If you settled on using a virtual private server (VPS) for your next web project, then you’ve made a winning decision! There are several reasons that make VPS hosting come out on top when compared to the other two primary web hosting types, namely shared hosting and dedicated server hosting.
We’re not going to talk much about the advantages of virtual servers in this post, assuming you already have a pretty good understanding of those. What we will try to do is give you some general guidelines to keep in mind as you embark on a quest to track down the best VPS provider for you. So, let’s get down to the nitty-gritty, shall we?!
Operating System
One of the main attractions of VPS hosting for developers in particular is that you get to decide which specific operating system you want to run on the server. You don’t have this luxury with shared hosting where the provider will make that decision instead.
You first have to determine whether you should look for Linux or Windows VPS. This is an easy choice; unless your website or app uses a software that requires a Windows OS, just go with Linux. Not only does a Linux VPS cost less, it is also more widely supported and you can do a lot more with it compared to the limited uses of Windows virtual machines.
There are several Linux server distributions out there including free and commercial ones. The software you intend to install on your server may dictate the use of a certain operating system. For example, cPanel only works with a few Linux distros; CentOS, AlmaLinux, Ubuntu and CloudLinux.
With a self-managed VPS server, you can usually install any operating system you want. However, managed plans may only offer certain OS options, so make sure that the exact OS version you need is available before you proceed with your order.
Infrastructure
Have you ever wondered why a VPS plan with 1 CPU core and 2 GB RAM costs $10 at one place and $30 at another? Well, there are different factors that affect the price tag, and one of those is the type of infrastructure and hardware that is being used to power the servers.
If you choose a service that uses HDD drives, you can save a few bucks on your monthly bill, but it may end up costing you much more in lost revenue due to slow performance of your website. On the other hand, although SSD storage is more costly, most experts would assure you that the investment is totally worth it given the much improved performance you can get out of SSD drives.
Similarly, the type of processor, memory and other devices that make up the physical server can also affect performance and the total price you end up paying for the service.
Security Features
Since you’ll basically be building a whole new server when you buy a VPS, it will require its own security tools and configurations. You may get some network-level security features out of the box, such as firewalls and DDoS protection, but those won’t be enough to protect your website from many other software vulnerabilities.
One of the first things you have to do is harden the security of your web server software, and there are several recommended steps you can follow to achieve that goal depending on the exact web server you are using. If your VPS is managed by your hosting company, they should assist you with that.
But there is still more you can do to achieve tighter security, especially if you are running a small business website that handles sensitive customer data. You should look into installing an advanced security tool that has real-time threat scanning and prevention features.
A full-scale server security suite like Imunify360 can offer different layers of protection for your website at a reasonable cost. Many providers offer this tool as an add-on option, and some even include a free license with their plans.
Scaling Process
In this age of viral marketing, you have to be prepared for the possibility of your website’s traffic unexpectedly shooting up at any moment. And when that happens, the last thing you’d want is to sit waiting for days in order for the host to upgrade your plan’s resources to handle the increased server load.
Traditional VPS solutions may offer limited scalability where you can usually only move up or down between different preset plans. On the other hand, cloud server solutions allow for instant and infinite scaling. That’s one of the main reasons why the top VPS hosts choose to take advantage of the high flexibility of cloud server technology.
A cloud VPS server will allow you to scale your computational resources up and down on demand. This can either be done by a simple click of a button or you may have the option to enable auto-scaling (within predefined limits). And the best part about it is that you will only be charged for the resources utilized within any given month (or any other billing term available), which in the long run can save your business a decent sum of money.
Software Installation
It takes a skilled Linux user to properly install any kind of software on a fresh VPS server. In case you don’t have such knowledge, you definitely need a managed plan with full technical support service.
Some providers only support installation and configuration of standard software (e.g. OS, web server, control panel, and such), while others would happily go the extra mile in helping you install and customize any third-party software your project requires.
Another useful feature you may want to look for is automatic deployment of server templates or stacks. These can save you a lot of time since it only takes one click to install any of the apps or software templates that are offered.
Uptime Guarantee
The reliability of any web hosting company largely hinges on their ability to keep their servers up and running 100% of the time, or at least as close to that as possible. Now, as a general rule with VPS hosting, the provider’s primary responsibility is to ensure that the hardware and network connectivity remain fully operational and in good condition around the clock.
More likely than not, any downtime you will experience down the road will be software related rather than hardware or network related. This can be more tricky because it may be more difficult to identify the cause of the problem before a fix can be applied. For the most part, a standard uptime guarantee does not cover any downtime caused by software glitches.
Advanced support services — e.g. those including proactive monitoring — can help identify and resolve issues with your server and/or applications before they become noticeable, and this may get you closer to enjoying a perfect uptime record. It is important that you read and understand the uptime guarantee terms and conditions because these can dramatically vary from one company to another.
