Disadvantages of Virtual Private Server Hosting

Is There a Downside to VPS?

VPS isn’t suitable for every site owner. As we’ve mentioned, VPS hosting packages are more expensive than shared hosting but the cost difference isn’t all that significant – usually less than an extra $200 a year. So, yes, higher costs are one downside. There are a couple of others.

More Responsibility

With a shared hosting plan, you’re renting rack space from your web host by the month. With a VPS package, you move up a notch and rent disk space too. However, because it’s your digital territory, you’re in control.

That means you are responsible for many of the software installations, site maintenance, site security, security updates and many of the other responsibilities that come with on-line business ownership. That means you deal with issues of software incompatibilities and other technological headaches.

Not a problem for tech savvy individuals who have experience managing a Linux server (or any other VPS hardware/software configuration). On the other hand, if you don’t know much about server side administration, VPS may be a bit more than you want to take on yourself. This is something to farm out to an expert if you’re not familiar with maintaining a VPS, but you still need the power and control of VPS.

Shared Hardware

VPS gives you much more latitude to use whatever software you select – the software you’re used to. However, you still share hardware assets, whether these assets are evenly distributed across the host server or managed by server side software.

For most of us, this doesn’t pose a problem. But, it is important to note that you may not always have access to all of the RAM you need at a given moment due to a data log jam. It’s not common, but it can happen and if it’s simply unacceptable to your on-line business plan, you’re better off going with a dedicated or private server where all hardware assets belong to you.

Do I Need VPS?

If you plan to expand, offering more products and services, then consider a VPS plan even as a start-up. Again, the difference in price between a good shared hosting plan and a good VPS plan is negligible in the whole bang-buck equation.

If  you’ve already got an on-line business but you aren’t happy with site performance (30-second download times) it’s definitely time to move up to a VPS account. A good web hosting company will help you migrate from your shared account to a VPS account without any breakdowns or hassles. In fact, when selecting a hosting service, ask about the costs of upgrading from a shared to a VPS account. It shouldn't cost much.

If you’re used to a particular piece of software – a certain checkout or database – you might consider VPS hosting for the software flexibility it offers. Learning how to use a new checkout isn’t a huge deal, but switching from one checkout to another may cause confusion on the part of an existing customer base. All of a sudden, the back end of your web site looks different.

VPS packages, which start as low as $35 a month, are the ideal solution for growing businesses or business owners who plan to grow an e-biz to profitability in a hurry. The extra monthly costs are relatively insignificant when weighed against the advantages of increased software flexibility (root access), managed resource contention (divided or server-side management), improved security, more available features (FTP, e-mail server, etc.) and the ability to host an unlimited number of web sites.

You may not need these features today, but if you’re serious about your on-line enterprise and anticipate that it will become an important aspect of your business life, look at VPS hosting plans even if you’re just starting out.

It’s cheaper than dedicated server packages, with increased functionality and features over shared hosting – the perfect compromise for growing businesses or expansive entrepreneurs who recognize the potential for business success afforded by the world wide web. And that’s you.

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Advantages of Virtual Private Server hosting