There are so many different options when it comes to finding the right web hosting plan for your Irish business or website.
There are dedicated servers, shared hosting platforms, and countless add-ons and features for you to choose from.
VPS software is one of the best choices that you can make for your business when it comes to web hosting. Looking to understand more about VPS web hosting and what to do with a VPS? If so, then you’ve come to the right place.
Keep on reading this post to learn everything you need to know about VPS hosting.
Before we take a deep dive into the benefits of VPS web hosting, let’s make certain that you’re clear on exactly what it is first.
“VPS” stands for “virtual private server.” A VPS is best thought of as an individual server within a server.
This “master server” is divided into several different smaller virtual servers. This smaller server (your VPS hosting solution) contains its own unique operating system and has specific resources that only you can use.
Think of it as a private room in a house or flat, to which only you have the key.
Though several different servers are a part of the larger overall server, your RAM, bandwidth, data, and CPU will be exclusively your own.
It also means that no matter the amount of the overall resources other servers are you, your specific server won’t be impacted. This is because each individual server is completely isolated from the other ones.
Think of it as forcing your landlord to deal with a problem in your flat, as opposed to having to call someone to fix it on your own. And no matter how many people the resident of the flat upstairs wants to cram into their two-bedroom?
They still can’t get into yours.
The loading speed and security of your overall website won’t be impacted by the kinds of activity taking place on the servers next to your own.
Now that you understand the basics of VPS software, let’s quickly take a look at what sets it apart from other hosting options.
Dedicated hosting is best for websites that have such a high amount of traffic that they can’t share their server with another website. They’ll have a server that’s exclusively their own.
Shared hosting, on the other hand, means that you don’t actually have your own individualized server, nor do you have the “server within a server” option offered by VPS. Instead, you’ll need to share your storage space, CPU, and all other resources with the other websites on your server.
Though shared hosting is incredibly common, it does mean that other sites can impact your website’s speed, security, and the space you have available.
It’s best to think of VPS software as the perfect compromise between shared and dedicated web hosting.
We’re nearly ready to speak in more detail about the benefits of VPS web hosting.
However, let’s help you to take a closer look at the factors you should consider when deciding if it’s the best choice for you.
If you get a good amount of traffic, but not enough to warrant a dedicated server, VPS software is the perfect compromise.
If you’ve noticed that your traffic has caused your website to have more downtime than it normally does, it’s likely time to switch from shared hosting to a VPS solution.
A VPS hosting platform is also the right move if you know that your business is in a serious growth phase. Even if you don’t have high traffic numbers at the moment, ask yourself if you want to bother with another hosting platform if you’ll just have to make a change in a few months.
Remember that VPS hosting is also a smart solution for those who need to be able to back up their files, as well as to store those files on a server.
In some cases, you may have expanded your presence to more than one website, meaning that you’ll need more space than in the past.
When it comes to what to do with a VPS, you’ll quickly learn that the levels of customisation possible are far greater than what you may have expected.
There are numerous benefits when it comes to making the switch to VPS web hosting platforms.
Let’s take a closer look at some of those benefits now.
One of the best things about VPS is its portability.
At first glance, it might not seem that important. However, portability is one of those problems that you don’t quite take into consideration until it’s too late. Perhaps you’ve realized that you need to move data or an application to another server.
Remember that unlike with many physical servers, VPS solutions are actually managed by the specific service provider.
This means that upgrading your server and scaling your server needs, in general, won’t come with much (if any) downtime when using a VPS.
It’s no secret that, especially for a business that’s still in the growth phase, even one cyber attack could force you to close your doors.
In other words, cybersecurity and data protection need to be among the first priorities when you’re shopping for a hosting platform.
That’s one of the biggest benefits of opting to go with VPS software. Remember that VPS hosting keeps your data completely separate from other servers that are next to your own.
That doesn’t happen with a shared hosting platform — nor is it a guarantee with a physical server.
