There are various factors that go into a successful website. One of the most important is your website host, and more specifically, your hosting plan. This is because choosing the wrong host can impact speed, reliability, and security.
Virtual Private Server (VPS) hosting is just one solution among many, but it’s a good choice for many medium-to-high traffic websites. Its structure helps you to get the best of both shared and dedicated hosting, and it has its own unique benefits too.
In this article, you’ll learn about VPS WordPress hosting and which websites will benefit most from this option. You’ll also learn about how VPS compares to other popular hosting options – including shared, cloud, and dedicated hosting. Let’s get started!
What Is VPS WordPress Hosting?
VPS hosting uses virtual partitions of a dedicated physical server, meaning it’s a shared solution. However, the difference is you have an actual area of the server that’s your own. Unlike shared hosting though, you’ll usually have full access at an Operating System level.
Why Choose VPS WordPress Hosting? Who Needs It?
As with any hosting option, there are strengths and drawbacks associated with VPS for WordPress, and certain websites will benefit more than others. Let’s look more closely at the pros and cons so you can make the right decision for your specific needs.
Pros
1. Increased Speed
The fact is, the longer it takes your website to load, the more visitors you lose to your competitors. This is why you must determine whether your current hosting setup is enough for the number of monthly visitors you have.
One of the major pros of VPS hosting is the dedicated resources (i.e. RAM, vCPU, and network bandwidth) you receive. These resources – unused by other websites on the server (unlike shared hosting) – help your website run more smoothly and with greater speed.
Best of all, VPS hosting enables you to upgrade your resources when the need arises. For example, if you suddenly receive a spike in monthly visits, you can increase the bandwidth your website receives (for an additional cost, of course). The fact that VPS hosting better enables you to keep up with your website’s speed needs is especially beneficial for User Experience (UX).
2. Improved Security
Another major benefit of VPS hosting is improved security. To understand the full extent of this, it’s first important to understand how VPS servers divvy up the server for each user.
On each VPS server is software called a ‘hypervisor’. It’s responsible for separating each area of the server and protecting against any resource crossover. As such, it acts as a security gate that protects each individual area of the server from malware or malicious attacks.
Of course, it’s possible for the hypervisor to be breached. However, this is much rarer than if you were using a shared hosting environment, and additional methods exist to protect your hypervisor even further.
Cons
1. Improper Resource Allocation
As mentioned, VPS servers are partitioned physical servers. However, this means resources could be apportioned unequally.
When you choose a reliable hosting provider, this will be less of an issue. Sometimes though, a host may oversell their space, which means the resources are running at peak levels. This is (of course) more of an issue with your host, but can still affect your site’s speed, storage, and reliability.
2. Cost
While choosing the best option is important, there’s no doubt that cost must also be considered. For websites happy to consider shared hosting, the cost of a VPS can be prohibitive.
However, this is significantly less than a dedicated server, and there’s typically room for growth and scalability (i.e. you’ll only pay for what you need). This is good news for websites that are still experiencing a steady growth in traffic.
VPS Hosting or Cloud Hosting?
Of course, shared and VPS hosting aren’t the only options. Another is cloud hosting – an option that’s quickly growing in popularity.
In short, cloud hosting involves a grouping of servers that connect virtually to support one website, much like a Content Delivery Network (CDN). It’s greatest benefits include scalability and stability. As such, cloud hosting can be a great solution for large businesses and corporations.
When comparing VPS and cloud hosting directly, there are two factors to help you make your decision. First, the number of visitors your website receives on a monthly basis. Second, the variability of monthly traffic. If you have moderate visitors on a steady basis, a VPS is likely the best option. On the other hand, cloud hosting is a good choice for high numbers of visitors, or websites with less predictable monthly traffic.
VPS or Dedicated?
Unlike cloud hosting, dedicated hosting involves the use of just one server. However, this also differs from VPS, as that one server is used by just one website and not split into multiple sections.
For websites with a large number of monthly visitors and steady growth, a dedicated hosting plan can be the most cost-effective choice. However, if you’re unsure of your needs, you can always speak with a hosting professional to learn more.
Why WP Engine VPS Hosting for WordPress?
Selecting your host is just as important as choosing the right hosting plan for your website. That’s why we recommend WP Engine. As a WordPress-focused provider, we’re experts on WordPress websites and their unique needs. VPS is just one of our various hosting options, and we offer the best in speed, service, and technology.
With WP Engine, you have no need to worry about the back end details associated with running a successful website. Instead, your site is monitored and managed by trained hosting professionals. You can then shift your focus to more important issues – such as producing quality content and running your business – and leave all the technical aspects to WP Engine.
Are you ready to learn more? Check out our managed hosting plans!