Hosting a WordPress site on AWS is one of the most significant decisions you can make for your website. It can be a great way to improve performance and save money on hosting. Also, it can be a great way to improve your website’s security.
However, there are also some potential drawbacks that you should be aware of before making the switch. In this article, we’ll explore the pros and cons of hosting a WordPress site on AWS. Hopefully, this will help you make an informed decision about whether or not it’s the right choice for your website.
Navigation of Contents
Pros
Beginner Friendly
AWS has an intuitive user interface that makes it easy to get started. Even if you’re not a tech-savvy person, you should be able to get your WordPress site up and running on AWS without any problems.
From the get-go, you have access to all the features and tools that you need to create a successful WordPress site. WordPress installation is pretty straightforward and doesn’t require any technical knowledge.
Flexible
One of the best things about AWS is that it’s highly scalable. This means that you can easily adjust your resources according to your needs. If you have a sudden spike in traffic, you can quickly scale up your resources to accommodate it.
On the other hand, if you want to save money, you can scale down your resources when traffic is low. This flexibility is one of the main reasons why people choose to host their WordPress sites on AWS.
It's Secure
Another great thing about AWS is that it’s a very secure platform. They have multiple layers of security, including physical, network, and application-level security.
This makes it very difficult for hackers to gain access to your website. In addition, AWS also offers a managed WordPress security service called AWS WAF (Web Application Firewall).
This service can protect your website from common attacks, such as SQL injection and cross-site scripting.
It's Fast
There are a few factors that make AWS a fast hosting platform. First of all, they have a global network of data centers. This means that your website will be hosted on servers that are close to your visitors, which will greatly improve loading times.
In addition, AWS uses cutting-edge technologies, such as solid-state drives and Amazon CloudFront. These technologies further improve the speed of your WordPress site. This has a huge impact on SEO rankings.
Set-Monthly Limit
AWS has a great feature called “Billing Alerts”. This feature will send you an email notification when your monthly AWS usage reaches a certain limit.
This is extremely helpful because it can prevent you from overspending on resources, including the cost of hosting WordPress on AWS. You can set the monthly limit to whatever you want, and you can change it at any time.
By using this feature, you can be sure that you’re only paying for the resources that you need. This can help you save a lot of money in the long run.
Cons
Doesn't Auto-Scale
Although AWS is a highly scalable platform, it doesn’t automatically scale your WordPress site. This means that you have to manually adjust your resources according to your needs.
This can be a bit of a hassle, especially if you’re not familiar with AWS. In addition, it can also lead to potential problems, such as your website going down because of insufficient resources.
Amazon Can Share Your Data
Despite being one of the most secure platforms, Amazon can still access and share your data.
This is because Amazon is a US-based company, and they are subject to US laws. This means that the US government can request access to your data at any time.
While this is unlikely to happen, it’s still something that you should be aware of before using AWS. Privacy is a big concern for many people, and Amazon’s access to your data may not be acceptable for some.
Amazon Can Use Your Website Information
Another thing to keep in mind is that Amazon can use the information from your website. This includes things like your website traffic and usage data.
The information that Amazon collects can be used to improve its services and products. In some cases, it can also be used for marketing purposes.
If you’re not comfortable with Amazon having this information, then you may want to consider using another web hosting platform.
It's Expensive
Although AWS can be very cost-effective, it can also be quite expensive. If you’re not careful, you can easily spend more than you need to on resources.
This is why it’s important to carefully monitor your usage and set a monthly limit. Otherwise, you could end up paying a lot more than you bargained for.
Pay For Technical Support
If you need help with anything, you have to pay for technical support. This can be quite expensive, especially if you need help with a complex problem.
Even though AWS technical support is very good, paying for it can still be a turnoff for some people.
The good news is, if you’re not comfortable with paying for support, there are a few alternatives.
For example, you can find help in the AWS forums or Reddit. You can also hire a freelancer to help you with your problem.
Make sure you weigh the pros and cons before deciding to use AWS for your WordPress site. Consider your needs carefully and choose the platform that’s right for you.