December 31 2021

What is a Dedicated Server?

Discovering the definition and what a Dedicated Server is and why you should have one.

Dedicated Server

A dedicated server is a type of web hosting where a customer has exclusive use of an entire server.

When starting a new website, blog or app, one of the first decisions you need to make is how to host your site. While there are several ways you can choose to host your site, two commonly used types of servers are shared servers and Dedicated Servers. A shared server, as the name suggests, is shared with other web clients. With a dedicated server, however, your site is the only one that will be hosted on the server.

Just like many other new site owners, you probably opted for shared hosting when you first launched your website.

After all, it's the cheapest option, and budget matters. However, as your website grows, it's important to know when to move to something more substantial. There are many options and you may have thought, that what is a dedicated server and why do i need it?

The answer lies in the reasons and motivations you would like to update in the first place. For example, you may be dealing with an immediate increase in traffic or expecting growth in the near future. THE Dedicated Servers are ideal for this, along with their powerful advanced security features and potential positive impact on page load times.

Below are some factors to consider when considering a dedicated server and comparing the two types.

Dedicated hosting vs. shared hosting

There are some differences between dedicated and shared hosting. Here are some points to consider when deciding which one is right for your business.

Cost

A dedicated server is a physical server entirely dedicated to the needs of a single company or a single customer. This means that the customer has access to all server resources, such as RAM, hard drive and bandwidth, and can install any software or application they wish. A dedicated server offers high performance and high availability, but it is also the most expensive type of hosting.

Conversely, shared hosting is a type of hosting where multiple websites share the resources of a single server. This means that each site has access to only a fraction of the server's resources, such as RAM and bandwidth. Shared hosting is cheaper than dedicated hosting, but performance is usually lower and the level of availability can vary.

Bandwidth

The difference in bandwidth between a dedicated server and shared hosting depends on how server resources are shared between hosted sites.

In a dedicated server, the customer has access to all the bandwidth of the server. This means that the customer can use all the bandwidth available to his site, without having to share it with other sites. This way, the customer can ensure good site loading speed and high availability.

In shared hosting, however, multiple sites share server resources, including bandwidth. This means that each site has access to only a portion of the server's bandwidth, and that the site's loading speed can vary depending on the traffic generated by other sites hosted on the server. Furthermore, if one of the sites hosted on the server generates a lot of traffic, it could consume a significant part of the available bandwidth, reducing the site's performance.

Safety

The security of a dedicated server can be considered superior to that of shared hosting for several reasons.

First, in a dedicated server the customer has full control over the operating system, installed applications and security configurations. This means that the customer can customize the server to ensure adequate protection against external attacks and ensure data security.

Furthermore, in a dedicated server the customer is the only user of the server, which means that there is no risk that other sites hosted on the server could compromise the security of your site. If one of the sites hosted on the shared hosting gets compromised, there is a risk that this could also impact the security of the other sites hosted on the server.

Technical experience

As with security, on a shared server it is the hosting company's responsibility to take care of the more technical needs of the server. The clients Dedicated Servers they must have more technical knowledge to operate in the administration and management of servers.

Control and customization

The biggest benefit of a dedicated server is that you are in control. Ultimately, with a shared server, the hosting company bears all the responsibilities and makes the choices for its customers. A dedicated server gives you the flexibility to choose programs to give your site the optimum operational performance.

A dedicated server is a server that is leased to a customer and used exclusively by him. This means that the customer has full control of the server and can customize and tune it as he sees fit, adapting it to his specific needs.

Conversely, in a shared hosting service, several customers share the same server and do not have the possibility to customize or tune it ad hoc. This means that all customers of the shared hosting service must adapt to the server's default configurations and settings, which cannot be changed.

Pros and Cons of Dedicated Server Hosting

To summarize the points above, let us list these pros and cons of using Dedicated Servers.

Professionals:

  • High percentage of uptime.
  • Better performance.
  • More reliability.
  • Better security.
  • More flexibility.
  • Unlimited access.

Against:

  • Cost increased.
  • Not recommended for small businesses or low traffic sites.
  • Requires technical knowledge / experience.

Which is the best for you?

When it comes to making an informed decision about which type of server is best for your needs, you need to know your company's budget and operational needs.

For small businesses, a shared server will keep costs down and take care of some technicalities, but it will limit your control and may slow down your site.

A dedicated server will cost more and will require more technical knowledge. However, it gives you the flexibility to run the server your way and won't slow your site down from others hosted on a shared server. You are able to control your security measures, the software it runs on and the technical limitations of the server. If you are going to generate a lot of web traffic or need more data and bandwidth, a dedicated server is the way to go.

If you are uncertain about which type of hosting to choose for your website, a dedicated server or shared hosting, do not hesitate to contact us! We are hosting experts and will be happy to help you evaluate your specific needs and find the most suitable hosting solution for your business. A dedicated server offers high performance and dedicated bandwidth, but can be more expensive than shared hosting. Conversely, shared hosting is cheaper, but performance may be lower and bandwidth is shared with other sites. If you want to guarantee the best performance for your site and ensure the safety of your data, a dedicated server could be the best choice. If, on the other hand, you are looking for a cheaper hosting solution, shared hosting could be the most suitable choice. No matter what your needs are, we are here to help you find the most suitable hosting solution for your business. Contact us today for more information!

 

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