| If you are currently engaged in any facet of | | | | server response time. |
| ecommerce, even service sectors, a website makes | | | | Control Panel - Having your own server offers |
| up a great deal of your business. Therefore, it is a | | | | additional opportunities for control. Sharing a server |
| safe assumption that you pay for hosting your | | | | indicates that you have only limited control of server |
| website in some fashion. If you do not already have | | | | features and functions, but with a dedicated server, |
| a dedicated server, perhaps you should revisit the | | | | webmasters have greater control and access to the |
| decision for the best hosting options for your | | | | day-to-day functions of the host. |
| business. | | | | Software Options - Dedicated servers also allow |
| What is a Dedicated Server? | | | | more software and script options. The server has |
| Most web hosting companies set up accounts or on | | | | greater storage capacity for this information, and |
| a shared server. You essentially share the total hard | | | | there is no need to align coding or features with |
| drive and bandwidth allowance with many others. | | | | other users of the same machine. |
| This may not be the best hosting option and can | | | | Disadvantages of a Dedicated Server |
| present many problems such as security and traffic | | | | The sole disadvantage of a dedicated server is the |
| bottlenecks. On a dedicated server, the server is | | | | cost. It is only logical that obtaining an entire server |
| completely yours, and there are not other websites | | | | versus a piece of a shared server would be more |
| utilizing the same machine. The server is dedicated | | | | expensive, but the rate often makes webmasters |
| completely to you and your business. | | | | baulk. It is important to consider the fee as related |
| Advantages of a Dedicated Server | | | | to the total cost of shared server space when |
| Several advantages can make a dedicated server the | | | | determining if a dedicated server is the best hosting |
| best hosting choice for you. These include: | | | | option for you business, despite cost. A single credit |
| Server Security -Dedicated servers increase the | | | | card safety incident or an exorbitant bill for |
| security of your website tremendously. There are no | | | | bandwidth overage should level the playing field |
| other webmasters using the same workspace, and | | | | almost immediately. |
| simple mistakes or user error that might occur due to | | | | Am I ready for a Dedicated Server? |
| shared machines simply no longer existent. | | | | Websites grow at different rates, but as the success |
| Storage Space - As the entire server is dedicated to | | | | of a business grows, so does the need for additional |
| a single customer, there is tremendously more | | | | hosting capacity. If you are approaching the limits of |
| storage space available for website pages, images, | | | | your current hosting company or have concerns |
| and features. | | | | about safety, such as storing credit card information |
| Data Transfer - As with storage space, there is a | | | | on the same server as others or simply if your |
| great deal more bandwidth available for data transfer. | | | | current company is the best hosting company for |
| Traffic to your site no longer competes with traffic | | | | your needs, it is definitely time for a dedicated |
| for other websites reducing bottlenecks and slow | | | | server. |