Virtual private server (VPS) refers to cloud services that allow small businesses, medium enterprises, solution providers and web professionals to utilize and control a partition of a server at a fraction of the cost of a fully dedicated server. VPS emphasizes that the virtual machine, although running in software on the same physical computer as other customers’ virtual machines, is functionally equivalent to a separate physical computer, is dedicated to the individual customer’s needs, has the privacy of a separate physical computer, and can be configured to run as a server. In short, you get the control and flexibility of a server but at a very reasonable price.
When you consider that these small businesses have limited access to resources any investments in technology would be limited to the basics. As a result small businesses were not able to compete technologically with their much larger business competitors, at least until VPS came along. VPS offers a number of benefits of particular interest to small businesses.
The arrival of the Internet has released small businesses from the burden of owning and managing their own servers. By renting server computing needs from a VPS service provider, they are able to rent out just the right amount of server computing needs they need. Renting a VPS means you maximize your utilization of the server because you only rent what you need.
As the name implies, a VPS is a private server – your server – dedicated to your need. It is no more different than owning your own server except that you don’t invest in the upfront costs of the physical server, you don’t have to worry about maintenance, you don’t pay the financial burden needed to manage and support a server, and, just as importantly, you don’t have to concern yourself with obsolescence.