One of the steps when launching a website deals with choosing the right hosting. It’s like finding the perfect location for your business that will determine the website’s performance, security, and overall success. Will there be sufficient space to store all your resources? Who will be your neighbors, and what is the level of support from the vendor?
There are so many options to choose from, from shared and VPS hosting to dedicated and cloud hosting, that you may easily get lost. Are you scratching your head trying to figure out the best hosting for your website? You’re not alone. We understand that it’s not a decision to take lightly.
For this purpose, we’ve prepared this guide to explain the two types of hosting: managed and unmanaged. We’ll highlight their features, benefits, and drawbacks. Are you ready to explore managed and unmanaged hosting and decide which one is the best fit for your website? Read on!
Managed Hosting: What Is It?
First, let’s define managed hosting. Suppose you rent a house and need to fix something. In a managed hosting analogy, you’d have a specialist dealing with all the arising problems like the leaky faucet or the temperamental heating system.
Managed hosting is about having a team of experts. They handle the technical aspects, including:
- Server setup
- Automated backups
- Performance monitoring
- Automatic software updates
- Security, malware scanning, and removal
- SSH access
- Support
- On-demand services
So you can concentrate on managing your website rather than getting bogged down in the details. Similar to having your own IT department, it ensures everything runs smoothly in the background.
Unmanaged Hosting: What Is It?
Now, let’s shed some light on unmanaged hosting, the most popular option for startups and small businesses. It entails that you do everything yourself:
- Set up the system as you like;
- Take responsibility for any issues that pop up;
- Monitor and update your servers.
Coming back to the renting example, you’d have to provide your own furnishings and appliances and perhaps even fix the plumbing. It looks like a more flexible option. However, it implies the need for technical experience and knowledge of the server setup, software updates, security measures, etc.
Managed vs. Unmanaged Hosting: A Detailed Comparison
Okay, let’s compare managed hosting vs. unmanaged hosting. To make it easy for you to put them head to head, we’ll break down their features. That’s where the differences between managed and unmanaged hosting become the most apparent.
Managed Hosting
Proactive Monitoring
When you use managed hosting, your provider continually monitors the server to make sure it functions as it should. They can also identify and eliminate problems proactively before they impact your website.
Security Measures
Providers also take care of security-related tasks:
- applying patches to protect against vulnerabilities;
- upgrading firewalls and complying with spam filters;
- protecting the software without your intervention.
Automated Backups
Automated backups let you save data to prevent its loss. Most managed hosting providers offer this opportunity, often storing data on separate servers so any breakdowns won’t affect your information.
Tailored Storage Terms
Managed hosting companies have a wide range of storage options. So, to avoid wrong investments, it’s worth checking the storage offerings of different providers and finding the right balance.
24/7 Support
Your website may break during any hours of operation, and your team may not be online. It’s especially urgent during peak hours and busy holiday seasons, where time, stability, and resistance to traffic spikes are key. Managed hosting frequently comes with round-the-clock support, helping you withstand any server glitches.
Price
Managed hosting is frequently more expensive because these services aren’t free. The investment may be worthwhile if you value your time, support, and comfort.
Unmanaged Hosting
Full Control
Unmanaged hosting allows complete freedom and access to your server. You can adapt it to your needs.
Root Access
This type of access entails the maximum degree of control over your server: security, backups, optimization, and maintenance.
Hosting Control Panel
You can operate your system through a comprehensive control panel like cPanel, which serves for easier server management.
Cost
Unmanaged hosting usually becomes a go-to option for small businesses due to its lower cost. As you maintain the server yourself, you save money, sacrificing your time and dealing with the complexity of proper handling.
Limited Support
You can’t address specialists in case of disruptions. While some unmanaged hosting providers may help you with major server issues, the range of services is limited, and you should count on yourself.
Types of Managed Hosting
Managed Shared Hosting
Ideal for small websites and beginners, managed shared hosting provides a user-friendly option where multiple websites share one server. The hosting provider takes care of all the technical aspects, ensuring you can focus on building your site without needing deep technical expertise. However, according to Onilab, shared hosting may slow your website down, and you may need to change your provider over time.
Managed VPS Hosting
If your site is growing and requires more resources, managed Virtual Private Server (VPS) hosting is a great choice. Here, you share a server with others but have your “virtual” space with dedicated resources. The hosting provider handles all the technical maintenance, providing you with more power and control than shared hosting without the headaches of doing it yourself.
