As all kinds of services now tend to move their businesses online, the service of VPS hosting is extremely popular and offered by many different providers. So, with this many choices available, how do you choose a provider that will best suit your hosting needs, what steps should you take?
What Is VPS Hosting?
If by any chance you are not aware what VPS hosting is and how it differs from other types of hosting, we will provide a brief explanation here. VPS hosting is like a mid-way between shared hosting and dedicated hosting. It offers more resources and customization and scalability than shared hosting, but you will not have all server to yourself, as with dedicated hosting. If you are not sure what you need, you can try out free VPS Linux or Windows hosting for a period specified by a hosting provider, to make sure. In general, though, VPS hosting is often best suited for those that expect their website’s traffic to grow a lot in the near future, but do not need the full commitment of owning a dedicated server.
Research Different Providers
To decide which of the many possible different hosting providers you should choose, you need to do a careful research. Find out what type of services they are offering and how the prices differ. Some providers will offer free VPS Linux or Windows, for a trial period, so you can try out their services for a time, for free and only then decide whether it suits your hosting needs and expectations. At this point, it would be extremely useful to go online and find different user reviews. You can also try checking different hosting related forums, where people often discuss different providers and can give the first-hand experience based advise.
Consider OS
Your choice of VPS host will also depend on the operating system that you prefer for your hosting server. Keep in mind that Linux OS may cost you less, but if you are developing a .NET website or want to use Windows-based applications, you will need Windows OS. If you cannot make up your mind right away, try out free VPS Linux and Windows for a short period and then make a decision.
Consider the Host’s Location
You also need to consider and research what location for a web host is best depending on the continent you are living in. Pick a country that has the best balance between cheap rates and advanced technology. The country that you host is based in will also heavily influence their security policies, so that is an aspect to consider as well.
Do You Need Managed VPS?
The answer to this question should also help you decide on your hosting provider, as not all the providers can offer you the fully managed VPS option. So, the choice becomes much simpler. With fully managed VPS, all the maintenance and updating works will be done for you and without fully managed VPS you will need to it all yourself. So, in the end, it comes down to whether you are comfortable enough with technology or want to leave it to the experts.