What Is a VPS, and Does It Fit Your Hosting Needs?

Selecting the right web hosting can be overwhelming, especially if you’re not tech-savvy. As a small business owner or freelancer with a tight budget, you want to maximize your resources.

You might have heard that VPS hosting surpasses the limits of shared hosting while offering comparable performance to a dedicated server, all at an affordable price. But is this true?

In this article, we’ll explain what a VPS is, how it works, and what you can expect when using it as your hosting environment. 

What Is a VPS?

A virtual private server (VPS) acts as an isolated virtual environment on a physical server, using a portion of the server’s underlying physical resources. It’s called “private” because, even though the server might be shared among several users, these resources are dedicated to a particular user without others having access.

How Does VPS Work?  

Virtualization technology allows one physical server to be divided into several virtual private servers using special software called a hypervisor. The hypervisor creates and manages these virtual servers (guest 1 and 2), distributing a portion of the host physical server’s resources, such as memory and processing power, to each one.

This process allows each virtual server to function as an independent computer, enabling users to install their own software and operating system (OS) on top of the host OS.

What VPS Is Used For?

Beyond traditional web hosting, a virtual private server (VPS) is best for more complex and resource-intensive operations and programs, such as:  

• development and testing, where isolated environments are crucial for accurate results;
• artificial intelligence and machine learning, providing the necessary computational power and flexibility;
• software as a service (SaaS) platforms, offering the scalability and security needed to support multiple users;
• web applications that have custom software requirements, providing the customization and control required to meet specific needs.

What Is VPS Hosting?

Virtual private server (VPS) hosting is a type of hosting where you share a physical server with other users but have your own dedicated share of server resources, such as space, CPU, and RAM. 

This setup means that while you share the server hardware with other users, your hosting remains isolated and your resources are guaranteed, making it generally a more costly option compared to shared hosting, yet more affordable than a dedicated server. 

Think of VPS hosting as renting an apartment in a building. Unlike sharing a room in a dormitory, you have your own private space that you can furnish and decorate as you like. You have control over your apartment’s utilities and layout, but you still share the building’s infrastructure, like the elevators and hallways, with other tenants.

Types of VPS Hosting

VPS hosting can be categorized as either managed or unmanaged, depending on the level of additional services provided beyond the basic server setup.

With unmanaged VPS hosting, you need to have expertise in server configuration, troubleshooting software, and managing the apps and services installed on your VPS. In contrast, managed VPS hosting takes care of all these complex tasks for you, allowing clients to focus on their core business while experts handle the technical details. However, it can be on the pricier side.

Who Is VPS Hosting For?

VPS hosting is best for website owners whose medium-level traffic exceeds the limits of shared hosting plans but doesn’t yet require the extensive resources of a dedicated server. It is often chosen by developers and those with advanced technical knowledge who need direct access to the server for greater control and customization. 

Key Features and Limitations of VPS Hosting

VPS strikes an optimal balance between affordability, customization, and guaranteed performance for many growing websites and web applications. However, it does come with some limitations.

Let’s explore the pros and cons of VPS hosting in more detail below.

1. Customization and Control

In general, with VPS hosting you gain full admin and root access to your virtual server. That means you can change the server settings and install any software. This level of access is beneficial for advanced users who need to configure server applications, manage files directly, and install software. 

🚩 Limitations: Keep in mind that if you lack the technical knowledge, installing the operating system (OS) on your own can be risky and may lead to configuration issues. While some managed hosting providers can handle this for you, be sure to double check this with the particular provider. 

However, if you’re confident in your technical capabilities to install your OS, make sure that the provider supports the OS you need, as all providers support both Linux and Microsoft. 

2. Scalability          

Whenever you need additional resources like storage or memory, you can easily add or borrow from another virtual private server if needed. This easy scalability is thanks to the hypervisor, which we mentioned at the beginning, as it enables the host computer to support other virtual machines by sharing its resources.       

🚩 Limitations: While VPS hosting involves multiple virtual servers, the scalability is limited to the resources of the single physical server on which they reside, unlike cloud hosting, which can dynamically allocate resources across a broader network of physical servers.

