Increased Availability

Several business owners are experts in their respective field, but lack the technical savvy needed to maintain a web server and keep their site up and running.  Despite this, they still do not want to take the risk of incurring significant periods of downtime, which could easily happen if problems are not addressed and resolved in a timely manner.  Some businesses choose managed hosting for these reasons alone.  With a team of dedicated experts on your side, you can better assure that any problems that arise will be immediately addressed as they occur.

Dedicated Hosting Alternative

Businesses with high traffic websites or more demanding needs typically require a dedicated server as it can provide flexibility, performance and reliability that surpasses the normal shared hosting service.  In most cases, a managed hosting service provides dedicated server hardware, which means you enjoy the same benefits.  Because a dedicated server is considerably more complex to maintain than a hosting account on a shared server, some users are unable to manage it on their own accord.  This is mainly because a dedicated server often calls for you to work with more than just a control panel interface.  Most businesses would much prefer to spend their time focusing on the core of the business rather than trying to figure out how to manage a complicated web server.  These companies are perfectly suited for a managed hosting arrangement.

Easier to Manage

With most services, the day–to-day administrative tasks associated with running a website is not included in a managed hosting plan.  It normally only pertains to maintaining the server and its related processes, not the actual website itself.  The good thing is that technology has evolved to the point where managing a website can be relatively easy for the most inexperienced of users.  However, some managed hosting services do offer general website maintenance.  This option is often an add-on to the hosting plan that will cost you something, but is usually cheaper than paying an outside firm or full-time website administrator.  Businesses with limited knowledge or those that simply just do not want to deal with website maintenance often find this to be a valuable addition.

Conclusion

Businesses choose managed hosting for numerous reasons and many times it all boils down to administration.  Managing an entire web server or even a website can be very challenging so passing the burden on to someone who is more capable of handling it is only practical.

While managed hosting can be a very expensive option, it can also make an ideal solution by helping an organization save time, do away with stress, and obtain a great value for their money.

Lingering Disadvantages

While colocation is advantageous in many ways, there are also potential drawbacks as well.  In the typical arrangement, you provide the hardware and are then responsible for managing every aspect of it.  This also means that you have to set everything up initially, making sure your systems are running efficiently and protected from security threats.  You need to perform the necessary maintenance to ensure your server sees the maximum availability and that all your systems and the software they contain are up to date.  As you have probably imagined, this can be very challenging and time consuming as well.  However, it is vital in order to make sure your mission critical operations remain efficient and secure.  If you are not equipped to handle these responsibilities, you could be putting your customers and the business itself at risk.

The hard truth is that any organization that lacks the necessary IT resources is taking a huge gamble by running their business through colocation hosting.   Without the right level of expertise at your disposal, this type of service could end up being more trouble than it is worth.  Even the promise of unmatched scalability, security, reliability and all colocation has to offer, it could easily leave you at a disadvantage if you enter this environment unprepared.  There is however, a happy medium – managed hosting.

Why Managed Hosting?

Managed hosting is a service that aims to bridge the gap by offering the flexibility of colocaiton and ease of use of traditional web hosting.  It allows you to retain a significant amount of control over your server, but you lease the hardware and the host sets it up and maintains it for you.  They generally provide the server configured to your specifications, handle monitoring, security provisioning, and keep the system up to date.  Several hosting providers offer fully managed services in addition to 24/7 technical support, essentially freeing you up to focus on the core aspects of your business.  If you are not quite ready for colocation but normal web hosting just won’t do, managed hosting could turn out to be the perfect alternative.

By opting for managed hosting, you can alleviate much of the risk associated with colocation all while enjoying a similar level of freedom, security and reliability.  This solution has taken the hosting world by storm and become an increasingly popular choice among the SMB segment.

Know What to Look For

Before you begin your search for managed hosting, it is important that you know what to look for.  The actual features and services will depend on the situation and the needs of your business, but you certainly want to keep an eye out for must-haves such as quality customer service, technical support and regular data backups.  At the same time, you must ensure that the firm’s top priority is managed hosting.  This is should not be merely something the company offers on the side, but a field they specialize in and know inside and out.  If not, there is no way they will be able to make your IT requirements their top priority.

