Shared hosting vs dedicated server: which is better for your business?
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When it comes to hosting a website or an application, companies have the choice of using shared hosting or a dedicated server to store their data.
Shared hosting involves sharing a single server with other users, while a dedicated server plan allows you to have a server all to yourself.
So, which is the best option for your business? It depends very much on your company’s needs and capabilities. Both shared hosting and dedicated server plans have their pros and cons. Here are some questions about the two server options that could help you to determine the best option for you.
Which costs less?
If you’re on a tight budget, shared hosting is the best option for you. The cost of running a server can be shared among multiple users (much like multiple tenants renting out rooms in a house) allowing the hosting provider to charge less per user. Many small companies choose to host their website on a shared server for the simple reason that it is more affordable.
Which is more secure?
If security is a major concern for you, a dedicated server as provided by a company such as M247 might be a better option. Both options are still fairly secure in the grand scheme of things, however shared servers are more likely to be susceptible to cyberattacks. This is because shared servers are accessed by multiple users, allowing more points of entry. With a dedicated server, you don’t have to worry about the potential poor security practices of other users leading to a breach.
Which is easier to manage?
A shared server is likely to be managed for you by the hosting provider – you don’t have to worry about maintenance and can pretty much focus solely on running your business. With a dedicated server, you may be directly responsible for maintenance – which could include keeping it updated and secure. Some dedicated server plans include management support (you may have to pay a little extra for this). Alternatively, you may be able to hire a server admin to do the work for you. It’s definitely something worth researching into if you do choose a dedicated server.
Which offers you more flexibility?
While dedicated servers require a lot of maintenance, you have a lot more freedom to customize them to your needs. You have root access – which can be useful if tech is your specialist and your product is a website or an application. Another obvious benefit of a dedicated server is more space for data because you’re not sharing the server with other users. You also have control over the speed of the server – a drawback of shared servers is that they can often be slowed down by other high demand users and in such cases there’s little you can do to fix this without moving to a dedicated server.
Which is better for me?
If you’re a small company with limited tech knowledge and no time to dedicate to server management, a shared server is the best option for you. Shared servers are the affordable and convenient option.
If you’re a mid-to-large company that is tech-focused and dedicated to controlling all aspects, a dedicated server is the best option for you. Dedicated servers are the more flexible and secure option.
