Migrating to VPS: A Beginner's Guide for African Enterprises

Why migrate to VPS?

If your website or application is slowing down, timing out during traffic spikes, or needs stronger security controls, it's time to consider a Virtual Private Server (VPS). With AFRICLOUD VPS, you get dedicated resources, NVMe storage, and full root access to scale on your terms.

When is the right time?

You're hitting CPU/RAM limits on shared hosting
You need custom software (e.g., Redis, Node.js, Docker)
Compliance or performance requirements demand isolation
Traffic is growing across Africa and nearby markets

See how proximity boosts performance in our analysis: VPS proximity business cases. If you sell online, NVMe speed matters too: NVMe and e‑commerce performance.

Pre-migration checklist

Audit your stack: PHP/Node.js version, database size, background jobs
Back up everything: files, database, .env/keys
List integrations: payment gateways, SMTP, analytics, webhooks
Plan cutover window: choose low-traffic hours and notify stakeholders

Use AFRICLOUD's network and support pages to pick the best region and get help.

Choose the right plan

Start with a balanced CPU/RAM plan and scale vertically as usage grows. Need WordPress? Compare options in WordPress hosting options. Building for Europe? Consider Lisbon VPS for low-latency access.

Step-by-step migration

Provision your VPS in the nearest region
Harden the server: create a non-root user, configure firewall, enable automatic security updates
Install runtime and dependencies (e.g., NGINX/Apache, PHP-FPM or Node.js, database)
Copy files and restore database from backups
Set environment variables and regenerate app keys where applicable
Test on a temporary domain or hosts file override
Switch DNS with low TTL for a quick cutover

Before you flip DNS, validate external services and cron jobs. For network testing during rollout, our Looking Glass helps verify routing and latency.

Post-migration best practices

Enable HTTPS and HSTS
Set up off-site backups and monitoring
Use a CDN for static assets where helpful
Track Core Web Vitals for continued performance gains

Ready to move? Order your VPS and follow this guide. If you need help, our support team is ready to assist.