What sets apart VPS from dedicated server?
To begin with, let's see what VPS (Virtual private server) and dedicated server stand for. VPS is a virtualized server that acts like a dedicated server within a shared hosting environment. A dedicated server is a physical server that is exclusively rented by a single organization or individual. Unlike shared hosting or virtual servers, a dedicated server provides full control over hardware resources, allowing users to customize the server environment according to their specific needs.
How they work: dedicated server vs virtual private servers
Servers provide network capabilities, data storage and computing power. Both VPS and dedicated servers are types of servers with certain differences.
How a VPS works
While using VPS you should know that a hosting service provider partitions physical servers into multiple virtual environments each with its own dedicated CPU and RAM. A hypervisor distributes resources between virtual servers and ensures that virtual private servers created on a physical server do not interfere with one another and are isolated. VPS offers a middle ground between the cost-effectiveness of shared hosting and the robust resources of a dedicated server. Moreover, VPS are quite scalable and can be a great solution for middle-size businesses and high-traffic websites.
How a dedicated server works
A dedicated server is completely dedicated to your organization's services and applications. You can take control over hardware configuration, disk space and system resources with access to the physical system.
Is VPS as customizable as a dedicated server?
If comparing to a shared hosting, VPS exceeds it in terms of customizations: it allows you to install any operating system, access your files, customize the server and get root access. However, with a dedicated server, you get more control and customization options as you get access to the hardware and can decide, for example, on what kind of processor to use.
What is more secure VPS or dedicated server?
VPS allows custom security features tailored to your needs, such as advanced firewall configurations and intrusion detection systems. Thus, they are very flexible in terms of security, like dedicated servers. At the same time, unlike VPS users, dedicated server users are not at risk of being hacked by their node neighbors.
Dedicated server users have full control over security protocols and monitoring systems, which provides more robust protection against security threats and data leaks.
Can I host applications like Virola corporate messenger on VPS?
VPS is functioning like a dedicated server, thus it is possible to install any kind of software products, including business messengers. While using VPS, you receive full root control and can optimize server configuration to better suit your application performance. However, you will need to take into account disc space, CPU and RAM limitations of your hosting package.
Conclusion
VPS provides dedicated resources within the virtualized environment. It's a great option for applications that require more control, scalability, and customization than shared hosting but do not yet require a dedicated server. The main disadvantage of such systems is their dependency on one physical system which can cause data losses in case of crashes.
At the same time, a dedicated server is a great solution for businesses with resource-hungry web projects and applications that require high performance, full control over the hosting environment, significant storage space for data and flexible customizations. This option is suitable for large online platforms, high-traffic websites, resource-demanding applications and companies that require robust security to handle sensitive information or comply with specific regulations. However, to have a dedicated server you will not only need to pay more, but also will need to have enough technical skills to set up everything from scratch as dedicated servers are often provided as a blank system with some pre-installed software and scripts.