What is managed hosting? pros and cons

If you run a website or webshop, you need hosting. But which type of hosting do you choose? One of the most important choices is between managed and unmanaged hosting. Managed hosting takes a lot of technical management off your hands, but is more expensive. In this article we explain what managed hosting exactly is, what the pros and cons are, and who it's suitable for.

What is managed hosting?

Managed hosting is a type of web hosting where the hosting provider takes complete technical management of your server. Instead of you having to handle updates, security, backups and troubleshooting yourself, the hosting provider does all this for you.

With managed hosting you get:

• A fully configured server
• Automatic software updates
• Professional security and monitoring
• Regular backups
• Expert technical support
• Performance optimization

You pay more, but get a lot in return in time and peace of mind. It's like the difference between renting (where the landlord does maintenance) and owning (where you have to arrange everything yourself).

Managed vs unmanaged hosting

The difference becomes clear when you compare them:

Unmanaged hosting (VPS, dedicated server):

• You get a "bare" server
• You install the operating system
• You configure all software (webserver, database, PHP)
• You handle updates and patches
• You solve problems
• Minimal support from provider
• Cheaper

Managed hosting:

• Server is ready-to-use configured
• Provider installs and maintains all software
• Automatic updates and security
• Provider monitors and solves problems
• Extensive support from experts
• More expensive

For people without server knowledge, unmanaged hosting is not recommended. It requires technical expertise and a lot of time. Managed hosting is accessible to everyone.

What does a managed hosting provider do for you?

A good managed hosting provider handles these tasks:

Server setup and configuration

The provider installs and configures:

• Operating system (usually Linux)
• Webserver software (Apache, Nginx)
• Database server (MySQL, MariaDB)
• PHP and other programming languages
• SSL certificates
• Email server
• Caching systems

This is all ready when you activate your account. You can immediately install your website.

Security

Managed hosting providers implement multiple security layers:

• Firewall configuration and monitoring
• DDoS protection
• Malware scanning and removal
• Intrusion detection systems
• Security patches and updates
• SSL/TLS certificate management
• Login security (fail2ban, rate limiting)

Updates and maintenance

The provider ensures everything stays up-to-date:

• Operating system patches
• Webserver updates
• Database software updates
• PHP version updates
• Security fixes

This happens automatically and is tested on a staging environment before going to production, so updates don't break your site.

Backups

Automatic backups are standard:

• Daily (or even hourly) backups
• Multiple backup copies retained
• Offsite backup storage
• One-click restore functionality
• Test backups to guarantee they work

Monitoring and troubleshooting

24/7 monitoring of:

• Server uptime
• Performance metrics (CPU, RAM, disk)
• Webserver errors
• Database performance
• Traffic and bandwidth

If there are problems, the provider fixes them before you're affected.

Performance optimization

Managed providers actively optimize:

• Server configuration for speed
• Database query optimization
• Caching implementation (Redis, Memcached)
• CDN integration
• PHP opcode caching
• HTTP/2 and HTTP/3 support

Advantages of managed hosting

1. Time savings

This is the biggest advantage. Server management can easily cost 10-20 hours per month if you do it yourself. At an hourly rate of €50 that's €500-1000 per month. Managed hosting usually costs €20-100 per month. The math is quickly made.

2. Expert support

With problems you have access to server experts. Instead of hours of googling and experimenting, you solve problems with one support ticket. This saves frustration and downtime.

3. Better security

Managed providers employ security experts who work fulltime on security. They know what threats exist and how to protect against them. This is better than what you can achieve without security expertise.

4. Higher uptime

Professional monitoring and proactive maintenance mean less downtime. Managed hosts often have 99.9%+ uptime guarantees with SLAs.

5. Focus on your core business

Instead of managing servers, you can focus on what you're good at: creating content, selling products, serving customers. The technical stuff is handled for you.

6. Scalability

Managed providers make it easy to scale. More traffic? Upgrade with a click. They handle all technical adjustments.

7. Compliance

For certain industries (healthcare, finance) there are strict compliance requirements (HIPAA, PCI DSS). Managed providers often have compliance certifications and help you stay compliant.

Disadvantages of managed hosting

1. Higher costs

Managed hosting costs 2-5x more than comparable unmanaged hosting. An unmanaged VPS can be €10/month, managed WordPress hosting starts at €25-30/month.

For hobby projects or very small sites this can be too expensive.

2. Less control

With managed hosting you often don't have root access. You can't install any software or adjust any configuration you want. The provider has restrictions to ensure stability and security.

For developers who want complete control, this can be frustrating.

3. Vendor lock-in

If you've chosen managed hosting for specific features or configurations, migrating to another provider can be difficult. You're somewhat dependent on that provider.

