Though similar in many ways, managed and shared hosting are two entirely different breeds of service. Shared hosting is ideal for most individuals and small businesses, but there are many instances in which it simply cannot meet your needs. If you have been struggling with the decision of which service to choose, this article will let you know when shared hosting is sufficient and when it is time for a managed hosting solution.
Sharing Can be Sufficient Yet Not Always Enough
Shared hosting represents the most common type of web hosting there is. So, what makes it suitable for most customers? Well, if you don’t already know, a web server is a large and very powerful computer. This essentially means that the machine is quite capable of providing enough disk space and bandwidth to support multiple websites. The fact that a number of customers are paying for most of the server’s resources makes shared hosting a cost effective option. In most hosting environments, you will have sufficient disk space and bandwidth to meet the needs of your website along with a host of basic and in many cases, advanced features. However, this is not always the case.
A shared hosting plan can get you started on the right foot, but there are many signs that indicate when it is time to upgrade. For example, once your site starts to grow and traffic picks up, the resources provided by your current host may no longer be enough to support your needs. When this occurs, you are typically creating more content and bringing in more visitors so your storage and bandwidth requirements will shift dramatically. While some hosts will allow you to upgrade to higher allotments, several do not. Even for the ones that do, there is only so much you can additional procure. When no upgrades are available and you still require all the extra care and attention shared hosting provides, it just may be time to consider managed hosting.
Getting the Most from Managed Hosting
Websites that receive a high volume of traffic and contain mission critical or highly sensitive information can benefit tremendously from managed hosting. You get all the perks of a dedicated server plus the advantage of having a professional hosting company take care of the complicated technical aspects. This type of arrangement is ideal for the business or individual who doesn’t know a thing about server administration and all the other challenges that come along with dedicated hosting. Maintaining a server on your own can be costly from a time and financial aspect. In the right scenario, managed hosting can be the solution you need to bridge the gap between the shared and dedicated server.
Managed hosting can be a cost effective solution that provides you with more control and better security than a shared hosting platform ever could. However, it isn’t the best arrangement for everyone so do your homework before making the decision to upgrade. If the requirements of your website or business do not call for managed hosting, a flexible shared hosting plan will probably suit you just fine.
