online. There are several types of hosting plans all broken down to suit varying needs.
Table of Contents
Types of Hosting in Brief
Three main types of hosting exist, these are: Shared Hosting, VPS Hosting and Dedicated Hosting. The most common of the three is shared hosting where people can get their website published online at little to nothing. This type of website hosting plan is significantly cheaper than all the other kinds, but, the resources are limited, shared and not recommended for traffic and RAM heavy sites. Dedicated hosting service is the most powerful of the three and can be customised and managed independently by a paying customer. However it requires certain level of technical knowledge and experience to run this service. VPS is the middle ground plan. Well, basically it’s the best of both worlds, let’s take a closer look at VPS hosting.
What is VPS?
VPS stands for virtual private server in which is a single server is partitioned into multiple servers. Each of these servers can be rebooted independently and can have their dedicated IP address. The element of privacy is still intact. This is why we say it is a middle option between shared hosting service and dedicated hosting service. In shared hosting between 100 – 200 websites share the resources like CPU, RAM and disk space. The large traffic starts to cause issues to the users when website traffic increases, due to limited resources.
Having a flexible approach in growing the business website or blog is quite good. VPS hosting server is often managed by someone with good technical knowledge or you can also hire the one with technical background. Though today, a handful of web hosting providers offer managed VPS hosting for those who do not wish to be entangled in the technicalities. At this point you should have noticed we said “managed VPS.” Which brings us to the next point. There are actually two kinds of VPS hosting, one is managed while the other is unmanaged one.
Managed VPS:
In this hosting you can sit back and relax and leave everything on the hosting provider to solve the issues. You will not have to be concerned about server updates, tedious maintenance and server backups among other specific tasks. The host will do priority server upkeep while you get have access to your hosting account’s control panel to complete minor tasks.
Unmanaged VPS:
In this type, the host will have only two responsibilities, the connection of VPS is running and connected to the network. Every other task is left on you, so if you aren’t tech savvy, then you will definitely need extra personnel to take over here.
VPS from Users’ Point-of-view:
VPS host provides guaranteed performance as you get your own dedicated resources like CPU, storage, bandwidth and RAM. It provides better security as websites will be hosted in an isolated environment and you will not be affected by your surroundings. It renders complete server root access and it is very similar to hosting on a dedicated hosting plan. Of course, with a better price tag.
What about the benefits?
There are several benefits of VPS hosting:
- VPS lets you get more control over the server. In some cases, like unmanaged VPS, you get absolute control.
- It allows picking from a range of service plans that can suit your needs to the best.
- It allows the installation of anti-virus and malware detection of your own choice on the hosting account to avoid malicious attacks and hackers.
- The server cost is shared.
- The server renders better access with more control and server setup is quick.
- The level of services is similar with dedicated server.
- The environment is private.
- It allows flexibility and customisation.
- It allows full control over the VPS account and you can install any application and software that is required by the website for improved functionality and optimised performance.
How do I know VPS is right for me?
You need a VPS (virtual private server) hosting when your website starts to out-grow and gain significant amounts of traffic on a shared hosting plan. However, there are other factors as well that contributes to the decision of shifting towards VPS hosting service like: how crowded shared hosting is on a current server, the type of website you have and from where the website’s traffic is coming. VPS hosting is great because it is scalable, has powerful servers and is rich in features. You can adjust the resources to match the needs of the website without disrupting the service. VPS is suitable for all types of websites and it is a solution for all those who have outgrown their shared hosting plans.
You need to upgrade from Shared Hosting when:
Speed is Slow
Adding content to the website will decrease the speed. This is the case with websites that rely on database intensive operations. You should move towards VPS hosting if you notice your website failed it’s last few performance tests because it is too slow or crashing. Plus, higher site traffic rates require upgrading a hosting plan.
Fewer Resources
Getting 404-errors or 503-errors mean that your service is no longer available to your customers. The memory is insufficient on your server and you need to upgrade to VPS hosting.
Security Issues
If you are facing multiple security attacks, things can get tough for you and you need to switch to VPS resources.
Special OS
With VPS hosting service, you can get full root access and you can install and customise software that is required to optimise the hosting experience. This flexibility is only possible when you install a custom operating system.
Tips to Select the Best VPS Provider
You can choose from thousands of online service providers by considering these main factors.
Cost:
Web hosting price tag is an important factor to consider when it comes to VPS as you link it with the assets you need to serve a website online. VPS resources are scalable so be sure to compare the costs and examine the features you get access to in from various providers.
Reliable Customer Support:
Dedicated customer support is the make or break deal with all service providers. VPS hosting requires all-day, everyday support. This can be through live chat, direct calls or a ticketing system. The main point is that your host needs to have your back. Why, because your website needs to be online at all costs and not just a fraction of the time. Some hosting companies prioritise customer support which more assurance should there be a glitch. Take time to read customer reviews and see exactly what customers say about your prospective host.
Reliability and Uptime:
The uptime that your host guarantees is quite crucial as well. With VPS you pay higher costs, hence there should overall better service. Uptime is percentage is important because it gives you an idea of when your site will be online and accessible to users. Though many companies strive for 100% uptime, the reality is that servers are susceptible to many unforeseen issues that might kick your site offline. So, finding one that offers 100% uptime might be hard. None-the-less, finding a host that offers 99.5% minimum uptime is a great deal.
Conclusion:
Though VPS service is more expensive than shared hosting, the performance and flexibility you get is worth it in the long run. VPS hosting is easy to scale up and the cost of running a website increases slightly. It reduces the need to change plans when your website grows. So, this is the perfect plan to for your growing website if you wish to foster an ultra-fast website experience.
