Shared hosting is a popular way to start a website, but as a business grows, the problems with shared hosting become apparent. Shared hosting is an economical way to get a website up and running, and it remains a good option for low traffic websites. However, most sites intend to grow, so successful enterprises quickly outgrow the capability of a shared hosting environment.

In shared hosting, multiple users share one physical server and all its resources. The capabilities of the server are not divided up, meaning that if one website is using most of the server capability, the other sites will run slowly or crash. A virtual private server allocates a specific amount of a server’s capabilities to a customer, guaranteeing that your website will not be affected by the actions of other users.

There are a multitude of VPS providers, but if you are moving from a shared hosting platform, you might want to consider a VPS provider that offers both managed and non-managed VPS options. Managed hosting gives you numerous upgraded options and is perfect for businesses that do not have the time or skill to manage their website thoroughly. Top VPS providers that offer managed and unmanaged options:

• GreenGeeks VPS—offers an array of plans that range from completely managed to completely unmanaged, allowing customers to choose the right fit for their company. GreenGeeks, as the name implies, is an eco-friendly hosting platform that returns three to one the energy it consumes. GreenGeeks has an excellent reputation for cybersecurity, and there is plenty of room to customize the management of your VPS.
• Media Temple—offers a range of plans to suit the needs of a growing business. Media Temple provides free automated backups, and enhanced security, even on its entry-level plans.
• A2 Hosting—A2 Hosting, whatever the plan, does one thing exceptionally well. If the speed of your site is crucial in a VPS, A2 Hosting has you covered. The turbo server option is among the fastest in the business, yet A2 is competitively priced.
• MilesWeb—A VPS provider with data centers located around the web, MilesWeb is a popular option for those looking to move from a shared hosting platform to a VPS easily. They offer budget-friendly plans that appeal to small to mid-sized businesses.

When is it time to leave shared hosting behind?

Leaving behind an inexpensive shared hosting platform can seem a bit daunting, but if you intend to scale your business, it is necessary. If you run a blog or other low impact site, you might think you are fine with a shared hosting plan, but even then, there can be problems. If you have a blog post go viral, can your shared hosting environment handle the increased traffic? Waiting until you experience difficulties in changing to a VPS plan can result in missed opportunities.

You know it is time to implement VPS when:

1. Your incoming traffic increases. Incoming site traffic can cause decreased site performance in a shared environment. A site that performs poorly is a quick way to lose potential customers or clients and can harm the overall reputation of your business.
2. The limitations and lack of customization of shared hosting are limiting what you want to do with your website. You cannot add more resources to a shared hosting plan, so you are left with limited resources to use. VPS plans give you full customization options, including the operating system, amount of RAM, and hard disk space. You also have the option to upgrade the resources at any time and with little effort.
3. You want to improve the SEO of your site. On a shared hosting platform, there can be hundreds of other places all using the same IP address. Sites with a poor reputation can impact your SEO ranking negatively, and there is little you can do about it. A VPS provides you with a dedicated IP address, which improves your site security, and offers protection from other sites influencing the SEO of your website.
4. E-commerce websites should leave the shared hosting arena. A VPS plan gives you better security, increased reliability, more uptime, and increased performance. If your business relies on your website, a VPS gives you the control to create the experience your customers will have.
5. If you need faster load times to keep your customers or clients satisfied, it is probably time to switch to VPS. The digital consumer is very unforgiving of a slow website, and you never get a second chance to make a first impression. VPS plans give you dependably faster speeds and more reliable uptime. A potential customer who finds you site down is unlikely ever to visit again, so investing in a VPS early in your business can help prevent negative impressions of your business.

If you are upgrading from a shared hosting plan to protect the reputation of your business, the GreenGeeks VPS page seems to offer the most options when looking for a VPS hosting service. Businesses can also take advantage of Greengeeks’ environmental initiatives to propel your own company into the green movement, but, of course, other options offer many of these features and others. When upgrading to a VPS, it is crucial to pick whatever provider fits your use-case the best, whether it be Greengeeks or one of the other options we listed.