Traffic spikes, bigger media libraries, and new features eventually outgrow entry‑level hosting. The key is to scale deliberately before performance dips or downtime hurts conversions.
Start by monitoring leading indicators: rising CPU/RAM usage, slower Time to First Byte, frequent 5xx errors, and database query delays. If caching and image optimization no longer stabilize performance, it’s time to plan an upgrade path.
Move from shared to VPS for dedicated resources and root‑level tuning. Choose NVMe storage, sufficient RAM for database and object caching, and a modern web server (LiteSpeed/Nginx). For unpredictable traffic, consider cloud instances with autoscaling and load balancers so capacity expands during campaigns and contracts afterward. Always pair upgrades with a CDN to offload static assets globally.
Migrate safely: create a staging clone, snapshot backups, and schedule a low‑traffic cutover. Use blue‑green or temporary read‑only modes for databases to prevent data loss. After switching, run load tests, watch error rates, and tune PHP workers, connection limits, and cache TTLs.
Operationalize growth: enable daily offsite backups, set budget and usage alerts, and review capacity monthly. Document an upgrade ladder—shared → VPS → multi‑node/cloud—so future scaling is a routine change, not an emergency.