Managed vs Traditional Hosting:
What's Best for Your Business?
By Will Boone
Technical Director, PathSix Solutions
In the digital economy, a company's website is often its primary storefront. Just as a physical business requires a reliable building and utilities to operate, a website requires a server to function.
However, the terminology surrounding web hosting can be opaque to the non-technical business owner. The choice between managed hosting and traditional hosting is not merely a technical decision; it is a financial and operational one.
Understanding the difference can save a business thousands of dollars in lost productivity and countless hours of frustration.
Traditional Hosting: The "Do It Yourself" Model
Traditional hosting (Shared Hosting or Unmanaged VPS) is the raw material of the internet. You are essentially renting a plot of digital land. The hosting provider ensures the server has power and an internet connection, but everything inside is your responsibility.
The Empty Warehouse
Traditional hosting is like renting an empty warehouse. The landlord guarantees the roof won't leak, but if you want to build an office inside, install security cameras, or fix a broken lock, you must do it yourself.
While the sticker price is low, it assumes the customer possesses the expertise of a System Administrator. The user is often given "root access" to a Linux command line and expected to handle everything manually.
The Hidden Costs
Security Risks
In an unmanaged environment, no one is watching the gate. Malicious actors constantly scan for unpatched servers. A single breach can lead to data theft or ransomware.
Downtime & Reliability
When an unmanaged server crashes, it stays down until you fix it. Every minute of downtime is a minute where potential customers cannot reach the business.
Time Allocation
For a business, time is money. If an employee spends ten hours a month troubleshooting the server, the cost of their labor must be added to the hosting bill.
Managed Hosting: The "Service" Model
Managed hosting shifts the technical burden from the customer to the provider. In this model, the hosting company manages the infrastructure, the operating system, and the security of the server.
Checking into a Hotel
You get the space you need, but housekeeping, security, and maintenance are all included. If the air conditioning breaks, you call the front desk, and they fix it.
What Managed Hosting Includes:
- ✓Automated Backups: Ensuring that if data is lost, it can be restored quickly.
- ✓Security Updates: Automatically patching software to protect against new threats.
- ✓Performance Optimization: Configuring architecture to ensure the website loads quickly.
Comparative Analysis
Conclusion
For a technology company with a dedicated IT department, traditional hosting offers a level of control that may be desirable. However, for the vast majority of Small to Mid-sized Enterprises (SMEs), the goal is to run a business, not a server farm.
By choosing managed hosting, a business is not just buying server space; they are buying a partnership. They are securing peace of mind, ensuring uptime, and freeing their internal resources to focus on their primary mission.
Switch to Managed Hosting