3. Uptime and Reliability

The dedicated resources of a VPS help ensure that your website’s performance is generally more stable and less influenced by other sites on the same physical server, leading to faster loading times and a better user experience. 

🚩 Limitations: It’s important, however, to note that performance can still be affected if the physical server is heavily loaded, particularly if other VPS instances are consuming a lot of resources. This issue can occur when the web host oversells its server space, assuming that not all accounts will use their full allocation of resources.

4. Enhanced Security

VPS hosting provides enhanced security due to the isolation of resources for each virtual server. This prevents one compromised account from affecting others on the same server. 

🚩 Limitations: There are potential security risks associated with virtualization, particularly if there are vulnerabilities in the hypervisor software. These vulnerabilities could, in theory, allow a guest OS to “escape” its isolation and affect other virtual machines.

VPS Hosting Compared to Other Types of Hosting 

While many articles attempt to compare different hosting solutions, they might not give the full picture. It’s important to remember that each type – whether VPS, dedicated, cloud, or shared – excels in different use cases and has its own set of advantages and limitations.

Some hosting providers address this by developing in-house tools and features to enhance server performance, ensuring your website runs smoothly. Therefore, it’s essential to consider these add-ons when evaluating your hosting options.

1. Shared Hosting vs. VPS Hosting

One of the main differences between VPS and shared hosting is the use of virtualization technology. Shared hosting involves multiple websites being hosted on a single physical server, where resources are shared among all users. This setup is generally more cost-effective than VPS hosting but offers fewer scalability options.

Therefore, shared hosting is suitable for individuals, bloggers, and small businesses, whose websites don’t require large-scale operations or custom configurations. 

SiteGround offers managed shared hosting plans for up to 400,000 monthly visits. These plans include easy website setup and management, as well as ultrafast PHP, custom MySQL, SSL certificates, and three-layer caching. Such features enhance your hosting by improving performance, capacity, and security, addressing common shared hosting challenges.

2. Dedicated Hosting vs. VPS Hosting

The primary differences between a virtual private server (VPS) and a dedicated server are price and computing power. While both can run the same operating system, dedicated servers typically provide greater computing power at a more expensive cost.

Dedicated hosting is suitable for large-scale corporations that require high levels of customization and control over their hosting environment, such as financial institutions and healthcare organizations.

3. Cloud Hosting vs. VPS Hosting

One of the main differences between VPS and cloud hosting is how they use servers. In cloud hosting, your website draws resources from a network of interconnected physical servers, forming what’s known as the “cloud.” This setup allows resources to scale dynamically based on demand, whereas VPS is confined to the resources of a single physical server and cannot scale across multiple servers.

Therefore, cloud hosting is suitable for high-traffic websites, web development agencies, and enterprise applications. 

SiteGround offers managed cloud hosting plans that are built on top of GCP’s infrastructure. This means that while clients benefit from the scalability and reliability of Google Cloud Platform, they also receive additional support, custom features, and management tools from SiteGround.

Does VPS Fit Your Web Hosting Needs?

If you’re managing a high-traffic website or developing a resource-intensive application, VPS hosting solutions provide the necessary control, computing power, and scalability.

However, if you don’t want to deal with server configuration and technical tasks, other hosting options might be more suitable for you. Reach out to our sales team if you wish to learn more. 

Virtual Private Server (VPS) FAQs

Is There a Difference Between VPS, Virtual Machine, and Cloud Instances?

These terms all involve the same underlying technology  – they describe a virtual environment created using a hypervisor, where virtual servers run on top of a physical server.

Is VPS Better than VPN?

You can’t directly compare a VPN and a VPS to determine which is better, as they serve different purposes. A Virtual Private Network (VPN) is a technology that allows users to establish a secure and encrypted connection between two remote computers over the internet. However, while a VPS itself doesn’t inherently provide VPN features, it serves as a secure environment where you can implement those by setting up a VPN.

Is VPS Free?

No, VPS is not free, just like any other hosting plan, regardless of the server setup. Website hosting costs are a necessary consideration, though some providers may offer a free trial period. It’s important to check with them directly to understand the pricing details and any trial offers they might have.