With managed web hosting, the hosting company provides technical services and administration for your server so you don't have to worry about it.

They handle things such as testing and management of networking and server hardware, system maintenance, security patches, and software installation. They also maintain the hardware itself to ensure maximum uptime and performance.

If problems occur with a managed server, the hosting company's support staff will take care of them. This makes it much easier for you if you're not technically skilled and don't have someone who is working for you.

Good managed hosting companies will take care of installing and maintaining server-based applications for you. This includes such things as databases, security systems, scripting languages, and shopping carts.

They can also monitor your web site's traffic patterns and storage for you. If you get a spike in traffic or an ongoing increase in visitors, they will adjust your bandwidth and storage to support the additional resources required.

What To Look For In A Managed Web Host

Before you sign up for a managed hosting plan, you need to be sure the hosting company can meet your needs. Talk to them about the amount of traffic and resources that you will need and ensure that they are able to offer you a server that will meet those requirements, with room to grow in the future.

Do some research on the internet and see what kind of reviews and feedback the hosting company gets from other customers.

Because the hosting company is handling your technical support and administration under a managed hosting plan, you need to be sure that their response time is fast and their staff are technically equipped to handle problems.

Look for a managed host that provides you with a dedicated account manager who you can contact with any requirements or problems. This gives you a single point of contact which makes communication much easier and more effective.