The Guide to Managed Hosting

Although managed hosting could describe the service offered by a shared host, it mainly pertains to a variety of management services supplied to a dedicated server customer. The type of services ranges widely between different providers but you can generally expect three standard levels: full management, standard management and self management.

Full Management

In this arrangement, the managed host relieves you of all the tasks associated with maintaining your website. This includes administering, updating and monitoring the server, software installations and upgrades, etc. Full management usually comes with numerous service options such as around-the-clock technical support via phone and email.

Standard Management

A company that offers standard management generally provides server administering, updating and monitoring, but some level of service may not come as quickly or as often as a full managed arrangement. Service options may also be limited, mainly technical support. In this scenario, you might be referred to online self-help resources or required to pay for additional support.

Self Management

Self management essentially describes the underlying concept of a dedicated server with little to no managed support. This type of plan calls for you to have a high level of technical expertise in order to maintain the operation. The provider may offer a few services, but you are generally required for software installations, configurations and other associated tasks. Technical support is often limited or provided at an additional cost.

The Benefits of Managed Hosting

Assuming that the provider is responsible for handling the majority of the hosting service, the biggest advantage of managed hosting is the high level of service. As the customer does not have to worry about installing software and maintaining the server, they are left free to focus on promotions and the core of the business. Over time, this solution can result in tremendous cost saving for small to medium sized businesses. Similar to dedicated hosting, you are required to pay a much higher price up front, costs which are attributed to the installation, deployment and maintenance of the server and its associated components. Savings can be enjoyed as the company is likely to spend less capital on repairs and IT staff.

Another benefit of managed hosting is the high level of technical support that is available. Similar to shared host, the managed provider offers a physically secured infrastructure consisting of state of the art servers, backup power sources, climate controls, constant monitoring, security mechanisms, increased bandwidth and reliable uptime guarantees. With all that goes into the process, it would be relatively expensive and demanding for most businesses to duplicate this kind of data center on its own grounds.

Conclusion

The managed hosting service is the most popular form of web hosting today. As businesses continue to grow, they are experiencing high volumes of traffic and deploying demanding web-based services. While there are many advantages, not all businesses are equipped or need to use a managed hosting service. The large company however, is able to find relief from what would otherwise be a number of expensive and complex tasks.

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