What Is VPS Hosting? Key Insights For Digital Agencies

If you’re grappling with resource contention problems on a shared hosting platform or reliability issues with your current hosting provider, VPS servers present a comprehensive and reliable solution. But what is VPS hosting? Well, we’re here to guide you through VPS hosting and managed VPS hosting so you can see why they can address your business needs effectively.

Virtual Private Server (VPS) hosting is a really popular choice among digital agencies who need more control and resources than a shared hosting service can provide, but feel that a dedicated server space would be a bit too much.

A VPS utilises virtualisation technology to offer dedicated resources on a server shared by multiple users. This means you get a private environment with guaranteed resources while sharing the physical server with others.

The sharing of space means that we can offer you these server resources at a great price, but you’ll still have the security of a private server environment just like you would on dedicated servers. A VPS hosting plan is a brilliant choice for agencies looking to grow, as they are scalable as your needs change and your business flourishes. But how do they work?

A VPS works by creating virtual partitions on a physical server using a hypervisor. Each user gets their own virtual server environment, providing plenty of space for multiple websites. As it’s a private environment, you can install your preferred operating system and software to ensure your client’s websites run as smoothly and efficiently as possible.

This setup provides enhanced security, performance, and control compared to shared hosting. Users have root-level access, similar to a dedicated server, but at a lower cost. So, while you won’t have access to the entire physical server, you’ll have your very own virtual machine that is safe, secure and away from prying eyes.

Selecting the right web hosting solution is pivotal to an agency’s success. As agencies evolve and grow, so do their hosting needs. Among the array of hosting options out there, virtual private servers stand out as a versatile and robust choice. Still, understanding how VPS compares to other hosting types is essential for making informed decisions that align with your business goals and requirements. 

In this section, we pit VPS against various other web hosting types, shedding light on their distinctive features, benefits, and ideal use cases for agencies. Whether you’re a startup exploring hosting options or an established agency seeking to optimise your online infrastructure, this article will equip you with the insights needed to make confident hosting decisions tailored to your agency’s needs.

Shared Hosting

Shared hosting is suitable for small websites with low to moderate traffic. Resources are shared among multiple users, which can lead to performance issues during traffic spikes.

In most cases, you’re at the mercy of the web hosting provider you choose and the server resources they are willing to allocate to you. Many large shared hosting services overcrowd servers and cause performance issues for everyone on the server.

For your clients, this can slow their websites, lead to bad audience retention and cause drops in traffic.  

Cloud Hosting

Cloud hosting offers an adaptable, dependable and scalable web hosting option.  It’s an ideal solution for managing variable traffic volumes. 

Yet, its pricing structure poses challenges for agencies with clients who have relatively predictable traffic patterns. Alongside potential regulatory compliance issues and data security concerns, this can mean that cloud hosting isn’t the reliable and trustworthy hosting solution you need. 

Digital agencies must carefully weigh up whether the capability to handle massive traffic spikes outweighs the unstable pricing structure and potential security risks that plague cloud hosting providers. A managed VPS hosting plan from Nimbus can handle a 400% increase in traffic to your site and has built-in security measures and stable pricing that is more suited to most agencies.

WordPress Hosting

WordPress hosting is optimised for WordPress websites. The hosting provider installs features like one-click installation and pre-installed plugins. 

This allows you to build WordPress sites quickly and easily. However, this type of web hosting plan does not allow websites built on another CMS to be hosted on the same server. So, if your current clients, or any clients you gain in the future have a website built elsewhere, you’ll need to find new hosting providers to host it.

While shared WordPress hosting is common, VPS allows greater customisation and control. Plus, a VPS server can be set up to run WordPress sites (Nimbus are specialists in this area) just as quickly (in our case, quicker according to our many happy customers) than any dedicated WordPress hosting environment. VPS gives you the flexibility of hosting all of your client’s sites built with any other CMS. 

If the sound of setting up the server environment is making you nervous, stick around to learn more about our managed virtual private server hosting service. This gives you all of the control and security of a VPS but with the added benefit of an expert support team to help you install custom software and solve issues with your client’s websites.

Dedicated Hosting

Dedicated hosting provides exclusive access to a physical server, ensuring maximum performance and customisation. This type of hosting offers unrivalled control and security. You have full root access, so if you’re hosting websites for different clients, you can configure them at a server level based on their needs and yours too.

Dedicated hosting gives you much more control over the server environment, but this means more overheads and a much steeper learning curve if you aren’t used to server setup.

Dedicated servers can comfortably handle a few hundred to thousands of websites (depending on the size of the sites). They can also handle sites with millions of visitors per month. We offer managed dedicated hosting options for larger agencies to tackle the hundreds of huge websites they host. 

If you feel that a dedicated server is a bit too complex for your needs, but you’d like to enjoy the privacy and security of a dedicated space, you need VPS hosting. It is the best of both worlds. It’s secure and reliable yet scalable. So, if you have a dozen sites you need to host right now, but are confident you’ll have 50 next year, a VPS can grow with you.

