So you’ve decided to upgrade your website hosting from shared to VPS hosting.
You’ll now have access to dedicated resources and the reassurance that your site will run undisturbed. However, you still have one more choice to make. Now that you’re using VPS hosting, you need to decide whether you want your hosting to be managed or unmanaged.
Managed vs. Unmanaged VPS Hosting
Managed VPS Hosting
Managed VPS Hosting is a hands-off approach to web hosting. Essentially, you use the VPS for your website, and the hosting provider takes care of the technical side of things. This option is ideal for people who aren’t tech-savvy or don’t have a team to manage their server regularly. Additionally, this means you’re freed up to focus on growing your business.
Pros of Managed VPS
- You don’t need to have any technical expertise. You also don’t have to hire any IT personnel.
- You save you and your team time by not having to deal with the server.
- You can rest assured that all operating system updates are made, so your server is kept current and secure.
- You know that all changes to the server are being done correctly.
Cons of Managed VPS
- It is more expensive than unmanaged hosting.
- You’re handing over a lot of control to an outside party.
Unmanaged VPS Hosting
Unmanaged hosting requires that you take care of everything. This means that you’re responsible for things like maintenance, troubleshooting, software installation, installing updates, and the server’s security. This option is best for people who are either tech-savvy or have their own IT department.
Pros of Unmanaged VPS
- It is less expensive than managed hosting.
- You have complete control over your server. This includes disk space, CPU, and RAM.
Cons of Unmanaged VPS
- It requires that you take time away from core business functions.
- You’ll need to have IT personnel available 24/7 to handle any issues that may arise.
- It’s hard to keep up with all the operating system updates and patches.
- If you don’t perform updates regularly, the security and reliability of your server may decrease.
How to Choose?
When deciding which hosting option is the right one for your business, you need to ask yourself several questions:
- What types of applications are you thinking of installing?
- Do you have the technical knowledge for server administration?
- Can you afford to pay for managed hosting?
Opting for a fully managed VPS means that you get a dedicated support team. This team will handle all aspects of VPS hosting, saving you and your team valuable time. Additionally, with managed VPS hosting, you can:
- Decrease your risks. With managed VPS hosting, you can reduce your exposure to online risks because you’ll have a high level of oversight and constant backend maintenance.
- Quickly scale your resources. Your hosting provider will help you adjust your hosting resources to keep up with your business’s speed.
- Keep up to date on technology. Your hosting provider will make sure you have access to the latest technology, which won’t require you to invest in a lot of capital.
- Keep compliant. You won’t have to worry about taking care of ongoing compliance requirements, as your managed hosting provider will do it for you so you can focus on other tasks.
Summary
In short, managed VPS hosting means that everything to do with your server’s maintenance, including its performance, security, and upgrades, will be handled by your host. Therefore, unmanaged VPS hosting is the opposite. Ergo, you are responsible for handling the maintenance, performance, security, and upgrades for your server. Choosing one option over the other is, therefore, a matter of preference and ability. If you prefer not to manage your server or can’t manage it, then managed hosting is the best option for you. However, if you like to have control over your server and you can manage the server, you should choose unmanaged hosting.
