When it comes to the all-important decision of which web hosting method to choose, the choices are shared and dedicated. There are a lot of arguments for and against shared and dedicated hosting. Maybe it’s time to explain this web hosting dilemma a bit. Let’s start with the most important question:
Server access. If you decide to go with shared web hosting, you’ll be sharing server space with other companies. You’ve probably heard your parents say “it’s good to share”, but that’s not always the case in web hosting. In web hosting, shared means “limited access”.
A limited access web hosting approach means that you have limited access through a control panel provided by your hosting provider. If your hosting provider is responsible for the control panel, then they are responsible for your access. A lack of control over your web hosting means that you have no control over every aspect of your web hosting. A dedicated hosting server, on the other hand, provides you with full and total access. Doesn’t that sound better? Full access means that you have complete control over all aspects of your web hosting decisions. Dedicated hosting also provides you with the remote desktop manager which allows you to access the machines desktop.
Let’s move on to web hosting from an exclusive use perspective. Getting back to shared web hosting, we need to ask ourselves, how much do I want to share? With shared hosting, you’re sharing a server with about 500-1000 other sites. Wow, that’s a lot of neighbors. With so many other sites vying for your attention, you might not always have full access to the server’s resources. Other sites might be consuming more web hosting space than you. On the other hand, with a dedicated hosting service, you get exclusive access to all of the resources available on the dedicated hosting server. You’re solely responsible for how the server performs.
Finally, let’s look at scalability in relation to the web hosting problem. Most of the time, the shared web hosting service doesn’t let you install your own apps on the service. It has a fixed configuration and doesn’t allow you to go outside of the box. With a dedicated hosting service, you have full control over your web hosting. Your IT team can install any application that’s required for your needs. Again, more control means more efficient web hosting. In conclusion, it looks like dedicated hosting is much more suitable for most business web hosting requirements. Dedicated hosting provides you with more control, and in web hosting it’s all about control, which limits your growth.