Managed Hosting
What is managed hosting?
Managed hosting is a type of web hosting that provides managed services to its customers. It’s usually considered the best option for website owners and businesses who don't have the resources to manage their own websites or the skillset to do so.
A managed hosting service provider will take care of all aspects of website operations, from setup and configuration to security and maintenance. This service allows customers to focus on their core business, while the managed hosting provider takes care of the technical aspects of keeping their site and applications up and running.
Some other names for managed hosting include:
Dedicated servers
Manage dedicated hosting
Single tenant hosting
What does managed hosting include?
A managed hosting provider should take care of:
Sever setup and configuration
The hosting provider sets up and configures the server according to the customer's needs, including software installations and initial settings.
Security management
This includes regular security updates, patch management, firewall configuration, malware scanning, intrusion detection and backups to protect against online cyber threats.
Performance monitoring and optimization
Continuous monitoring of server performance, including CPU usage, memory and disk space, for optimal speed and reliability. Providers, such as Wix, may also offer caching, content delivery network (CDN) integration and database optimization.
Technical support
24/7 technical support is often available to address any issues, handle troubleshooting and provide assistance for server management tasks.
Regular and auto backups
Automated backups of data and files to prevent data loss and ensure quick recovery in case of failures or disasters.
Software updates and patching
Regular updates and patches for the operating system, server software and applications to ensure everything runs smoothly and securely.
Scalability
Providers often offer scalable hosting resources, allowing businesses to easily upgrade their hosting plans as they grow without significant downtime or hassle.
This is why managed hosting is ideal for businesses and individuals who want reliable hosting without needing the expertise to manage it themselves.
Benefits of managed hosting
Managed hosting offers a range of advantages for website creators and business owners looking to host a website. These include increased performance, scalability and ongoing support. It also provides enhanced security by managing firewalls and access control policies specific to the customer’s website.
Managed hosting simplifies the process of setting up hosting services for a website, ensuring that all aspects of hosting are connected and managed in one place. This is especially beneficial for websites that require specific software applications or services to be installed, set up and maintained. It’s also beneficial in terms of scalability and support, since managed hosting providers can quickly provide expert assistance when needed.
When you create a website with Wix, every site comes with free and managed hosting, delivering high uptime and complete reliability for your website and business. Another example of a managed hosting provider is AWS or Google.
Here's a summary of the main benefits of managed hosting:
Automatic updates and maintenance
Virus and spam controls
24/7 support and secure monitoring
Network management
Auto backups
Sever-side security, including web application firewalls, SSL protocols, VPN, PCI compliance, DDOS protections
The differences between managed and unmanaged hosting
The main difference between managed and unmanaged hosting is the level of control that customers have over their website operations. With managed hosting, all aspects of website operations are managed by the provider, while with unmanaged hosting customers are responsible for managing every aspect of their website.
Managed hosting offers a range of features and services that are not always available with unmanaged hosting. These include managed firewalls, access control policies and managing software applications. Managed hosting also provides scalability and support options such as auto backups and database management.
In comparison, unmanaged hosting requires customers to have some degree of technical expertise in order to manage the various aspects of their website. This makes managed hosting a great solution for those who want to focus on running their business while relying on hosting services to manage website hosting and applications.
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The similarities between managed and unmanaged hosting
Despite their differences, managed and unmanaged hosting both provide a reliable platform for website operations. In both cases, customers are able to access their websites from anywhere in the world with an internet connection. Both managed and unmanaged hosting also provide customers with managed security protocols such as SSL certificates and server monitoring.
Managed hosting vs shared hosting
Managed hosting is similar to shared hosting in terms of the underlying technology and infrastructure. Both are hosted on shared servers managed by a web host provider. The main difference is that managed hosting provides customers with additional managed services such as firewalls, software applications and backups.
Managed hosting vs dedicated hosting
Managed hosting offers users a fully managed service—from software applications and security, to backup and more—none of which the website owner needs to worry about. Dedicated hosting, on the other hand, provides customers with complete control over their server environment. With full root access, they’ll need some technical understanding of hosting to install and manage these aspects on their own.
Managed hosting vs cloud hosting
The main benefit of cloud hosting is that it enables customers to scale their website operations on demand in order to accommodate changes and growth. This demand could come from website traffic and increased sales on an online store, or increased global pressure on a server. Cloud hosting services are typically managed hosting solutions—Wix’s cloud hosting is an example of this.
Best managed hosting providers
Wix: A cloud-based platform that provides website building tools and managed hosting services for small businesses and individuals.
Kinsta: A managed hosting provider that offers fast and reliable hosting services with 24/7 support.
Liquid Web: A managed hosting provider that offers a wide range of hosting services including VPS, dedicated and cloud hosting.
Read also: Web hosting costs, Domain hosting vs web hosting
Managed hosting FAQ
Is technical expertise necessary when it comes to choosing managed hosting for my website?
No, you don't need extensive technical knowledge to use managed hosting. The hosting provider's technical team handles server management, so you can focus on your website or application.
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