A type of web hosting is called a dedicated server in which a client has the exclusive use of an entire server.

How to host your site is one of the first decisions you’ll have to make, when you’re starting a new website, blog or app. To host your site there are a few different ways you can choose, shared servers and dedicated servers are two commonly used types of servers. Like its name advises a shared server is shared with other web clients. Your site is the only one that will be hosted on the server, though, with a dedicated server. 

Dedicated vs. shared hosting

Cost    

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       other websites. If you have a dedicated server, it means you have to pay the entire cost to run the server and for hardware upgrades, software and the possibility of staff to maintain the server. You get more options, even costs are higher with a dedicated server.

Bandwidth

Sharing the resources of the physical server, including memory, bandwidth and processing means a server sharing. It may slow down the speed of your site, if another website hosted on the server is generating a lot of traffic. This may not be as big a problem, if your site does not expect a lot of traffic, but this may affect the speed for online shopping, in which your clients can access the pages. All the bandwidth and processing power belongs to your site alone on a dedicated server.

Security

It’s the responsibility of the hosting company to install malware software, firewalls and all server security programs, on a shared server. It’s your responsibility to install the security software and all you want. When you are operating a dedicated server. There is less of a chance of viruses or a security breach from other sites, because you’re the only user on the server.

Tech experience

It is the responsibility of the hosting company to take care of the more technical needs of the server, on a shared server. In order to operate in server administration and management, Dedicated server clients need to have more tech knowledge.

Control

Having all the control is a big advantage of a dedicated server. In a shared server the hosting company has all responsibility and makes the choices for its clients. All the flexibility to choose the programs to give your site the optimal operational performance given to you by a dedicated server.

Pros:

·       Greater flexibility

·       Better security.

·       More reliability.

·       Better performance.

·       High uptime percentage.

·       Unlimited access.

Cons:

·       Increased cost.

·       Requires technical knowledge/experience

·       Not recommended for small businesses or sites with low traffic.

Which is best for you?

What is the best type of server for your needs, you’ll need to understand your business’s budget and operational needs?

A shared server will keep costs down and take care of some of the technical aspects for smaller businesses, but limits your control and may slow down your site.

A dedicated server requires more tech knowledge and will cost more. Nevertheless, to run the server by your way, this flexibility is given to you by it and won’t have your site slowed down by the others hosted on a shared server. The software that it runs on and the server’s technical limitations, you’re able to control your security measures. A dedicated server is the way to go, if you’re planning on generating a lot of web traffic or needing more bandwidth and data.