Web Hosting Reviews & Ratings

February 12, 2009

What to Look for in Managed Hosting

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.

Tags: server administration,  security updates,  Managed Hosting,  firewall,  Dedicated Servers,  database management,  anti-malware,  web hosting market