A virtual private server is a brilliant option for digital agencies who need the security of dedicated hosting without the upfront costs, and who need the scalability of cloud hosting with much more customisation options, and no hidden costs. Of course, a virtual server doesn’t come without some things to take into consideration. So, here are some pros and cons of a VPS server.

Pros

• Faster and more reliable than shared hosting.
• Guaranteed resources with minimal fluctuation.
• Isolated environment for better security and privacy.
• Scalable, allowing easy upgrades as your website grows.

Cons

• More expensive than shared hosting.
• Requires technical knowledge for setup and management.
• Server management can be complex.
• Improper configuration may lead to security vulnerabilities.

By choosing managed VPS, agencies gain a powerful, secure, and scalable platform that grows with them, allowing them to deliver exceptional results for their clients.

The ideal time for a digital agency to upgrade to a virtual private server is different from agency to agency. One important consideration is the agency’s current hosting setup and its ability to meet growing demands. Here are some signs that it might be time to upgrade to a VPS server:

Increased Traffic

If your client’s websites experience consistent growth in traffic, leading to performance issues or slowdowns on your current hosting plans, it’s a sign that a VPS with dedicated resources could provide better performance and stability.

Resource Intensive Websites and Applications

As the agency’s projects become more complex or resource-intensive (e.g., running multiple CMS instances, databases, or custom applications), a VPS allows for greater control over resources, ensuring optimal performance and reliability.

Customisation Needs

If the agency requires specific software configurations, server-level customisation, or access to root/administrator privileges, a VPS will offer more flexibility compared to other hosting environments.

Security Concerns

If the agency deals with sensitive client data or requires enhanced security measures, switching to a VPS provides isolated environments. This improves security and reduces the risk of unauthorised access or breaches compared to shared hosting.

Need for Scaling

A VPS allows for easier scalability compared to shared hosting plans. If your agency is anticipating rapid growth or fluctuating resource needs, upgrading to a VPS provides the scalability required to accommodate such changes efficiently.

Performance Optimisation

If your client’s websites require specific optimisations for performance, such as server-side caching, custom modules, or fine-tuning of server settings, a VPS offers the control necessary to implement these optimisations effectively.

Overall, the best time for your agency to upgrade to a VPS server is when its current hosting infrastructure no longer meets performance, customisation, scalability, or security requirements. Regular monitoring of website performance, traffic trends, and resource utilisation can help determine when it’s time to make the switch to a VPS server.

Our Managed VPS service offers the same benefits as unmanaged VPS hosting, as well as a lot more. Your sites are still hosted in a private environment, you still have full control of that environment, but you can enjoy a little helping hand from the best customer support team in hosting!

We can handle all aspects of server management and maintenance on behalf of your agency. From initial setup to ongoing monitoring and support, our team ensures your VPS operates smoothly, securely, and efficiently.

You focus on building websites for your clients and building new relationships with new clients, and we’ll do the rest. With our managed VPS hosting plans, you can focus on your business while we take care of the technical details, providing you with a reliable and hassle-free hosting experience.

At Nimbus Hosting, we specialise in providing top-notch VPS hosting solutions tailored to the unique needs of digital agencies and developers. With our Managed VPS service, your agency not only benefits from the flexibility, performance, and security of a virtual private server but also from the peace of mind knowing that our expert team is proactively managing your hosting environment.

Our managed VPS hosting packages are designed to offer maximum reliability and convenience, allowing you to focus on growing your business while we handle the technical intricacies of server management. From seamless setup and configuration to round-the-clock monitoring, security updates, and the most responsive support team in the business. We’re committed to delivering a premium hosting experience that exceeds your expectations.

With Nimbus Hosting as your VPS provider, you can trust that your websites and applications will be hosted on a robust infrastructure, optimised for speed, stability, and scalability. Whether you’re launching a new project or looking to migrate existing sites, our team is here to support you every step of the way.

Make the smart choice for your hosting needs and partner with Nimbus Hosting for reliable, hassle-free managed VPS solutions. Experience the difference today and unlock the full potential of your online presence.

Is a VPS good For hosting multiple websites?

Yes, a virtual private server is excellent for hosting multiple websites for digital marketing agencies. It provides dedicated resources, enhanced performance, and greater control compared to shared hosting, ensuring optimal website speed, security, and scalability for each client project.

Is a VPS a good option for hosting multiple websites?

Yes, VPS hosting is suitable for websites that require more resources and control than shared hosting can provide. It offers guaranteed resources and better uptime, making it ideal for growing websites.

Why do I need VPS hosting?

VPS hosting is essential for websites with high traffic or specific security requirements. It allows you to allocate resources as needed, ensuring optimal performance and stability.

What’s the difference between shared hosting and VPS?

Shared hosting shares resources among multiple users on a single server, while VPS provides dedicated resources within a virtualised environment. VPS offers greater control and scalability compared to shared hosting.

Related: Compare VPS hosting to Shared hosting