ItâÃÂÃÂs just thatâÃÂÃÂa virtual instance of a Windows server. If youâÃÂÃÂre unfamiliar with it, Windows server differs quite a lot in the ways of architecture, administration, and technology from its Linux counterparts
The majority of web hosting products are actually Linux-based. If you want to run Windows-based apps like SharePoint or create sites on .NET, youâÃÂÃÂd have to get Windows hosting. A Windows VPS server is just one option here because shared, dedicated, or cloud hosting solutions can run the Microsoft server software
So, letâÃÂÃÂs break down how Windows VPS is different from other platforms
First, both shared and VPS hosting make you share a physical server with other users. ThatâÃÂÃÂs about where the similarities stop, though
With shared hosting, you donâÃÂÃÂt just share the physical machineâÃÂÃÂyou share the entire environment. All users draw from the same pool of resources and use the same technologies. This means other users on the server can easily interfere with your project
WhatâÃÂÃÂs more, shared hosting is far less customizable. Any change to the environment affects all users, so the hosting provider typically wonâÃÂÃÂt allow custom changes
Most users see VPS as a resource upgrade to shared hosting, and it usually is. However, it entails other benefits
With a VPS, you still share the physical server with others, but you get your own environmentâÃÂÃÂhence the name, virtual private server
One way in which Windows VPS hosting is different is that you can customize the server environment. Plus, a VPS gets you dedicated resources, so you wonâÃÂÃÂt have to worry about bad neighbors
It all amounts to a more flexible, secure, and reliable hosting service
A dedicated server means you have an entire physical machine all to yourself. It doesnâÃÂÃÂt offer much in terms of functional differences, but rather solidifies the advantages of VPS
Dedicated servers often come with more resources than VPS. This is kind of relative, though. There are some massive virtual servers and some teeny tiny dedicated ones. You should check out a hostâÃÂÃÂs offer before assuming a dedicated server means a resource upgrade
Why Is VPS a Popular Choice for Windows?
There are several legitimate ways to deploy Windows apps. Running Windows on a virtual private server is just one possibility. The popularity of the platform stems from the inherent advantages of VPS we mentioned earlier
For starters, shared plans often do the job if you want to set up an ASP.NET website. That said, many other Windows-based apps require root access to set up, which is not possible with shared hosting
Plus, many businesses and organizations rely on their Windows servers for day-to-day work. Windows servers are excellent for delegating various levels of access to multiple users, making them the logical choice for many corporations. In such cases, the added security and reliability of a VPS can be an invaluable asset
Many large corporations simply run Windows on dedicated or cloud servers. This lets them get as much power as possible, or boost reliability with things like cloud-distributed storage. For many smaller organizations, though, a dedicated server would be complete overkill
In such cases, Windows virtual server hosting hits the sweet spot between functionality and affordability
Those are the main advantages that make VPS the go-to option for many Windows server admins
It depends on what kind of apps you want to host. Windows servers see the most use in corporate environments. Still, there are a few use cases where private users can benefit from them. LetâÃÂÃÂs cover both
One of the popular uses of Windows is running specific web application technologies like ASP.NET. If you want to build a website with ASP.NET, or run an ASP.NET-based CMS, Windows Server is the go-to OS for the job
Even cheap Windows VPS hosting might not be the ideal solution here. Many websites work just fine with shared Windows hosting. Finding a decent shared provider can be a real money-saver, especially if itâÃÂÃÂs your first website
On the other hand, if your website is about to outgrow shared hosting or if you want to install technologies not supported by shared providers, Windows VPS is ideal
VPSs are far more popular for setting up technologies like Exchange or Microsoft SharePoint Servers. Hundreds of thousands of businesses rely on these to manage projects and keep communication flowing, both internally and otherwise
In such cases, keeping everything business as usual depends on your server working correctly. The added control, security, and reliability you get with a VPS solution go a long way. Not to mention the advantage of dedicated resources when multiple people are accessing the apps
If you need Windows for business, virtual private hosting for Windows tends to be the safest starting choice
What to Look for in a Windows VPS Host?
