VPS vs Dedicated: Which Hosting Solution Suits your Business Needs?

In today’s digital era, when businesses are leaving no stone unturned in augmenting their online footprint, an impressive website is a must-have. And, for a robust website, you need a reliable hosting solution. Businesses that have outgrown shared hosting often consider VPS or dedicated server as a viable hosting solution. It is vital that you understand the differences between the two so as to choose a solution that best fits your business needs.

In this blog, we will elucidate the key differences between VPS hosting and dedicated server hosting to help you select a suitable host.

VPS Hosting

In VPS hosting, your website is hosted on a Virtual Private Server (VPS). A VPS is created when a large physical server is partitioned into smaller, virtual servers using a hypervisor. Every virtual server (also called as a virtual machine) operates in an isolated environment and runs with a fixed set of resources. A VPS, therefore, offers the environment of a dedicated server in the price range of a shared server.

VPS is considered superior to shared hosting in many ways-it offers significantly more resources than a shared server. This is because there are fewer websites to share the resources. Plus, A VPS guarantees a certain amount of resources to the client which a shared server doesn’t.

What are the Benefits of VPS Hosting?

Performance: VPS hosting offers superior performance when compared to shared hosting solutions because here you are guaranteed a certain set of server resources. Plus, there are fewer websites to share the resources.

Customization: In VPS hosting, you get root access to the server. As a result, you have control over server software and operating system. There can, however, be some restrictions on customization because of configuration of the physical server.

Security: While a VPS may not be as secure as a dedicated server, it offers far more security than a shared server. In a VPS, the tenants remain separated by a hypervisor, hence it is difficult (though not impossible) for neighboring websites to jeopardize your security.

Pricing: Hosting on a VPS is far cheaper than on a dedicated server. This is because the cost of the server gets split among tenant websites. VPS hosting offers access to the performance of the hardware at a fraction of the price of the dedicated server. You can avail a VPS for as low as $20/month; high-end VPS hosting solutions cost around $120/month or more. In contrast, dedicated server hosting plans start from $99/month and a good-quality low-end solution will cost no less than $120/month. As far as high-end dedicated server hosting solutions are concerned, there is no upper limit.

A VPS has its drawbacks as well. Agreed, VPS guarantees a certain amount of server resources but will not be able to cope if your requirements exceed what has been agreed in the plan.

Besides, VPS hosting isn’t the most secure hosting solution out there. VPS hosting involves a hypervisor that creates and manages the virtual servers. In most cases, the hypervisor prevents malware from spreading to other accounts. But if the malware is sophisticated enough, it may bypass the hypervisor and spread to other virtual servers.

Dedicated Server Hosting

In dedicated server hosting, the entire physical server is dedicated to one client, hence the name. The client has access to all the resources of the server .i.e. network access, memory, processing power and storage. Dedicated server hosting also offers root access.

What are the Benefits of Dedicated Server Hosting?

Performance: In dedicated server hosting, the resources are used exclusively by a single client and not split among different users. For this reason, dedicated servers deliver superior speed and performance. They are ideal for websites that consistently require high resource input.

Security: Because a dedicated servers host a single client, they are inherently secure. There is no threat of ‘bad neighbors’ spreading malware or spamming your website. A dedicated server allows you to manage software installations and updates with greater efficiency thereby reducing the incidence of malware.

Customization: Since a dedicated server is exclusively meant for your usage, you have near-complete control over it and can do whatever you need to create a configuration that’s just right for your website or applications you are running.

You can tweak various parts of its core software and hardware. For those who need a highly specific configuration to run a specialized application, dedicated server hosting is an optimal choice.

While dedicated server hosting may offer tremendous benefits in terms of speed, security, control and customization, it is among the most expensive hosting options available in the marketplace and, hence, necessitates a careful deliberation. Besides, dedicated servers aren’t easy to scale.

VPS Hosting vs Dedicated Server Hosting: The Final Verdict

First, it is important to remember that a small business may not need the entire set of resources offered in dedicated server hosting. A website with a steady stream of low-to-moderate web traffic may be able to fulfill its needs from a virtual private server. VPS hosting solutions are competitively priced and allow small businesses to keep their IT budget in check. No wonder, dedicated servers are mostly chosen by enterprise-level companies.

A key aspect to consider while choosing servers is growth and expansion. Are you planning to scale? If yes, how will your resource requirement change in the next 2-3 years? Your hosting plan should offer the flexibility to scale up and down. Don’t choose a solution that is optimally priced now but will not scale later.

If you invest in a dedicated server hosting solution, you will always pay for the same set of resources. So, in case your needs reduce over time, you may end up wasting money. Security, speed, flexibility and configuration needs should be prioritized while purchasing a solution.

If you have questions on dedicated server hosting or VPS hosting, connect with us today. Go4hosting offers competitively priced dedicated, VPS and cloud hosting solutions tailored to meet your business needs in the best possible manner.