Unmanaged or Managed Web Hosting?
Unmanaged web hosting services are exactly what they sound like. Unmanaged hosting provides you with complete control of all administrative functions via remote access to your web server.
It is very important to understand that unmanaged servers require a great deal of technical know how, so if that doesn't describe you, you're going to need to find someone who knows their way around the tech side of things. Because this is an unmanaged solution, you have to have a server administrator in order to install and manage the server environment itself. There are plenty of good server administrators who will work on a contract basis, so check around until you find one who suits your needs.
One major benefit to this type of hosting is that you have the ability to go directly to the server to develop and control various applications without having to go through technical support personnel at your web hosting company. Unmanaged services are most commonly used by businesses that develop and use real time response systems, like science or entertainment-based applications.
An unmanaged server gives you the freedom to increase your storage capacity by adding more hard disk space in-house. Additionally, several major companies like Dell and HP offer software that will run your network as well as handle your web server and development needs.
Unmanaged servers can easily be expensive to maintain, so your best bet is to hire an IT professional to evaluate your needs and draw up a proposal to find out if unmanaged hosting services are right for you and your business before you make a decision. Most small businesses don't need to have a server in house. For those businesses, a managed web hosting service will suit their needs perfectly, along with providing technical and administrative support. They cost a lot less to use and don't need the constant software and hardware upgrades that can increase your costs substantially.
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