If you’re looking at hosting options for your business, there are a staggering number of options to choose from, with even further options to customize from there. When you’re looking for options, it can help to know the difference between all your different hosting methods and the different advantages they can have for your business. Today, we’ll be focusing on VPS hosting, specifically a Windows server, how it differs from shared or dedicated hosting, and what advantages it may have.
What is VPS Hosting?
With VPS hosting, the entire point is to host virtually. With VPS hosting, you choose an operating system (Windows or Linux) you’d like to run, and then one physical piece of hardware will function as multiple servers. While your team may be sharing the physical server, the virtual server is private to each user, meaning that CPU, RAM, or other data does not have to be shared.
How Does VPS Hosting Differ From Other Server Types?
In trying to understand the difference between server types, Web Hosting Secrets Revealed describes in best in terms of the following analogy:
Shared Hosting is like being in a living room with a lot of friends. People tend to choose this option because it’s affordable. But just like living with roommates in college, there can be drawbacks to so many people sharing resources, such as one site creating a greater demand and slowing the others down, an issue that’s not easily resolved without intervention from the hosting company to solve the problem.
Dedicated Hosting, on the other hand, is like owning a home. You have all the freedom to paint the walls and plant a garden (or, in this case, have complete control over all service), but that means having to pay the mortgage, utilities, and any repairs that may arise. It is the most expensive option, and it requires some technical expertise in both the server installation and its routine maintenance. This tends to be the best option for sites with extremely high traffic or very specific security requirements.
VPS Hosting, then, is the happy medium between the two, similarly to renting an apartment building. VPS Windows has the advantage of sharing space (and thus, sharing costs) with other users, while still being isolated and unaffected by demands other sites may have on the server, all with the privacy of dedicated hosting.
When is VPS Hosting Right for Me?
If you’re looking to make the switch to VPS Windows, the best time to switch is before you run into problems with site slowdown. If you’re looking to add more content to your website, it will begin to slow down over time, making the jump to VPS Windows an ideal choice. If you’re running site tests and continually getting 503-server errors, then that means that you’re running low on server memory, possibly because of your neighbors draining resources, then that means your employees and visitors will be getting those errors as well. Server errors and site downtime can have very real effects on business, so if you notice the slowdown coming, it’s better to make the switch before potential lost traffic becomes a problem. If you are hosting gamers, for high-intensity games such as Minecraft, it is even more important.
Additionally, if your site’s expansion is coming with increased security concerns, that might be a good reason to make the switch to a Windows VPS server. You don’t have to be the victim of DDoS attacks yourself for those security concerns to be an issue. If another server on your site is experiencing security issues, the strain that puts on the server can affect your site’s performance as well. Switching to VPS Windows can mitigate those issues and make sure that the only server load and security concerns you’ll be facing is from your own site.
One Last Note
When you’re looking to choose the right Windows virtual server provider, it’s important to think about the same concerns you’d consider with any other IT issue. Ask yourself what’s important in terms of cost, reliability, and virtual customer service to make sure that you’re getting the product that’s right for you.
