There are many different options available today for web hosting. For the newcomer in the industry, the technical terms can be quite confusing. Managed hosting plans and dedicated servers are just a few of these technical terms. Web hosting refers to the server where your website is hosted. You can get shared or dedicated server hosting plans and either of these options can be on a managed plan. To help you understand what these different plans are about, let's look at the concepts of website hosting in some more detail.

Web Hosting Service Providers

In order to have a website, it needs to be hosted on a server. These servers are managed and maintained by hosting service providers. There are literally thousands of hosting companies out there. Some offer incredibly cheap and even free deals but not all are reputable. The type of hosting plan that you choose will depend on a number of factors and budget should not be the only consideration. The amount of technical knowledge that you have about the industry will also play a large part in the decision-making process. If you are familiar with the technicalities of web hosting and management, you can benefit from one of the more affordable plans. However, this will mean that the major responsibility for maintaining your website will fall on your shoulders. It is important therefore that you have the necessary time and expertise available to ensure that your website is properly managed. If you have limited knowledge of the web industry, it is a good option to consider a managed hosting plan. This will provide you with access to the expertise necessary to manage your website.

What Are the Benefits of a Managed Hosting Plan?

There are several benefits to a managed hosting plan. Perhaps the most important is the aspect of security. On a managed plan, the responsibility for protecting your server becomes the responsibility of your hosting provider. An advantage is that because they are well versed with the latest threats and technology, often you can benefit from getting good quality protection. With a reputable hosting provider, a team of IT professionals that will be assigned to manage and maintain your website. This means that you get to benefit from their knowledge and expertise. Your site is less likely to be accessed by spyware and viruses because it is constantly being monitored. If any threats or glitches do occur, they can be quickly addressed and repaired before any major damage is done to your website. In addition, because professionals are allocated to manage your website, there is less chance of server downtime occurring due to novice errors on your part.

In a managed hosting plan, the professionals have that responsibility. If you run your own business then you may have an idea of how difficult it is to keep abreast of technological developments. One of the industries where this is most relevant is with website hosting and security. A great advantage of managed hosting plans is that the responsibility of keeping up with industry developments is the hosting provider's responsibility and not yours. This means that you can focus on running and growing your business without having to worry about if your website is secure and operational.

Types of Managed Hosting Plans

Because it is such a diverse industry, there are different options for managed hosting plans. Some hosting providers have comprehensive fully managed plans where they take on the responsibility for maintaining your website on your behalf. If you have limited technical knowledge and expertise, this is probably the best option for you. However, these are generally also the more expensive type of plans because you will be paying for the hosting provider's expertise. If you have some technical knowledge and would like to have more control over your website, you might consider one of the partially managed hosting plans. Typically with these plans, either the general security is managed by the hosting provider and the server maintenance becomes more of your responsibility, or vice versa. The responsibilities can also be divided up according to your level and areas of expertise. While these are typically the more affordable plans, it is important to weigh the value of the time you will spend maintaining your website. If you feel that your time could better be spent driving and growing your business, it may be a better option to go for a fully managed hosting plan.