- Jul 21
- 5 min read
Updated: Jul 29
Managed hosting is a type of web hosting that provides managed services to its customers. It’s usually considered the best option for website owners and businesses who don't have the resources to manage their own websites or the skillset to do so.
A managed hosting service provider, including Wix, will take care of all aspects of website operations, from setup and configuration to security and maintenance. This service allows customers to focus on their core business, while the managed hosting provider takes care of the technical aspects of keeping their site and applications up and running.
Some other names for managed hosting include:
Dedicated servers
Manage dedicated hosting
Single tenant hosting
What does managed hosting include?
A managed hosting provider should take care of:
Sever setup and configuration
The hosting provider sets up and configures the server according to the customer's needs, including software installations and initial settings.
Security management
This includes regular security updates, patch management, firewall configuration, malware scanning, intrusion detection and backups to protect against online cyber threats.
Performance monitoring and optimization
Continuous monitoring of server performance, including CPU usage, memory and disk space, for optimal speed and reliability. Providers, such as Wix, may also offer caching, content delivery network (CDN) integration and database optimization.
Technical support
24/7 technical support is often available to address any issues, handle troubleshooting and provide assistance for server management tasks.
Regular and auto backups
Automated backups of data and files to prevent data loss and ensure quick recovery in case of failures or disasters.
Software updates and patching
Regular updates and patches for the operating system, server software and applications to ensure everything runs smoothly and securely.
Scalability
Providers often offer scalable hosting resources, allowing businesses to easily upgrade their hosting plans as they grow without significant downtime or hassle.
This is why managed hosting is ideal for businesses and individuals who want reliable hosting without needing the expertise to manage it themselves.
Learn more: Website builder vs web hosting
Benefits of managed hosting
Managed hosting offers a range of advantages for website creators and business owners looking to host a website. These include increased website performance, scalability and ongoing support. It also provides enhanced security by managing firewalls and access control policies specific to the customer’s website.
Managed hosting simplifies the process of setting up hosting services for a website, ensuring that all aspects of hosting are connected and managed in one place. This is especially beneficial for websites that require specific software applications or services to be installed, set up and maintained. It’s also beneficial in terms of scalability and support, since managed hosting providers can quickly provide expert assistance when needed.
When you create a website with Wix, every site comes with free and managed hosting, delivering high uptime and complete reliability for your website and business. Another example of a managed hosting provider is AWS or Google.
Here's a summary of the main benefits of managed hosting:
Automatic updates and maintenance
Virus and spam controls
24/7 support and secure monitoring
Network management
Auto backups
Sever-side security, including web application firewalls, SSL protocols, VPN, PCI compliance, DDOS protections
The differences between managed and unmanaged hosting
The main difference between managed and unmanaged hosting is the level of control that customers have over their website operations. With managed hosting, all aspects of website operations are managed by the provider, while with unmanaged hosting customers are responsible for managing every aspect of their website.
Managed hosting offers a range of features and services that are not always available with unmanaged hosting. These include managed firewalls, access control policies and managing software applications. Managed hosting also provides scalability and support options such as auto backups and database management.
In comparison, unmanaged hosting requires customers to have some degree of technical expertise in order to manage the various aspects of their website. This makes managed hosting a great solution for those who want to focus on running their business while relying on hosting services to manage website hosting and applications.
The similarities between managed and unmanaged hosting
Despite their differences, managed and unmanaged hosting both provide a reliable platform for website operations. In both cases, customers are able to access their websites from anywhere in the world with an internet connection. Both managed and unmanaged hosting also provide customers with managed security protocols such as SSL certificates and server monitoring.
Managed hosting vs shared hosting
Managed hosting is similar to shared hosting in terms of the underlying technology and infrastructure. Both are hosted on shared servers managed by a web host provider. The main difference is that managed hosting provides customers with additional managed services such as firewalls, software applications and backups.
Managed hosting vs dedicated hosting
Managed hosting offers users a fully managed service, from software applications and security, to backup and more, none of which the website owner needs to worry about. Dedicated hosting, on the other hand, provides customers with complete control over their server environment. With full root access, they’ll need some technical understanding of hosting to install and manage these aspects on their own.
Managed hosting vs cloud hosting
The main benefit of cloud hosting is that it enables customers to scale their website operations on demand in order to accommodate changes and growth. This demand could come from website traffic and increased sales on an online store, or increased global pressure on a server. Cloud hosting services are typically managed hosting solutions and Wix’s cloud hosting is an example of this.
Managed hosting vs colocation
Managed hosting and colocation differ in how the infrastructure and services are handled. With managed hosting, the hosting provider takes care of everything, including server maintenance, software updates, and backups. In contrast, colocation involves renting physical space in a data center for your own servers, which you are responsible for managing. Colocation offers more control but requires technical expertise and resources to maintain the servers independently.
Read also: Web hosting costs, Domain hosting vs web hosting
Managed hosting FAQ
Is managed hosting worth the extra cost?
For many businesses, yes. You pay more than for unmanaged hosting, but you save time and reduce risk by handing server maintenance, security and updates to experts. It is especially worthwhile if you lack in-house technical staff or your site drives revenue.
Do I need technical skills to use managed hosting?
Not really, which is much of the point. The provider handles the server-level work, so you can focus on your site and business. Basic familiarity with your dashboard helps, but you do not need to be a systems administrator.
Is Wix a form of managed hosting?
In effect, yes. With Wix the hosting, security, updates and maintenance are handled for you automatically, which is the core idea behind managed hosting. You get the benefits without choosing or configuring a server.
Can I move to managed hosting without downtime?
Usually the migration can be planned to keep downtime minimal or near zero. Good providers help you transfer files, test the new environment, then switch over during a quiet period so visitors barely notice the change.
What is typically not covered by managed hosting?
Managed hosting generally covers the server and infrastructure, not the content, design or custom code you add. Things like building your pages, third-party app issues or your own application bugs usually remain your responsibility.
Does Wix Headless include managed hosting?
Yes. Wix Headless includes a managed hosting option for projects built with the Wix CLI. Wix takes care of hosting, automatic scaling, a global CDN, SSL and infrastructure maintenance, so you can focus on building your frontend. If you'd rather manage your own hosting, Wix Headless also supports self-managed deployments using platforms like Vercel, Netlify or AWS.
Read more about Wix Headless:
