Shared vs Managed WordPress Hosting – Which One Should You Go With?
There is a wide variety of hosting services available in the world, and while some are better suited than others for certain tasks, no one can match the power of WordPress when it comes to creating websites.
This content management system (CMS) is incredibly popular, and for good reason — it’s incredibly powerful and can be used to build practically any type of website or blog you might want to create.
But this doesn’t mean it’s always the best choice for everyone.
In some situations, you might want to consider other options that are equally (if not more) capable than WordPress.
Consider the following:
Managed vs. Shared Hosting
The first and most basic distinction to make when choosing a web host is whether you want to go with managed or shared hosting.
Let’s explore the differences between these two options and which one might be better suited for your needs.
Shared hosting provides you with multiple sites (virtual servers) that are hosted on the same hardware and software stack.
This means that as a user, you have effectively limited access to shared hosting because multiple websites running on the same server will inevitably conflict with each other for resources such as storage and bandwidth.
When choosing this type of hosting, you want to make sure that the provider offers a high degree of server redundancy and ample bandwidth so that your sites won’t be impacted when another user on the server launches a high traffic site or uses more resources than expected.
Managed hosting, on the other hand, provides you with a dedicated server that is owned by the web host and operated by a team of experienced professionals.
This is the ideal solution for people who want to guarantee that their websites will always be available and won’t suffer from downtime or performance issues.
As a user on a managed hosting plan, you have full control over the server and can install whatever software and configure the settings as you see fit.
Although this seemingly opposite approach to web hosting might seem like a compromise between reliability and performance, managed hosting is actually the best of both worlds because you get the speed and stability of a dedicated server with all the flexibility of a shared hosting environment.
Self-Hosted vs Platform-As-A-Service (PaaS)
Another important distinction to make when choosing a web host is whether you want to go with a self-hosted or platform-as-a-service (PaaS) solution.
A self-hosted solution means that you are responsible for installing and keeping up with the maintenance of the web server.
The PaaS option is basically the same as shared hosting except that instead of running on a shared server, the software for the website is hosted on a remote server that is accessible via the internet.
This service provides you with a standardized environment that lets you focus on building your site instead of worrying about the upkeep and maintenance of the platform.
For small businesses that don’t have the time or technical expertise to manage their own servers, the PaaS option is ideal because they can outsource all the server-related tasks to a team of experts while still having full control over the platform’s functionality.
Secure (SSL) vs Transport Layer Security (TLS)
Every website and every email that you send using an unsecure connection (HTTPs) is at risk of being hacked.
To protect your data from prying eyes, you need to use a secure connection (HTTPS) to contact customers and other important web addresses (such as email servers).
Depending on your needs, you might also want to consider what security model the hosting provider (web host) offers.
Choose a hosting provider that offers either HTTPS or TLS as the default connection method for your site, and make sure to upgrade your site’s security as soon as possible.
With the surge in highly publicized data breaches across the globe, more and more websites are securing their connections with TLS.
Even if you prefer to keep your site’s content private, you should consider this option as it provides the extra layer of security that is necessary in this day and age.
Choosing a web host that is trustworthy and offers good value is always a top priority when searching for a new provider.
Make sure to read reputable reviews online before committing to a specific plan or vendor, and if you have any doubt or concern, contact the vendor directly via email to get more information about their service.
What Type of Content Do You Want to Host?
If you are looking to host content that is more than just text or just blogs, consider looking into a content management system (CMS) such as WordPress.
This type of software is built to allow non-technical users with little or no knowledge of HTML or coding to build and maintain a fully functioning web site.
CMSes such as WordPress can be used to easily create a completely professional-looking site in a matter of minutes.
With CMSes, you don’t need to worry about the technicalities of getting the site launched or the upkeep and maintenance of the infrastructure.
This is because WordPress allows you to easily install additional themes and plugins to expand the functionality of your site.
Additionally, WordPress provides you with a large network of experts and enthusiasts who are willing to help you with any problem you might encounter.
When choosing WordPress as your CMS, make sure to look for a reputable and trustworthy provider that offers an extensive support network.
Consider What You Need For The Future Growth Of Your Business
If you are searching for a web host that provides value and has good security measures in place, it might be a smart move to look into a managed hosting service that offers a dedicated IP and automated backups.
These are just a few of the factors that you need to consider before choosing a web host for your business.
Before making any decision, though, it is important to research the various providers that you might choose from. This way, you can rest assured that you are making the right choice for your needs and the needs of your business.