When do you need to rent a server?

If you don’t have experience with different hosting services, you will see the price difference between a shared hosting and a renting a server, and you will probably go for a shared option. There are many different cloud-based hosting services that promise you 100% uptime and prices from $5 per month. Sounds great but there is a big catch.

Shared means that you will not only share space with plenty of other websites, but most importantly, you will share all of the resources. RAM, CPUs, memory bandwidth, and more. In a moment, you could have negative consequences just because of your “neighbors”.

So, if you want to skip these inconveniences, you’d be better off choosing a server dedicated to just your website instead. Just for and small extra payment, you will gain a lot more.

Benefits of having a complete server for your business

Not sharing your server with multiple websites offers big advantages. Shared hosting is a good choice, but it has its limits. If your business is already growing or you plan to go international, the following options with their benefits will interest you.

Performance

Performance is the key indicator with the most value. If you don’t share a server, all the power will be purely for your use which will benefit your clients significantly. The pages will load quickly, even if there are heavy elements – and this will improve your SEO too!

Fewer limitations

You can also forget about restrictions; traffic, the number of websites that you can host, or the number of databases, and you can have far more space (50GB in a typical shared plan to at least 500GB on a server). You can update most of the components easily, so speed won’t be a problem anymore!

Security

In shared hosting, an attack on any of the other sites hosted on the same server can affect you. You can experience downtime and even data loss, which can negatively impact your reputation.

If you choose to have your own server, you can continuously monitor your traffic and protect yourself better by running special security software. You can also protect your clients’ sensitive data, like e-mails, card numbers, etc. from hackers, viruses, and other risks. By having your own server, you can optimize the features you need.

Control

Shared hosting services have a control panel with limited options. If you want full control, you’d better get a server (buy or rent). You can run different scripts, add the specific things you need, and choose and install the software you prefer. You can do this without asking some customer service representative and wasting  time.

So, if you need better performance and a more secure experience, getting your own server is the choice for you.

When do you need to rent a server?

To be clear, you need to rent a server when the needs of your business demand it. The growth of an online business means more traffic (maybe international) needs to be handled. This and other vital tasks require more technical resources, and once you reach that point, renting a server is a good decision.

Benefits of renting a server

If by now you’ve realized you need a server for your business, the next question is should you rent it or should you buy it. Let’s make a review of the benefits both choices offer to clear your mind.

If you rent a server, you will:

Pay only for the resources you use

When you rent a server, providers usually offer different plans with varying features. The price is set for the features included in every plan. Therefore, once you choose a plan, you can easily organize your budget. You will pay the same fee every month. With cloud services, you can add features for a limited time, for instance, the month of your biggest yearly sale, and after that month you can get back to your regular plan and fee.

Have modern hardware

Providers are constantly updating their technology to offer the best to their clients. When you rent a server, your provider will be the one investing in the newest and most modern equipment for you to enjoy in exchange for a monthly fee. Using top-notch hardware won’t be a burden for your budget.

Have a complete server even if your business isn’t that big yet

If your business is growing at a consistent pace and you want to get a server anticipating the increasing traffic, you can do it without affecting your budget. There are different plans and  there will be one that suits your needs and budget.

Have redundancy

Providers have entire data centers connected to the fastest and most robust networks to offer you redundancy. They, and not you, will do everything for your website to be constantly available.

Have DDoS protection

Servers are clear targets for criminals. DDoS protection is expensive, but it can be included in your plan when you rent a server. Your security will be strengthened for the monthly fee you are already paying.

Benefits of buying a server

Of course, you have the choice of buying your server. In that case, you will get the following benefits.

A one-time investment

A server is a useful but expensive piece of hardware. To have a complete one at your business’ disposal is not minor. If you buy one, it’s just a one-off payment, however, just remember, there will be other expenses related to its operation.

Maintenance and management will follow your rules

All the tasks related to the server will be defined, scheduled, and executed by you or your team, in the terms and dates that are convenient for your business.

Taxation deduction

This depends on the taxation of your country, but such an asset (a server) usually is possible to be deducted from your tax return.

Renting vs buying a server

As you see, having a complete server for your business offers important advantages. Still, you should consider some factors to make the most convenient decision.

Servers require a lot of resources

One of the basics take a server must guarantee is to handle a large amount of requests quickly. Just to start, you need a powerful processor, a lot of bandwidth, and RAM. If you buy a server, you must oversee all those resources and ensure their availability for the correct server operation. For instance, the regular Internet connection you use at home won’t be enough to manage the necessary speed and security your server requires. Meanwhile, data centers are located strategically to get the best out of the most robust and high-speed networks.

Redundancy and reliability

Online businesses, especially international ones, must be accessible 24/7. You don’t want to miss clients and sales in other time zones while you sleep and that demands more resources to ensure uptime. You must be ready with the infrastructure to react in the case of power outages, hardware, software failure, or a cyberattack, for instance. It’s not only about having a server but more of them, and with backup technology to keep the website available and working smoothly. Besides, the server, its components, and cables must be located on-premises with efficient cooling systems to avoid extra heat.

Data centers already considered these needs to offer a quality service to all their clients. From alternative power generators to more servers for backing up and keeping websites working no matter a natural disaster, failure, cyberattack or other event compromise their correct operation.

Technical support

To have your own server requires constant maintenance, updates, monitoring, etc. to prevent and fix issues. If issues arise, they must be checked and fixed quickly to not compromise or stop your operation. The level of demand for technical support will be directly defined by your business’ needs, butut you’ll need an IT expert or a group of them to keep the business running. Problems can arise any time, any day.

Technology evolution

Technology rapidly evolves and your server can be outdated in a short term. To buy one is expensive. But to buy a newer one every two or three years can be a burden for your pocket. Data centers on the other hand, constantly renew such equipment because renting servers is their business.

Your budget

You must be sure you can afford all the extra expenses of owning a server; proper room for the server, an efficient cooling system, high-speed Internet, redundant systems, high electricity consumption, extra power generators, technical support, constant monitoring, etc. The bill will go up once you consider all these costs. If your budget allows them, then enjoy the convenience of buying your server. If not, renting one seems the best choice.

Conclusion

If you already need a server, it’s a good sign that your online business is growing! The benefits of having a complete server and all its resources for running your website are attractive. It totally expands your possibilities. And honestly, renting a server seems so much more affordable and practical than buying it. Being in charge and responsible for every aspect of the server to run properly is time and money-consuming. But the decision is ultimately yours. Businesses are different and each demands specific needs. Those needs are the best compass for you to decide.

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