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When considering your business's web hosting needs, it pays to consider the business hosting options available to you, as provided by your Internet Service Provider. Many providers offer virtualised hosting, private hosting (a dedicated server) or shared hosting. This article explores some of the pros of virtualised hosting.

Virtual hosting is when a single physical computer runs multiple servers, sometimes of different operating systems. The physical computer, usually very high powered, runs virtualisation software that allows multiple virtual machines to run simultaneously. Each virtual server has the appearance and the capabilities of its own dedicated machine. Because it runs independently of the other virtual machines, it is not affected by other problems that may emanate from other companies' applications and websites. The level of independence of a virtualised machine even means it can be rebooted independently from other virtualised servers running on a single computer.

So, why might virtualised hosting rather than shared hosting be a good choice? Unlike a shared hosting solution, resources are not shared out amongst various hosts, all of whom are relying on one hosting server. Instead, memory, processor cycles and disc space are dedicated to a virtual server. This means that as well as possessing dedicated resources that will not fluctuate in availability (according to activity on the other shared hosts), users can quickly and easily scale their dedicated resources: it's quick and easy to add more memory to a virtual machine, a bigger drive and so forth. Adding resources like this will usually cost the customer slightly more, but because these resources are virtual, they can be added and removed at will, so the virtual server can respond to peaks and troughs in demand. Each virtual host is also immune from problems that might face other hosts in a shared hosting scheme. Hacking attacks, denial of service attacks, bugs, viruses and other issues affecting other virtual hosts will not affect another virtual host: each virtual machine is separate and independent.

Question: if having a separate machine, albeit a virtual one, is such a good idea, then why not have dedicated server. Computers both need their own power, and need additional power to cool them down. Indeed, large a data centre spends large sums on just their cooling systems. If a single computer, with its power and cooling requirements, can run several virtual machines, then there is a decrease in environmental impact. The day approaches when 'green taxes' will be commonplace, and it's technology like virtualisation that will allow businesses to save money.

A virtual server can be treated like a dedicated standalone server. Users typically have root access, and so therefore, within the confines of any terms of use agreements, any application or or service can be installed. Virtual servers can be of more or less any operating system, so very specific needs can be catered for easily. This is particularly useful for users who have legacy systems which they do not wish to decommission or upgrade: these systems can continue to provide services on their own dedicated server.