How to choose the best dedicated hosting?

If you have a high traffic website or a serious online business, then sooner or later, you'll need to consider dedicated hosting.  This form of hosting involves leasing an entire server to host your domains, rather than sharing it with other users.  This has benefits in terms of bandwidth, reliability, flexibility and more advanced control panel features.  Dedicated hosting is much more expensive than shared hosting.  As such, it's important that you choose the right provider to begin with.  In this article, we'll look at the things you need to consider before you make that choice.

What to consider choosing a dedicated hosting?

1. Managed v. Unmanaged
There are two types of dedicated hosting package, managed and unmanaged.  As the name suggests, a managed package is where the server is physically managed for you.  The parent company will take care of all administrative, back-up and maintenance tasks as part of the deal.  With an unmanaged package, you have to take care of those aspects yourself.  Although an unmanaged package is inevitably cheaper, it's probably not something you should consider unless you have the skills to run a physical server in a data center.
2. Speed , Bandwidth And Storage
Check out the processor speed, bandwidth capacity and disk storage space of the dedicated server.  Remember to plan for growth.  An allowance that's fine now may not be fine a few months down the line, when your business has expanded.  If your visitors can't see your website, they can't buy your products or services, so if you don't get this right to begin with, you could lose some serious amounts of money.
3. Operating Systems
Some people like Linux, some people like Windows.  No doubt you'll have your own preference, but it's a good idea to go for a server that can accommodate both systems.  Generally speaking, Linux is better for development and Windows is better for ease and familiarity.  If you've got both, you've got both angles covered.
4. Security
How secure is the server?  You wouldn't lease a shop with no locks on the doors, and in just the same way you need to know that the server is safe from hackers.
5. Flexibility
Does your dedicated hosting package allow you to upgrade if necessary?  And does it allow you to run your own scripts?  If you're paying a premium, you should be able to arrange things just the way you want them, so check out the flexibility of the package in advance.
6. Trustworthiness
Is the hosting company a reputable firm, or a fly-by-night outfit that's likely to disappear tomorrow, taking your site and your cash with it?  Do your research, read reviews and ask to see testimonials.  Don't sign up to anything until you're a hundred percent sure that a dedicated hosting company will do what it says it will do.