Follow Through on the Evaluation Process

After discovering what a particular host has to offer, you should then do your homework and take a look into their credentials.  This can actually be done in numerous ways, including checking with the BBB (Better Business Bureau), reading managed hosting reviews and simply gathering feedback from other businesses that are familiar with the service.  It may also be a good idea to find out if the company offers some sort of evaluation period.  This will allow you to give the service a try to determine if the service is up to par with your expectations and requirements.  If it is not, then you will know then that there is no reason to continue service with the host following the evaluation period.  It also gives you an opportunity to find a company that is better suited for your needs instead of remaining in a no-win situation.

Never Settle for Less

You will find that deciding whether or not to lease service from a particular managed hosting firm is much easier after conducting a thorough evaluation.  In the end, only you understand what your business truly requires to be successful.  Because the requirements of one company differs from the next, it is vital to make sure you sign up with a provider that can deliver everything you need.  This is a very important factor as some providers will try to offer every feature and service on the menu instead of focusing on the essentials, which can really send the cost soaring.  You may want to look for a company that permits you to build a custom package that is designed to suit the needs of your business to a tee.  Rest assured that are many suitors on the market so if one provider cannot deliver, keep on and continue the search until you find another that can.

]]> http://webhostingrating.com/articles/2009/10/how-to-evaluate-a-managed-hosting-provider/feed/ 0 http://webhostingrating.com/articles/2009/09/benefitting-from-fully-managed-hosting/ http://webhostingrating.com/articles/2009/09/benefitting-from-fully-managed-hosting/#comments Mon, 28 Sep 2009 17:22:19 +0000 CommunicateBetter http://webhostingrating.com/articles/?p=574 Information Technology has become the crutch for the modern day business owner.  These days, the business that lacks a strong IT base and web presence will have a very difficult time remaining in existence.  The major hurdle is that unless your company is well versed in the IT field, keeping up with the intricacies of web servers and networking can be next to impossible.  Unfortunately, an alarming number of companies find themselves spending a lot of money trying to maintain a full fledged IT operation in-house.  After exhausting budgets on equipment and staff, many find that entire process is often more trouble than it is actually worth.  There is an alternative to the complexities of in-house set ups and that solution is known as fully managed hosting.

What is Fully Managed Hosting?

Fully managed hosting is a type of arrangement that gives you the opportunity to outsource your IT needs to a professional staff of trained experts.  The mere structure of the service allows your IT team to free up the time needed to focus on the core aspects of the business.  In some organizations, it may eliminate the need for an IT department altogether.  Although such a service is not exactly cheap to obtain, many businesses find it well worth the price as it helps them save tremendously over the long run in comparison to establishing and maintaining the same environment in-house.

How Fully Managed Hosting Works

When contracting a service provider for a fully managed hosting solution, you are typically provided with daily administration and maintenance of your IT infrastructure.  This may include web servers, web applications and database servers among other vital components.  All of the data that would normally be stored in-house is transferred to the provider’s servers, which has a few advantages in its own right.  If you are dealing with a reputable firm, you can rest assured of a solution that is up to date with the latest advancements in web technology and information security.  Since you no longer have to spend money investing in and maintaining new technology, your business will be able to scale much easier as it grows and technology continues to evolve.  Fully managed hosting is one of the best ways to help your company reach its fully potential.

This type of managed hosting also gives you a tremendous advantage from a support aspect.  A reputable provider will make sure you can reach its support staff 24/7 to deal with any problems that may arise at any given time.  In addition to this, you generally get the benefit of around the clock monitoring to ensure that if issues do crop up, they will not go undetected for long.  The extensive support features alone are enough for many companies to consider a managed hosting service.

Grasping the Invaluable Benefits

Fully managed hosting is ideal for companies of various sizes, especially those that are small but growing at a steady rate.  The benefits are plentiful, but perhaps the greatest attribute to these services is the peace of mind they offer.  When opting for a managed hosting provider that is capable of handing all of your IT needs, you can rest comfortably by knowing things will be taken care of without having to endure an internal disaster.

]]> http://webhostingrating.com/articles/2009/09/benefitting-from-fully-managed-hosting/feed/ 0 http://webhostingrating.com/articles/2009/08/what-can-i-get-from-a-managed-hosting-provider/ http://webhostingrating.com/articles/2009/08/what-can-i-get-from-a-managed-hosting-provider/#comments Wed, 12 Aug 2009 17:52:55 +0000 CommunicateBetter http://webhostingrating.com/articles/?p=506 If you are truly looking for ways to increase the exposure and opportunities for your company, then moving your business online would be a wise decision.  However, after getting established, you may come to discover that maintaining a credible web presence is a complex and challenging undertaking, especially once your needs span beyond a sharing hosting plan or dedicated server.

