Overview Hosting isn’t static—it evolves with your site. This lesson explores practical use cases for each hosting type and provides a step-by-step migration checklist to ensure smooth transitions when upgrading infrastructure.

Use Cases by Hosting Type

Shared Hosting

• Use Case: Personal blog, student portfolio, or informational microsite
• Why: Cost-effective, easy to set up, sufficient for low traffic
• Limitations: Limited performance, security, and scalability

VPS Hosting

• Use Case: Small business website, growing eCommerce store
• Why: Dedicated resources, better uptime, scalable RAM/CPU
• Limitations: Requires moderate technical skill

Dedicated Hosting

• Use Case: Enterprise site, high-volume eCommerce, compliance-heavy platforms
• Why: Full control, maximum performance, strong isolation
• Limitations: High cost, manual scaling, technical overhead

Cloud Hosting

• Use Case: Startup expecting rapid growth, global content platform
• Why: Instant scalability, redundancy, pay-as-you-go flexibility
• Limitations: Cost spikes during traffic surges, complex orchestration

Managed Hosting

• Use Case: Agencies, freelancers, or teams without server expertise
• Why: Provider handles updates, backups, security, and monitoring
• Limitations: Less control over server-level configurations

Migration Tips & Checklist

1. Identify the Right Time to Migrate

• Frequent downtime or slow performance
• Outgrowing current resource limits
• Security incidents or lack of support
• Upcoming traffic surge or feature rollout

2. Pre-Migration Planning

• Document current DNS records, SSL certificates, database settings, and email configurations
• Audit plugins, themes, and CMS versions for compatibility
• Choose a migration window during off-peak hours

3. Use a Staging Environment

• Deploy the site on the new host in a non-public staging area
• Test functionality: forms, logins, checkout, integrations
• Resolve errors before going live

4. Backup Everything

• Full backup of files, databases, and configurations
• Store backups locally and offsite
• Validate backup integrity before proceeding

5. Execute the Migration

• Use migration tools or manual transfer (e.g., FTP + phpMyAdmin)
• Update DNS records with minimal TTL for faster propagation
• Monitor logs and performance during cutover

6. Post-Migration Validation

• Confirm SSL, CDN, caching, and email services are functioning
• Run speed tests and security scans
• Monitor uptime and error logs for 72 hours

Visual Summary

Key Takeaways

• Hosting needs evolve—migration is a strategic upgrade, not a failure
• Use cases clarify when to shift from shared to VPS, cloud, or managed environments
• A structured migration plan reduces downtime and preserves SEO, security, and user experience
• Staging, backups, and post-migration monitoring are non-negotiable for success