Dedicated Managed Web Hosting
Managed web hosting is hosting that is maintained by the dedicated server’s staff, rather than the customer. Customers may find it extremely advantageous to choose managed servers instead of unmanaged ones, to protect their data from a number of threats. It is important to keep in mind that managed servers can be managed fully or partially. The following are some aspects to note and questions to ask, prior to selecting a specific dedicated managed hosting plan.
As we mentioned, managed servers can have some or all of their features managed. Here is a list of what can be managed for your server: operating system updates and fixes, application updates and monitoring, server monitoring and security (intrusion prevention and detection, protection from Trojans and worms, antivirus updates, firewall check-ups), backups, backup restoration, software configuration, and database administration. The monthly fee for the managed server will largely depend on the number of managed features.
Some of the managed aspects are more important than others. One of the most essential features is data backup. In the age of new technologies, data has become more valuable than anything else. Anyone’s server is likely to carry some of their most valuable data, such as texts, images, videos, databases, etc. Losing all or a part of this data can become truly devastating for any business or individual. Therefore, data backups are essential for most servers. Managed data backups will help you have a peace of mind in regard to your valuable hosted data. The staff will routinely backup your data and store it in a safe place in case something happens to the server’s software or hardware. The backup can be used to restore your server (website, database, etc.) to its earlier state.
The second important aspect is the server’s security. Knowing that your server security is managed by professionals can give you additional peace of mind. The staff would run all the necessary programs to prevent and detect any potentially harmful intruders like hackers and spammers. They would also update your antivirus to save your computer from Trojans, worms, egg-drops (Internet Relay Chat bots), and other threats. Thus, both, your site and your computer would be protected from malicious people and bots.
Finally, some hosts will offer database administration. Here is what this option may feature: database installation, design assistance, objects creation, security reviews, maintenance, connectivity, troubleshooting, patch management, user account management, tuning recommendations, restore from backups, and health checks.
As you can see, dedicated managed hosting can make anyone’s life a little easier. However, it is important to note that managed services typically come as costly add-ons. Therefore, you need to decide which features of your hosting would be feasible to have managed by professionals, and which would be best to manage yourself for free. Today, dedicated hosting providers offer any combinations of services, so you can have any type of a personalized arrangement that would suit your needs best.