In this article, we discuss the factors that could influence your decision to upgrade from Shared Hosting to VPS Hosting. Here we begin by listing out 6 signs which usually suggest that you need to make the switch from Shared Hosting to VPS Hosting.
We will first understand what is meant by Shared Hosting and VPS Hosting. We will also learn who these services suit the best.
After we learn the basics of both of the hosting services, we will get into the 6 benefits that you gain by upgrading your hosting service from shared to VPS hosting.
What is Shared Hosting? Whom does it suit the best?
Shared hosting is the most commonly used basic hosting service. It is the most affordable hosting service as well. In shared hosting, a single server is used to host the websites/applications of multiple users and the resources of the server are distributed among the users.
This basically means that your server’s physical space and its resources are not dedicated to you. The security measures taken in most shared hosting environments are very basic.
It is best suited for beginners, bloggers, or those who require minimal amounts of server resources.
What is VPS Hosting? Whom does it suit the best?
VPS Hosting is a step up from Shared Hosting. The server is virtually divided into different servers. It is a kind of hybrid server that shares the features of shared hosting and dedicated hosting servers.
In VPS Hosting, you will get your own dedicated space, but your resources will be shared with other users.
It is an ideal option for those who are slowly starting to grow their online business and need to upgrade from a shared hosting server. It is also the best option for those who want a better hosting service than shared hosting but do not wish to invest in a dedicated server just yet.
6 Benefits of Upgrading to VPS Hosting
As we already discussed, shared web hosting plans are mostly used by people who are just getting started. Therefore, it is not suitable for those websites that have the potential to grow.
Here is a list of some signs that you can look out for to decide about an upgrade:
- You need a faster website
- You need more control over your server
- Your website needs higher security
- You need to increase your website uptime
- You are planning to expand your business
- You are looking for a cost-effective web hosting solution
Now that you have an idea of the signs that indicate the need to upgrade, let’s have a look at how a VPS hosting plan can help you achieve your website goals.
1. Faster website
A VPS Hosting plan gives you dedicated server resources such as CPU, RAM and disk space. This helps in avoiding performance bottlenecks when your website is receiving more traffic. The dedicated resources also help you avoid slowing down of your website because the resources are not being shared.
It is also a lot easier to upgrade your VPS hosting plans if you are experiencing more traffic than usual. This helps you avoid unnecessary downtime.
The dedicated resources also increase server response time resulting in faster page load times. This is great for grabbing those higher SEO rankings!
This is why it is best to upgrade from a shared website hosting plan to a VPS hosting plan in order to increase the speed of your website.
2. Gain more server control
If you are planning to carry out more advanced tasks such as installing new software, editing files on the server, or performing a custom server configuration then you will need server root access.
This option is only available in VPS Hosting and Dedicated Hosting plans. So if you need more control over your server but do not want to invest in a dedicated server, then VPS hosting is the right choice.
Additionally, you will have more control over the resources of your server as well. Which makes it easy for you to manage your server resources.
VPS hosting gives more customization options which gives you more flexibility. You can optimize your server the way you want to and make your server apt for your specific website goals.
3. Higher security measures
One major problem with shared hosting is that it has very basic security measures. Even though security measures are in place, it is easier for hackers to break through it.
Also, the chances of your website getting infected by other infected websites are much higher.
VPS hosting offers you more security by giving you your own password-protected dedicated space. Compared to shared hosting, VPS does not offer visibility of your server space to the rest of the users on the server.
Additionally, with VPS you get multiple layers of server protection, not only at the server level but also the protection, including the firewall that you provide to your own server segment.
4. Increase your website uptime
With dedicated and guaranteed resources, you do not have to worry about the effects of other users’ activities. For example, in a shared hosting environment, when another user’s website is experiencing a spike in traffic they will need to use more resources, which creates a resource deficiency for you.
So with the help of dedicated resources in VPS hosting, you will always have enough resources with you to deal with traffic spikes and have a steady website.
You can also monitor your server and look out for potential issues that might harm your website’s uptime. With 24/7 technical support from VPS hosting specialists, you can always resolve such matters quickly, and keep your website up and running 99.9% of the time.
5. Expand your business
If you have started off with a Shared hosting plan and are now planning to expand your business, you will definitely need to switch to VPS hosting.
This is because VPS hosting plans have more features and options that will allow you to expand and scale up your business easily.
A shared hosting plan is simply not equipped to handle an online business expansion. Whereas a VPS hosting plan offers you more flexibility and resources to gradually build and expand your online business.
You can easily scale up or down with VPS hosting without experiencing any downtime. This ease in scalability comes in handy when your business is undergoing a sudden and big change.
6. Cost-effective web hosting solution
VPS hosting is better than Shared hosting plans and is cheaper than Dedicated hosting plans. This means that you get dedicated resources, ease of scalability, zero hardware maintenance costs, more customization options, server access and improved performance at a very low cost.
Not only that, your website will have better uptime guarantees compared to shared hosting. You will have a website that loads significantly faster and is more secure, without having to invest in dedicated hosting plans.
So if you are planning to start an online business that has the potential to grow, it is wiser to opt for a VPS hosting plan than a Shared hosting plan.
Summing It Up
If you have noticed any of the above-mentioned signs, it is time to switch to a VPS hosting plan from a Shared hosting plan. The earlier you make the change, the better.
An untimely upgrade can lead to financial loss, which could be avoided if you are vigilant about your website and server needs.
So look out for these signs and make wiser web hosting choices!