Virtual Private Servers (VPS)
A Virtual Private Server (VPS) is a cost-effective alternative for a small business to gain more flexibility and efficiency than is offered with shared hosting, without being at the mercy of the complexity and cost which is associated with running a dedicated server. In fact, it is considered the ideal solution for small and medium-sized businesses looking to improve their IT capabilities.
Providing a viable in-between option for businesses outgrowing their shared hosting, VPS hosting is usually chosen by SMBs who have medium-level traffic that exceeds the limits of shared hosting plans, yet do not require the overheads of a dedicated server.
VPS hosting provides an affordable way to upgrade from shared hosting to a solution that offers many of the features of a dedicated server: more resources, increased control and greater flexibility. It further includes managed services and efficient technical support.
VPS is a form of multi-user cloud hosting, and is one of the most popular hosting services you can choose for your business. It uses virtualisation technology to provide the end-user with dedicated resources over the internet or via a cloud/hosting provider, on a server shared by multiple users; also referred to as tenants.
The sharing of a VPS doesn’t compromise its security. In fact, a VPS is a more secure and stable solution than shared hosting where you don’t get dedicated server space. Furthermore, it is smaller-scale and cheaper than renting an entire server, and because it is online, you hold no risk for hardware damages or malfunction.
By utilising virtualisation technology effectively, businesses can successfully stay ahead of their competition, and efficiently respond to the needs of their customers and partners.
How Does a Virtual Private Server Work?
A VPS is basically a server running within a server. One physical server hosts multiple virtual servers, which are each isolated from one another. This is accomplished with software that segments the physical server, and keeps each segment separate from the rest.
In addition, each VPS runs its own operating system which is completely independent of the others, creating the illusion that it is actually its own independent server. An added feature which makes this a favourable choice is that a VPS can also be rebooted independently, thus one segment not affecting another.
What Are the Advantages of a VPS?
When you are in the process of building a successful business, it is crucial that every facet of your business performs at the highest level possible, and this includes the web servers. With internet technologies continually improving, and more businesses utilising the internet to increase their exposure every day, we cannot deny the growing necessity to use a Virtual Private Server.
Beyond hosting a website, VPS servers have a myriad of other uses. Even if you’re currently happy with your existing hosting plan, you would greatly benefit from investigating the benefits of VPS hosting for the other types of scenarios it provides.
Ideally, a VPS is suited to businesses because it offers:
- Reliable web hosting: Arguably the most common use of a VPS is hosting websites. As opposed to shared hosting sites, the user paying for the VPS has full control over the server, and can install whichever software and applications they like. This is especially beneficial as it can result in increased performance and user-friendliness for various websites.
- A virtual desktop: By hosting various applications on a VPS, users are able to create a unique and personalised virtual desktop, which basically looks and acts like a regular desktop on a regular computer. One of the main benefits is that the company no longer has to incorporate expensive computer power on computer desktops, because applications are hosted on the cloud instead, saving a great deal of money.
- Mail servers: VPS mail servers provide users with direct control over various email services, rather than simply passing them through shared service systems instead. A VPS uses special encryption software, which provides a far more secure email environment.
- Privacy: Your files, applications and databases are completely separate and locked from other server users.
- Server monitoring: With the increased need for security against cyberattacks, some VPS providers actively monitor your server and associated hardware for any threats. This ensures that threats such as hacking, malware and DDoS attacks are dealt with swiftly before they can do any damage.
- Lower costs than a dedicated server: A major benefit is that the hosting company can spread the cost of running and maintaining the server across all businesses operating on a given machine. Therefore, depending on your host and how many other users share the virtual service, your monthly fees are usually very low.
- More flexibility than shared hosting: With a VPS, you can customise your hardware and software configurations and run your own applications.
- Additional File Storage: Offline backups of vital data are absolutely essential, especially in the event of a system failure or other similar issues. Business often need to create another backup of their files, but find that using cloud storage accounts can be rather expensive. If you want to create secure and easily accessible backups, then a VPS Server could be the solution you require.
- Independent FTP and POP access: Again, the benefit which stands out to many organisations is that the traffic from other users’ use of FTP and POP email will not affect your access or speed.
