Published on February 13th, 2019 | by Sunit Nandi

The Next Level: Moving Up to a Bigger, Better Server

When starting an online business, cost-efficiency is usually a big concern. You want to keep operational costs at a minimum so you can grow the business without exhausting your capital. This is the approach many e-commerce entrepreneurs used, and it is an approach you can use today.

At a certain point, however, a shared hosting account will not be enough to deliver good user experience. More importantly, you may want to start thinking about getting a dedicated IP address and root control for better server management and flexibility.

That’s when you know you need to move to a bigger, better server. Before you do, there are several things you need to decide first.

VPS vs. Dedicated Server

You don’t want to wait until your existing hosting plan starts scaring potential customers away with slow performance and less-than-stellar reliability. The moment you see slow-downs and a growing number of performance issues, you need to start reviewing your options immediately.

In many cases, you will end up having to choose between a virtual private server or VPS service and a dedicated server. Choosing between the two is a matter of understanding your server requirements – and the budget you have in mind – and then find the option that suits you best.

There are, however, some things to take into account. A dedicated server is usually more suitable for websites with more than 500,000 visitors per month; a virtual private server, on the other hand, scales better with your e-commerce site.

Technical Know-How

Another thing you need to prepare is technical know-how. Unlike shared hosting services, you have to know your way around server configurations and maintenance in order to fully utilize a VPS service or a dedicated server. At the very least, you want to master the basics.

There are now managed VPS accounts and dedicated servers. A team of server administrators will handle setting up the server to your specific requirements and maintaining its smooth operations. Managed services are perfect for when you don’t have in-house server admins on stand-by.

It is also a good idea to learn more about how to maximize the use of extra server resources you get in return. This usually means optimizing the site for better performance with the extra RAM and storage you have, adding more benefits to the upgrade.

Two Steps Ahead

We all know how cumbersome moving to a new server can be, so it is also recommended to think about future needs before finalizing your decision. With VPS accounts, for example, you want to be extra certain that you can upgrade your VPS service to higher plans.

Dedicated servers are more complex, but there are still upgrade options to consider. You have to at least consider the possibility of adding more storage and more RAM to maintain server performance, especially when your e-commerce site is showing signs of rapid growth.

With these aspects sufficiently considered, you don’t have to worry about losing customers to poor server performance. You can find a suitable replacement for your existing hosting plan and start the migration process in no time.

Tags: better, bigger, moving up, next level, server

About the Author

Sunit Nandi I'm the leader of Techno FAQ. Also an engineering college student with immense interest in science and technology. Other interests include literature, coin collecting, gardening and photography. Always wish to live life like there's no tomorrow.