In an increasingly digital world, crafting a web presence is no longer a luxury but a necessity for businesses and individuals alike. Developers find themselves in a constant quest for the perfect blend of robust software frameworks and reliable hosting solutions to ensure top-notch performance.
Laravel, one of the most popular PHP frameworks, has gained global recognition for its elegant and expressive syntax, aiming to make web development both enjoyable and efficient.
Given Laravel’s dynamism and extensive feature-set, it’s reasonable to question whether shared hosting—often budget-friendly but sometimes limiting—is the right environment for such a sophisticated framework.
This blog post will outline the many reasons why web developers and business owners should consider migrating from shared hosting to a more capable platform when using Laravel.
Shared Hosting and its Limitations for Laravel
Shared hosting is a server environment where many websites reside on a single web server. Each site hosted on this server shares storage, processing power, and other resources with its counterparts.
The highlight of shared hosting is the low cost, making it an attractive option for new websites with minimal traffic.
However, Laravel, as a framework, has specific server requirements that are not always well facilitated in a shared hosting environment. These requirements include PHP version compatibility, extensions for PHP, and other server configurations such as URL rewrites and file permissions.
Shared hosting often comes preconfigured with limitations that are not optimized for Laravel’s needs. The lack of control over server settings can result in slower performance, increased vulnerability, and a less-than-ideal setting for development and testing.
Negative Impact of Shared Hosting on Laravel
Using shared hosting for Laravel can cause the following difficulties
Performance
Performance is crucial for web applications, especially concerning load times. Shared hosting environments are notorious for their inconsistent performance, usually at peaks times when many websites on the server are experiencing high traffic.
With Laravel, where every millisecond of load time counts, the data transfer delays and database query times on shared servers can add up and significantly slow down the application.
Security
Central to Laravel’s design is its security features, which protect against common vulnerabilities. Shared hosting, however, can be a weak point in this aspect. The “shared” nature of the environment means that a security breach in one website can impact others.
In Laravel applications, security updates must be promptly applied to the framework itself, as well as any plugins or dependencies. Shared hosting environments might not provide the flexibility or administrative rights to carry out these security measures effectively.
I’ve been using Cloudways since January 2016 for this blog. I happily recommend Cloudways to my readers because I am a proud customer.
Scalability
Shared hosting is ideal for small, static websites with minimal to moderate traffic. However, as a Laravel application grows in complexity and user volume, there will be a need for the site to scale up. Shared hosts have limited options for scaling due to the shared resources model.
Laravel applications can easily harness modern strategies like horizontally scaling multiple servers or using load balancers, which are often restricted in shared hosting packages.
SEO Implications and Site Ranking
A hidden cost of shared hosting for Laravel applications is the potential impact on SEO. Site speed, attainable through robust hosting, is a Google ranking factor. Furthermore, the security of your hosting environment can enhance or harm your site’s trustworthiness, another criterion in Google’s ranking algorithms.
A sluggish or insecure site, due to inadequate shared hosting, can result in a lower search ranking. For businesses that rely on their online presence for customer acquisition, this is a critical consideration.
The Case for Managed Cloud Hosting
Managed cloud hosting services offer a middle ground between the control of dedicated server hosting and the affordability of shared hosting. Applying cloud computing’s agility and scalability, these platforms are increasingly popular among businesses, especially those running complex web applications like Laravel.
The managed aspect means users need not be experts in server administration. The cloud hosting provider takes care of the backend, ensuring secure and well-maintained servers.
For Laravel, this means customizing the server environment to accommodate the framework’s unique needs.
Benefits of Managed Cloud Hosting
Why you should choose managed cloud hosting for your Laravel application?
- Optimized performance: Cloud hosting services often use SSD-based storage for faster data transfer and custom caching solutions to boost application performance.
- Enhanced security: Cloud providers typically offer advanced security features, such as firewalls, regular backups, and intrusion detection systems, which can be crucial for businesses handling sensitive data.
- Scalability: Cloud hosting allows for easy resource scaling, enabling Laravel applications to handle traffic spikes and grow alongside business needs.
- Support for Laravel: Many cloud hosts provide specialized support for Laravel, including one-click installations, automated updates, and server optimizations tailored to Laravel’s requirements.
- Development tools: Managed cloud hosting often includes development and deployment tools, such as staging environments and version control integration, that can streamline the Laravel development process.
Migrating From Shared Hosting to Managed Cloud
Moving a Laravel application from a shared hosting environment to managed cloud hosting may seem daunting, but it’s a well-trodden path with a clear set of steps to follow.
1. Prepare Your Application
Start by ensuring that your Laravel application adheres to the latest best practices and is compatible with the cloud hosting’s prerequisites. Update your application dependencies and any other software that would prevent a smooth migration.
2. Choose Your Cloud Provider
Research and select a managed cloud hosting provider that specializes in supporting Laravel applications, such as Cloudways. Evaluate their offered services, customer reviews, and the level of support they provide.
3. Set Up the New Environment
Create a new environment on the cloud hosting platform, adjusting server configurations and installing the required services and extensions for Laravel to run optimally.
4. Migrate Your Data
Transfer your website’s data, including files and databases, to the new cloud environment. Use secure transfer methods to protect sensitive information.
5. Test and Optimize
Once your application is running on the cloud, thoroughly test its functionality to ensure a successful migration. Optimize the performance by taking advantage of the cloud hosting’s features and tools.
6. Go Live and Monitor
Finally, switch your domain to point to the new cloud hosting server and monitor your application’s performance. Address any post-migration issues promptly to minimize downtime.
Cloudways and Your Laravel Application
Cloudways is a managed cloud hosting platform that sets itself apart by offering a hassle-free experience for developers and website owners. With optimized environments for various PHP frameworks, including Laravel, Cloudways provides an infrastructure that supports the secure and efficient deployment of web applications.
Why Cloudways Stands Out
- Choice of providers: Cloudways offers a choice of infrastructure providers, such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google Cloud Platform (GCP), and DigitalOcean, giving users flexibility and control over their hosting environment.
- Customizable environments: Users can select server settings tailored for Laravel, such as PHP versions, database options, and caching mechanisms, to ensure the best performance for their applications.
- User-friendly platform: Cloudways comes with an intuitive control panel that simplifies server management tasks, making it accessible for developers at all levels of expertise.
- 24/7 support: Cloudways provides round-the-clock support through various channels, ensuring that Laravel developers always have assistance when needed.
Conclusion and Next Steps
Laravel’s power lies in its capacity to produce high-quality web applications that are both dynamic and secure. To leverage these benefits fully, it’s essential to host your Laravel applications on a platform that can meet its rigorous demands.
The limitations of shared hosting, as outlined, can hinder the performance, security, and scalability of Laravel applications. Managed cloud hosting emerges as a more capable and suitable alternative for hosting Laravel, offering the agility and control developers need to excel.
For those who are yet to migrate, the path to managed cloud hosting with a service like Cloudways is well-paved with support and enhanced features. It’s a step that can elevate the quality and reliability of web applications built with Laravel, giving them a competitive edge in the online landscape.
In light of these insights, we encourage all web developers and business owners to reconsider their choice of hosting service and explore the possibilities that dedicated managed cloud hosting can offer their precious Laravel applications. It’s time to make that pivotal switch and witness the difference it can make in your digital presence.
