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VPS Hosting: Understanding the Advantages and Disadvantages

November 30, 2021

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As the web hosting market diversifies, entrepreneurs and small companies tend to choose the services more tailored to their needs. At the same time, anyone running an online business needs to familiarize themselves with new technologies in order to make the right decision. Understanding the advantages and disadvantages of Virtual Private Server (VPS) hosting could be the key to an easy decision when it comes to choosing the perfect solution for your business. 

What is virtual and what is private in VPS hosting solutions

VPS hosting or virtual private server is the next level of hosting. Instead of the typical “first come, first served” shared hosting format, websites will be hosted on a clearly demarcated portion of the server, with resources allocated exclusively to the site in question. With VPS, you won’t have to worry about security breaches like with shared hosting, as you can customize and reach the desired security level.

The server is virtual and private in the sense that a physical server is divided into several virtual machines, independent of each other. Thus, each has its own infrastructure and operating system, even if they are on the same physical server. This hybrid approach brings with it many benefits but, depending on the needs of the company, it can also have some drawbacks.

More and more companies are using VPS servers, and experts predict significant growth in this area. For example, in a report cited by Business Wire, the VPS market is expected to grow by 17.1% between 2021 and 2026, and the use of resources hosted on VPS servers is expected to increase by 49% over the same period. In this context, it becomes important for entrepreneurs and business managers to know the advantages and disadvantages of this technology, not only for online businesses but also for businesses that offer mobility to employees through cloud solutions.

Advantages of Virtual Private Server Hosting

Increased control

One of the most important advantages of a VPS server is the high degree of control, especially compared to a traditional hosting service. Basically, the customer has the same level of control as with a dedicated server. It is the customer who configures the virtual server’s running environment and installs the operating system, all according to their preferences and business needs.

Versatility

VPS servers are suitable for many types of business because of their versatility. A VPS server can be the ideal solution if you need hosting for a website, a web platform, an online shop, or a mobile app. The size of your website or application is almost irrelevant, as companies offering VPS servers provide you with packages with different resources. 

Performance you can rely on

Using a VPS server solves an unpleasant problem that occurs with traditional web hosting: site loading slowly. VPS servers eliminate this risk by being truly private and ensuring that your resources are not affected by fluctuations in traffic. 

Superior security

The private nature of VPS servers brings with it a higher degree of security. With traditional hosting, hackers can exploit loopholes in the security of other hosting users while compromising your account data and resources. In the case of a VPS, virtual machines allow a clear separation of data on the same physical server, making such attacks impossible and contributing to security.

Affordable price

In relation to the benefits offered, VPS servers come with low costs. Even though the cost is higher than for traditional hosting, the benefits are also far superior. Basically, a VPS server has many of the same features as a dedicated server at a fraction of the cost. The price is also not fixed, depending on the resources you opt for.

Disadvantages of VPS Hosting

Difficult to configure and manage

The control and flexibility of a VPS server means more involvement for the customer, which could be disadvantageous for some users. With traditional hosting, users don’t have to worry about infrastructure maintenance. The VPS server also requires time allocation for the installation of the running environment and operating system and their maintenance.

Another disadvantage that directly results from the control offered by VPS servers is the need for specialist knowledge. The person in charge of administering the VPS server needs a minimum of technical know-how. Some VPS hosting services are ‘managed’, in which case the workload is lessened but the cost is higher.

Providers tend to over-sell their VPS hosting

Some providers tend to over-sell their VPS hosting on the assumption that the resources won’t be utilized to their peak capacity. To avoid this, it is important to choose a reliable provider, that has a good reputation, and can offer you a scalable solution. As long as you know what you’re getting into, this disadvantage shouldn’t affect your business all that much. 

Without a doubt, VPS hosting is attractive and has a lot to offer. It is more secure and definitely more flexible than shared web hosting. But before choosing it, you need to be aware of its advantages and disadvantages, otherwise you may end up with some unwanted surprises after you start using VPS hosting.