If you are looking for a dedicated hosting service, you can pick between managed or unmanaged dedicated server hosting. While both options offer dedicated resources, the differences between the two can have a significant impact on your business’s online presence and customer experience.
What is a Dedicated Server?
Consider dedicated servers, like having your very own computer just for your website or online business. This means you have full control over the server’s settings and can customize it however you need to fit your specific business requirements. You also get the flexibility to monitor the server’s performance, data protection, and other important characteristics.
What are Unmanaged Dedicated Servers?
An unmanaged dedicated server means the hosting company is only responsible for the hardware infrastructure.
- Tasks like installing scripts, managing updates, and maintaining data security are left to the user.
- Suitable for companies with experienced system administrators who want complete control over server configuration, software installation, and security measures.
- Using an unmanaged dedicated server gives businesses flexibility and control to manage their operations efficiently.
Pros Of An Unmanaged Dedicated Server
Here are a few pros of using an unmanaged dedicated web hosting service for your business:
- Control: You have full control over how it’s managed and administered. You can pick the operating system that works best for your needs and deploy any applications and services you require.
- Cost: Unmanaged plans are less expensive than managed plans, which is great for small businesses that are on a budget.
Cons Of Unmanaged Dedicated Server
Here are a few cons of using an unmanaged dedicated web hosting service for your business:
- Administration overhead: You have the responsibility for maintaining and securing both the server and applications. This requires expertise to set up the control panels correctly and ensure they are properly secured against threats from unauthorized access, data breaches, and malicious attacks.
- More Effort: Since you have to handle most of the management tasks for your website, you need to put more effort and time.
Managed Dedicated servers
Managed server hosting services take care of all server administration responsibilities for you.
- The hosting provider’s team of experts monitors, configures, and maintains the servers on your behalf.
- Managed hosting plans offer the highest level of security, including malware detection, DDoS protection, and automated data backups.
- Managed hosting solutions are beneficial for companies that run multi-user apps, databases, SaaS, virtualization, resellers, high traffic sites, and multiple websites.
- A managed dedicated server is an ideal solution for large e-commerce websites with lots of traffic that require high-performance servers that are both reliable and secure.
Pros Of Managed Hosting
Here are a few pros of using a managed dedicated web hosting service for your business:
- Easy-to-use: With a managed server plan, the hosting company handles the management of the web servers and applications, so you don’t have to put much effort.
- Automatic Maintenance: With managed hosting, the hosting provider executes all the critical tasks like data backup, security, and recovery.
- Support: Managed hosting plans come with priority support from the hosting provider. If you ever experience any issues or need advice on how to best use your server, you can easily get the help you need.
Cons Of Managed Hosting
Here are a few cons of using a managed dedicated web hosting service for your business:
- Less Control: The hosting provider takes care of all the management tasks for you. While this can be really convenient, it also means that you might have less control over how your resources are being managed.
- Poor Deployment Features: Some hosting providers may impose limitations on the applications or plugins that can be installed on the server, as well as specific configuration options that are available.
Key Differences Between Unmanaged and Managed Dedicated Servers
Here are the key differences you need to know:
Managed servers:
- Hosting company takes care of all technical aspects from software installation to hardware and network management
- Expensive but allows focus on key tasks
- Support provided by hosting company when required
- Managed dedicated server plan suitable for high-volume e-commerce websites
Unmanaged servers:
- Complete control over server
- Requires technical knowledge for effective management
- Software installation, configuration, security, and maintenance is your responsibility
- Less expensive but requires skilled technicians
- Unmanaged dedicated server plan suitable for startups to save costs and have complete control over server setup and configuration
Ultimately, the crucial difference between managed, and unmanaged servers is the level of technical support and control offered. So, before deciding on a server plan, weigh your needs and technical capabilities.
Which hosting should you choose?
When it comes to picking between an unmanaged or managed dedicated server hosting solution, it all comes down to your technical expertise, needs, and budget. If you have the technical know-how and resources, an unmanaged, dedicated server could be the best option for you. This type of server offers greater control and customization at a lower cost, making it ideal for businesses that need to run custom software or require specific hardware configurations.
If you lack the technical expertise or resources, a managed dedicated server may be a better choice. The hosting company takes care of all the support and maintenance, which can save businesses time and money. Companies that rely on being online, like e-commerce stores or applications that are essential to their operations, should use managed servers for optimal performance and reliability.
Hence, it’s crucial carefully to assess your needs and technical capabilities before selecting a server plan.
Our Recommendations
We highly recommend checking out Nexcess, Kinsta, Flywheel, WP Engine, Scala Web Hosting, GreenGeeks, Cloudways, Ionos, and FastComet Hosting if you’re looking for top-notch unmanaged or managed dedicated server hosting services. We’ve analyzed thousands of reviews from experts and customers on these services to conclude these providers offer excellent hosting solutions to meet your needs.
Conclusion
Unmanaged dedicated servers require technical expertise and resources to manage server administration tasks, while managed dedicated servers are fully supported by the hosting company and more expensive. Managed plans provide convenience and support, while unmanaged plans offer more control but require more expertise and administration. After extensive use of both the types, we recommend unmanaged hosting for technically sound businesses with custom needs, but if you are just starting out, going with a managed hosting plan is an excellent choice.
