With various companies offering web hosting services, it is difficult to choose the right web hosting provider for your enterprise, keeping security issues in mind. As hosting is the most crucial aspect of any internet-based business, providing solid foundations to withstand the traffic spikes and sidestep the downtime is very important. This article discusses the differences between Managed and unmanaged hosting and how do they impact the daily businesses.
Managed Hosting v/s Unmanaged Hosting – A Comparison
What is Managed Hosting and Unmanaged Hosting Service?
A hosting plan consists of different components, server hardware being the most basic of all. The operating system installed along with various software inside the server helps smooth functionality of web hosting and running numerous applications on websites. These additional features are management services, which refer to a hosting plan that includes secondary support and benefits for the organization.
Whereas, an unmanaged hosting is a standard web hosting where the user only gets a hosting space on the server to upload the website. The user is solely responsible to update, maintain and secure the website.
Key differences – Managed Hosting versus Unmanaged Hosting:
A managed hosting provider offers support for every single issue or task, emergency or routine. The operating system, control panel, server setup, and pre-installed applications are assisted, managed, and supported by the service provider. Usually managed to host includes automated backup and monitoring to provide a secure and robust IT environment.
An unmanaged hosting is typically inexpensive as it includes no management and routine support. The host only replaces the failed components, reboot servers, and maintain the network without supporting any software or its installation on the system. Rest all the responsibilities right from installing security patches, to fixing errors and to installing software, is taken care of by the user only.
Business Benefits of Managed Hosting Services over Unmanaged Hosting Services:
A number of crucial business benefits offered by managed hosting to help support the growth of an organization include:
- Backups: Keeping backups of all the database and application is very crucial. Any attack or threat can potentially damage the complete website, leaving users with complete data loss. The user must always choose a provider that is capable to restore the files or database from the backup with shorter recovery duration. Hosting providers that offer daily backups and keep them for at least seven days are recommended.
- Support: The level of support the managed hosting services offers is outstanding when compared to unmanaged hosting services. Usually, a team of professionals having sound technical knowledge offer full support to organizations by resolving their every little query efficiently.
- Fully Managed Services: A managed dedicated server hosting service helps organizations run their business without worrying about the management and monitoring of data and applications. The provider assists the organizations through third-party applications which manage all the technical aspects of the customer’s website. Keeping operating system, hardware, and software resources fully updated and secured, help customize server as per user requirements. Also, an ideal provider offer migration services to help move the workloads to the cloud with advice and recommendations to improve the performance of the website.
- Application Support: A managed hosting service is capable to configure a server to accommodate the customer’s requirements. Every website has different sets of requirements and challenges. A managed service provider offers customized solutions to every customer as and when required. The application support level of the managed hosting provider assures quick resolution of any problem.
- Security: Security is paramount for any web hosting service. Managed hosting services try to implement solutions from security standpoints. Installing a local firewall and scanning the website actively to detect the malware and security risks are some of the major challenges that are taken care of by the managed services. These practices restrict various unauthorized users from accessing the website, preventing the website from vulnerabilities.
Cost Analysis: Managed vs. Unmanaged Hosting
Managed hosting
Managed dedicated server hosting often comes at a higher price point compared to unmanaged hosting, but it brings a wealth of benefits that can justify the investment. With managed hosting services, you gain access to a team of experts who handle server setup, maintenance, security, and troubleshooting, allowing your enterprise to focus on core operations and growth initiatives. While the initial cost may seem higher, it’s essential to consider the long-term savings in terms of time, resources, and potential revenue preservation.
Unmanaged hosting
Unmanaged hosting, on the other hand, may appear cost-effective initially, but it requires your team to shoulder the responsibilities of server management, which can lead to unforeseen expenses in terms of downtime, security breaches, and technical challenges.
The key here is to conduct a thorough cost analysis that takes into account not just the immediate expenses but also the overall impact on your enterprise’s efficiency, productivity, and bottom line.
Scalability and Resource Management
Managed hosting
Managed hosting services provide a distinct advantage in this regard by offering scalable solutions tailored to your enterprise’s evolving needs. With the support of experts, you can seamlessly adjust resources like CPU, RAM, and storage as your business grows, ensuring that your website or application consistently meets user demands.
Unmanaged hosting
On the other hand, unmanaged hosting may require you to handle resource allocation independently, which can be challenging, especially during periods of rapid expansion. The ability to efficiently scale resources is a crucial factor in staying competitive and responsive to market changes.
Technical Expertise and Skill Requirements
Managed hosting
Managed hosting services provide a valuable solution for enterprises that may not have an extensive in-house IT team, or the specific technical knowledge required for server management. With managed hosting, you can rely on the expertise of the hosting provider to handle server setup, maintenance, and troubleshooting, reducing the burden on your internal resources. This approach is particularly beneficial for businesses focused on their core operations rather than intricate technical details.
Unmanaged hosting
Unmanaged hosting places the onus of technical management squarely on your shoulders, necessitating a higher level of expertise and the availability of skilled staff to oversee server-related tasks. Therefore, when considering the impact on your enterprise, carefully assess your organization’s technical capabilities and skill requirements to make an informed decision that aligns with your operational needs and objectives.
Customization and Control
Managed hosting
Managed hosting services are ideal for businesses seeking hassle-free hosting solutions. They aim to provide technical help and keep your server stable and secure, but they often come with limitations. Different providers may have different parameters of how much you can change and customize things.
Unmanaged hosting
Conversely, unmanaged hosting grants greater control, allowing you to fine-tune server configurations to your exact specifications, as and when required. This level of customization is advantageous for enterprises with unique technical demands and the expertise to implement them. However, it also demands a deep-level understanding of server management. You must also maintain and secure the server independently.
Uptime and Reliability
Managed hosting
Managed hosting usually comes with promises to keep your website up and running all the time. They have a team of experts who watch over everything and fix problems fast, so your website is hardly ever down. This is super important for businesses where having a working website all the time is really, really important.
Unmanaged hosting
With unmanaged hosting, you have to do all the work to keep your website running smoothly 24×7. You have more control, but if something goes wrong, it’s up to you to fix it. So, you need to think about how much you can handle and how much you can afford to have your website down when deciding which one is right for your business.
Final Words:
Hopefully, the differences between managed, and unmanaged hosting are now a lot obvious and the readers might have gained a basic understanding of some specific services managed services entails. If, however, you still want to learn how unmanaged hosting stacks up against managed hosting services, contact i2k2 Networks, a dedicated web, email hosting and data center service provider. With just the right solution at affordable pricing, i2k2 Networks has helped thousands of customers till date and is committed to delivering the same in future as well. Contact us at our 24×7×365 number: +91-120-466-3031 | +91-971-177-4040 or can write us to sales@i2k2.com to share your queries.