With the exponential growth of the internet in the past few years, the number of websites has drastically increased. That means that having a website of your own is bound to have immense competition when it comes to the technical aspects. You might have a one-of-a-kind website, but if it’s a slow and unresponsive site, then users will immediately stop using it. That’s where the need for a dedicated server comes in.
What is a dedicated server?
Typical website hosting means that you’re sharing resources with other websites. When your site is hosted on a server, it’s placed on a computer with certain specifications, and your site, as well as others, use the resources of that computer – like CPU, memory, and other processes. Because shared hosting has common space, every website that’s hosted has equal access to every resource. The difference with dedicated hosting is that you have exclusive access to the machine for all your needs. You can use that server to host as many – or as few – websites as you prefer. That way the machine doesn’t spend resources on processes that might slow down your own site.
Resource usage
Depending on the size of the website, you might really need to use a dedicated server. Meaning if there are many other websites that use the shared server then you definitely need a dedicated server. But if the shared server limits the number of websites it can host, then a Virtual Private Server (VPS) might prove to be an equally valid option. That means that even though you’d be sharing the resources of a machine with other websites, you’re guaranteed a certain part of the resources will always be available for your site. In the end, it comes down to your websites and what it has to handle.
Search Engine Optimization
If you want your site to be displayed on the top pages of a Google search, then your site definitely has to be fast. The website’s speed is one of the most important factors for it to be shown on Google, and if it’s sharing resources with other sites, then the speed might drop down significantly. Using a dedicated server often means that the number of visitors will increase, especially if the site is designed to work fast.
Security
Sometimes, using a shared server is a security risk, especially if your site will be handling sensitive data like credit card numbers. Using a dedicated server will drastically decrease the security risk.
When do you need a dedicated Server?
If your website is proving to be profitable on shared hosting, then it might be time to switch to a dedicated server. A general rule of thumb is that if your site makes 10 times the cost of the dedicated server, then it’s time to switch. Also, if you can’t afford to be suspended by the host, or if website downtime is out of the question, then a dedicated server is a must, no matter the cost.
A dedicated server can save you a lot of trouble. Excellent services, like the ones offered by Memset, can prove to be exactly what your website needs.
