If you are a beginner in website building and management, it is vital to have enough knowledge of all the components essential to launch in the future successfully. The good thing is you can now access several resources on the Internet — making prior research easy to conduct.
VPS hosting is only one type of web hosting. If you are interested in signing up for a VPS hosting service, then this article is a must-read for you. We will be breaking down every information you need to know before closing a deal with a web hosting services provider — from the benefits of VPS and all the factors to consider when deciding on a plan.
VPS Hosting
Virtual private server hosting or VPS is a type of web hosting where you get to have an allotted amount of resources — bandwidth, RAM, disk space, etc. — while sharing a server with other users. So, what makes this better than shared hosting? With VPS, you do not have to compete for the storage space and speed since you have exclusive resources to utilise. This type of hosting is more suitable for websites that are way large to be on a shared hosting service but are not expecting that high of traffic to need a solely dedicated server. An upgrade from a shared server to VPS is also a good option for users who would like more control over their operating system. Whichever you may need, hosts can provide you with either VPS Linux or Windows server hosting plans.
Why avail VPS Hosting Services?
With several types of web hosting services that you can avail from hundreds of providers, why avail VPS hosting?
Allotted exclusive resources
Unlike in shared hosting servers, where you share all resources with several other users, you get a dedicated amount of bandwidth and memory space that you can exhaust. The size of these resources depends on the plan that you go for — if you want larger storage space, there are plans that you can choose from for that. VPS hosting is more reliable than shared hosting since other users’ activities cannot influence your performance.
Cheaper than dedicated servers
Even though VPS hosting is more expensive than shared hosting, it is a worthy upgrade to get allotted disk space and better performance for your site — it is like having your dedicated server but at a lower price. If you do not need an entire dedicated server but wants that exclusivity, then upgrading to VPS is a good move for your website, especially if it currently grows at a consistent pace.
Have hands-on control on your server
Another feature that shared hosting does not have is having control in managing and monitoring your server. With VPS, you get to have access to your control panel and tools that can help you better administrate your website. Your host provider can still help manage them for you by providing updated hardware and software.
Strong web security
Since you get to have your own virtual private server, you can assure that your resources are protected, and your website’s performance is secured even though you are sharing with other users. VPS plans also come with better security software that protects you from hackers and malware.
Easily scalable plans
VPS hosting providers offer several plans that vary depending on the size of space and amount of bandwidth that you need. They can also be easily upgraded once you have outgrown your current plan. The plans also include the RAM, DDoS, and more. So, whatever amount of resources you need, you can find the perfect plan for you.
You can purchase individual add-ons.
If you want to elevate your experience with VPS hosting without upgrading, you can choose to purchase add-ons. Web hosts offer different add-ons or features from control panels, dedicated IPs, and more.
Factors to Consider Before Signing Up for VPS
- Budget
The costs from shared hosting to VPS hosting is a big step-up, so you have to make sure that you have enough funds for sign-up and renewal fees. The good thing about VPS is that you can choose from loads of plans, depending on the resources you need. The more resources, the higher the price, so you can opt for the lower plans if you have a limited budget.
- Resources you need
These resources include RAM, bandwidth, disk space, CPU, security software, etc. It depends on how big your website is and how much traffic it gets on a regular basis; you choose a VPS plan that can accommodate your needs. Your server holds all data that you use on your website, which means that the more graphics or codes you use, the bigger space you need.
- Add-ons/Features
You can also include add-ons on your plan for extra features. Every host offers different add-ons, so you just have to check out which of them carry the feature you want.
- Your technical skills
Unlike in shared hosting, where the web host can fully manage your server and do not have to do a thing, you can choose the option to handle your server in VPS hosting. It requires more advanced technical skills, which means you must acquire these skills before upgrading to VPS.
- Scalability
When choosing your VPS plan and web hosting provider, you must consider how fast your website is growing. If your growth seems to be consistent, you might want to upgrade after a couple of months. Choose a web host and a plan that allows you to scale up your server easily.
- Customer service
You want a web hosting service provider that can accommodate your needs at any time of the day. In the quality of their customer support, a web host usually faces the gravest issues, especially those who have several clients. Ensure that you sign up with a reliable provider and have the credibility of giving quality customer service any time you get troubled with your server.
Whatever you decide on regarding the web hosting services — whether you go for a VPS plan or not — will majorly affect your website’s performance. For you not to waste money on signing up for subpar services, create necessary precautions and research. Make sure that you are going for a company that provides top of the line customer support. If you consider everything we have mentioned above when you finally decide, you are indeed one step closer to a successful website.