What Is Managed Web Hosting?

Owning a website is a powerful and cost-effective way for individuals and companies to reach audiences online. But for that, you’d first need web hosting.

Web hosting is basically renting server space to make a website accessible on the Internet. There are different types of web hosting, and in this article, we’ll focus on managed web hosting.

Managed web hosting is a service where the provider takes care of the technical aspects of hosting, like server management, security, and maintenance. This allows the user to focus on their project or business without worrying over the technicalities of running a website.

Read on to learn about the key features and benefits of managed web hosting for individuals and businesses, how it compares to unmanaged hosting, and how to pick the right managed hosting provider.

How Does Managed Web Hosting Work?

In a nutshell, web hosting works by storing your website as files on a server.

Whenever someone looks up your website, their browser sends a signal to the server that your site is on, asking it to share a copy. The copy of the website is then sent back to the user’s computer, where the browser displays the retrieved information for them to interact with.

This process is similar for all types of hosting. What makes managed web hosting different is what it offers on top of the hosting itself.

With managed web hosting, the provider handles back-end and admin tasks and offers additional features as an all-in-one package. It typically includes server setup, maintenance, hardware and software updates, backups, security measures, performance optimization, and technical support.

There are several types of managed hosting services:

• Shared web hosting. Multiple websites will share the same server and its resources. It’s a cost-efficient, entry-level service tailored for individuals and small businesses. However, it may be limited in terms of performance, especially during traffic spikes.
• Cloud hosting. Websites are run on virtual servers in the cloud or a network of servers. It has upgraded resources to ensure a fast, stable, and secure service. Cloud hosting is ideal for websites like online stores, high-traffic business websites, and complex sites with loads of data.
• Managed WordPress hosting. A type of managed hosting specifically designed for websites built using the WordPress content management system. It works similarly to other types of hosting, but it has WordPress-specific features that improve performance, security, scalability, and ease of use.

In contrast, an unmanaged web host only provides a server, a pre-installed operating system (OS), and physical server maintenance. The user is given control over everything else, including its content management system, backups, security, caching solutions, and updates.

A self-managed virtual private server (VPS) is an example of unmanaged hosting. It is a hands-on hosting solution where the user gets dedicated, virtually-separated server resources. While a VPS can host websites, it’s typically used for game servers, secondary data storage, and VPNs.

Key Features of Managed Web Hosting

So, what should you consider and expect from managed web hosting? Compared to its unmanaged counterpart, managed hosting includes security, performance, technical support, and other useful additional services.

Security

Managed web hosts protect you and your website by employing specialized technologies and methods, such as:

• DDoS protection. Distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks are cyberattacks that aim to crash servers or their services, creating breaches for hackers to exploit. Web hosts prevent this by using traffic filters, web application firewalls, and load balancing. They identify, filter out, separate, and disperse traffic to ensure effective server functionality.
• Malware scanner. Web hosts use scanners to detect and remove vulnerabilities like viruses, malicious redirects, backdoors, and code injections. This makes sure your website and its files are protected.
• Server backups. Backups are copies of server files stored on different devices or locations. If these files get deleted or corrupted, you can recover them from the backups using the host’s control panel. For instance, Hostinger offers daily and weekly backups. Backups also double as a disaster recovery measure.
• SSL Certificates. Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) is a protocol that encrypts the connection between the web server and the user’s browser. This prevents hackers from gaining access to the sent and received data.
• Active network monitoring. Some web hosts take monitoring to the next level. Hostinger, for instance, has a dedicated in-house security team that monitors servers 24/7. They ensure crucial updates, security patches, and other maintenance tasks are completed immediately to help prevent 0-day security vulnerabilities from being exploited.

