Managed or Unmanaged Dedicated Servers - Which One Should You Use?

In this article we will begin with defining both managed and unmanaged bare metal dedicated servers and afterwards explain their differences and at the end tell you whether you should buy an unmanaged server for yourself or a managed server. 

What Is a Managed Server?

A managed dedicated server is a business model where a service provider leases hardware to just a single customer and he himself manages the server, software, and networks that are essential for hosting for the customer. Whenever an issue arises, the managed hosting provider will completely help the customer to troubleshoot the problem and rectify it.

What Is an Unmanaged Server?

Unmanaged Bare Metal Dedicated servers are dedicated servers that grant users complete root access control for custom server configurations. They are suitable for those who have some Linux knowledge and skill and also those who are acquainted with server administration. Many hosting companies just pre-install the software on your server when you choose an unmanaged hosting package. The server maintenance is up to you and your team. 

When Should You Use Unmanaged Dedicated Servers?

 

The answer is very simple: when you require the power of a dedicated server and the flexibility of an unmanaged plan. 

Managed Servers vs Unmanaged Servers

Unmanaged dedicated servers are lower in price in comparison to their managed rivals. This is because you shouldn't pay for the extra resources or any support guaranteed with a managed plan. Managing the operating system, security, configuration, and every aspect of the server is up to you and your team. Thus, you should have substantial expertise to employ updates, take regular server backups and consider necessary measures to maintain your server updated and secure. Whenever a problem arises, you and your team must have server expertise to troubleshoot them. If you don't have any knowledge about server maintenance or don’t have at least someone on your team to know about it, an unmanaged dedicated server will not be the right choice for you.

An unmanaged dedicated server gives you complete control i.e. full administrative access to configure the server based on your requirements. You and your team can determine which control panel to use, which operating system you would like, and which applications and servers you want to make use of on the server. 

Unmanaged dedicated servers need a lot of work. All server maintenance aspects are up to you and you have to regularly keep your server safe from probable threats such as malware, viruses, and other attacks. Therefore, if you don't have enough technical knowledge, this will be very difficult for you.

Conclusion

What we can comprehend from comparing a managed server vs unmanaged server is that if you require extra power and flexibility for your business it is better to buy an unmanaged server plan. But, if you’re on a managed plan at present, measure out all your choices and ensure you have access to the right resources before you upgrade to an unmanaged plan.