What Is VPS Hosting and How Can It Help Grow Your Online Business?

If you’re a business owner thinking about setting up a website online, you must already be dealing with too much on your plate. And one area that should get your undivided attention is choosing the type of hosting plan to go for.

Today, you have multiple server plan options to choose from, such as Dedicated, Shared, VPS, or Cloud Hosting. The web hosting market is predicted to see a sharp rise in revenue, expected to reach $344.97 billion by 2028:

Source

Given so many options, the decision to choose a hosting server can seem a little (or too) convoluted.

In this guide, we’ll explore VPS hosting and the middle ground between shared and dedicated hosting. We’ll explore its intricacies, benefits, and how it can help propel your online business forward. Let’s dive in!

What Is VPS Hosting?

Virtual Private Server (VPS) hosting is a type of web hosting service that leverages virtualization technology to provide dedicated (read: private) resources on one server for multiple users.
To put it simply, within a VPS setup, multiple VPS instances coexist on a single physical server, each with an isolated environment and dedicated resources (think CPU, RAM, and storage).
This isolation ensures your website’s performance remains stable and unaffected by the activities of other websites on the server, as is often the case with shared hosting.

Six Types of VPS Hosting

Different web hosting servers exist to allow users to customize their server in varying capacities, such as pricing, uptime, page load time, and so on.

Let’s now look at the different types of VPS hosting available at your disposal:

How Does VPS Hosting Work?

A server is like a computer that stores all the files and data for your website. When someone wants to visit your site, their browser asks the server for the files, which are then sent over the internet.

The real question is: Where does VPS hosting fit into this?

VPS hosting gives you a virtual server that acts like a physical one, but it’s shared among multiple users. Using virtualization technology, your hosting provider divides the server into parts—much like creating different sections on your computer to run multiple operating systems.

The magic of VPS hosting lies in the fact that it allows each user to have their own operating system and software. This “private” setup is what gets you into the driver’s seat and empowers you with full control over your website.

Who Should Go for VPS Hosting?

When it comes to a hosting solution, there’s no “one-size-fits-all” strategy that works. This means that different websites may need a different hosting server—it all depends on the kind of security your website needs, the amount of traffic it gets, and so on.

That said, if your online business is just picking up momentum, you’re at the sweet spot of leveraging VPS server benefits. Here’s a quick walk-through of who should prioritize VPS hosting:

• Website owners who have outgrown their resources on shared hosting plans
• Users who want more control over their website
• Ecommerce website owners who need a secure payment process with a stable and fast environment
• Websites that store sensitive customer data
• Websites that deal with seasonal traffic spikes, such as ticket-selling sites, event planning, and so on
• Game servers, such as those for Minecraft, Ark: Survival Evolved, and Rust, along with other resource-intensive websites that optimized performance
• Online business owners who want to set up a customized hosting environment

7 Benefits of VPS Hosting for Your Growing Website

VPS hosting has emerged as a go-to choice for scaling businesses since it combines the best features of shared and dedicated hosting. Here are 7 VPS server benefits you must know about before you invest in a VPS plan:

Benefit #1: VPS Hosting Is More Secure and Stable than Shared Hosting

You’ll never truly grasp the benefits of VPS hosting if you don’t compare it with its counterparts.

In shared hosting, you don’t get a dedicated server, whereas in VPS hosting, you do. This means your website is isolated from other sites on the same server. So, if other websites are suffering from high traffic, security breaches, or resource overutilization, your website won’t be affected.

Additionally, since resources are dedicated to your VPS, you have more control over your server environment, resulting in a stable, high-performing browsing experience for visitors.

Benefit #2: VPS Hosting Is Cheaper than Renting a Dedicated Server

Getting a dedicated server is great if you have the budget and high-level website footfall. Otherwise, for websites with moderate-level traffic, VPS hosting is a great choice.

Here’s why – Having a VPS means your website is in a secure space with dedicated resources (like memory and CPU) that you don’t share with others. You get the same access as with a dedicated server but at a lower cost.

Benefit #3: VPS Hosting Guarantees Minimal Fluctuation for Resources

Let’s say you have a fitness website on a shared server. Your website helps users to track their fitness progress. Customers can also log workouts, track meals, and monitor weight.

Imagine if your website suddenly crashes and customers are unable to log their calorie consumption and track their calories burned, even for a day. This can hinder their progress analysis and leave a poor impression.

That’s the problem with shared hosting. The resources can fluctuate depending on the activity of other websites on the same server. If you upgrade to VPS hosting, you’ll be allocated specific resources that are reserved just for you.