Many businesses faced with these challenges turn to managed hosting as it continuously proves to be a viable solution.

The Basics of Managed Hosting

In general, managed hosting is best suited for businesses that do not have the capital, physical resources or time to invest in a dedicated server.  When signing on for such an arrangement, the basic services typically include:

- High-quality server hardware

- Hardware installation and setup

- Network connectivity

- End-to-end network administration

- 24/7 network monitoring

- 24/7 Technical Support and Customer Service

For the most part, managed hosting describes a dedicated server equipped with extended features and support.  This type of package often provides you with all the features offered by a dedicated hosting provider, including the hardware, your choice of operating system, routing equipment, an internet connection and complete administrative authority.  This control is enabled by advanced control panel technology that allows even the inexperienced user to easily maintain their website on the server.  The biggest difference is that rather than leaving you alone to deal with all the administrative tasks, a managed hosting provider typically handles these processes as well.  An arrangement such as this can free up a lot of your time to focus on other key aspects of the business and making sure it runs efficiently.

Managed Services and Support

The key benefit of managed hosting is that you can often select from a wide variety of features and services according to the needs of your business.  Many service providers will allow you to customize a package with additional options that include:

- Database administration

- Web application management

- Firewall configuration and management

- Load balancing

- High availability services

The most reputable managed hosting companies will back up their services with respectable uptime guarantees and SLAs to ensure the utmost reliability.  When considering that you are outsourcing your mission-critical business operations to someone else and could be paying a lot more than a dedicated server package, you should expect and accept nothing less.

Conclusion

A dedicated server can provide you with complete control over server administration with freedoms and flexibility you just can’t get in a shared web hosting arrangement.  With these luxuries comes a great deal of responsibility and complexities many organizations are not equipped to deal with.  If this sounds like your situation, managed hosting is a solution you need to give careful consideration.  In many cases, you can downgrade to a package with fewer managed services as your requirements change.  However, after reaping all the benefits that managed hosting has to offer, you may decide that there is no need to make any adjustments to your plan.

]]> http://webhostingrating.com/articles/2009/08/what-can-i-get-from-a-managed-hosting-provider/feed/ 1 http://webhostingrating.com/articles/2009/05/forming-a-partnership-with-your-managed-service-provider/ http://webhostingrating.com/articles/2009/05/forming-a-partnership-with-your-managed-service-provider/#comments Fri, 22 May 2009 16:50:29 +0000 CommunicateBetter http://webhostingrating.com/articles/?p=372 For most small to medium sized businesses, managing their IT hosting infrastructure in-house is difficult, if not impossible.  Hosting a web server and all the elements that come along with it is a demanding task.  In many cases, one much larger than what your existing IT team can handle.  This is when you have to consider bringing in a new workforce to maintain the complex hosting operations.  In both scenarios, the company often ends up on the losing end as they either must shell out extra cash on additional manpower or overload the current staff with more work on top of their normal responsibilities.  Many organizations are faced with these internal dilemmas and several more are discovering that managed hosting is the most viable alternative.

Lifting the Weight

From the moment you outsource your IT tasks to a managed service provider, most of the responsibility shifts to the hosting company.  This basically means that it is up to them to perform all the operations needed to ensure that the network as well as your server stays and running.  Outsourcing these aspects also gives you the opportunity to save tremendously on upfront investments.  In this type of arrangement, you don’t necessarily need your own equipment and systems in order to establish a web presence.  A managed hosting solution allows you to leverage the provider’s infrastructure complete with all the hardware and software components you need to run your business.  With the right service, you can rest assured that all the necessary methods are being employed to ensure availability throughout various circumstances while doing your part from the client-side.

Who Benefits the Most?

Large enterprises typically do not outsource all their hosting and other IT-related operations to a single provider.  Since they have deeper resources, many of them can efficiently run streamlined in-house setups or simply outsource these tasks to a variety of third-party sources.  This is why managed hosting makes such a good choice for the small to medium sized business which may not have quite enough to handle the technically challenging aspects of their organization.

Managed hosting is easy to afford and with little to no complexities to deal with, you can put your focus on other areas of your business.  However, it is these companies that must also be the most cautious when it comes to choosing a service provider.

