Are you looking for your own server?
Not sure what the difference is between managed and un-managed servers and what’s actually included?
As we like to be helpful we’re going to take a dive in to what the differences are between the two and the questions you should be asking any providers.
By the end you’ll be equipped to navigate the sometimes shark infested waters of web hosting and find the ideal solution to suit your skills and budget.
TL;DR;
The quick summary for those who don’t want to read it all (you really should though) is that with un-managed hosting you do everything, with fully-managed there should be very little for you to do other than upload your websites/apps*.
* There’s a lot more to it then that though, which is why we’d recommend you carry on reading.
A quick disclaimer
Since there is no standard definition of a fully managed hosting service, we will use our own understanding and definition of the term. We can’t say for sure what other providers do or do not include in their fully managed services, as our experience has shown that sometimes their claims may not match what they actually provide.
What do you need to consider?
Before you make the decision on chose a managed or un-managed server for your agency there are a number of factors you need to consider. We’ve set out what we believe are the most important ones below.
Technical resources and skills
Does your team have the technical skills required:
- to setup your server?
- to secure it properly?
- to get the best out of the server and the software?
- to troubleshoot problems?
- to backup files and databases properly?
If the answer to any of those is no, then a managed solution is the right choice for you. If you can answer yes to all of those then un-managed might be the solution for you.
Time
You might have the team, but do you have the time?
Is managing a server the most profitable use of you team’s time?
At the end of the day, your agency needs to make money to survive and thrive. If your team has to spend a couple of hours debugging an issue then that’s money they aren’t earning from client work and the savings of going with an un-managed solution wiped out.
Server specifications
Generally speaking you will find a larger range of server specifications for un-managed servers, although a lot of managed hosting providers will provide servers of whatever specification you require if asked.
Choice of provider
As providing un-managed servers is an easier market to enter due to needing less technical staff, there are a lot more providers offering un-managed services so you’ll have a larger selection of providers to chose from. In some instances though those providers are just reselling servers from a larger provider without adding anything of value in between you and the original provider.
Money
Can you afford a managed solution right now? If you can’t afford it, it doesn’t matter how much you might need it or what skills you have or haven’t got and un-managed server is more likely to fit your budget as hands down they win when it comes to price alone. However it might be that a different type of hosting, such as virtual hosting, where you pay per client you bring onboard (and cancel if they leave) might be more appropriate than a server you’re not sure how to manage.
In summary
Hopefully by now you understand the major differences between a fully managed server and an un-managed server and are in a position to decide which is right for your agency.
To help, we’ve put a handy comparison below of what tasks/jobs should be covered by the hosting provider for each type of hosting, but remember to head the warning at the bottom, we can only talk about our own managed hosting with any certainty.
Managed hosting
- Website Migrations
- Performance Optimisation
- Help & Advice
- Data Backup
- Server Security & Updates
- Software Installation & Updates
- Software Configuration
- Server Monitoring
- Fix Software Issues
- Fix Hardware Issues
vs.
Un-managed hosting
- Website Migrations
- Performance Optimisation
- Help & Advice
- Data Backup
- Server Security & Updates
- Software Installation & Updates
- Software Configuration
- Server Monitoring
- Fix Software Issues
- Fix Hardware Issues
Never assume something is included, always check and always get it in writing