- Root/Superuser access: Functioning as an independent server, VPS gives you root access, which is what you need to configure and install your own operating system and other applications. Shared hosting only gives you access to a directory on the shared server, which does not permit software customisation.
- Easy to scale: As your business grows, you can easily upgrade your server resources (RAM, CPU, disk space, bandwidth, etc.)
Virtual Servers VS Physical Servers
Both Virtual Private Servers and Physical Servers provide users with multiple benefits. Therefore, when choosing between the two, it is important to consider their distinctive characteristics to find out how they can be applied to your organisation’s infrastructure. For ease of reference, we have listed the primary differences between these two different services below.
| Virtual Private Servers | Shared Servers |
| A VPS hosting solution shares a physical server with other users, but utilizes a hypervisor. This ensures that you always have access to the guaranteed level of server resources as specified in your hosting plan. | This entails renting space on a physical server that’s being shared with multiple other users/businesses. The server is partitioned between users, but other sites on the same server could impact your site. |
| VPS hosting grants you a guaranteed amount of server resources, completely independent of other users, even whilst sharing space on a physical server. This is where the term “virtual server” comes into play. | A single physical server is divided up between multiple different user accounts – sometimes hundreds – which entails splitting up the physical server resources. |
| With VPS, the up-time and accessibility of your server remains unaffected and completely stable, while maintaining a faster and more stable speed. | Shared servers are slower and less reliable, and a slow server is displeasing to customers, which would possibly result in a loss of revenue. |
| There is no overlap in resource use, and the other VPS accounts won’t affect your site in any way. | There is often an overlap in resource use, and productivity can be affected by other users sharing the server. |
| On-demand scalability without interfering with the functioning of the server, therefore does not require any downtime. | On-demand scalability not readily available, and options can be limited. |
| Ability to access your root environment. | Lack of access to your root environment. |
| Security risks are kept to a minimum. You’re completely protected from other sites using the same server, but you’re able to implement other security hardening protocols as well. | Sharing a space with other users can put you at risk of being affected by their mistakes, faulty scripts or resource usage. |
| Operates with optimum performance regardless of the increase in traffic. | Performance can be negatively impacted when traffic is increased, or when the server begins to reach capacity. |
| Perfect for organisations running multiple operations or serving multiple users, which plan to expand in the future. | Perfect for organisations running services and operations which require highly productive computing hardware. |
| VPS allows your business to freely implement any necessary software changes within the server, and to run new software without limitation. | Unsupported software can raise security concerns for hosting providers, and on a shared server, , the software that is available will be dictated by the host. |
The DigiVAULT Difference
Our hosting infrastructure is optimised to deliver maximum stability and uptime. Our hosting infrastructure is optimised to deliver maximum stability and uptime. By duplicating hardware components, network hardware and cabling, we overcome any possible physical hardware and network connectivity failures.
1. We incorporate the following Data Centre key features,
- Dual separate Eskom power feeds backed up by dual diesel generators and dual UPS systems.
- JINX peering with dual data feeds from 2 separate ISP’s
- 99.9% uptime guarantee
- Dual air conditioning systems to keep hardware and servers running at optimal operating temperatures.
2. Our Hosting server are of enterprise quality
- We only use enterprise servers from HP, Dell, Super Micro and Intel. • Each server is connected to redundant power feeds with redundant power supplies on each power feed.• All virtual servers are hosted on a high availability cluster.
3. Data
- Data is stored on SSDs (limited to 2TB)• The SAN (Storage Area Network) consists of a state of the art three-node high availability Starwind cluster (Your data is duplicated on each node)
4. Automated Backups & Replication
- All virtual servers are replicated to a server outside the hosting cluster. These replications run every 15 minutes and contain hourly snapshots for a 24-hour period• Backups are run daily with both onsite and offsite copies
5. Private Networking
- Each server has a real-world IP address with a 2TB traffic • Private network between the servers will be made available with unlimited traffic
6. Premium Bandwidth
- No shaping or limitations, just high-quality bandwidth connects your server to the internet.