Get Yourself a Good Partner

Managed hosting can be a match made in heaven but only when choosing a company that strives for high reliability and great performance.  These qualities can be more difficult to obtain than they should be in a market filled with fly-by-night companies, deceptive marketing ploys and providers who simply can’t live up to their claims.  Because there is so much that goes into managed hosting in terms of your specific requirements, it is vital that you perform thorough market research and find a company you feel comfortable outsourcing your IT operations to.   While there are several reliable hosting providers on the market, strategy and planning is needed in order to elude some of the more common disasters.

Systemwide Updates

There is a lot that goes on behind the scenes of a managed hosting service and software is a major part of the entire operation.  The network can’t run efficiently without frequent updates of critical system components.  This includes every piece of software from the operating system and web server to SQL database servers and PHP packages.  Maintaining software alone can be a full time job that many organizations just can’t handle in-house.  Always remember, this is why managed hosting companies exists.

Reliable Security

Web servers are prime targets for hackers looking to steal sensitive information and expose prominent corporate networks.  The web is filled with a plethora of malicious traffic so it is vital that your provider has security mechanisms in place to detect intrusion, prevent attacks and preserve network resources.  A few security features you want to look for in a managed hosting solution are firewalls, intrusion detection systems, anti-malware and DDoS protection technologies.  Your hosting provider must be dedicated to staying on top of security and keeping your server protected.

Backup and Recovery

You should never enter a managed hosting arrangement without knowing what measures are being used to protect your data.  Anything can go wrong in a data center whether it’s a corrupt operating system, hardware failure or a power outage.  Therefore, finding a host that performs daily backups of its servers is highly recommended.  Equally important are the methods employed to ensure a successful recovery following a disaster.  Backup servers, uninterruptible power supplies and generators should all be a part of the hosting provider’s recovery plan.

Network Monitoring

Even the most high-powered network needs a set of extra eyes.  While all the other systems are doing their job, it is important to have that central monitoring unit to keep  watch over the operation.  This separate system should have dedicated lines or the aid of a trusted third-party source.  Network monitoring is critical to the life of your dedicated server because it can alert administrators about issues related to overloads, server failures, lost connections, network intrusion, malware infection and more.

Don’t Settle for Less

Managed hosting is tied to a number of complicated operations that the average customer wants no part of.   Though most companies are able to provide a good service, you should never expect absolute perfection from every host, especially without checking them out first.  Manage hosting is supposed to let you focus on other critical business aspects, but it could lead to more stress if you’re not careful.

]]> http://webhostingrating.com/articles/2009/05/is-your-managed-provider-getting-the-job-done/feed/ 0 http://webhostingrating.com/articles/2009/02/what-to-look-for-in-managed-hosting/ http://webhostingrating.com/articles/2009/02/what-to-look-for-in-managed-hosting/#comments Thu, 12 Feb 2009 19:03:02 +0000 CommunicateBetter http://webhostingrating.com/articles/?p=270 Managed hosting is a relatively new concept that has emerged on the web hosting market.  This type of service is intended to support the needs of customers who require dedicated servers.  Many have come to discover that maintaining a dedicated server is technically challenging, requiring intensive server administration, database management and security updates.  With managed hosting, customers are alleviated from these tasks while enjoying all the flexibility and power a dedicated server has to offer.

Determining whether you need managed hosting all depends on understanding if your needs warrant a dedicated server.  For example, if your site is small and receives minimal traffic, a shared hosting environment would probably suit your needs best.  However, if you have a large site that sees a high volume of traffic that is exceeding critical resources, that shared server probably is not enough to handle the load.  In this scenario, a dedicated server makes the perfect solution.

If managed hosting sounds like something you could benefit from, it is important to know what to look for so that you receive best service possible.

Quality Support

Whether you opt for dedicated or managed hosting, finding a company that provides reliable support is a must.  We suggest choosing a company that offers various means of support such as toll-free phone, email, support ticket and live chat.  To get a feel for the company’s support, shoot them an email and test their response time.  If you get a quick response that provides satisfactory answers, it should give an indication of the overall level of service the host offers.

Freedom

Although you want a web hosting company to manage the complex administrative tasks, it is still good to have a certain level of control over your operation.  To enjoy this type of freedom, you would need to find a company that allows you to choose from a variety of features and services.  For example, if you feel the server should be protected by a firewall, anti-malware and other security solutions, the web host you choose should be able to accommodate those needs.

Stable Connection

In order to enjoy exceptional performance on a dedicated server, you need a managed host that delivers a reliable internet connection.  If this information isn’t published on the website, call the provider and get some details about their method of connectivity.  It is best to choose a company that utilizes multiple backbone providers so you can stay thriving if one connection happens to fail.

