Is It Time to Upgrade to a Dedicated Server?

June 21, 2012
by Jonathan Watkins

A growing business is always a cause for celebration, especially if you’re in charge, but with this expansion there inevitably comes great responsibilities.

When most businesses start off their website they will be looking to purchase a cost-effective hosting solution on which to build their business. While saving money is great, many opt for a shared hosting server which, granted, is perfect while the training wheels are still on, however if your aspirations are high then soon enough you’ll be searching the market for something else.

You may argue that your business is always growing from the outset, and that it is difficult to pinpoint exactly when you should expand, but upgrading your server is an easy decision to make upon considering a number of factors. So here are some things to look for which can inform you that it’s time to get a dedicated server.

If your data is overloading the database on a shared server then you’ve evidently outgrown those training wheels of yours, with a shared server you’ll be affecting others along with your own performance, in which case the host may even give you a gentle shove out the door when it’s time to leave.

With your business growing, you’ll undoubtedly have increased traffic on your website meaning you’ll need a more powerful server to deal with this. It is advised to foresee this upturn in traffic so when the time comes, you, your server and your site are ready for it.

It’s not always the case, but sometime you’ll be looking to upload large files onto your site. This and other activities that require intensive use of CPU or RAM may require a server of your own to be able to handle the demanding requirements for this to perform.

Getting a dedicated server is like moving out from mum and dads house and getting your own place, inevitably you want more control. With shared servers, every move you make has knock on effects to the other users sharing the server, a dedicated server is yours only, meaning you can call the shots, making decisions regarding software, security and applications without worrying about where the delegation of resources are heading.

Ultimately, everyone’s goal in business is to make money, so if you’re looking to expand your business by starting multiple websites then look to a dedicated server to take the weight of these extra sites.

Shared is the key word in shared servers, you’re not alone in this hosting solution. For businesses with information that you would like to keep secure, consider that you’re site is running on a server with others. A dedicated server will enhance security due to you being the only individual optimizing that server.

Occasionally some software requires a dedicated server as do applications sometimes. If the server can’t handle the software you’re using, then it goes without saying that you’ll be needing to upgrade your form of hosting.

Big businesses often required big disk space, and if you’re purchasing more space is becoming increasingly expensive, then the switch to a dedicated server could actually be a cost-efficient move in the long term.

So there you have the signs that you need a dedicated server. Now, it’s unlikely that you’ll wake up one morning and realise you need to upgrade, it’s an enduring process where you’ll be able to see the signs occurring, and it’s advisable to forecast the growth and opt for a hosting solution that can adequately support your website.

About Author
Jonathan is a senior writer covering web hosting and tech news on FindDedicatedServer.com. Jonathan graduated from the University of Brighton with a BA (Hons) in Journalism and has been working for various websites, magazines and newspapers.

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