What Is managed WordPress hosting?

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What is a managed WordPress site? To understand this, you first need to understand what hosting is in general. Website hosting refers to storing your website data on a public computer (called server) to make it available to other people. That way, visitors can input your website address to view your site in their browser.

Since very few people own servers themselves, the usual way to do this is to rent space from so-called hosting providers (who in turn rent servers in data centers). These are companies that whose business it is to provide you with the means necessary to host your site online. They usually offer different packages around hosting your website with different levels of service.

Two main distinctions in this area are managed and unmanaged hosting: the latter is what most people go for. It simply means you get server space where you can put your website and the provider takes care of keeping the servers running. However, the rest is pretty much up to you. No one will be managing the site upload for you, nor will they monitor or perform maintenance tasks for your site.

Managed hosting is if you’re choosing a host that also takes over much of running your site. If you are not sure about what that means, this post covers managed hosting in detail, explains what it is and how it can help you. You’ll receive a full description of managed hosting, its benefits, and a list of the top providers. You’ll also learn who these providers are along with some highlights about each of them.

What is managed WordPress hosting?

Managed WordPress Hosting is a specialized hosting service designed specifically for WordPress websites, where the hosting provider handles all technical aspects of running and maintaining a WordPress installation. This premium hosting solution combines high-performance infrastructure with WordPress-specific optimizations and expert support.

Unlike traditional hosting, managed WordPress hosting providers take care of server configuration, security, backups, updates, and performance optimization. This allows website owners to focus on creating content and growing their business rather than dealing with technical maintenance.

The hosting environment is specifically engineered for WordPress, with optimized server configurations, advanced caching mechanisms, and specialized security measures. These optimizations result in significantly faster loading times and better overall website performance[1].

Most managed WordPress hosts provide a custom control panel designed specifically for WordPress management, making it easier to handle common tasks like staging, backups, and deployments. They also typically include built-in content delivery networks (CDN) and SSL certificates to enhance security and speed.

These services often include automated daily backups, real-time security monitoring, and malware scanning to protect your website. Many providers also offer automatic WordPress core updates and plugin updates to ensure your site stays secure and up-to-date.

Expert WordPress support is a cornerstone of managed hosting services, with specialized teams available 24/7 to help with WordPress-specific issues, optimization, and troubleshooting.

Types of managed WordPress hosting

Most managed WordPress hosting comes in two primary forms, each offering different levels of service and control over your hosting environment. These distinctions help website owners choose the right type of management for their specific needs.

Server-level management focuses on the underlying infrastructure and server optimization. This includes server maintenance, security hardening, network optimization, and hardware management. The hosting provider handles all server-related tasks while giving clients more control over their WordPress installation.
Application-level management encompasses everything related to the WordPress application itself. This includes WordPress core updates, plugin management, theme optimization, security monitoring, and performance tuning. This type of management is more comprehensive and hands-off for the website owner.

Services offered by managed WordPress hosting

WordPress hosting providers deliver a comprehensive suite of services designed to optimize website performance and security while minimizing maintenance overhead for website owners. These services are specifically tailored to WordPress websites and typically include enterprise-grade infrastructure combined with WordPress-specific optimizations.

The primary goal of these services is to provide a worry-free hosting environment where technical aspects are handled by experts, allowing website owners to focus on their content and business growth. This includes proactive monitoring, automatic scaling during traffic spikes, and continuous optimization of the hosting environment.

Automated Backups and Recovery: Daily automated backups of your entire WordPress installation, including files and databases. These backups are stored securely off-site and can be easily restored with a single click. Most providers maintain multiple backup points and offer the flexibility to create manual backups before making significant changes.
Security Management: Enterprise-level security measures including real-time threat detection, malware scanning, and automated malware removal. This includes WordPress-specific firewall rules, IP blocking, and continuous monitoring for suspicious activities. Providers typically handle security patches and updates automatically.
Performance Optimization: Advanced caching systems, content delivery networks (CDN), and server-side optimizations specifically configured for WordPress. This includes database optimization, image compression, and code minification to ensure optimal loading speeds and better user experience.
WordPress Core Management: Automatic updates of WordPress core files, themes, and plugins, with compatibility testing to prevent update-related issues. This includes staging environments for testing updates before applying them to the live site and rollback capabilities if needed.

Key benefits of managed WordPress hosting

In contrast to unmanaged hosting, managed hosting provides a number of benefits.

