4 Concerns You Should Have Before Choosing A VPS Provider
Whether you are looking to move on from shared hosting or you are beginning an entirely new project, there are a few important aspects of your virtual private server provider that you should be aware of. While we would all love to think that every VPS company is above board and provides an excellent service, sadly this is not always the case. It is up to you to be sure that you are selecting a VPS provider who will meet your expectations. Before choosing a hosting package, make sure that the VPS company measures up to industry standards. Most of this information can be found on the provider’s website, or in online forums and reviews.
Below are the top four areas you should investigate before picking a VPS provider:
Security
Nobody needs to be told that security is a top priority. From vulnerabilities to DDoS attacks, it seems that data threats are always at the forefront of our minds. When choosing a VPS provider, you must think not of only the security on your machine, but also the security of where your data is being stored.
Be sure that you choose a provider that stores information at Tier 4 data centers with around-the-clock surveillance. On your machine, you should be able to control most of your security elements. However, you want to be sure that your provider includes fully redundant systems should any aspect of your hosting fails. Redundancy ensures that you are online even in the most dire of circumstances.
Support
Even the best hosting providers encounter downtime here and there. During these times it is the support staff available that can make or break a provider’s reputation. Be sure that the provider you choose offers around-the-clock support and a variety of contact methods. Support should be courteous, knowledgeable, and responsive. Before choosing a hosting provider, contact the support team and ask a few questions about cost, reliability, and security. These quick interactions will help you decide if you have found a company you are interested in partnering with.
Cost
While cost seems like an obvious research point, you may not be aware of hidden fees or offers that may expire further down the line. Before choosing a VPS provider, make sure you read all of the fine print and be on the lookout for deals that seem too good to be true. Hosting is a costly venture, not the free service that many providers would have you believe. You can learn a lot about how a business charges with a quick Google search. If there are angry customers online, you won’t have to look far to find them.
Look for a VPS provider that advertises transparency and customer support. Companies who invite you to contact support at any time typically stick to their advertised prices. If you find yourself searching around a website for contact information, you may have found a hosting provider who likes to pull punches.
Reliability
Unreliable hosting costs you time and money. There is nothing more frustrating than working to get your system up and running, only to have downtime keep you from achieving your goal. When searching out a hosting provider, be sure that you check reviews and the Service Level Agreement (SLA) provided by the company. Hosting providers worth your time and hard-earned cash will provide you with an easy-to-read SLA that clearly outlines their commitment to your systems. VPS hosts should advertise redundancy and fail-safes to keep you online. While every web host experiences occasional downtime, reliable companies will alert you by email, social media or status pages.
Doing your due diligence before choosing a VPS hosting provider will save you time and money along the way. Trusting a company with your data is a big decision, and should be done only with the utmost care. Happy hosting!