Key Things to Know When Considering Dedicated Hosting

When moving a business onto the web, all the available choices can be confusing. Hosting providers offer a number of different types of plans, and it is important to know your needs before choosing which plan is right for your business. Several options that are offered by various providers fall under the heading of dedicated hosting.

When to Use Dedicated Over a Shared Plan

Dedicated servers are just what they sound like; they do not have to be shared with other webmasters. While shared hosting can seem like a bargain, it has several drawbacks that may mean it is not a great fit for your business. Shared plans generally have reduced bandwidth and space, even when they are advertised as unlimited. When a particular domain starts using too many of the shared resources, the webmaster can find the account suspended without notice.

If you will need huge databases, serve lots of files such as videos, which require a lot of bandwidth, or you need root level access for some of the programs you need for your website, then dedicated hosting is probably a great fit for your business. A middle ground is VPS, or a virtual private server, which can give you access to some of the same levels of service, but typically at a lower cost, and without full access to your own server.

Freedom to Choose

One of the greatest benefits of a dedicated hosting plan is the freedom to choose exactly which programs will be installed, when or if they will be upgraded, and the ability to change them for better options as your web presence grows or the company’s needs change. Most plans come with an operating system installed, and some plans allow you to choose up front which that will be. This type of plan gives you the greatest flexibility over your web programming, offering options that others do not. There is no need to contact support and wait to see if something will be provided or ask for it to be installed, sometimes at additional cost, as is the case with shared or VPS plans.

Some Experience Required

If you opt for this type of plan, it is best to have in-house tech support personnel. While many companies offer managed hosting plans, the more support you need, the greater the cost will be, and the more flexibility you will lose. For the most flexibility and greatest access, having a tech on staff means you have instant access to the server and can make changes on the fly. This is not something that is entry level. If you do not have the knowledge to implement it, you will need an employee or a managed plan. There is a certain level of expertise needed to keep things running smoothly. The more management you take on yourself, the lower the out-of-pocket cost for the monthly plan.

Another benefit to this type of server is that you are essentially renting the equipment, and the hosting provider will be responsible for all equipment upkeep. This can keep costs down considerably over having an in-house server that you must maintain on-site.

Having a dedicated server for your website gives the greatest range of options for your website, and is the best option for websites with very high-traffic, high bandwidth needs, or that need specialized programs that are not typically included in standard plans. There are a variety of companies that provide these plans, some of which are very affordable.