When it comes to hosting a website or an application on an enterprise or organization level, businesses usually choose dedicated server hosting. However, they also have to choose between two main options, which are “Managed Vs Unmanaged Dedicated Server”. Of course, both options offer various benefits and drawbacks, which makes choosing between them require careful consideration and a full understanding of the specific needs of the business.
What is Dedicated Server Hosting?
Dedicated server hosting is a web hosting service model where a user leases an entire server for their own use, from a hosting service provider, rather than sharing it with other users. Using a dedicated server means that the user has complete control over the server and its resources, which allows them to customize it to meet their specific needs.
What are the Benefits of Dedicated Server Hosting?
Benefits of Dedicated Server Hosting include:
Security
One of the main benefits of dedicated servers is that it provides a higher level of security than the other hosting types. As an example, with shared hosting, multiple users have access to the same server, which can make it much easier for hacking attacks to gain access to sensitive information. However, with a dedicated server, the user has complete control over the security measures that are put in place. This flexibility in customization allows users to configure the security features to meet their business requirements, which can help to prevent unauthorized access.
Dedicated Resources
Unlike shared hosting, dedicated server hosting provides resources that are specially allocated to one specific user. Sharing resources with other users can lead to drastically slow loading times, negatively impacted user experience, and poor performance. Meanwhile, on a dedicated server, the user has access to all the resources on the server, which can help to improve performance and ensure that the website always runs smoothly.
Reliability
Dedicated server hosting is considered an ideal option for businesses that require a high level of reliability. The server’s resources dedication allows more flexibility and enhances performance while dealing with unexpected traffic surges or fluctuations, especially in businesses whose market is subject to seasonality.
User Control
The ultimate levels of user control in dedicated server hosting made it an ideal hosting model for businesses that require a high level of customisation. The user control allows the installation of the software and applications which are actually needed to meet the business requirements.
Who needs a dedicated server?
Dedicated servers are usually used by enterprises, organizations or individuals who need a specific high level of control, performance, security, and customization for their hosted websites. Some common use cases for dedicated servers can include:
E-commerce websites
E-commerce businesses need high levels of security to protect their customer’s sensitive information and optimal performance to give them a better experience on the website. Both features are guaranteed with dedicated servers.
Gaming Servers
Using dedicated servers for hosting multiplayer games is very common due to their dedicated resources, reliability and high performance which results in an enhanced gaming experience.
Data Processing
Dedicated servers are used to host websites which analyze and process enormous amounts of data, thanks to their high performance and security which helps provide proper protection for sensitive data.
Web Hosting
Dedicated servers can be utilized by hosting service providers to host multiple websites, which is a clear example of shared hosting. The hosting providers buy or lease the dedicated server, then sell the hosting space to smaller websites.
Managed Vs Unmanaged Dedicated Server
Understanding the differences between managed Vs unmanaged dedicated servers is important to know which one your business needs.
A managed dedicated server is a hosting solution where the hosting provider is responsible for taking care of all the technical aspects when it comes to managing the server. Those aspects can include tasks such as setting up the server, regular maintenance, security configurations, backups and updates. managed virtual dedicated server can be an ideal hosting solution for businesses that do not have the technical experience or resources such as IT teams to manage their own server. Using a managed server gives businesses the opportunity to focus on their core operations while leaving the technical side to the hosting services provider.
On the other hand, an unmanaged dedicated server is a dedicated server hosting solution where the user is partially or completely responsible for all the previously mentioned technical tasks in regard to managing the server. Unmanaged servers can be considered a good option for businesses with the technical experience and resources to manage their own server. Using an unmanaged server allows businesses to have complete control over the server and the ability to customize it to meet their specific needs.
What are the advantages of managed hosting?
One of the main benefits of using a managed dedicated server is that the hosting provider takes care of all the technical aspects of managing the server, which allows businesses to have enough time and resources to focus on their core operations. This can be particularly very beneficial for small businesses or startups that do not have the resources to hire a dedicated IT team.
A high level of security is another advantage to be mentioned of using managed dedicated servers. This is due to the fact that hosting service providers do have the experience and resources required to implement highly advanced security measures to protect the server and the data stored on it. This can give businesses peace of mind knowing that their server is secure and their data is protected properly.
Despite their benefits, managed dedicated servers can have their own drawbacks as well. One of the main disadvantages of using managed dedicated servers is that they are more expensive than unmanaged servers. Obviously, this is because of the charge being imposed by the hosting provider in return for being responsible for all the technical aspects of managing the server. Moreover, this can be a significant expense creating a challenge for businesses that are on a limited budget.
What are the Advantages and Disadvantages of Unmanaged Dedicated Servers?
Since the business would be responsible for all the technical tasks of managing the server, they can save money by paying fees to the hosting service provider for managing the server. This makes unmanaged dedicated servers typically more cost-effective than managed servers. Moreover, Unmanaged dedicated servers offer greater flexibility and control over the server, which allows businesses to customize the server’s configuration to meet their specific needs.
However, unmanaged servers consume a considerable amount of time and effort and require a significant amount of technical experience to manage effectively. Therefore, businesses that lack the technical expertise or resources to manage their own server may find it extremely challenging to maintain and secure the server.
In conclusion, choosing between managed Vs unmanaged dedicated servers depends mainly on the specific needs and resources of the business.