A step-by-step checklist for Indian MSMEs choosing shared hosting, a VPS, a dedicated server, public cloud or a managed service.
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Work through the list in order: workload first, type second, price and contract last. Comparing prices before you know the workload is how businesses end up on a plan that is cheap until the first traffic spike, or a cloud setup that costs four times a VPS for a site that never needed it.
How to use it. Send the workload, price and service items to each shortlisted provider and ask for written answers, or read them off the provider's own price page and terms. Tick an item only when you have it in writing. Items you cannot tick become questions or reasons to choose another option.
Worked example. A 25-person firm wants to move its website and a small booking app. The checklist shows that one host's low price excludes backups and has a renewal price twice the offer; another bills in dollars with no INR option. After adding backups, GST, forex and renewal, the order of the quotes changes.
Limits. The checklist is general. Regulated entities such as banks, NBFCs, payment system operators and insurers have their own outsourcing and data rules from RBI or IRDAI. See the best-fit method and the failure patterns.
Cost Estimates, Worked Examples and Choosing a Host
A step-by-step method for choosing shared hosting, VPS, dedicated, cloud or managed hosting by workload, skills, risk and three-year cost.
