What to Consider when Choosing a Virtual Private Server

A virtual private server can be a great benefit to businesses that have outgrown the services that a shared server can provide, but that aren’t quite yet ready to make the move to a dedicated server. But just like with any other kind of server, not all virtual private servers are the same, and you need to consider certain things when choosing yours.

The first thing you need to consider when looking at different virtual private servers is the uptime that the web host will guarantee you. Nobody will be able to guarantee you 100 per cent uptime with any kind of server that you choose. This is because the server will need to be shut down at some point so that upgrades and maintenance can be performed on it. However, there are some guidelines you can work alongside of when choosing your VPS. Choose a host that will give you the least amount of downtime or rather, the maximum amount of uptime. Do not choose any host that promises you 100 per cent uptime, as this is dishonest. But do look for a host that will give you approximately 99.95 per cent.

The next thing to consider is what kind of virtual private server hosting you need. For this you’ll have three different options: managed, unmanaged, and unmetered. With managed hosting the web host will take complete care of your server for you, and perform all upgrades and maintenance that’s needed. On the other hand, with unmanaged hosting you’ll be on your own and will need to take care of those things yourself. And if that’s the path you choose, you’re going to either need a lot of know-how of how to take care of servers, or you’ll need to have a really good IT team that does. Unmetered hosting on the other hand, won’t track how much bandwidth you are using, which means that you can use as much as you want; and that as many people can visit your site as you want, and your site will still be up and functioning properly.

Lastly but certainly not the least, you need to ask about the security of the VPS host. How secure they keep their servers will be equal to how secure your website is while running it off of the server, so it’s of utmost to ask. Ask what security mechanisms the host has currently in place, and make sure that you get an answer you understand. At the very least, many VPS hosts offer round-the-clock monitoring that always be watching your server and making sure that nothing happens to it, and that nobody can hack their way into it.

When looking at your different options for virtual private servers, there are a few different factors that need to be taken into consideration. Know what to ask, and know what answers you’re looking for, and you’ll be sure to get the VPS that is right for you and your business.