When was the last time you explored your hosting options to make sure you were getting the best service for your money? If it’s been a while, now may be a good time to revisit your company’s web hosting plan.
For most businesses, there are two main types of hosting to consider: cloud/shared hosting and dedicated hosting. Ultimately, the option that offers the best return on investment (ROI) is the one that meets your business’s unique needs and specifications. By having a better understanding of the differences between cloud and dedicated hosting – as well as the potential advantages and drawbacks of each – you can make the most informed decision for your company.
Understanding Cloud vs. Dedicated Hosting
The main difference between cloud hosting and dedicated hosting is how resources are allocated. With a cloud or shared hosting service, you’re essentially paying for virtual server space that is shared with other paying users. For example, there may be several other business owners sharing your cloud server and using it to run their websites; resources are drawn from that single server and allocated to each site as needs arise.
With dedicated hosting, on the other hand, you pay for your own server that you do not have to share with any other users. Your dedicated server hardware is hosted in a data center, and you have complete access to all the bandwidth, storage, and other included resources.
Pros and Cons of Cloud Hosting
For most business owners, the price is the biggest advantage of choosing cloud hosting over dedicated hosting. Because you’re sharing your resources with other users, you’re also sharing costs. This results in lower prices that may be appealing, especially to small businesses or those on tighter budgets.
On the other hand, there are also some potential drawbacks to consider when it comes to cloud hosting. The biggest issue arises when traffic and bandwidth demands exceed the resources available by the cloud server itself. Often, this happens when one website on the hosting plan receives a sudden influx of traffic and thus requires more bandwidth. This can deplete resources for the other sites hosted on the same account, which may result in downtime, slow page-loading speeds, and other technical issues.
Pros and Cons of Dedicated Hosting
With a dedicated server, business owners never have to worry about sharing their resources with other users. Instead, you can enjoy added peace of mind knowing that you will always have access to the bandwidth, storage, and other resources you’re paying for. Plus, because this hosting plan is dedicated solely to your business, you may also be able to avoid issues like downtime and slow speeds. The result is an improved user experience, which can reflect well on your company’s reputation.
As you can probably imagine, dedicated hosting comes at a bit of a premium compared to cloud or shared hosting services. Depending on the provider and plan you choose, you can expect to spend several times more per-month on a dedicated hosting plan than you would on a cloud hosting plan. However, for many business owners, the added security and reliability are more than worth the extra cost.
Why Dedicated Hosting Provides the Best ROI
Ultimately, making smart business decisions often boils down to choosing services that provide the best return on investment for your company. With this in mind, a dedicated server is the best choice for website, email, and other hosting needs. Yes, you’ll likely spend more each month on your hosting services, but the ROI that a dedicated server can provide easily justifies the additional cost when compared to cloud hosting. Here’s why:
Enhanced Security
When it comes to cybersecurity, a dedicated server is the safest, most reliable option. This is because many of these hosting plans are designed with data protection in mind. The best dedicated servers come with a variety of security features, including DDoS protection, encryption options, and other security features that help reduce your risk of data breaches and other web-based attacks. You should have the ability to implement security measures to your own standards, instead of relying on a cloud provider to do it for you. And when you consider the financial toll a data breach can have on a business of any size, it becomes easier to see how spending a little more on a dedicated hosting plan can pay off in the long run.
Improved Speed
Because dedicated servers don’t require you to share resources with other users, you may also enjoy faster website speeds when you opt for this type of hosting plan. Think about the last time you encountered a website with slow page-loading times or other lag factors; there’s a good chance you became frustrated and left the site altogether. The same thing could happen with your site’s visitors if you’re using a cloud or shared hosting plan.
With a dedicated server, you can cut down on page-loading speeds and improve your users’ overall experience. This can result in a better reputation for your business, which may have a direct impact on your bottom line.
Greater Reliability
How much would your business suffer if your company website or email went down for even a few hours? More than likely, this kind of event would be disastrous for both your bottom line and reputation. Unexpected server downtime is not something that most businesses can easily afford – and with a cloud hosting plan, you could be putting your company at risk.
Dedicated servers allow a high level of control and more direct contact with the data center or host. Therefore, if you have an issue, it can be resolved to your satisfaction. On a cloud hosting account, you don’t have that kind of choice for equipment replacements or upgrading DDoS protection. With a dedicated server, you can also expect around-the-clock technical support to get you back online as soon as possible.
The Bottom Line
Some services are worth paying a little more for, and dedicated hosting is one of them, especially if you’re a business owner. With a dedicated hosting plan, your company can enjoy greater security, faster speeds, and improved reliability. And with an excellent web host in your corner, the sky is the limit for your growing business.