Even if other websites on the same physical server are experiencing high traffic, your website’s performance will remain stable and consistent, branding it as more reliable and offering premium quality services.

Benefit #4: VPS Hosting Gives You Root Access to Your Server

We’ve spoken at length about how VPS hosting gives you 100% control over your virtual server. An integral part of this is getting root access, which allows you to customize the server environment to suit your needs.

You can:

• Install and configure software such as a Content Management System, database tool, etc.
• Manage the security settings to protect your data and applications
• Fine-tune server settings to boost performance
• Allocate resources more efficiently
• Implement caching mechanisms to improve website speed and responsiveness

All in all, root access arms you with the flexibility and freedom to set up a custom hosting environment—something not possible with shared hosting.

Benefit #5: VPS Hosting Ensures Better Privacy

Imagine you have a wedding photography portfolio website where you showcase your work to potential clients. Each photo represents hours of your effort and creativity. If your website is using shared hosting, your website’s data is being stored on a server shared with other websites. This setup can potentially expose your high-resolution images and videos to theft and lower customer trust for good.

You can eliminate these shortcomings by upgrading to VPS hosting, where your website gets its own virtual server partitioned from other users. Your photos are stored in a dedicated, isolated environment, providing a higher level of privacy and security.

Since each VPS is isolated from others on the same physical server, the chances of someone accessing your data become next to zero. More importantly, VPS hosting allows you to add security measures to your server, such as firewalls, security patches, and encryption, to protect your data further.

Benefit #6: VPS Hosting Offers Scalability

Imagine you run a small online store selling handmade jewelry. For the majority of the year, your website runs smoothly on a shared hosting plan. But come the holiday season, traffic spikes can cause your website to crash. With slow loading times, your customers will become frustrated, and you’ll lose out on sales.

This is where VPS hosting can be a game-changer. With VPS, you can easily scale up your resources to meet the increased demand during busy periods like the holidays, flash sales like Black Friday sales, or unintended traffic from a viral post.

That’s not all. You can always scale down to your regular resources and avoid unnecessary costs during off season. Remember, many VPS hosting providers offer flexible pricing plans, so you only pay for the resources you use and don’t need to dent your bottom line.

Benefit #7: VPS Hosting Allows You to Install Your Preferred OS

Let’s look at another scenario where VPS hosting is helpful. Tech-savvy website owners who have a preference for a specific OS will find VPS hosting right in their alley.

Say you’re a software developer working on a project that requires a specific operating system (OS) environment to run smoothly. You’ve just completed developing your application on a Linux-based OS. Now, you want to deploy it on a server that supports this OS for optimal performance.

With VPS hosting, you have the freedom to choose and install your preferred Linux distribution on your virtual server. In other words, you can select the exact version and configuration that your application requires and improve compatibility as well as performance.

For example, you can choose from three Crazy Domains’ Linux VPS hosting plans, which offer a range of the latest Linux distributions, such as CentOS, Ubuntu, and Debian. These plans provide dedicated resources for your server, ensuring that your application runs smoothly and reliably 24x7x365.

Four Challenges of VPS Hosting to Be Mindful Of

VPS hosting is not one without a few challenges that you should be aware of. These include:

1.  Higher Cost

VPS hosting is more expensive than shared hosting as you’re paying for dedicated resources. While the increased performance and control justify the cost, it is a barrier for those with shoestring budgets.

2.  Steeper Learning Curve

Setting up a VPS requires more technical knowledge compared to shared hosting. If you don’t have a technical background, you may find the initial setup challenging. This not only affects the setup process but also ongoing management and troubleshooting.

3.  Demanding Server Management

Managing a VPS is more technically demanding than shared or cloud hosting plans. Whether it’s server updates, security patches, or performance optimization, you need to have a foundational understanding of these concepts.

4.  Security Gaps

If you don’t maintain your server’s security or, worse, configure it inaccurately, you’re putting your website at risk. A few best practices to embrace include not using weak passwords, never skimping on applying security patches, or misconfiguring firewall settings. As effort-intensive as it may sound, regularly updating your VPS is key.

5 Tips to Choose a VPS Hosting Provider

Finally, below are a few tried-and-tested tips on how to choose a relevant VPS hosting service provider easily:

1.  Assess Your Needs

Figure out your website’s space and speed requirements to match the provider’s offerings effectively. This will help you choose a VPS hosting plan that aligns perfectly with your website’s performance and storage needs.

