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If you’ve ever looked for a web hosting solution, you’ve no doubt come across a few hosting plans described as ‘managed hosting’. If you’re not sure what managed hosting is, how it differs from unmanaged hosting, and whether it’s the right choice for you, this post will hopefully provide the answers you’re looking for.
The difference between managed and unmanaged hosting
Web hosting involves installing your website’s software and content onto a web server so that it can be found and accessed via the internet. The web servers belong to your web hosting provider (/hosting/cpanel) and are housed in a data centre. Keeping a website or applications online is therefore a joint venture between the hosting provider and the website owner. The hosting provider takes care of the physical hardware and infrastructure, whilst the website owner is responsible for the website’s software and content.
However, there is a middle ground that can be adopted by either the hosting provider or the website owner. This includes activities such as creating backups, monitoring and optimising server performance, installing and updating the server’s operating system, and configuring and maintaining the server’s security software, such as firewalls, anti-malware programs and intrusion detection systems.
Managed hosting is where the web hosting provider takes care of these tasks. Unmanaged hosting is where the customer takes care of these tasks.
However, it is important to understand that not all managed services are the same. Web hosting providers may offer different managed hosting solutions, and they may provide different managed services for different types of hosting. At the same time, some of these managed services are included in the basic price of the package, whilst others can be purchased as add-ons. Some businesses even choose to work with their hosting providers to develop bespoke managed services tailored to their specific needs.
When to choose unmanaged hosting
Choosing unmanaged hosting may be cheaper than managed hosting, but its greatest appeal for businesses is that it gives them much greater control over their hosting. They take responsibility for everything apart from the operation of the servers. Companies with highly complex IT infrastructure, which often rely on older software, can manage their applications more easily when they are provided with this level of supervision and control.
Naturally, these companies must possess extensive IT expertise to carry out these management tasks themselves. They usually achieve this by employing specialists and purchasing technical support from third parties.
When should you choose managed hosting?
The vast majority of companies opt for managed hosting because it is more convenient and because they lack specialist server management skills. Whilst running a website has become easier, thanks to the development of user-friendly admin panels on platforms such as WordPress, as well as the wide range of features offered by control panels such as cPanel and Plesk, the operation of web servers remains an area about which many companies have little knowledge. If you have never had your own server and have not employed someone capable of running it, unmanaged hosting can cause real problems.
With our managed hosting service, you can forget about more complex issues such as installing PHP modules, load balancing, database optimisation or troubleshooting server problems should anything go wrong.
Nowadays, even companies that possess the expertise required to manage their own hosting are opting for managed hosting. As there is a shortage of IT specialists in the recruitment market and those working in the sector command high salaries, it is far more cost-effective, productive and convenient to entrust server management to a web hosting provider, thereby freeing up IT staff to focus on projects of greater business importance.
What to look for in a managed hosting plan
What you need to look for depends on the type of hosting you choose. If, for example, you use shared hosting, the simple fact that several customers share a single server means that no single customer is responsible for managing the server; this is always handled by the web hosting provider. However, even with shared hosting, you should look for other server management solutions included in a managed plan, such as website backups and 24/7 technical support.
For more advanced forms of hosting, where users have their own operating system, you should look for automated backup solutions, real-time performance monitoring, updates for the operating system, control panel and other server software, and security software management.
Summary
Nowadays, managed hosting is the number one choice for businesses thanks to its benefits and convenience. It eliminates all the burdens associated with server management and the mishaps that can occur when a lack of know-how causes problems. At the same time, it enables smaller companies to continue running their websites, whilst allowing larger organisations to put their IT expertise to more productive use.