Deciding to shift your business’ hosting needs over to a dedicated server can open up a world of new opportunities.

Dedicated servers are great for hosting websites, apps and data when you need unfettered access and plenty of bandwidth on tap. This kind of solution will remove the restrictions associated with sharing server hardware with other users and lets you enjoy all of the enhancements that this brings to performance and productivity.

In order to move to dedicated server there are a number of steps you will have to follow, so here is a brief guide to help get you started.

Provider and Package Selection

You will need to find a specialist company that will offer you a dedicated server hosting solution and also provide you with an appropriate package that meets the needs of your business. This can be tougher than it might seem because there is so much competition in the market at the moment.

Choose a reputable company with a proven track record and make sure that it can back up its promises with evidence of past success. Ensure that it is able to offer all the uptime, resilience and bandwidth that you would expect for the money it demands and also consider the type of package that you will need.

You want to make sure that your dedicated server is affordable and sustainable on your current budget, while still giving you room to expand its capacity and capabilities further down the line.

Most mainstream providers will have enough experience to help guide you through the selection process and give you vital after-sales support so that your business is fully exploiting the facilities for which it is paying good money each month.

Site, App and Data Migration

The process of transferring all of your data and services over to a dedicated server solution, perhaps from a shared server set-up or even an in-house arrangement, can be relatively simple.

Different types of platforms and operating systems will require different approaches, but again you should be able to turn to your hosting provider for advice and guidance in this area.

If you have in-house IT staff who are experienced in this area you should use their knowledge and expertise to make sure that migration occurs smoothly. The last thing you want at this point is to suffer inadvertent data loss because not enough care was taken during the transferral of services.

For companies that may not have the necessary staff on board, hosting companies should be able to offer you comprehensive packages that allow outside experts to help you handle the transition. Even if you are switching over from another hosting provider, there should be enough cross-compatibility to allow for a relatively uncomplicated changeover.

Be aware that once you have ordered a dedicated server there will be a waiting period, during which your hardware will be set up and the migration of apps and data will be completed. This can vary depending on the provider and the complexity of the task at hand, as well as whether or not you have requested aid and assistance, or you are going it alone.

Dedicated servers are still popular today in spite of the rise in cloud computing over recent years, so if you believe that this type of solution is suitable for your company you should have no trouble procuring a package that delivers. In addition, the mature nature of this technology means that moving to a dedicated server should be a relatively pain-free experience so long as you are not in an unnecessary rush.

This article is published in association with Daisy Group, a leading provider of dedicated hosting solutions. Find out more by visiting their website.