2.  Check Provider Reliability

Look for a provider that promises 24×7 online availability and fast loading time to keep your site accessible to visitors. Check out online reviews, testimonials, word-of-mouth reviews, etc. to get well-rounded feedback.

Also, make sure you research the provider’s uptime guarantee and server performance metrics to ensure reliability and performance consistency.

3.  Prioritize Scalability

Find a provider that offers scalable VPS hosting plans to ensure your website stays responsive with higher traffic. Also, ensure the provider allows easy scalability. This will allow you to upgrade resources as your website grows without disruptions.

4.  Check for Security Features

Prioritize providers that offer security features such as firewalls and protection from cyber-attacks to keep your website safe from online threats. And make sure the provider implements regular security updates and maintains industry-standard security practices to safeguard your data and ensure continuous protection against evolving cyber threats.

5.  Compare Prices and Support

Check different providers’ prices to find one that fits your budget. Also, make sure they offer good customer support in case you need help with your site.

Additionally, make sure you always choose a VPS hosting provider that aligns with your specific needs and business goals. This ensures a seamless hosting experience and supports the growth of your online presence effectively.

Give Customers the Best Browsing Experience with Crazy Domains VPS Hosting

Every website’s DNA is as unique as the owner who creates it. Whether you own a small eCommerce store, a personal blog, or a corporate website, your website is your digital identity.

And like every other digital asset, you need to ensure you’re doing everything in your power to maintain performance, speed, and a seamless user experience. This is where VPS hosting comes into the big picture.

Truth be told, the success of your website depends on the hosting solution you choose. At Crazy Domains, we offer custom VPS servers as well as VPS hosting services for Windows and Linux. Whether you want to build your own custom server with unique specifications in the cloud or want a feature-rich Windows VPS hosting with supersonic speed and control, we deliver on all accounts.

Our powerful VPS hosting solutions cater to businesses of all sizes and scopes. With a focus on performance, reliability, and security, our VPS hosting plans are ideal for websites that require more resources and flexibility than shared hosting can provide.

Whether you’re running a small business website or a large e-commerce store, Crazy Domains’ VPS hosting plans offer the scalability and control you need to grow your online presence.

With features like dedicated resources, customizable server configurations, and 24×7 customer support, VPS hosting doesn’t get better than this. Connect with the team to book a consultation and empower your website with the VPS treatment it deserves.

FAQs

1.  What is VPS hosting?

VPS stands for Virtual Private Server. It’s a type of hosting in which your website has its own space on a server that’s shared with other websites but isolated like a private server. In a VPS setup, you get more control and resources than shared hosting.

2.  How can VPS hosting help grow your online business?

VPS hosting can help grow your online business by:

• Providing more resources and flexibility than shared hosting
• Allowing you to handle more traffic due to seasonal peaks
• Run complex applications that require more resources
• Customize your server to meet your specific business needs

Collectively, these lead to better performance, increased reliability, and improved security—all of which are central to your growing online business.

3.  What are the benefits of VPS hosting over other hosting options?

VPS hosting offers several advantages over other hosting options, such as:

• More control, scalability, and customization options than shared hosting
• Better performance and security compared to shared hosting
• Ability to set up fast, responsive, and secure websites with high uptime
• More cost-effective option than dedicated hosting

4.  Is VPS hosting suitable for all types of online businesses?

VPS hosting is suitable for most types of online businesses, especially those that require more resources and customization options than shared hosting can provide. Some businesses that can benefit the most from this server type include:

• Websites with medium to high-traffic
• Resource-heavy websites such as gaming sites
• E-commerce websites
• Websites expected to experience rapid growth in the near future

5.  Is VPS Hosting good for me?

VPS hosting is an excellent choice for websites experiencing rapid growth. It provides scalability and full control over server resources, resulting in better overall uptime as your server is not shared with other websites.

6.  How does VPS hosting compare to dedicated hosting?

VPS hosting shares physical server hardware with other virtual instances, while dedicated hosting provides exclusive access to the entire server. Dedicated hosting offers more resources and control but is typically more expensive than VPS hosting.

7.  If my website grows, can I upgrade my VPS hosting plan?

Yes, the majority of VPS hosting companies provide scalable plans that make it simple for you to raise your resources as your website’s needs and traffic grow. Customers expect your website to work well year-round, so scalability is actually necessary to keep it quick and responsive as it expands.

8.  What level of technical knowledge is required to manage a VPS hosting server?

Managing a VPS hosting server requires a basic understanding of server administration. While many hosting providers offer managed VPS plans with support for server maintenance tasks, having some technical knowledge is beneficial for customizing your server setup and troubleshooting issues.