Managed hosting services provide the servers, people & resources to maintain and run customer websites. They arrange for the deployment, testing, management and provisioning of all networking and server devices. These include setting up of virtual private networks, switches, routers, firewalls, SSL accelerators, routing tables etc. They also manage the customer hardware, and maintain high levels of uptime and performance.
The managed hosts take care of any server problems that may arise during the course of hosting. They also assist in the installation of the operating system and other software that is needed to run the website. A few managed hosts also provide easy hosting solutions.
A good managed host will also manage the installation and maintenance of server applications. This includes administration, data backup and migration. Log files also need to be monitored to assess traffic patterns, disk space usage and site performance. Besides this, managed hosts use load balancing servers to switch traffic from one server to the other so that the user experience is not affected during traffic peaks.
Before signing an agreement with a managed hosting company, the customers need to determine whether the host can fulfill the site requirements. This may range from the purchase of the server and equipment to the regular upgrades in technology. Since not all customers are tech-savvy, the managed host should also guide and advice their customers on both hardware and software.
Customers should also find out if the sales and technical staff of the managed host are competent to handle their online business. The people employed by the host may be the most important consideration because they are the ones who manage the server-side needs. The employees should have the required qualifications and experience including certifications in routing equipment, operating systems etc. They should be able to take quick decisions during crisis situations, and also suggest solutions for unexpected problems.
Most managed services provide a dedicated account manager. This individual is the single point of contact with the customer and is accessable during business hours. Someone else stands in for him at other times. The best managed hosts are those who not only provide good equipment and connectivity, but also work proactively to ensure the highest level of service. They don't let the customers feel the absence of server administrators.