Shopping for a new hosting plan?
\nYou may have to make the choice between managed and unmanaged hosting.<\/p>\n
Most of us start out hosting our websites on shared servers, so we don\u2019t come across the word \u2018management\u2019 at all. The term only really applies once we start looking for VPS hosting, semi-dedicated hosting or dedicated servers.<\/p>\n
(In addition, you may come across the managed\/ unmanaged dilemma when buying hosting in the cloud.)<\/p>\n
There\u2019s a clear price difference between unmanaged and managed, but it\u2019s not a good idea to make your decision on cost alone. Picking the wrong plan could become extremely expensive in the long run.<\/p>\n
When it comes to hosting, think of management as planned support.<\/p>\n
If you get really stuck on unmanaged hosting, your host will charge you an hourly rate for basic help. Be warned: it\u2019ll be very expensive, and it\u2019ll probably wipe out the savings you made on buying a cheaper plan.<\/p>\n
Unmanaged hosting gives you complete control: sole access and total freedom, just as though your server were your own computer. Unmanaged services are significantly cheaper than managed services, so if you\u2019re comfortable with your OS, it\u2019s a no brainer.<\/p>\n
But if you\u2019ll struggle to install a control panel from scratch, you\u2019ll hit problems from day one.\u00a0And do you really have the time to manage a server on top of all of your other tasks? Could you cope with every eventuality on your own?<\/p>\n
Managed hosting is far less work and requires little expertise. If something goes wrong and you\u2019re stuck, you can call on your host to give you a hand.<\/p>\n
Everyone\u2019s different, so we can\u2019t give you a one-size-fits-all answer.<\/p>\n
Ask yourself these questions:<\/p>\n
In addition to wholly managed and unmanaged solutions, there are some companies, that provide hybrid solutions. These setups will give you root access to your server, but will still provide a limited amount of support, usually in the form of a limited number of hours with a tech support agent. If you\u2019re not sure what to do, look into a hybrid plan: it might give you the best of both worlds.<\/p>\n
What\u2019s important to you: low cost, or fewer maintenance tasks?.<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re not comfortable tinkering with the insides of your server, you should stick to a managed solution. If your host doesn\u2019t offer one, ask about a maintenance agreement or hybrid plan. And never sign up for a long unmanaged hosting contract if you\u2019ve any doubts about your ability to handle the workload solo.<\/p>\n\n\n