In today’s ever-evolving world of technology, dedicated servers are becoming increasingly popular and they’re now considered to be an essential tool for businesses. Commonly, dedicated servers are used by businesses that need to host a website, however, they can also be used for applications like streaming services and corporate intranets. This advanced solution enables you to host complex applications that require more resources than those offered by alternatives like shared servers. 

A dedicated server is a server that only hosts your website/s. One of the most notable benefits of this single-use server is that you have complete control of the hardware and software. You can customise the server to ensure it’s suitable for your business, rather than relying on the technology used by other businesses on shared servers. This control also provides an extra layer of security as the hardware isn’t shared with anyone else. So, you won’t have to worry about data breaches which can impact your reputation.

Additionally, dedicated servers are faster and more reliable than other hosting solutions. As the server is completely dedicated to your website, it won’t be affected by issues with other websites, which is often the case with shared servers. You can trust that your website will stay up and running without interruption, and you won’t have the hassle associated with downtime. Not to mention, dedicated servers offer excellent scalability. You can easily upgrade them to meet your ever-changing needs and you can quickly add new features if required. 

With so many dedicated server plans and providers to choose from, there are several things to consider when finding the right solution for your business. When narrowing down the market, be sure to think about the following; 

Server Specifications

Even when you’re using a dedicated server that can be adapted to your needs, it’s key to know the specifications of the server to help you determine whether it’s right for your business. You need to ensure you’re selecting a powerful server with enough storage space to meet your needs. Ideally, you should look at everything from the processor speed, RAM and disk space to the SAN disk type and platform. All of this technical information can help you to make sure you’re choosing a server that has the capabilities to meet your needs. 

Network Connectivity

Whenever you’re comparing different server options, you need to check the uptime guarantee provided by the hosting provider. When your dedicated server has good network connectivity, you won’t have to worry about inadequate server uptime. Simply put, server uptime is a measure of the amount of time that a server has been running and is available. This is commonly used to measure the reliability and availability of the server, and for peace of mind, you should look for a dedicated server with a 100% network uptime agreement. 

Support and Maintenance

One of the most important things to look for when you’re choosing between different dedicated hosting services is the amount of support offered by the hosting provider. You need to make sure there is a knowledgeable UK-based team available 24/7 to assist you with any problems you may encounter with your server. Finding a dedicated server provider that offers you your own account manager can be very useful too. 

Make sure the provider you choose can also help you to migrate your website. This can be easy to overlook but a clear migration plan can help you to avoid unnecessary problems and downtime, and ensure there is a smooth transition. Another key thing to check is ongoing monitoring. To ensure your dedicated server is always working as it should be, it needs to be monitored so potential issues can be highlighted before they become big problems. 

Security

Not all dedicated server hosting solutions come with the same security features and security is always an essential consideration when you’re selecting a server. The dedicated server needs to be properly secured with the latest security protocols, and encryption and firewalls should be included as standard. Automatic security updates can also help to defend against attacks on sensitive data, preventing common concerns about data protection. As another precaution, a dedicated server should be backed up regularly in case of an emergency too. So if something does go wrong, you know it’s possible to restore your website.

Contract Length and Price 

As with any other business investment, price is something you need to consider when choosing a dedicated server. This type of server is often more expensive than a shared server, however, it’s a worthwhile expense. When comparing costs, take into consideration everything mentioned above and ensure that everything you need to run your website will be included. It isn’t uncommon for dedicated server providers to have several monthly contracts, as well as multi-year contracts, to compare when searching for a budget-friendly solution. 

Using the Best Dedicated Server for Your Needs

There’s no denying that dedicated servers are an invaluable tool for any business that needs to host a website or application securely. They offer complete control, faster speeds, a more reliable service and excellent scalability, so it’s no surprise that they’re a popular alternative to shared servers nowadays. As technology continues to evolve, dedicated servers will become even more important as businesses look to maximise their computing resources and if you’re considering investing in a dedicated server, now is the time to do so. 

Hopefully, the information above will help you to choose the best dedicated server for your business and you can ensure that you’re turning to a trusted server hosting provider. Here at catalyst2, we provide a variety of server hosting options and we will happily discuss your needs with you in more detail, helping you to find the right solution. 

When you turn to our team at catalyst2 for a fully managed dedicated server, you can trust that we will go above and beyond to assist you. We have been hosting since 2000 and customer satisfaction is very important to us. Our dedicated server hosting solutions are as unique as the businesses we work with and we will have the perfect server for your business. From the moment you contact us, your website becomes as important to us as it is to you and you can trust that we will provide you with the best dedicated server to host your website/s.