Managed Dedicated Hosting
This is the top-tier choice for websites with high traffic or those needing top-notch security, such as large eCommerce stores or high-profile blogs. In managed dedicated hosting, you have an entire server to yourself, offering optimum performance. Despite the technical demands of managing a dedicated server, your hosting provider handles all the heavy lifting, so you enjoy the benefits without the need for technical expertise.
Types of Unmanaged Hosting
Unmanaged Shared Hosting
Just starting out or running a small blog or website? Unmanaged shared hosting could be a perfect fit. While you share server space with other websites, you’re also responsible for managing your server environment. It’s a cost-effective solution if you’re willing to roll up your sleeves.
Unmanaged VPS Hosting
If your website is expanding and needs more resources, but you’re comfortable managing technical aspects, unmanaged VPS hosting offers a step up from shared hosting. Like its managed counterpart, you share server space but have your dedicated resources. The key difference? You’re in the driver’s seat for maintaining your server.
Unmanaged Dedicated Hosting
Unmanaged dedicated hosting gives you an entire server’s resources for high-traffic sites or projects requiring high levels of security or unique server configurations. This type of hosting is perfect for businesses like IT consulting firms, tech startups, or freelance web developers that need maximum control, have robust technical expertise, and prefer to manage the server themselves. It’s a powerhouse option but demands time and tech skills to maintain.
Choosing Between Managed and Unmanaged Hosting: 4 Factors to Consider
There are a number of important elements that can help you make a choice between managed and unmanaged hosting. Let’s review the most relevant ones.
1. Budget
The amount of money you’re ready to spend determines the type of hosting you should opt for. Managed hosting is more expensive than unmanaged hosting but has more features and saves time.
2. Technical Expertise
If words like ‘DNS,’ ‘IP address,’ and ‘SSL encryption’ aren’t what you want to deal with, then pick managed hosting. Yet, unmanaged hosting could be a good experience if you’re confident working with server technology or keen to learn.
3. Security
Data security on the server is another crucial factor. Do the hosting company’s storage terms work for you? Can you adjust your security protocols? Managed hosting providers take all security precautions, such as firewalls, malware scanning, and regular updates. With unmanaged hosting, it’s all up to you.
4. Control
You have total flexibility and freedom to customize your server environment with unmanaged hosting, which is similar to drawing on a blank canvas. On the other hand, managed hosting takes care of the majority of the technical duties, allowing you to concentrate more on your website or business.
Case Scenarios: Best Situations for Managed and Unmanaged Hosting
The choice between managed vs. unmanaged hosting doesn’t mean finding which one is better than the other. Both have their pros and cons that become relevant to different situations. Let’s describe some circumstances where each might be superior to the other.
Choose Managed Hosting When…
- You need a robust online presence. This applies to businesses like eCommerce and SaaS, where your profit depends on website stability. Managed hosting companies regularly monitor and optimize your server to prevent downtime or performance issues.
- You don’t have specialists in this field on your team. If you don’t want to hire a dedicated team, you can pay for managed hosting services. The vendor will take care of the technical aspects instead of you.
- Your business depends on the level of security. If you operate in finance or healthcare, protecting user data is essential. So you need strict security protocols, including regular updates, patches, and malware scanning. All of this is possible hassle-free with managed hosting.
- Growth is your priority, not server administration. By granting all the technicalities to the vendor, you can focus on business enhancement, including expansion, marketing, and customer service.
Choose Unmanaged Hosting When…
- You’re tech-savvy or tight on a budget. The main advantage of unmanaged hosting is its flexibility. If you possess the necessary skills, you should give this type of hosting a chance. It makes sense for tech startups, IT consulting businesses, or even freelance web developers.
- You value customization and unique capabilities. For example, a digital agency managing multiple client websites will need different features for each. That’s where unmanaged hosting may come in handy with its adaptability.
- You’re ready to take care of security. Suppose you run an IT consulting business. With unmanaged hosting, you can employ your knowledge to provide tailored solutions to your clients.
- You’re building a personal project or blog. You can expand your skill set and practice server management. If you’re a freelance web developer building your portfolio, unmanaged hosting for your personal website may be a competitive advantage when applying for a job or looking for clients.
Final Words
As you can see, we can’t say you should opt for either managed or unmanaged hosting and ditch the other one. You should carefully examine your needs and plans to find a perfect balance between costs, complexity, flexibility, and available resources and staff. The choice between managed and unmanaged hosting boils down to a trade-off between what is better for you.
