VPS hosting has been showing significant growth in market share and the number of users in recent years. The market segment is valued at billions, and this type of hosting supports the smooth running of hundreds of millions of websites across the globe.
Virtual private server hosting is the next level after shared hosting. These servers are part of a physical server, where each user gets their own isolated share of the resources, including a specific amount of bandwidth, disk space, CPU, and RAM exclusively for their needs.
Providers use virtualization to make VPS servers available. This enables them to divide the server into multiple virtual independent ones, each with its own software environment, resources, and operating system.
Managed vs. Unmanaged VPS Hosting
Providers of managed hosting will take care of any technical issues. At the same time, your admin access to the server is limited. Managed VPS hosting is suitable for startups and laymen.
With unmanaged hosting, you can choose what software and OS to install and operate. The hosting company takes care of the initial setup. The plan does not include technical support. Unmanaged VPS hosting is suitable for enterprises and web developers.
Reliable VPS hosting resolves many of the issues associated with shared hosting. Below are several instances in which you’d need VPS hosting.
Your Website Starts Growing
If your website starts growing, it will need more resources to accommodate the rising traffic. Shared hosting is not as scalable. Virtual private hosting is suitable for corporate sites, online shops, and enterprise apps because of the higher security and reliable server capacity.
On the other hand, shared hosting is more suitable for startups and small personal projects and for websites that only need limited RAM, disk space, and bandwidth. If you’re on a budget, it’s a great place to start.
If you have sufficient technical expertise and want full control of the system, unmanaged hosting is for you. The capabilities are vast, but you won’t get any support from the hosting provider.
You should also consider using a VPS in the following situations:
- You need to install custom modules or apps that your shared host doesn’t support
- Your website is starting to exceed the resource limits
- You require root access to the server
- You’re processing financial transactions
- You are processing other sensitive data
- You want a virtual dev environment for software development and testing
- Your traffic fluctuates.
Do not consider using a VPS in the following situations:
- You have a low-traffic website
- You want to learn basics like FTP, WordPress, cPanel
How to find the best VPS hosting provider
You must consider various criteria when choosing a VPS hosting provider, which includes price, performance, type of management, features, and customer support.
Performance
Assess the server speed, uptime, and average response times before committing. Check if the uptime corresponds to what the provider promises.
Price
Consider only plans with clear payment terms, a decent price-to-value ratio, and a money-back guarantee.
Managed vs. unmanaged
VPS hosting requires more expertise than many other hosting types. Choose only providers that offer unmanaged hosting for users with a lot of experience, managed VPS hosting for beginners, and a middle ground for relatively experienced users.
Customer support
On the subject of experience, excellent and responsive customer support is practically indispensable. Check your shortlisted providers’ support options and response times. Ask any questions about VPS hosting that come to mind so all potential challenges are addressed. Are you satisfied with the quality and speed of the responses?
Features
Finally, check the ease of use of the control panel, CPU, the memory storage they offer, etc.
In sum, VPS hosting is perfect for sites with growing or fluctuating traffic, users with some technical experience, and platforms that are processing sensitive data. It offers very reliable security.