Plus, VPS hosting also comes with a wide variety of different security features that you can add on when you speak to your hosting platform company.
You can add on features like spam filters, virus protection, and even IP blocking.
Especially if you work in the healthcare or financial industries, you may even face regulations regarding data protection and security. A VPS platform ensures that your data is as protected as is possible.
Plus, even if the worst does happen, you’ll have backups of your website’s data. This way, you can restore it as quickly as possible, lessening the amount of time your website has to remain offline.
As you’ve learned so far from this post, there is certainly no shortage of different VPS uses.
VPS hosting comes with a wide variety of features, security measures, and can even increase the overall speed of your website.
That’s why so many companies are surprised by just how affordable it is. This is because you don’t need to buy your own server or opt for a dedicated hosting option to get the benefits VPS offers.
You’re not responsible for paying for maintenance costs of the server itself — the hosting provider is.
You also won’t need to pay for storage space and add-on features that you don’t currently need. However, you can always add them on in the future. In fact, one of the best things about VPS hosting platforms is just how scalable they are.
It’s not just about adding on new features as your company continues to grow. You also have the option to purchase more than one server as your website expands and gets more traffic (or as you add more websites.)
And if you find that you no longer need as many of the features or servers as you once did? It’s just as easy to remove them when you don’t need them any longer.
When you’re looking for a hosting platform that can grow and evolve along with your company, opt for VPS. A VPS allows you to lower your company’s overall operating expenses without having to compromise on quality.
Yes, shared hosting platforms are affordable. However, they also force you to sacrifice the level of control you have over your own website.
First of all, sites that suddenly “go viral” or see a spike in traffic can push your site offline if you’re sharing a server with them.
They can also cause your site to slow down, which can cost you potential sales and damage your brand’s reputation.
You also need to think about what might happen if another site on your computer downloads a strange application. Do you really want to pay the price for their negligence?
When you opt for a VPS web hosting platform, you won’t have to.
You control your own bandwidth, CPU, and even the additional software you choose to work with as a part of your VPS.
Remember that a VPS works to back up your files and data by taking so-called “snapshots” of your files, meta-data, and other important information.
Because it relies on virtualization technologies, you don’t have to worry about potentially losing that data because of a hardware or hard drive failure.
Feeling like you have to start from ground zero due to a hardware failure or even a sudden power loss is now a thing of the past with VPN solutions. Now, everything can be restored via those “snapshots” that were taken.
Plus, those snapshots also make cloning that information (like if you need to create a similar website or move things to a new server) easier than ever before.
Plus, remember that upgrading your VPS is easy because things like increasing RAM, overall storage space, and more are all done virtually.
You’ve learned all about the different VPS uses and advantages.
Now, let’s close by discussing what you should be on the lookout for when you’re trying to find the right VPS software.
You should look for a provider that allows you to scale your hosting needs as you grow, and one that puts flexibility at the forefront of its services. Make certain that you also ask about the overall level of customer support.
If something does go wrong, what steps does the provider take to right the ship? What’s the average site uptime of the websites they host? Is support available around the clock?
Ask about their overall data recovery strategies and methods. Even if the worst happens, you want to learn exactly how they plan to get your website back up and running again.
Also, take a look at the add-on features they offer, and ensure they have what you need.
Above all, make sure that you take a look at what other people are saying about their hosting services. Reading reviews and speaking with past or current clients directly is a wonderful way to learn what you can expect out of the experience.
We hope that this post has helped you to understand not only what VPS software is, but also the unique advantages it has to offer.
When you’re looking for affordable hosting options that still give you excellent security and control, we suggest you go with a VPS web hosting solution.
Are you ready to upgrade your server? Looking for options that allow for the perfect level of customisation?
We’ve got you covered when it comes to all that and much more.
Learn more about our services, our hosting options, and even open source apps we can connect you with.
Reach out to us when you’re ready to get started.
