Have you recently decided to switch from free web hosting or a shared server to a dedicated server for your hosting needs?
If so, then you may be feeling a bit overwhelmed by the number of hosting companies and servers that are available to choose from.
How will you be able to narrow down your options and determine which hosting plan is best for you?
It will take some time and careful research on your part, but when all is said and done, the effort you put in will be worth it because you’ll have a server you can rely on.
As you explore your options for the best dedicated server to suit your needs, there are some common mistakes you’ll want to be especially careful to avoid.
1. Choosing a Host Without 24/7 Support
One of the most important pieces of advice to keep in mind when selecting a server and hosting company is to make sure you’ll be able to get in touch with somebody from technical and/or customer support at all hours of the day, regardless of the day of the week.
While you hopefully won’t have to deal with any unexpected server downtime or other issues, it’s imperative that you’re able to get ahold of someone quickly and easily when it matters most.
Otherwise, you could end up being left in the dark while your site is unable to be accessed or you’re experiencing a security breach.
By choosing a hosting company that offers both customer and technical support 24 hours a day, seven days a week, you’ll enjoy added peace of mind.
And in the event that you do have a question, issue, or concern, you can rest assured that it will be addressed in a prompt and professional manner.
2. Overlooking the Importance of Security Features
These days, there’s simply no overstating the importance of server security.
Unfortunately, not all hosting companies and individual servers come with the same standard security features, so you’ll need to do a little shopping around and research to make sure the server you end up choosing has the features you need most.
Otherwise, you could end up falling victim to a web attack, such as a DDoS attack or other data breach that could harm your reputation or create a world of headaches.
So, what are some of the basic security features you should be looking for when selecting a dedicated server?
For starters, because instances of DDoS attacks have been on the rise for quite some time now, choosing a server that provides at least some level of DDoS protection is a must.
Ideally, the server comes standard with a basic level of DDoS protection that you can upgrade and pay extra for on a monthly basis as needed.
While having DDoS protection in place will not entirely eliminate your server’s chances of falling victim to a DDoS attack, it will reduce them greatly and give you added peace of mind.
Furthermore, you’ll want to make sure that your hosting company makes it easy for you to perform regular backups of your data and upgrades to your server and that the physical hardware components of your servers are secure as well.
Specifically, data center locations should have 24/7 staffed security, surveillance, and other security precautions in place to protect your server hardware.
3. Best Dedicated Server Blunders: Buying Solely Based on Cost
Another common mistake people tend to make when shopping for dedicated hosting (especially when buying it for the first time) is choosing a hosting plan based on its cost alone.
Hosting is one of many services where you truly get what you pay for, so if you find a deal that seems “too good to be true,” there’s a good chance you’re going to be making major sacrifices in terms of the reliability of your server, its security, or some other integral component.
While it makes sense that you don’t want to spend more than necessary on your hosting, you’ll be better off selecting your hosting based on the value rather than the cost.
Spending a few extra dollars a month on a server that truly suits your needs will be more than worth it in the long run.
4. Failing to Consider Data Center Locations
Knowing exactly where your server’s data center will be located is also a must, though this is something many people overlook when shopping for dedicated hosting.
Why does the location of your server’s data centers matter?
Because the closer they are located to you or your customers (depending on who accesses the server), the better the performance (and lower latency) you and your users will enjoy.
Specifically, it will come down to how fast a page loads, for example, or whether your game will experience lag.
While you may be able to save a little money by choosing a dedicated sever in another country, you’ll generally be better off paying for one with a data center location near whoever will be accessing the server.
In addition, if you go with a hosting company with multiple locations, you will have options for your first server as well as when you expand or as your customer base changes.
Find a hosting company that has multiple data centers spread out across the country (or across the globe), so you can end up with a server location that’s closest to you.
5. Not Knowing Your Specific Needs
All too often, people end up unhappy with their dedicated hosting because they simply didn’t understand their own needs when they purchased their hosting plan.
This is where taking the time to evaluate your needs before you purchase new hardware. Be aware of the amount of bandwidth you’ll need, as well as the operating system on which you’d like to run your server.
Processor speed, storage type, and other parts of your server build should also be taken into consideration.
If any of this seems confusing to you, then you’ll want to find a hosting company you can trust to help you talk through and better understand your needs without taking advantage of you or urging you to pay for more than what you really require.
This also applies to extra features that may be offered by your hosting company, such as managed hosting.
With a service like this, you are generally paying an additional monthly cost to have a team of administrators take care of just about every aspect of your server maintenance.
This may include checking for security patches, running security audits, and similar tasks. For many people using dedicated hosting for the first time, managed hosting will simply not be worth the additional monthly cost.
For those who don’t have the time to install their own security updates, back up their server data regularly, and perform other basic server maintenance on a regular basis, paying for managed hosting may actually make a great deal of financial and practical sense.
Again, this is where knowing how to truly evaluate your needs can make all the difference.
Conclusion
Shopping around for the best dedicated server can be a time-consuming and overwhelming task.
However, if you want to end up with the best hosting for your money, it’s important that you take your time and do your research carefully.
Equally important is being sure to avoid these common types of mistakes. By doing so, you can eventually select the hosting plan (and hosting company) that’s best for your needs and budget.
Are you guilty of making any of these mistakes in your quest for finding the best dedicated server?
