With a lot of businesses vying to make a mark on digital platforms, jargons like “hosting”, “dedicated server” or “shared servers” keep propping up often. If you feel like these terminologies are confusing, we are here to break it down for you. Read on to know more about dedicated servers, their advantages and disadvantages, and the top cheap dedicated server options available in the market.

What is a Dedicated Server?

First off, let’s begin with the definition of dedicated server. According to Technopedia, “A dedicated server is a remote server that is wholly dedicated to function for an application, individual, or organization.” The server is absolutely exclusive and is not shared with any other application, organization, service, or individual customer.

A dedicated server offers the same functionality as an in-house server but it is owned, managed, and operated by a managed, cloud, or hosting service provider. Even though the banckend carries out the bulk of the work, users can remotely access the dedicated servers through the internet to carry out any server-based activity.

Customers can use a dedicated server to host various services and/or applications, or they can use the server for backup and data storage services. Ideally, a dedicated server is best suited for a website that deals with a heavy influx of traffic.

Pros and Cons of Dedicated Server

If you are wondering whether a dedicated server is best for your business, it is best to weight out the pros and cons before reaching the decision.

Advantages of Dedicated Server

• Due to the availability of a dedicated server, the possibility of a website clogging up the server’s CPU and RAM is drastically reduced
• The website will be highly responsive with maximum uptime since the entire bandwidth will be allocated to the website processes
• Dedicated servers cur down on internet connection, router, network administration, and security system costs.
• Not sharing the server with other websites enhances the security
• Clients can customize the host server environment to meet their requirements
• Unique IP address offers greater security and safety especially for eCommerce websites dealing with transactions over SSL or FTP

Disadvantages of Dedicated Server

• The major drawback of using a dedicated server is the capital investment required to avail the hosting services
• The host provider may charge exorbitant monthly fees for maintenance of the website. Even if you manage the website from your end, you will need to have a dedicated team of technicians, which will not be cheap either
• Dedicated server is not an ideal choice for websites attracting moderate traffic since shared hosting may suffice in such situations
• Lack of physical access to the server means that data protection and backup has to be carried out at the host’s end and you cannot control that
• Unlike shared servers, dedicated servers do not offer add-on features such as free scripts

Top Cheap Dedicated Server Options

Dedicated servers may appear to be a luxury that only megacorporations can afford. However, a number of hosting service providers are offering cheap dedicated server options. The following are the top picsk if you are looking for cheap dedicated servers to host your business website:

InMotion Hosting

InMotion offers highly scalable, felxible, and reliable hosting services.

Pricing and Plans:

InMotion Hosting offers three different monthly plans based on bandwidth, RAM, processor, and storage space. Prices vary from $99.99 to $229.99.

Key Features:

• High reliability as the company boasts of 99.99% uptime
• Offers support for as many as 15 free IP addresses
• The Corero-based multi-layer security protects the website from various online attacks, security breaches, and unexpected network outage

HostGator

HostGator offers premium hosting services especially for WordPress. It offers plans for both, Linux and Windows operating systems.

Pricing and Plans:

The basic plan starts from $79 per month, while the elite plan costs $109 per month, both discounted prices.

Key Features:

• Flexible server settings allow users to customize the configuration as per your needs.
• Clients can choose between SSD and HDD hard drive options according to their convenience
• Users can select from managed and semi-managed hosting options
• User-friendly and superior customer support that is available across various channels at all times

GoDaddy Hosting

GoDaddy needs no introduction considering that it is a leading platform offering hosting and site building services. Like HostGator, GoDaddy offers hosting services for both, Windows and Linux operating systems.

Pricing and Plans:

The economy package costs $69.99 per month for the initial subscription and increases to $169.99 per month on renewal. On the other hand, the Value Plan costs $99.99 per month, the Deluxe Plan costs $109.99 per month, and the Ultimate Plan costs 129.99 per month.

Key Features:

• GoDaddy allows upgrading of servers to accomodate larger traffic without having to re-provision
• Users can enjoy root access to servers where they can customize server systems without seeking administrative permission from the site host
• Windows dedicated servers come equipped with RAID-1, which offers greater data security.

Bluehost

Bluehost offers cloud-based hosting services that support various types of dedicated servers.

Pricing and Plans:

Bluehost offers three plans with a costing ranging from $79.99 to $199.99 per month.

Key Features:

• Bluehost offers servers that are custom-built by expert technicians.
• The Bluehost servers make use of top-notch open source technology that can be easily configured
• Immediate provisioning of website allows the website to be up and running in no time
• The company offers cPanel, which allows users to include additional hosting storage in real-time scenario without the need for administrative permissions.

LiquidWeb

LiquidWeb offers hosting services to large enterprises and corporations.

Pricing and Plans:

The company offers single processor and dual processor plans, with monthly plans starting at $79.98 (discounted price, which is normally $189 per month)

Key Features:

• Liquid Web offers transparent pricing, 100% uptime, and complimentary migration assistance
• Simple and hassle-free hosting
• Add-on features such as block/object storage and load balancer
• Liquid Web has been in the field of website hosting since 1997, making their experience is invaluable.

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