When choosing an appropriate VPS hosting company, you want to be sure that the money you are committing to pay will bring good returns in terms of web hosting value. To guide you through this task, here are a few factors to consider.
1. Self Managed or Fully Managed?
Besides making the decision to procure VPS hosting, you will have to decide which type of hosting you require. You can either go for a self- or fully-managed solution depending on what your circumstances and requirements are. At the end of the day, your choice will be determined by a number of factors such as your needs and budget.
However, before making your call, you might want to know the difference between the two choices. For instance, self-managed VPS hosting has greater flexibility since it gives you freedom in terms of management. When problems occur, and they always do, you are in control of a self-managed hosting solution. Besides, self-managed hosting is less expensive than the fully-managed solution.
2. Specifications
In hosting, size matters. However, what one does with it matters more than impressive numbers. High tech specs that provide for speed, efficiency and reliability provide for an effective VPS hosting service. For instance, your RAM should be able to handle all the services hosted at your VPS. At the minimum, your RAM should be at least 4 GB. The more the merrier.
The other specification that you will need to consider is the CPU. In this case, you should go for a multi-core CPU, which provides seamless performance during peak and off-peak times. Finally, your specs should include ample storage space, especially since this is so crucial for optimization. While having the appropriate RAM and CPU are key, having adequate storage is even more important. It’s a combination of these specs that makes one hosting service superior to another.
3. Accessibility: Root or Home
When it comes to access, you have to choose between root and home access. If you are using a Linux-based VPS, you won’t avoid root access since it gives you the ability to implement full command controls, SSH and scripts. It also enables you to automate at any time and at your convenience without restrictions. A control panel is required for enhanced server administration, operations and maintenance. Whichever panel you settle for, it should be both easy to use and functional.
4. 24-Hour Daily Support
This should be one of your non-negotiables. To ensure an uninterrupted “always on” service to your clients, your VPS host must guarantee round-the-clock support, seven days a week. This should not just be automated bot support, but a real person should be behind a desk ready to answer clients’ questions 24/7.
5. Think Strategically about Your Business Growth Prospects
If your VPS host is any good, their products should be scalable. This is because your business will likely grow. Scalability allows you to start with a lower-priced package, which can be scaled up as your business evolves. In other words, go with a VPS host that provides scalable services that are appropriate for various levels of your business growth. When thinking of scalability, consider your current and future growth needs. Other considerations besides scalability are the security of data, which may necessitate getting an extra layer of data security and privacy.
6. Choose a Reliable and Trustworthy Host
Your host must have a reputable track record of offering seamless VPS hosting services. They should also provide a free seamless integration and a lifetime guarantee that your information is safe with them. And should you need to migrate to another host, they should make this as easy as possible.
VPS hosting has existed long before the term “cloud” came to be associated with web hosting. There are many web hosting companies that offer VPS hosting, each of them featuring various levels of reliability and uptime guarantee.