4. Overkill for simple sites

For a simple blog or portfolio site, managed hosting may be too much. Shared hosting for €5/month is then more than sufficient.

Types of managed hosting

Managed hosting comes in different forms:

Managed WordPress hosting

Specialized for WordPress:

• Providers: WP Engine, Kinsta, Cloudways, Antagonist
• WordPress-specific optimizations
• Automatic WordPress updates
• WordPress expert support
• Staging environments
• €15-50/month and up

Managed VPS

A virtual private server that's fully managed:

• Providers: Linode, DigitalOcean (with managed add-on), Vultr
• More flexibility than managed WordPress
• Custom software stacks possible
• €20-100/month

Managed dedicated servers

A full physical server that's managed:

• For high-traffic sites and applications
• Maximum performance and resources
• €100-500+ per month

Managed cloud hosting

Cloud platforms with managed services:

• Providers: AWS (with managed services), Google Cloud Platform, Cloudways
• Extreme scalability
• Pay-as-you-go pricing
• Variable costs

Who is managed hosting suitable for?

Perfect for:

Businesses without IT department: If you don't have a server admin in-house, managed hosting is a no-brainer.

WordPress websites and webshops: Managed WordPress hosting is ideal for professional WordPress sites.

Time-strapped entrepreneurs: Your time is more valuable spent on your business than on server management.

Mission-critical websites: If downtime causes major damage, the reliability of managed hosting is essential.

Compliance-driven businesses: If you must comply with PCI DSS, HIPAA or GDPR, a managed provider helps enormously.

Less suitable for:

Developers who want complete control: If you need specific server configurations, unmanaged may be better.

Very budget-conscious hobbyists: For personal projects without income, shared hosting is cheaper.

Tech-savvy admins: If you enjoy server management and are good at it, you're paying for services you don't need.

Costs of managed hosting

Prices vary greatly:

Managed WordPress hosting:

• Entry level: €15-25/month (Antagonist, Cloudways)
• Mid-range: €30-50/month (Kinsta, WP Engine)
• Enterprise: €100+/month

Managed VPS:

• €20-40/month for basic
• €50-100/month for midrange
• €150+/month for high-performance

Managed dedicated:

• €100-300/month basic
• €300-600/month advanced
• €1000+/month enterprise

Compare this with unmanaged VPS from €5-10/month. So you pay significantly more, but get a lot of management and support in return.

How do you choose a managed hosting provider?

Pay attention to these factors:

Specialization: Choose a provider specialized in your platform (WordPress, Magento, etc.)

Support quality: Read reviews about support response times and expertise.

Performance: Check benchmarks and real-world performance tests.

Uptime guarantee: Look for 99.9%+ uptime SLAs.

Backup policy: How often are backups made? How long kept?

Scalability: Can you easily upgrade as you grow?

Price: Does the price fit your budget and justify the features?

Location: Are servers available in Europe (important for GDPR)?

Managed hosting vs other solutions

Managed hosting vs shared hosting

Shared hosting is much cheaper (€3-10/month) but:

• You share resources with hundreds of other sites
• Much less performance
• Minimal support
• Limited control

Managed hosting gives you dedicated resources and professional support.

Managed hosting vs DIY on cloud

Setting up a server yourself on AWS or Google Cloud can seem cheaper, but:

• You have to configure everything yourself
• You're responsible for security
• No managed support
• Time-intensive

Managed hosting packages on cloud platforms (like Cloudways) give you the best of both worlds.

Managed hosting vs in-house server

Your own server in-house seems to give control, but:

• High initial costs (hardware, network)
• Electricity and cooling costs
• Physical security needed
• No redundancy with hardware failures

Managed hosting in a datacenter is more reliable and often cheaper.

Transition to managed hosting

If you're considering switching to managed hosting:

1. Evaluate your current setup: What does it cost you now in time and money?
2. Determine your requirements: What do you need in terms of resources and features?
3. Compare providers: Do your homework and read reviews
4. Test with one site: Start small, migrate one project first
5. Plan the migration: Good providers help with migration
6. Monitor after migration: Check performance and functionality

Many managed providers offer free migration help.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does web hosting cost on average?

Web hosting costs between €3 and €15 per month for shared hosting on average. VPS hosting starts around €10-€20 per month, and dedicated servers from €50 per month.

Can I upgrade to a different package later?

Yes, with most hosting providers you can easily upgrade to a larger package when your website grows. This can usually be done without downtime.

Is Dutch hosting better than foreign hosting?

For Dutch visitors, Dutch hosting is often faster due to the shorter distance. Additionally, communication with support is easier and you comply with GDPR legislation.