Optimized Performance

Another factor to consider is performance, which involves server speed and reliability:

• Server resources. Users get a set amount of resources that determine the server’s speed and capacity. These include random access memory (RAM), central processing unit (CPU) power, bandwidth, and storage space. How much you might need will depend on your purpose for the website. However, beginner-friendly hosting plans are more than enough for small sites like blogs, portfolios, and business websites.
• Content Delivery Network (CDN). A CDN is a geographically distributed network of servers. It optimizes server speeds by caching data on servers closer to users and improves availability by balancing traffic loads so as not to overload one particular server. Hostinger is one of the few managed hosting providers that has an in-house CDN.
• Scalability. A managed hosting provider’s ability to offer scalable solutions also adds to the overall stability of the service. For example, cloud-based hosting scales automatically. This means that a server’s capacity and resource limits increase if traffic spikes and decrease if it subsides. Hence, server owners don’t risk losing traffic due to overcrowding.
• Uptime. Uptime is a metric that shows how long a server is typically on and available for use. For example, Hostinger has a 99.9% uptime guarantee, which translates to under 43 minutes and 28 seconds of downtime in a month. It serves as the web host’s guarantee of the server’s minimum operating time, ensuring a reliable service to the end user.

Technical Support

Most managed hosting providers offer technical support. It allows customers to ask questions and request assistance from the web host, usually via live chat or email. The controlled nature of managed hosting allows providers to tackle issues head-on, ensuring a smoother experience for the user.

Some web hosts also offer customer support in multiple languages. Hostinger, for example, offers technical support in 11 different languages.

Unmanaged hosting generally doesn’t offer technical support because of its hands-on approach. As such, users are often left with full responsibility for managing and maintaining their servers.

To identify which managed hosting provider offers the best technical support, research reviews from established tech sites, blogs, and client testimonials.

Additional Services

To maximize positive user experience, many managed hosting companies offer additional services. Depending on your needs, it’s worth looking out for features like:

• Business email service. Send newsletters and communicate with your audience using a unique email address with your domain name.
• Website migration. Move your website from one managed hosting platform to another for better deals and service. 
• 1-click WordPress Installation. Set up the WordPress content management systems (CMS) using automated installations. With Hostinger, you can quickly set up WordPress or other content management systems using the Auto Installer feature.

Pros and Cons of Managed Web Hosting

Consider the benefits and limitations of managed versus unmanaged hosting below:

Benefits of Managed Hosting

• Time saver. Managed hosting providers do the heavy lifting with server management, configuration, and maintenance, which allows clients to focus on their ventures.
• Reduced risk. Web hosts actively reduce various safety and security risks. What’s more, there’s significantly less room for error because the website infrastructure is in the hands of hosting experts.
• Technical support. Managed hosting services include on-call technical support. The provider also supports the client by tackling the technical side of things.
• Compliance. Managed hosting caters to data protection and other standards that industry players might have to follow.
• Better performance. Managed hosting companies use methods and technologies that boost server efficiency and speed up site load times, improving the overall user experience.
• Flexibility and scalability. Increasing server capacity to meet new demands is just a few clicks away.

Limitations of Managed Hosting

• Price. Unmanaged options offer a hands-on solution and are lower priced.
• Limited access and customization. Managed hosting doesn’t grant users root access to servers, which is the highest access level possible. As such, users can only access the functionalities, apps, and tools provided by the web host.
• Dependency on provider. Managed hosting users can’t decide when scheduled server maintenance and system updates will happen. Unmanaged hosting users are also affected by this, but at a lower level – only as much as it concerns the physical server itself and not the systems set up by the user.

Choosing the Right Managed Web Hosting Provider

First, identify your managed web hosting needs. Then, consider the most important factors when choosing your web hosting provider. Most managed hosting experts agree that a strong baseline includes server reliability, speed, bandwidth, security, backup functionality, and tech support.

If value for money is a priority, keep in mind that providers offer different managed hosting packages, even if the prices are similar. So, research the top hosting providers before making a decision.

Finally, try different web hosting options for yourself. This should help you get a general idea of what web hosting best suits your needs. Every Hostinger plan comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can test it without risk.

Conclusion

With managed hosting, the web host takes care of the server’s management, security, and maintenance, so you wouldn’t have to.

The service comes pre-packaged with features like DDoS protection, content delivery networks, active network monitoring, backups, and technical support. This makes it a worthwhile choice for individuals and small businesses.

While managed hosting is slightly more expensive and limits customization, it makes up for it by being a time-saver that minimizes security risk, offers better performance and scalability, and ensures compliance and compatibility with industry standards.

So, consider your web hosting needs, research the features available with managed hosting providers, and try them out. Good luck!

What Is Managed Web Hosting FAQ