Non-hosted

Referring to a service, application, or data that is not physically located on and managed by a third-party server or platform. It signifies that the user or organization is responsible for the setup, maintenance, and operation of the resource. This contrasts with 'hosted' solutions where a provider handles the infrastructure and related responsibilities, allowing the user to focus on other aspects. The term often applies to software, websites, databases, and other digital assets.

Non-hosted meaning with examples

• A small business chose a non-hosted email solution, requiring them to purchase and configure their own mail server. They had to manage all updates, security patches, and troubleshooting, taking more of their valuable time. This included dealing with spam filtering and ensuring email deliverability, which the business found quite challenging and labor-intensive.
• The development team opted for a non-hosted database, meaning they installed and ran the database server on their internal hardware. This gave them complete control over the data and access, although required staff with expertise. This also included the security and backup policies which proved challenging for their team.
• Instead of using a non-hosted website builder, the company hired a web developer to create and maintain a custom-built website hosted on their own server. This strategy ensured the website offered greater flexibility and customization, but demands much time, technical knowledge and investment.
• Using a non-hosted content management system, the organization could customize the software to address its unique requirements. This strategy also gave complete ownership of the site's code and data. While giving greater design options, it did increase the overall workload by giving more responsibility for support and maintenance.