When you build a website, there are several aesthetic and functional questions you will need to answer. A major decision is the server you will host your website on. Many beginner websites are hosted on a shared server. With time, they may migrate these to a dedicated server. Let’s look at some reasons shared hosting might be right for you.
What Is a Shared Server?
For your website to be seen on the Internet, it must be stored on a computer known as a server. Shared hosting, as is implied by the name, is one server that has several websites stored on it. Sometimes, there may be thousands of different websites on a shared server.
A shared server is less expensive than a dedicated server. You may find a suitable hosting plan for under $10 a month. Since people new to hosting use a shared server, they have been designed to be easy to use. Therefore, they are the most popular hosting plan on the Internet.
Who Uses a Shared Server?
While there are several established websites that use shared hosting, a shared server is usually the best option for someone who is just getting their start. Many small businesses, hobbyists, and bloggers use a shared server. A shared server is not an excellent option if you have a large website that has tons of images and data that needs to be stored. It is not a good option if you receive an extensive amount of traffic because since you are sharing resources, another person’s website might put a drain on resources, rendering your website inoperable.
Three Common Pain Points of Shared Servers
For all of its benefits, there are some downsides to shared hosting. According to a Liquid Web blog post on the topic,” shared servers are the cheapest solutions as they provide the least performance, security, and flexibility.” Here are the three most common problems in those areas.
- At peak times, download speeds are inconsistent, and your website may have high downtimes. If a customer visits your site and it is not up or it is slow to load, you may lose a customer.
- Security is a major issue with shared hosting. Shared web servers are prone to hacking. Malicious activity on other websites on the same server might negatively affect the entire server.
- Lack of customization. With a shared server, you cannot install the software. Some applications that you may want to utilize for your website may not be available unless they are offered by the web host provider.
What Is the Need for a Shared Server?
A dedicated server will be the best option for someone who has an established business, gets thousands of visits to their site per month, and perhaps operates an e-commerce business. With a dedicated server, you will have complete control over the server, the hardware installed on the server, and the software. You don’t have to be concerned about your neighbors because you don’t have any.
It’s the difference between owning a home and renting an apartment. Shared servers are great for websites that don’t have heavy demand. They are perfect for people who are not interested in learning the technical ins and outs of hosting but who want their website to work.
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Dedicated hosting is for people who are serious about making a success of their business and want complete control over their hosting environment. Shared hosting is the preferred option for those just starting out or some small businesses.
