Hey everyone! I've recently joined my family's agency and after taking a close look at our current setup, I realized we need to make some big improvements. We currently manage over 40 client websites using PHP, Laravel, and WordPress, but they're all sitting on a basic cPanel setup. The biggest issues we face are the lack of Git integration, limited SSH access, and a manual deployment process which is super slow.
Here's what I'm aiming for:
- A modern deployment workflow using Git and GitHub Actions
- A reusable WordPress starter kit for our clients
- Support for PHP, Laravel, and SvelteKit applications
I'm leaning towards managed hosting options like Cloudways for ease, but I'm wondering if that's the best route at this scale or if I'm overthinking things since I don't have much server management experience and security is a big concern. What do you all think?
8 Answers
Why not consider a gradual cutover? Move a few sites over to a self-hosted solution like Coolify on a VPS. Keep your current setup running until you’re comfortable with the new one. That way, you can see how it works for you without risking everything all at once.
To get started, why not experiment with a budget VPS? Just make sure you’re aware of the limitations of certain services—they can restrict your ability to use your hardware how you want. It’s crucial to weigh the reliability and time saved with services like GitHub against the risks of managing everything yourself.
Since you have a lot on your plate, I think Cloudways could be a good starting point. But really, for more advanced needs like yours, Laravel Forge or Ploi might be better since they integrate well with GitHub Actions. They make managing both PHP and Node apps like SvelteKit a breeze without needing to dive deep into server admin. Honestly, I’d skip managed WP hosts since they’re often too restrictive. Using Forge or Ploi on something like DigitalOcean would give you the control you’re looking for while still handling security updates.
If you're not too experienced with server management, I’d suggest going for a VPS that comes with cPanel. It keeps your software up to date and secure, plus you’ll have more freedom to work with terminal commands and plugins, which helps with managing your sites more effectively.
Just to clarify, does every VPS come with cPanel automatically, or do we need to install it ourselves?
Cloudways is a solid option as it offers Git deployment and good performance without needing extensive server management. It’s a big improvement over cPanel and strikes a nice balance between user-friendliness and scalability.
I think you’ve simply outgrown your current setup. A managed solution like Cloudways is the right way to go for now. It gives you what you need without the heavy DevOps demands. As you grow more confident, you can transition to more complex setups.
You might want to check out Kinsta for your WordPress projects. It’s fantastic, and we moved from WP Engine to them and couldn't be happier. They allow for general PHP environments too, which helps with Laravel projects.
I think if you don’t have much server management experience, going self-managed with a VPS might be tricky. You’d be responsible for all security and updates, which can be daunting, especially if your clients need email services. Consider managed hosting that allows SSH access and Git integration instead. That way, you can automate tasks without too much hassle. Definitely steer clear of hosting your own mail server—it’s a lot more work than it’s worth!
That makes total sense! Can you share where I might go to learn more about managing these services?
I totally agree! The savings in time and the risk reduction by using managed services often outweigh the cons.