If you are currently engaged in any facet of
ecommerce, even service sectors, a website makes
up a great deal of your business. Therefore, it
is a safe assumption that you pay for hosting
your website in some fashion. If you do not
already have a dedicated server, perhaps you
should revisit the decision for the best hosting
options for your business.
What is a Dedicated Server?
Most web hosting companies set up accounts or on
a shared server. You essentially share the total
hard drive and bandwidth allowance with many
others. This may not be the best hosting option
and can present many problems such as security
and traffic bottlenecks. On a dedicated server,
the server is completely yours, and there are
not other websites utilizing the same machine.
The server is dedicated completely to you and
your business.
Advantages of a Dedicated Server
Several advantages can make a dedicated server
the best hosting choice for you. These include:
Server Security
–Dedicated servers increase the security of your
website tremendously. There are no other
webmasters using the same workspace, and simple
mistakes or user error that might occur due to
shared machines simply no longer existent.
Storage Space
– As the entire server is dedicated to a single
customer, there is tremendously more storage
space available for website pages, images, and
features.
Data Transfer
– As with storage space, there is a great deal
more bandwidth available for data transfer.
Traffic to your site no longer competes with
traffic for other websites reducing bottlenecks
and slow server response time.
Control Panel
– Having your own server offers additional
opportunities for control. Sharing a server
indicates that you have only limited control of
server features and functions, but with a
dedicated server, webmasters have greater
control and access to the day-to-day functions
of the host.
Software Options
– Dedicated servers also allow more software and
script options. The server has greater storage
capacity for this information, and there is no
need to align coding or features with other
users of the same machine.
Disadvantages of a Dedicated Server
The sole disadvantage of a dedicated server is
the cost. It is only logical that obtaining an
entire server versus a piece of a shared server
would be more expensive, but the rate often
makes webmasters baulk. It is important to
consider the fee as related to the total cost of
shared server space when determining if a
dedicated server is the best hosting option for
you business, despite cost. A single credit card
safety incident or an exorbitant bill for
bandwidth overage should level the playing field
almost immediately.
Am I ready for a Dedicated Server?
Websites grow at different rates, but as the
success of a business grows, so does the need
for additional hosting capacity. If you are
approaching the limits of your current hosting
company or have concerns about safety, such as
storing credit card information on the same
server as others or simply if your current
company is the best hosting company for your
needs, it is definitely time for a dedicated
server.
Copyright notice: This original article is the
property of
Web
Hosting Geeks
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