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If you are currently engaged in any facet of
ecommerce, even service sectors, a website
makes up a great deal of your business.
Therefore, it is a safe assumption that you pay
for hosting your website in some fashion. If
you do not already have a dedicated server,
perhaps you should revisit the decision for the
best hosting options for your business.
What is a Dedicated
Server?
Most web hosting companies set up accounts
or on a shared server. You essentially share
the total hard drive and bandwidth allowance
with many others. This may not be the best
hosting option and can present many problems
such as security and traffic bottlenecks. On a
dedicated server, the server is completely
yours, and there are not other websites
utilizing the same machine. The server is
dedicated completely to you and your
business.
Advantages of a Dedicated
Server
Several advantages can make a dedicated
server the best hosting choice for you. These
include:
Server Security –Dedicated
servers increase the security of your website
tremendously. There are no other webmasters
using the same workspace, and simple mistakes
or user error that might occur due to shared
machines simply no longer existent.
Storage Space – As the
entire server is dedicated to a single
customer, there is tremendously more storage
space available for website pages, images, and
features.
Data Transfer – As with
storage space, there is a great deal more
bandwidth available for data transfer. Traffic
to your site no longer competes with traffic
for other websites reducing bottlenecks and
slow server response time.
Control Panel – Having your
own server offers additional opportunities for
control. Sharing a server indicates that you
have only limited control of server features
and functions, but with a dedicated server,
webmasters have greater control and access to
the day-to-day functions of the host.
Software Options –
Dedicated servers also allow more software and
script options. The server has greater storage
capacity for this information, and there is no
need to align coding or features with other
users of the same machine.
Disadvantages of a Dedicated
Server
The sole disadvantage of a dedicated server
is the cost. It is only logical that obtaining
an entire server versus a piece of a shared
server would be more expensive, but the rate
often makes webmasters baulk. It is important
to consider the fee as related to the total
cost of shared server space when determining if
a dedicated server is the best hosting option
for you business, despite cost. A single credit
card safety incident or an exorbitant bill for
bandwidth overage should level the playing
field almost immediately.
Am I ready for a Dedicated
Server? Websites grow at different
rates, but as the success of a business grows,
so does the need for additional hosting
capacity. If you are approaching the limits of
your current hosting company or have concerns
about safety, such as storing credit card
information on the same server as others or
simply if your current company is the best
hosting company for your needs, it is
definitely time for a dedicated server.
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