There are a few key things to look out for when choosing a VPS host. HereâÃÂÃÂs what they are
This oneâÃÂÃÂs a pretty big deal, so letâÃÂÃÂs cover it first
With managed VPS, the hosting provider takes over some (or all) of the server management. This covers:
âÃÂæand aof other services. You can fully focus on the apps and not worry about server maintenance
As you can probably guess, managed Windows VPS is usually a better fit for users without a technical background. ItâÃÂÃÂs great if you just want a straightforward platform
Unmanaged, or self-managed, VPS, on the other hand, is much more bare-bones. The provider typically sells you only server resources and software licenses for Windows Server and possibly a control panel. Many providers also offer additional pieces of software, like a backup solution. For the most part, though, you manage everything on your own
Managed VPS obviously comes with more benefits, but it is also more expensive. It helps users with little experience in server administration. Managed VPS can also be a money-saver for smaller organizations since itâÃÂÃÂs much cheaper than hiring an IT expert to run everything
One thing to keep in mind is that managed VPS has you rely on the provider to make changes to the environment. ThatâÃÂÃÂs why finding a provider with top-notch support is much more important with managed VPS
Unmanaged Windows VPS hosting tends to be more affordable, but you either have to hire a technician or deal with server management yourself. Since everything depends on you, you have the freedom to handle everything the way it suits you, though
If youâÃÂÃÂd like to try your hand at server administration but arenâÃÂÃÂt sure if itâÃÂÃÂs for you, a few providersâÃÂÃÂlike HostwindsâÃÂÃÂlet you switch from an unmanaged service to a managed one freely
If your company already has an in-house technician, IâÃÂÃÂd encourage you to consult them before making any snap decisions. Yes, unmanaged VPS can save you a few bucks, but managed VPS can give your IT team leeway to focus on other tasks
Whether you should get managed or unmanaged VPS depends on how much control you need and what kind of resources you canto the project
What you get with either type of solution differs from provider to provider. That's why you should assess Windows VPS providers individually. HereâÃÂÃÂs how
Here are a couple of things to look out for when selecting a provider and hosting plan
Providers distribute and balance VPS resources in different ways. The exact resources you need depend on the app you want to run and the scale of your project
Various online resources and calculators can help you determine how much resources you need. The providerâÃÂÃÂs support or a specialist can also advise you here
Getting the right amount of resources is more important if youâÃÂÃÂre purchasing several months of hosting at a time. If youâÃÂÃÂre paying month-to-month, you can just upgrade or downgrade your Windows VPS server at the end of the month
When in doubt, err on the side of underestimating how much resources you need. Many providers will let you upgrade to a larger VPS plan at any time and just pay the price difference. ItâÃÂÃÂs unlikely any provider will pay you back if you want to downgrade in the middle of a subscription
The right features can make or break anything youâÃÂÃÂre working on
YouâÃÂÃÂll want to look for features like backups, security tools, speed optimization, IP addresses, server and network redundancy, monitoring, etc. Any powerful features you can get can be a benefit
Unmanaged Windows VM hosting is obviously going to include fewer features
Still, not all managed solutions get you the same degree of assistance. It pays off to think about what you can handle and what you want to get from your provider
Support is one of the key points of every hosting service. A decent support team should be responsive, knowledgeable, and good at communicating. ItâÃÂÃÂs also worth checking out if some services are paid since thatâÃÂÃÂs a possibility
Admittedly, it can be tough to evaluate a support team without actually purchasing hosting. You can check out the details on the top providers above. If youâÃÂÃÂre interested in a host thatâÃÂÃÂs not on the list, the next point can help you gather info about the support
Even if you make a mistake, though, it might not be too late. Most Windows VPS providers have some kind of money-back guaranteeâÃÂÃÂusually for one month. If a hosting service doesnâÃÂÃÂt feel right, get a refund and try a different provider
Pretty much all providers boast about their services, but few deliver. What you can rely on, though, is that the customers will speak out about any issues
Sites like Trustpilot or Reddit can be awesome resources here. You can use them to see the general consensus about a hostâÃÂÃÂs service
Just donâÃÂÃÂt base your decision on the first review that pops up. Individual user reviews can be unreliable, so take them with a grain of salt. If 20% of users have a problem with the service, though, itâÃÂÃÂs a pretty reliable sign you should stay away
The price generally corresponds to what you get with the overall service. There are a few things to keep in mind if you want cheap Windows VPS hosting, though
First, a host might prioritize one type of customer. So, one provider might have better deals if you need a small virtual server, while another caters to larger organizations. ItâÃÂÃÂs always beneficial to compare and contrast providers before picking one
ItâÃÂÃÂs also a good idea to check what youâÃÂÃÂd have to pay with each plan. For instance, some providers donâÃÂÃÂt charge a fixed monthly price for a Windows Server license. This basically makes the deals worse as you upgrade to higher-tier plans
The best Windows VPS hosting deal will heavily depend on what you want to host. The guidelines above can be handy when making a decision, though
Windows Is the Way!
You now know who the top names are and how to recognize a quality provider.