There is often some confusion about what the different types of web hosting plans are and what all comes with a web hosting package.Who does what and what kind of technical support is included?
Shared Website Hosting places your site on a powerful server with a very limited number of other clients needing a similar set of hosting needs. You "share" server hardware and network resources (and cost!) - thus the term "shared hosting". Shared website hosting is the cheapest and most common type of hosting.
Web hosting providers that offer shared hosting plans are a lot like property or apartment managers. When you purchase a shared hosting plan, you’re essentially renting space on a web server that is shared by several other web site owners all hoping to host a web site on a budget.
The server space will come fully ready for you to ‘move in to’. Essentially, the electricity will be turned on, the fridge will be present for you to store your perishables, and water will run. The property managers (web host provider) will make sure you have a clean space to move your stuff into. It is then up to you you to move your furniture in and organize it however you want.
Web hosting providers generally do not provide support for coding, scripting, development, or design. Just as apartment managers generally don’t tell you where to hang your pictures, which furniture to use or where to put your things.
What if something breaks? “Your analogy doesn’t work. My property manager will fix the stove if it breaks.”
Good point! If something that comes with your shared hosting plan breaks directly related to the server or network, lets say your server’s hard drive, operating system or memory in this example, we will certainly fix it for you. But we aren’t going to cook your dinner for you and neither will your property manager.
“I only need an apartment (shared hosting). Can I at least pay you to help me out with some things?”
For sure! We can do script installations and even upgrades of third party products if you wish. There may be a fee attached, but this type of support does not come standard with a non-managed hosting account.
In a nutshell, Shared Web Hosting and renting an apartment is pretty similar. We’ll provide you fresh clean space to work with, and we’ll keep things running smoothly. We’ll even offer a few tools and perks to keep your new place shiny and sparkly, but it’s ultimately up to you to decide what you want on your site, where you’ll put things, and how.
More control, reliability and privacy
VPS Hosting
Need more than Shared Hosting has to offer, but don't have the budget for a huge dedicated server? Then a VPS (Virtual Private Server) might be your best option. VPS Hosting provides you complete reign over your isolated environment and software.
VPS Servers offer the best of both worlds between Shared Hosting and a fully Dedicated Server. Purchasing a VPS hosting plan is like purchasing a condominium. It’s still shared with others, but you’ll have more control over what happens in your ‘space’. Your hosting provider will provide you with the basics, and you can purchase addons such as a control panel, extra RAM, etc, but the concept of the apartment is still the same. What you do from there with your site space is up to you.
Your web hosting provider will still keep an eye on things and make sure your neighbors are all playing nice, but the space you’re renting is yours to maintain and keep up to date.
The Ultimate Powerful solution
Dedicated Servers
If you're in need of uncompromising server security, scalability and reliability for your business, you'd likely be hard-pressed to find a server that can live up to your expectations as well as a dedicated server.
Dedicated Server hosting involves leasing an entire computer server to a specified user. Companies who opt for dedicated hosting enjoy all of the benefits of having private resources exclusively at their disposal without the hassle of managing their own hardware. You'll have full control of your hosting server!
When you purchase a dedicated server plan it’s like renting a house. It’s bigger than an apartment, and you have all the control to do whatever you wish with the space. You can even invite your friends over for a party! But it’s totally yours to maintain and operate on your own.
Dedicated Servers are available in "Managed" OR "Unmanaged" plan options. Managed services mean that we provide additional support to help keep your system up and running at top performance - including full tech support, OS and software updates and more. But perhaps you need the basics of a Dedicated Server, but still want total control of your own private server. An Unmanaged (self-managed) plan gives you the best of both worlds. You and your IT team can be handle security, upgrades and maintenance.
Lets say you want maid service, lawn care, and extra security. You’d pay extra for these if renting a house, right? The same holds true for dedicated web hosting. You can purchase a dedicated server with our without Managed Services - depending on your needs.
