Dedicated hosting is an Internet hosting option in which an organization leases an entire server, which is often housed in a data center. This is more flexible than shared hosting, as organizations have full control over the server(s), including choice of operating system, hardware, etc. There is also another level of dedicated or managed hosting commonly referred to as complex managed hosting. Complex Managed Hosting applies to both physical dedicated servers, Hybrid server and virtual servers, with many companies choosing a hybrid (combination of physical and virtual) hosting solution. There are many similarities between standard and complex managed hosting but the key difference is the level of administrative and engineering support that the customer pays for – owing to both the increased size and complexity of the infrastructure deployment. The provider steps in to take over most of the management, including security, memory, storage and IT support. The service is primarily proactive in nature.Server administration can usually be provided by the hosting company as an add-on service. In some cases a dedicated server can offer less overhead and a larger return on investment. Dedicated servers are hosted in data centers, often providing redundant power sources and HVAC systems. In contrast to colocation, the server hardware is owned by the provider and in some cases they will provide support for operating systems or applications.
Using a dedicated hosting service offers the benefits of high performance, security, email stability, and control. Due to the relatively high price of dedicated hosting, it is mostly used by websites that receive a large volume of traffic
Dedicated hosting is also known as a dedicated server or managed hosting service.
In the case of dedicated hosting, server administration is often provided by the hosting organization as an add-on service. The dedicated hosting providers will have a service level agreement with the client that outlines all the service guarantees as needed. Server hardware is usually owned by the provider and in certain cases, it also provides support to operating systems, software applications and security systems.
The advantages of dedicated hosting include:
- More reliability compared to shared hosting
- Better performance compared to when resources are shared
- A custom firewall, which can help in enforcing the access control policy
- More flexibility in terms of adding software and changing server configurations
- A unique and dedicated IP address
- A greater degree of security that can be customized according to a client’s needs
The main drawback to dedicated hosting is that it can be a major investment.
