Choosing the right website host for your business can be tricky because you have so many options available at your disposal. Apart from selecting the right hosting service provider, you also have to consider the type of hosting plan that your business requires.
Making the right decision from the start can prevent you from wasting money and time on an option or package that doesn’t meet all your needs. To make your choice a little easier, we’ll be discussing the pros and cons of two types of web hosting; self-hosting and managed hosting.
Self Hosting
Self-managed VPS server or self-managed dedicated server is a hosting option where the customer manages their own server without any additional maintenance services from the host. It requires a lot of technical knowledge on the customer’s side and is, therefore, championed by developers or system administrators.
Pros:
- Full control of the technical aspects and customisation
- Freedom to install and maintain any database of your choice
- Owning and controlling the data and the data access
All the pros of self-hosting are related to having total control of the environment, software, hardware, operating systems and application frameworks.
Cons:
- Management and upkeep of the operating system
- Manage security with firewalls and access control
- Manage certificates and their expiration
The disadvantage of self-hosting is the time and expertise that it takes. What if you need more technical support? Or what if you simply don’t have the time for the upkeep? This option is perfect for developers or for people who have technical support in-house.
Managed Hosting
Managed hosting is when the host is responsible for server setup and maintenance. This includes installation, maintenance, backup and patches. This option is best for people who do not have the time or technical knowledge to manage their own hosting.
Pros:
- Everything is completely installed
- Continuous server monitoring
- Minimises risk
The best part about managed hosting is that it saves you time. Someone else is taking care of the technical side, and you can focus on your business. There’s more security because of the close monitoring and experience that the service provider has.
Cons:
- No access to system configurations and setup
- You may also need a cloud storage solution
- Less flexibility and customisation
The disadvantages stem from the fact that management and upkeep are not in your control, which can be limiting.
What hosting option is best for you?
Ultimately, your choice will boil down to;
- Whether you are technically capable of installing, maintaining, and monitoring your servers;
- Require more flexibility to customise and keep an eye on your own servers;
- Need to delegate the technical work to capable people so you can focus on your business;
- The level of support you need and
- The costs involved
We hope this post has made it easy for you to choose the option that best suits your needs. Give our 1-grid consultants a call or drop us an email to get a detailed quote so you can take your business to the next level
FAQ:
What does self-hosting mean?
Self Hosting is a form of running your own website or application by setting up a server and networking yourself.
How does shared hosting work?
Shared hosting is a type of web hosting where a single physical server hosts multiple sites. Many users utilise the resources on a single server, which keeps the costs low. Users each get a section of a server in which they can host their website files. Shared servers can host hundreds of users.
