Managed VS Unmanaged VPS Hosting – What To Get

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VPS hosting is a single server partitioned into several virtual servers. Each VPS has its own operating system and its own resources. They are also highly customizable, allowing you to scale resources such as CPU, RAM, and disk space. For this reason, VPS hosting is ideal for websites and web applications that get a high volume of daily traffic.

There are two kinds of VPS hosting. You can choose to have your VPS hosting be Managed or Unmanaged. 

With Managed hosting, the web hosting provider takes care of all server-related issues. The provider will monitor and care for your server’s resources, watching for any problems, and making necessary updates and upgrades accordingly. This type of hosting is ideally suited for non-technical users who aren’t well-versed in servers’ technicalities and applications. This means that your only responsibility when it comes to your server is to find the best managed VPS provider.

Unmanaged hosting, as the name suggests, is the opposite of Managed hosting. In this case, it’s up to the user to take responsibility for the server. Everything from server setup, application configuration, and VPS monitoring is yours to handle. For that reason, this type of hosting is best for users with a high degree of technical knowledge. Users should be comfortable setting up LAMP stack services, WordPress CMS, and configuring features like SSL certificates, CDN, site backups, Firewalls, and DNS settings.

Still not sure what VPS hosting type is right for you? Let’s explore the Pros and Cons of each.

Pros of Managed VPS Hosting

● No technical knowledge is required.

● It allows you to focus on your business rather than behind-the-scenes work.

● 24/7 monitoring and a guarantee of 99.99% uptime for your VPS

● A high degree of scalability, with access to server resources like CPU, RAM, and bandwidth whenever you need them.

Cons of Managed VPS Hosting

● More expensive than Unmanaged hosting.

● You have limited control and customization of your server.

● It may take time for hardware or software requests to be taken care of.

Pros of Unmanaged VPS Hosting

● You have the freedom to do as you please with the VPS.

● Less expensive than Managed VPS Hosting.

● You can customize and manage the security level of your server.

● You have ultimate control and customization over your server.

Cons of Managed VPS Hosting

● You need to have extensive knowledge and skills.

● Your server performance depends solely on your level of expertise.

Making your Choice

The type of VPS hosting you choose ultimately comes down to two things: cost and expertise. If you’re willing to teach yourself the basics of server management, you can save yourself the expense of Managed hosting. However, this will take time away from your business. Using a hosting provider to take care of your server will free you to focus on growing your site. Even if you do have the expertise, you may still choose to go with Managed hosting. This is because managing a VPS server can be a full-time job, and if you’re splitting your time between server management and running your business, one or both may suffer.

If you choose to go with Unmanaged hosting, you also have to consider security. As the only responsible party for your server, it’s your job to keep your server secure. So you have to ask yourself, are you comfortable handling the security for your VPS, or would you feel more comfortable if a provider-managed the risk for you?

For these reasons, even if you have the expertise, Managed hosting may be the best option for you. With Managed hosting, you can devote your time solely to the growth and well-being of your company. Instead of worrying about your VPS’s security, you can focus on content that will drive people to your site. Rather than concerning yourself with resource allocation, you can work on improving your product or service. Yes, it may be more expensive than Unmanaged hosting, but ultimately the time and energy Managed hosting saves you is well worth the cost.

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