1. A devoted support team

One of the biggest advantages of managed hosting is the hands-on support from a team of experts. Technical issues can happen on any website and solving them on your own can be time-consuming and stressful. With managed hosting, you have someone to help you resolve issues, making the process much easier. Most support teams are available 24/7 to answer your questions and address concerns.

Managed WordPress hosting providers specialize in WordPress, meaning their support teams are more knowledgeable about the platform compared to general support teams that handle multiple platforms.

2. A fine-tuned hosting experience

Building on the previous point, managed WordPress hosting focuses solely on WordPress, creating an optimized environment designed specifically for the platform. This leads to better performance and uptime.

With shared hosting, you often need to rely on Content Delivery Networks (CDNs) and caching plugins like WP Rocket to speed up your site. However, a good managed WordPress hosting provider handles all of this for you, ensuring fast page loads without requiring any extra work on your end.

3. Done-for-you monitoring and maintenance

With managed hosting, the host’s team actively monitors your site for suspicious activity and handles regular maintenance. They also take care of technical issues as they arise, so you don’t have to wait for support to step in. This gives you peace of mind and saves you time.

When a critical WordPress update is released, for example, a managed hosting provider will handle it for you. Their team ensures your site stays updated and protected from vulnerabilities.

4. Strong safety and security infrastructure

Managed hosting provides better security for your website. While you might do a great job managing your site, you may not have a clear plan for dealing with bugs, spam, or cyberattacks. Plus, handling security on your own likely means you don’t have access to the same resources as a host’s team of experts.

With managed hosting, your host’s team will already have a plan in place to handle issues efficiently. They’ll implement preventative measures, monitor your site for suspicious activity, and perform regular backups to restore your site if something goes wrong.

5. Regular backups handled automatically

Backups are essential for security, but it’s not always easy to perform them regularly. That’s why it’s important to check a hosting provider’s backup options. Some offer nightly or daily backups, while others only provide weekly copies. Decide how often you want your website backed up and choose a managed hosting provider that matches your needs.

A good support team can handle tasks like backups, updates, and improving your website’s security. This ensures your website runs faster, smoother, and more reliably.

Who should be your next managed WordPress hosting provider?

Managing all aspects of a WordPress website independently can be a hassle. Unmanaged WordPress hosting is practically a part-time job. You have to constantly monitor your website, perform regular backups, run updates and much more.

It can be draining to try and handle everything yourself or even split it between you and someone else. If you aren’t a tech expert, it can also be frustrating to try and solve issues on your own. You may have the option to seek support, but, it may come in the form of an “FAQ”, a ticketing system, or sending an email and waiting days for a response.

This is why managed hosting makes things easier. It takes this stress away with its committed support, list of services and heightened security. Most of the managed hosting providers, as you will see, offer round-the-clock contact support so that if any issues arise, you can have them quickly and efficiently taken care of by the host’s team.

We have already compiled a detailed list of the best Managed WordPress hosting providers, but here are some great examples:

SiteGround delivers exceptional performance through its Google Cloud infrastructure and custom-built tools for WordPress. Their hosting platform includes advanced features like ultrafast PHP, dynamic caching, and Brotli compression for optimal speed. With their user-friendly control panel and knowledgeable 24/7 support team, they maintain high customer satisfaction rates while offering competitive pricing for small to medium-sized websites.
DreamHost stands out as an officially WordPress.org recommended host with a proven track record of reliability. Their managed WordPress hosting includes unmetered bandwidth, daily backups, and pre-installed SSL certificates. They offer a unique combination of performance and value, with features like one-click staging environments and automatic WordPress updates, making them particularly suitable for growing businesses.
Bluehost excels in providing comprehensive WordPress solutions with excellent integration and support. Their platform includes advanced features like automatic updates, staging environments, and dedicated WordPress tools. They've maintained a strong partnership with WordPress since 2005, making them an ideal choice for users seeking a reliable and user-friendly hosting experience.
Hostinger offers an impressive balance of performance and affordability, with sophisticated platforms optimized for WordPress. Their hosting infrastructure includes LiteSpeed cache-engine and Cloudflare protection, delivering excellent speed and security. They specialize in providing feature-rich plans with minimal restrictions, making them particularly attractive for budget-conscious users seeking quality hosting.
A2 Hosting provides robust managed WordPress hosting with a focus on performance and security. Their platform includes pre-configured optimizations, Guru Crew support available 24/7/365, and free site migrations. They maintain a 99.9% uptime commitment and offer excellent value through their managed WordPress plans, making them ideal for both personal and business websites.