While it’s great to have unlimited resources available to you whenever you need them, sometimes you just don’t have the hardware to support whatever demands your site might make. This is a particular pain point for those running resource-intensive applications, like web servers or databases. Having a limited amount of bandwidth to work with can make a huge difference, especially if you’re already paying for higher data transfer rates.
Fortunately, there are options. One of the more prominent ones is hosting on Cloud platforms. Using these services, you avoid paying for hardware you don’t need and don’t use. Instead, you pay for only what you need and use. This makes cloud hosting a cost-effective alternative for sites that don’t require heavy demands on their resources.
why cloud hosting?
Aside from the unlimited bandwidth, the major benefit of hosting on Cloud platforms is that it allows you to deploy and manage your application in the cloud. This makes it much easier to scale up and down as needed. You can spin up new servers and/or change the configuration of existing servers without having to worry about all the extra tasks that come with setting up and maintaining your server on-premise.
This is a significant advantage for developers and business who want to test new features or see how their site performs under different conditions. You can quickly and easily change a few settings to test a new config, or you can spin up a new server and test out the performance of your site on that platform.
On the downside, this type of hosting comes with some significant drawbacks. To ensure you never go beyond your allocated bandwitdh, you need to be sure to purchase a plan with the appropriate amount of bandwidth. This could be problematic if you ever experience outages or slowdowns due to overage charges. In these situations, you could be charged for data that was not actually used.
alternatives to cloud hosting
If you don’t want to use Cloud platforms for hosting, there are alternatives. One of the more affordable options is to purchase dedicated servers from reputable web hosts. These are servers that are specifically designed for web hosting and are equipped with all the necessary hardware to support a robust server environment. You will, of course, have to take care of the hardware and make sure it’s updated with the latest software patch.
Another option is to use virtual servers. As the name suggests, a virtual server is simply a virtual machine that provides you with a pre-configured web server environment. You get the benefit of shared hosting without the need to purchase your own dedicated server. The downside to this solution is that you have to make sure you purchase the right type of virtual server for the type of application you have. If you need to host a database-driven site, for example, you will need a database-optimized virtual server. Otherwise, you could end up with a server that is not capable of handling your demands.
what are the benefits?
Dedicated servers and virtual servers come with various benefits. If you’re looking to run a robust web server on your own hardware, a dedicated server is the better option. These are especially helpful if you need to host a site that’s constantly experiencing traffic spikes or if you want to try out different platforms for your site (like PHP vs. Python vs. Ruby on Rails).
The benefits of shared hosting are more cost-effective in the long term. If you decide to go down this route, make sure to purchase a plan from a reputable web host that offers support via email in case you ever experience any trouble. In this case, you don’t want to be scrambling to fix the problem yourself or relying on problematic customer service to resolve your issue. This is not a scenario you want to find yourself in.
Another significant benefit of shared hosting over dedicated or virtual servers is the amount of freedom you have in choosing the type of environment you want to run your site on. With a dedicated server, you are essentially renting a server from the hosting company and configuring it yourself. Once you’re done, you need to monitor and maintain it on your own. This can be a hassle if you need to make changes.
With a virtual server, you are essentially renting a guest machine from the hosting company. As long as you return it on time, the hosting company will provide you with all the resources you need to run your site. You don’t need to worry about configuring the server yourself or installing additional software. The downside to this solution is that it requires you to have at least basic knowledge of virtualization to set it up correctly (like how to install a virtual machine on your computer or how to connect to a virtual network). This can be a difficult task for those who are not technically inclined.
what are the risks?
Just like with any other form of hosting, there are risks associated with hosted environments. The biggest risk is actually using Cloud platforms. When you’re renting out resources on Cloud platforms, you don’t have direct control over when your server will be turned off or whether or not you will be charged for the resources you use. This could lead to serious problems if you ever experience an outage or temporary slowdown due to overage charges.
Shared hosting comes with its own set of risks. Like most other hosting services, you will have to deal with the occasional slowdown or outage that is caused by problems outside of your control, like excessive or malicious traffic or a power outage. However, the biggest risk is actually losing customers due to unpredictable outages or slow speeds. In these situations, you could lose a lot of money because your cost-per-transaction is higher than your cost-per-month.
The risks of running a database-driven site on your own hardware are similar to those of a regular web server. You need to make sure you have the necessary licenses and backups in place just in case something happens. Another risk is making mistakes that could potentially damage your database or web server. Be careful when installing new software or giving people admin access to your device. If you try something new and it goes wrong, you could lose a lot of data.
do you need a web host to run a website?
When it comes to running a website, you actually do not need a web host. You can use a simple domain registrar with a basic web host to set up a simple website. To run a robust site, you will need a dedicated, or virtual, server from a reputable web host. These are the basic rules for hosting a website.