Shared Vs Cloud Vs Dedicated – Web Hosting Pros and Cons

Choosing a web host means putting your trust in a provider to keep your site up and running smoothly. A quick look at web hosting pros and cons can help you to decide which is the best solution for you. And as a business owner it is important that your site is always online and working properly. If your server goes down, so does your website, which leads to loss of sales and revenue and loss of trust.

This is why various types of hosting solutions are available for different hosting needs. Defining your needs and understanding which solution is best for you, is the first step.

Web Hosting Pros And Cons - A closer look

A smaller website will require fewer resources including disk space and bandwidth. A larger website with more traffic, on the other hand, will require more resources to function properly.

Most IT providers offer a range of hosting solutions to suit every stage or size of your business.

What is Shared hosting?

Shared web hosting is very true to its name. All users share the available resources with other users. Each user has an allotted amount of resources they can use.

This hosting approach is easy because the host provides you with a full administration system and takes care of all the hosting system functionality-- update, security, maintenance, backups, software installation, etc.

Shared hosting - Pros:

• Ease of use - Shared hosting provides a simple and effective solution that adapts to your needs.
• Pricing structure - It’s cheap and affordable, good for startups and small businesses.
• Security - Your website would be more vulnerable to hackers if you use shared hosting. This is because if a hacker gains access to a shared hosting account, it is much easier for them to gain access to other websites.

Shared hosting - Cons

• CPU usage - Companies in shared hosting often share CPUs. And as your business grows, website traffic, data storage and transfer needs increase, the required bandwidth and power is unavailable.
• Lack of customization - Installing unique applications and modules isn’t always possible. If these applications are required for the day-to-day running of your website and scripts, shared hosting becomes a liability rather than an advantage due to the lack of customization options.

What is Dedicated hosting?

Dedicated hosting is when you have a full server that belongs to you. Whether it’s rented or purchased, none of the resources are shared, they are all dedicated to your website. This is called root access. For websites that generate a lot of traffic and need a lot of resources, this form of hosting is a good solution.

Dedicated hosting - Pros

• Optimal performance - You are completely isolated from servers because you have your own sources.
• Advanced security - All of the security features for the hosting server are available for dedicated hosting customers. Your database and file system are private, secure, and inaccessible to other clients, regardless of their server rights.

Dedicated hosting - Cons

• Expensive - Dedicated hosting is the most costly form of hosting. But if you want high efficiency, the extra expense is worth it.
• Control - While getting your own server up to speed is convenient, there is a risk of making mistakes, such as deleting important data.

What is Cloud hosting?

Cloud hosting balances the load and maximizes uptime by using several different servers. Your website will tap into a ‘cluster' that uses resources from a consolidated pool instead of using a single server. This implies that another kicks in to keep things going even though one server fails.

With cloud hosting, you get a part of the so-called cloud cluster. As opposed to traditional web hosting, where you get a certain amount of space from a single server.

Cloud hosting - Pros

• Backup and disaster recovery - Redundant data storage means that the risks of losing your data are slim.
• High availability - Cloud hosting is built to be "self-healing.” It makes use of a network of interconnected servers that automatically compensate for any downed servers.
• Scalability and flexibility - It has enhanced tech flexibility. Leading service providers streamline their cloud server hosting scaling process to allow clients to respond to varying demands remotely.

Cloud hosting - Cons

• Vulnerability to cyber-attacks - Hacking, data breaches, and cyberattacks are all serious risks that must be taken seriously. Not all cloud providers, particularly those that allow a wide range of customers can guarantee adequate security.
• Network connection dependency - To take advantage of cloud computing, the organization must always be linked to the internet. You might encounter some downtime if your network connection is lost due to a storm or outage.
• Loss of control - In cloud hosting, you're entrusting the protection of your data to a third party. You're depending on them to handle their data centers and servers with the same, if not greater, care that you would. Some people are worried about the server's lack of in-house power.

Shared VS. Cloud VS. Dedicated Hosting

• Pricing - With shared hosting, the price is cheaper because the resources are shared. Dedicated and cloud housing are expensive but they come with tons of added features and benefits.
• Uptime. Shared hosting has limitations but can still guarantee 99% uptime. While cloud and dedicated have top-notch uptime.
• Security - Shared hosting does mean your website is more vulnerable to cyber attacks. Since it’s shared, it’s easier to access. Cloud and dedicated hosting services provide users with access to control to safeguard their data and privacy.
• Scalability - Scalability is easier in the cloud as well as dedicated hosting. With shared hosting, since it is not yours, you can’t raise the bandwidth or capacity on the server.
• Support - Customer and technical support are limited, since shared hosting is shared.
• Speed - Shared hosting often lacks speed, compared to the cloud and dedicated hosting, where speed tends to be under 3 seconds.
• SEO - Cloud hosting and dedicated hosting is better than shared hosting for better search rankings.

What's the best host service for a small business?

Choosing the best cloud service for a small business is not an easy decision, and it will be based on your business needs. Depending on your business requirements you may start with a shared hosting plan and then move to a dedicated option. Other businesses will require a dedicated hosting service from the beginning.

Read our Cloud Guide for a closer look at your cloud options.

If you don't have the time or the resources and need an expert, contact our IT team. We advise a range of businesses on the best solutions. Get the right solution from the beginning, it can save a lot of time and money in the long run.

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