If you’re looking for hosting, you have two choices; shared hosting and dedicated hosting. With shared hosting, you share a server with other websites while dedicated hosting gives you a server of your own. Each option has its pros and cons; your budget, expected number of visitors and content should determine which option you choose. For a simple blog, shared hosting is adequate. A highly trafficked, an enterprise-level website will need dedicated hosting.
Shared Hosting
Pros:
- It is an economical option.
- You don’t need to configure or maintain the server.
- There’s enough bandwidth for a website with low to medium levels of traffic.
- You’re ready to go right away. The host sets up everything.
Cons:
- You could see your website rank drop if Google determines there is spam or malware spread by one of your server roommates. You share one IP address so you have to find a host that swiftly shuts down sites that violate their terms of service.
- An unexpected spike in traffic could lead to slow load times.
- You could share a server with a company with a website that takes off and drains the available resources for your website.
- You are more likely to experience a security breach even though reliable hosts offer protections.
- You have no control over the security offered by your host.
Dedicated Hosting
Pros:
- The bandwidth and disk space are all yours. You can have streaming videos or many high-resolution videos on your website.
- You don’t have to worry about Google penalizing your website for a neighbor’s actions.
- You can add extra security to protect sensitive information.
- Your website will always load quickly.
Cons:
- Dedicated hosting is significantly more expensive than shared hosting.
- You will need an IT professional at your company to configure and maintain the server unless you pay extra for managed hosting.
If you’re still unsure about your needs, go with shared hosting so you don’t pay for more than you need. You can upgrade to dedicated hosting as your business grows.