Finding a Host

Due to the demand, managed hosting has become easier to find as more companies are offering the service.  Just as when looking for any type of service, it is recommended to do your research and read a few web hosting reviews.  Be sure to look for feedback from customers and experts as well.  You will find that managed hosting is usually offered in predefined packages or on a per item basis.  A predefined plan typically includes the dedicated server along with specific management features.  With the per-item basis, you get to mix and match the services that will serve the most benefit.

Report all Problems

Even when minor service issues arise, always alert the provider of what’s going on.  If they are failing to meet the needs of your business in any way, let them know in a polite yet firm manner.  Although problems do occur every now and then, the provider may not be aware that anything is wrong.  By letting your voice be heard, you can better assure that all issues will be addressed in a timely fashion.

Test Their Response Time

The best way to learn how a provider will act in crunch time is to put them through the ringer with a few tests.  Send an email or give them a call every now and then with questions or comments.  If you find that a company isn’t helpful or doesn’t respond at all, its definitely a sign that you need to move on to a new service.

Get on Their Good Side

Forming a close relationship with a support team member is never a bad idea.  This could be a technician, sales representative or another employee you have easy access to.  After finding someone you are comfortable with, ask them if they would be willing to become your regular contact for resolving any issues that appear.  If one person doesn’t agree, move on to the next until you find someone willing to help out.  The faster problems are resolved, the quicker you can stop worrying about them and get back to business.

Purchase a Short-term Contract

This is a great leverage move that will increase your likelihood of receiving top notch service.  For obvious reasons, a managed hosting provider would much rather lock you into a long-term agreement and may even offer incentives to encourage the act.  When signing on for a short-term contract over a 12 or 18 month period, the company is likely to view your service needs as a priority, especially when your renewal date approaches.

Purchase a Per-item Plan

Predefined packages are good for some business but useless for a company that doesn’t require those additional services.  This is an easy way to keep the relationship with your provider on good terms as they can concentrate on specific tasks that will benefit your company while other key essentials can be handled in-house.

Get a New Provider

Just as with any relationship, there is no point in putting effort into a host that has no chance of working out for you.  If all your efforts of establishing a solid, trusting partnership with the provider falls through, count your losses and look into moving to another host.  Staying in an unhealthy relationship will only hurt your business in the long run.

The Faces of Managed Hosting

The scenario above pretty much describes your shared web hosting account, an arrangement where several customers share a single server and all its resources at one time.  With shared hosting, the provider handles all the technical aspects behind the scenes.  Dedicated hosting is the alternative, a service which is most often used to described managed hosting.  With a dedicated server, you essentially have the entire machine all to yourself.  In most cases, you have enough disk space and bandwidth to host multiple sites and generally have a greater level of control over the server itself, the aspect that distinguishes it the most from shared hosting.  While there are different types of shared and dedicated plans such as VPS and reseller accounts, all of them are basically just different variations of managed hosting.

Colocation

Colocation however, is in a completely different arena.  With this arrangement, you purchase your own server, network equipment, software and all other needed elements needed to run your online business.  Though it shares similarities with the managed dedicated server environment, you are responsible for setting up the hardware and configuring the software.  A colocation host commonly does note provide these components, and often, they do not dictate what can or cannot be purchased, leaving you free to choose the items best suited for your needs.  After getting the equipment together, it is installed in the provider’s data facility, a task the company often assists with.  You get an adequate power supply for the equipment, multiple IP addresses dedicated to your business and an uplink that enables your network equipment to be connected to the internet.  A reliable colocation provider runs a tight infrastructure, keeping their data center staffed 24/7 with redundant systems to prevent overheating, theft or damage and keep the operation going in case of a power failure.  Most companies offer basic support but you are primarily responsible for keeping up the hardware and your applications.  Because of this, you are typically allowed 24-hour access to make upgrades and repairs whenever they are needed.

In short, the colocation host provides you with a facility to store your equipment, which they are responsible for maintaining.  Their job is to make sure the physical storage, power and bandwidth you are provided is not compromised.

Managed hosting is a great option for an individual or company that needs to rely on a web host.  Colocation can be viewed as do it yourself hosting as you are essentially your own provider, simply “co-locating” your operation to someone else’s data center.  This solution is designed for those who have outgrown a shared or dedicated server yet aren’t equipped to host their online business from the home or office.