Managed Hosting
I set up and look after the hosting your website runs on, or review the host you already use, so you know what is protected and who acts when something fails.
New v6 draft from the service brief, awaiting review
The problem
- You pay for hosting but cannot say what is backed up, how a restore works or who to call when the site goes down.
- The site is slow or unstable, and nobody can tell whether the server, the plugins or the page itself is the cause.
- Hosting, maintenance and support sit with different companies, and each one points at another when something breaks.
What I do about it
- I write down what the arrangement covers: backups, restores, monitoring and support, and what stays with you or another provider.
- I test representative pages first, so a move or an upgrade answers a diagnosed problem rather than a guess.
- I agree the boundaries before an incident, so it is clear who investigates, who decides and who restores.
Draft copy, to confirm
What you get out of it
You know where your site lives, what is protected, and who acts when something goes wrong.
Who it’s for
- You run a business website and want hosting that fits how the site is used, not the cheapest plan on offer.
- You run a shop, a booking system or a membership area, where a failed update or slow request costs you real enquiries.
- You have a site on hosting nobody reviewed since launch and want to know whether it still suits you.
- You want one person accountable for the environment, whether I host the site or work alongside your current host.
If the site is fine and you only need updates and checks, website maintenance or WordPress maintenance is the smaller step. If you are leaving a host and need the site moved, website migration is the better fit.
What’s included
Platform fit
I match the hosting environment to the site's workload, integrations and busy periods, not just visitor totals.
Backups and restores
We agree what is copied, where copies are stored and how a restore is carried out, and I test a restore rather than assume it works.
Monitoring
Uptime and performance checks on the pages and actions that matter to your business.
Staging and updates
A place to test changes before they reach the live site, where the platform allows it.
Incident boundaries
A written note of who investigates, who restores and who decides when something goes wrong.
Reviewing your current host
If you keep your existing host, I read what its plan does and does not include and tell you where the gaps are.
How it works
Describe the site
I note what the site does, which integrations and scheduled tasks it relies on, and what a failure would cost.
Check the fit
I review your current setup or the options, and test representative pages and actions, not just the homepage.
Set it up
I configure hosting, backups, monitoring and access, and move the site if that is part of the plan.
Record responsibilities
You receive a plain summary of what is covered, who holds each account and how to reach me or the host.
Questions people ask
Draft answers, to confirm
What is managed hosting?
It is hosting where someone also takes on tasks such as updates, backups and monitoring, not just the server. What exactly is included varies by provider and plan, so I put the details for your site in writing.
Can you manage a site that is hosted elsewhere?
Often, yes. The host has to give me the access and reliability needed to work safely. I review it first and tell you if it is not a good fit.
Will I own my hosting account?
It depends on the arrangement, and I explain it before you commit. Your domain, content and business data stay yours in either case, and I describe how a move away would work.
How do I know whether my host is the problem?
Slow pages often come from large images, scripts or plugins rather than the server. I test before recommending a move.
Tell me what you need to achieve.
We can work out the right next step before committing to a solution. You can book this on its own. An ongoing partnership is optional, never a requirement.
Need continuing responsibility rather than a defined project? Website Operations & Improvement Partnership