Should you opt for a managed or unmanaged cloud service?

Cloud servers are among the most preferred web hosting options available today. The advanced technology cloud servers employ is able to provide businesses with a very powerful and reliable hosting platform. Once you decide to opt for a cloud server, you still have the choice to pick a managed cloud server or an unmanaged cloud server.

If you wish to conduct the maintenance of your server and website by yourself, then an unmanaged cloud plan would be sufficient for you. If you lack the time and resources to maintain your hosting server then you can opt for a managed service. Let us look at what a managed and unmanaged cloud service can offer so that you can pick what would suit you the best.

Unmanaged Cloud Service

An unmanaged cloud service is one where you just get the cloud plan in itself. This includes your cloud server space, by which your website would be hosted. It also comes with the set of resources such as bandwidth, RAM, storage etc.

All that is necessary to host your website and make sure it is run efficiently can be gained when you just purchase the cloud plan. However, owning a website and hosting it on to the internet is not enough to run your business successfully. For an effectively functioning website you need to regularly maintain the server.

This involves maintenance of storage, security etc. You require at least some amount of technical knowledge to maintain a cloud server properly. If you have the prior knowledge that makes you capable of maintaining your cloud website then an unmanaged cloud plan can easily be managed by you. Opting for an unmanaged cloud server can give you great control over your website.

You don’t need to deal with any trust issues to get your website running well. If your organization requires you to have optimal control over your website and server, then unmanaged cloud solutions is a good fit. Even with an unmanaged plan, you will still be able to consult your provider’s technical support team when you encounter issues that are beyond your hosting expertise. Unmanaged cloud plans are also cheaper in comparison to those that are managed.

Managed Cloud Service

When you opt for a managed cloud hosting plan, you get a lot more benefits than you would from an unmanaged plan.  Just like in an unmanaged plan, you still get your own server space and adequate resource amount for RAM, Bandwidth, storage etc.

Where it differs from the unmanaged plan is that managed cloud plans require little to no effort from your side on maintaining the server and your website.  You do not have to keep a track of updates, security packages, backup etc. All the necessary activities related to maintaining an efficient server and well-functioning website will be taken care of by the hosting service providers.

If you are someone who lacks the technical knowledge to maintain your server, managed cloud servers can be a good solution. This serves the benefit for you to opt for a cloud server for your website even if you do not have any prior technical knowledge. You can also opt for a managed cloud plan if you lack the time and resources to maintain the server. The hosting provider will make sure all your server needs are taken care of in a timely manner. Since managed servers offer a lot more, they are priced higher than that unmanaged.

Both managed and unmanaged plans offer their own set of benefits. If you are someone efficient in maintaining your server and want to save cost on your cloud plan then go ahead and opt for an unmanaged cloud service. If you do not own the liberty to take time and out and manage your server then a managed cloud plan will satisfy your needs.