Web hosting comes in two different forms, managed and unmanaged, and most web hosts will offer both types. While many people understand the difference...
Web hosting comes in two different forms,
managed and unmanaged, and most web hosts will offer both types. While many people understand the differences between the two, they don’t often know when to hand over the reins and let the web host take control with managed web hosting.
Unmanaged hosting is a service in which the web host will simply offer the server space and leave it to the client to manage and maintain everything on that server. Managed web hosting on the other hand, is when a web host will provide the server space for the website, and will also perform any maintenance or upgrades that the server requires. The client can often provide the web host with any new content or layout designs, and the web host will be the one to place them on the website.
So, when should individuals and business owners consider managed web hosting?
There are two main reasons why people choose to leave all the maintenance and upgrades to the web host. The first is because they have limited IT knowledge and so, are not equipped to handle and operate the server themselves. Knowing that their website is set up and will continue to be there for their customers can be a huge relief to business owners. Even large businesses and corporations that have an IT staff sometimes choose managed hosting services. This is because these technical teams can be costly, and business owners often feel that their time is better spent on other IT needs of the business.
The other main reason people, usually business owners, choose to allow a web host to manage their site for them is simply because they don’t have the time to do it themselves. Setting up a website, uploading and downloading data, and installing scripts are just a few of the tasks that need to be done on a website’s server. They’re also tasks that a business owner simply doesn’t have time for during the day.
Business owners typically want to focus on their business, the daily operations of it, and ensuring they’re providing a good service to their customers. Web server management isn’t usually a high priority and so, they’ll happily hand over the task to the web host.
Managed web hosting is more costly than unmanaged web hosting, as the host will need to dedicate much more time and resources to your website. Web hosts each have different rates, as well as different services that they consider to be managed web hosting. Some web hosts will offer one or two different packages for managed web hosting; while others will simply off a la carte services, in which you can pick and choose which services you need.
When considering managed web hosting, it’s important that you decide which services you’ll need from the web host, and which ones you want to pay for. Trouble shooting, server monitoring, on-call maintenance, hardware and software upgrading, software installation, backup services, and control panel set-up are just a few of the options that you may want to choose. If you’re unsure of which you need, look for a web host that offers full-service packages.
