Managed Web Hosting – Lending a Helping Hand!

If your company is large enough that your shared server host is sending you threatening letters about the amount of space your using and the bandwidth you are using, it is probably time to switch to a dedicated server host.

The problem with that is, for the most part, you need to run a dedicated server yourself. Stumped? Confused? Scared? You should be.

Dedicated servers are notoriously complex, and take a certified professional at the helm to run properly. That means that you should go out, find a high priced web administrator, and be really nice to him or her.

Of course, if that doesn’t sound like such a great idea, there is another way. Enter the managed host.

Born of the powerful dedicated host and gentle ways of the shared host, managed web hosting could be best described as a mixture of the two. Like a dedicated web hosting option, you get powerful storage, bandwidth, and technical options for a large web site. Add to that the high-value service options common in most shared web hosting options, and you have the perfect plan for a company breaking into the big leagues that needs someone to oversee the day to day operations of their website.

These days, there are a lot of those companies around. As the internet grows, many companies find themselves rushing to catch up. In response, the number of web hosting companies out there offering managed hosting has also grown. This is great news for medium and larger companies out there looking to improve their web performance.

Why is Managed Web Hosting Important?

Managed hosting is perfect for any company lacking specific training to run their own server but who nevertheless need to have the added power and space a dedicated server provides.

There are a lot of specialized services are often added to a managed hosting package. For example, invaluable services such as reporting and monitoring of web traffic in order to better understand the habits of your web visitors. This can be handy for marketing information, because the more you understand about your web clients, the better able to serve them you become.

Another important feature added to many managed server packages is security for your site to protect it from hackers and viruses. Often managed hosts come with 24 hour a day monitoring the same way many shared web hosting packages come with.

This feature can save you valuable time and money should a virus come into the network or your site is attacked by malicious hackers. It does happen to companies from time to time, and that’s when you’ll be glad you had proper security in place.

Data backup is an extremely important feature added to most managed hosting packages. Data backup is important in the case of a catastrophic (and usually unpredictable) event such as a power surge or a network crash.

In these instances, data backup can mean the difference between a quick and speedy recovery and hundreds of hours of work lost because the site needs to be put back together. On a more mundane level, data backup ensures that you always have recent and accurate records of all of your web activity.

Other important features that make up the average managed hosting package include things like managed load balancing, managed storing, and managed databases. All of these features add to the worry free environment that good managed web hosting provides.

Managed Hosting Company Reviews

If you are looking for great managed hosting options at affordable prices, we have gone through some companies and come up with a couple that would be a good place to start. These companies offer friendly, professional service, dedicated administrative service, and each carries packages that reflect their specific area of expertise.

• ReadyWebsites offers easy top use and easy to understand hosting services that start from the ground up. Their built in web authoring tool makes creating and using your own managed hosting package simple and effective. Readywebsites tool allows you to create thousands of different combinations to make your web site unique. They also have an amazing payment protection plan and customer service administrators who are competent, reliable, and won’t waste time explaining confusing web-jargon. Readywebsites is here to stay, and they’re ready to serve you. [ Full Review ]
• InMotionHosting is a company on the move up in the web hosting world. Their leading edge technology and friendly, courteous staff has made Inmotion Hosting to be named a number one hosting company by many web critics’ standards. Inmotion Hosting offers a wide variety of web hosting packages and setups for any company out there looking for great web hosting solutions. Since 2001 Inmotion Hosting has been getting websites up and running. Take a look and see what they can do for you. [ Full Review ]

Managed Hosting Product Reviews

If you are interested in taking another look at these companies and what they can do for your web site, we’ve provided some in-depth reviews of their products and services. These reviews can help you get a better picture about specific services these companies offer and which ones may be right for you.

• ReadyWebsites is perfect for A to Z hosting issues. Their amazing web interface and authoring tool will easily take you from concept to finished product in no time. They offer great hosting packages to go with their sites, too. And if anything could top the Readywebsites setup, it would have to be their customer service administrators. Readywebsites customer service is second to none, and their assistants are eager to get you ready to face whatever web hosting issues you may have. Contact them today, and by tomorrow they’ll have you ready to go. [ Full Review ]
• InMotionHosting has everything you need to get you moving. Their three-way approach to web hosting includes the Launch Plan starter package for as low as $7.95 per month, their Power Plan which starts at $9.95 per month, and their professional Pro Plan with runs at about $19.95 per month. They also offer a completely customizable system where you can add more services as you need them. Their helpful staff have on average about 4 years of web hosting experience, and they are supported by a senior staff with over ten years experience. Take a look and see how Inmotion Hosting can get your web site moving in a hurry. [ Full Review ]

For many companies, managed hosting is the perfect mix of dedicated web hosting space and shared web hosting service. If your company is growing beyond the limitations of its shared hosting plan, it may well be time to look into a managed web host. For most, you will be able to use all of your hosting scripts and software, whether you run an ASP web hosting setup, a php web hosting setup, or any of the other great options available to webmasters these days.

About the Author

Bill Schnarr is a single parent and freelance writer who makes his home in Calgary, Alberta. As well as having dozens of online and print publishing credits, he has recently reviewed numerous web hosting companies and their various web hosting plans. Look for him in the upcoming "Chicken Soup for the Single Parents Soul" due out in February 2005.