Pros and cons of
self-hosting DNS vs managed DNS
DNSimple can save you time, money, and effort
1. Infrastructure and maintenance
Managing setup and maintenance, buying and refreshing hardware, software updates, and backups can be resource-intensive and time-consuming for self-hosted solutions.
Self-hosting
Full control: Complete ownership and customization of setup and maintenance processes.
Customization: Tailor hardware, software, and backups to specific requirements.
Scalability: Can be optimized for internal infrastructure needs.
Expertise: Requires in-house expertise to configure and maintain.
Costs: Higher operational costs for hardware and maintenance.
Downtime: Risk of downtime if not properly managed.
Reliability: Managed infrastructure with high availability.
Automation: Automatic updates and security patches.
Scalability: Easier scaling and global coverage.
Control: Less control over DNS configurations.
Dependence: Dependent on the provider's reliability and policies.
Subscription: Ongoing subscription costs.
2. Performance and availability
Ensuring scalability, maintaining reliability with an uptime SLA, minimizing outages and downtime, and improving response time to issues are critical factors for effective DNS management.
Self-hosting
Scalability: Scale hardware and services to meet specific demand requirements.
Custom uptime goals: Design infrastructure to meet desired reliability targets.
Downtime risks: Hardware failures or misconfigurations can lead to prolonged outages
Slow response time: Diagnosing and resolving issues is entirely on the self-hosting team.
Scalability: Easily handles increasing traffic and growing infrastructure demands.
Reliability: Ensures consistent performance with a strong uptime SLA.
Minimized downtime: Reduces the risk of service disruptions and outages.
Fast issue resolution: Improves response times to DNS-related problems.
Customization: Limited customization based on provider's policies.
Privacy risk: Potential privacy considerations with third-party storage.
3. Security
Robust DDoS defense and advanced security features are essential for protecting DNS infrastructure against threats and ensuring uninterrupted service.
Self-hosting
Full control: Customizable security measures, including firewalls and DDoS protection.
High responsibility: Requires expertise to implement and maintain advanced security protocols.
Increased risk: Vulnerable to attacks if updates or patches are missed.
Built-in security: Offers robust security features, including DNSSEC and DDoS defense.
Proactive updates: Ensures vulnerabilities are patched promptly.
Provider dependency: Security is limited to the capabilities provided by DNSimple.
4. Support and management
Effective support, seamless shared management, and powerful automation tools are key to streamlining DNS operations and enhancing team collaboration.
Self-hosting
Tailored support: In-house team can offer highly customized support based on internal needs.
High costs: Maintaining a dedicated support team is expensive.
Limited shared management: Collaboration tools must be implemented manually.
24/7 support: Access to experienced DNS professionals.
Shared Management: Built-in tools to allow teams to collaborate on DNS management.
Automation: API and tools simplify repetitive tasks.
Less customization: Support may not address niche or highly specific needs.
5. Cost and financial considerations
When evaluating self-hosted solutions, it’s important to consider costs beyond maintenance, such as electricity, hardware depreciation, and unexpected repair expenses.
Self-hosting
One-time investment: Hardware and setup costs are upfront with predictable ongoing expenses.
Hidden costs: Maintenance, electricity, and repairs can inflate costs beyond expectations.
Costly upgrades: Scaling requires frequent hardware investments.
Lower total cost: No need to invest in hardware or ongoing maintenance.
Predictable pricing: Subscription-based model simplifies budgeting.
Recurring costs: Subscription fees may seem higher than initial self-hosting costs.
6. Global availability and flexibility
With global coverage and the ability to configure custom name servers, DNSimple ensures fast and branded DNS resolution across the world.
Self-hosting
Localized control: Choose specific locations for hardware and data storage.
Limited coverage: Expanding to global infrastructure is costly and complex.
Latency issues: Users farther from the server location may experience slower responses.
Global coverage: Servers distributed worldwide for fast response times.
Vanity name*servers: Easily implement branded name servers with minimal effort.
Provider limitations: Dependent on DNSimple’s server locations and global coverage strategy.