Dedicated Server Costs and Pricing Overview
The cost of a dedicated server depends on many factors, such as hardware, add-on services, and level of support. While dedicated servers are known for their high performance, these benefits come at a cost.
Until recently, dedicated servers were the obvious upgrade choice for large and growing websites. But with the rise of cloud hosting, this is no longer the case. That's why you should carefully consider the pros and cons of dedicated servers before making a decision.
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Can You Justify the Cost of a Dedicated Server?
Justifying the cost of a dedicated server primarily depends on your performance and security needs. If you need to host a demanding website with plenty of traffic, dedicated servers can deliver great performance. The same goes if you need to boost security, as this is where dedicated servers shine.
In most cases, the increased costs of upgrading to a dedicated server will pay off in the long run, if not immediately.
What Are the Pros and Cons of Dedicated Servers?
When deciding on the right dedicated server price, you should first consider the pros and cons of dedicated servers, especially in comparison to cloud servers.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| High performance | High costs compared to most other hosting solutions |
| The highest level of security and privacy | Less scalable than cloud solutions |
| The option to use your own equipment (colocation) | More vulnerable to hardware malfunctions compared to cloud solutions |
| The most advanced remote monitoring, control, and access solution (IPMI) | Better technical understanding is required to self-manage |
| Unlimited storage upgrade potential | Higher maintenance is required to self-manage |
| Complete control over hardware and software customization |
Is a Dedicated Server Worth the Price?
You can easily predict if a dedicated server is worth the price by considering your website's traffic and page load times.
Your current hosting solution, such as a VPS, handles regular traffic well, but you're now considering paid advertising to drive more visitors. So ask yourself: how many new sales would you need to make to cover the increased dedicated server pricing?
Next up, you should also consider the page load time. Your current server could be slowing down your page load times and causing you to lose visitors. Now imagine how much more you could earn if you significantly reduce those page load times to keep your visitors happy.
Important Features When Shopping for a Dedicated Server
Here are some of the things you should consider when buying a dedicated server:
Management
Unmanaged hosting is an excellent option if you have the necessary expertise and time. This is a great option for power users or corporations with a dedicated crew that understands how to handle and maintain a dedicated server.
The cost of an unmanaged dedicated server is lower than that of a managed one. But if you'd rather focus on website development and maintaining your business than invest additional time and effort in administering the dedicated server, a managed dedicated hosting solution is the way to go.
Hardware
In most cases, hardware will have the biggest impact on the dedicated server's price. So make sure you select the right hardware for your needs, including the right CPU, RAM, and storage.
Furthermore, it would also be beneficial to examine the future upgrade options since your company is likely to expand over time. This way, you can be confident that you are investing in the necessary infrastructure that will keep you going for some time.
Security
Dedicated servers generally offer better security than VPS and shared servers, but this doesn't mean you don't need to remain vigilant. Cybercriminals are constantly looking for vulnerabilities to exploit in order to gain access to your systems, so it is critical for businesses to invest in dedicated servers that include a variety of security features like a web application firewall, DDoS protection, malware protection, removal solutions, etc.
Some security services are included in your dedicated hosting plan, but you might also need to pay for a few security add-ons. So ask your host how much they charge for these services before deciding on a provider.
Uptime
Consider a visitor landing on your website only to discover it doesn't load. Depending on your industry, this could result in a significant financial loss.
Most hosting companies currently guarantee over 99% uptime, but that figure should be higher for a dedicated server. On our dedicated servers, Liquid Web is delighted to offer 100% uptime.
Customer Support
If you decide to invest in better hosting and get a dedicated server hosting you should also get top-tier customer service. That includes being able to call at any time and speak to a live person if you have an issue. With this in mind, look for a hosting company that offers a 24/7 service.
It's also important that you consider other means of communication, depending on what works best for you. For maximum convenience, a lot of hosting companies offer all three: phone, chat, and email support.
Backups
Backups are something that should never be overlooked. Even though dedicated servers are highly reliable hosting solutions, unexpected events still occur. That's why planning for the worst-case scenario is a good idea. Taking regular backups can mean the difference between losing just a few orders and losing your entire business.
Additionally, you should make sure your host offers both on-site and off-site backups and learn how much they charge for these services. In most cases, the pricing should be proportional to the size of your data, but some hosts might offer flat fees or tiers as well.
Dedicated Server Costs and Pricing Overview
As mentioned previously, the final price of a dedicated server will primarily depend on its hardware, level of support, and any additional services you choose. But dedicated server hosting prices can also vary from provider to provider.
To keep dedicated server costs as low as possible, pick exactly what you need by considering essential features. These include hardware, backups, security, support level, and management. You should also check how much dedicated servers cost on different providers' websites.
Consider Liquid Web Dedicated Hosting
When shopping for a dedicated server, it is vital to consider the cost of the hardware, add-on services, and level of support. While dedicated servers offer high performance, they come at a higher price than other types of hosting options. Therefore, carefully consider the pros and cons of dedicated servers before making a decision for your website.
Contact us if you have any questions about dedicated server costs and pricing. At Liquid Web, we take pride in giving you the best possible dedicated server hosting experience. So take a look at our managed dedicated server plans to get the best security and performance for your websites and apps.
Joseph Molloy
Liquid Web Security Operations tech Joseph spends his days cleaning up malware and doing his part to keep the Internet safe. He is interested in all things Linux and always looking for something new to learn. In addition, he enjoys cooking and playing guitar, is an avid horror and sci-fi reader, and is a fan of black metal music.
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