Move Website to DigitalOcean VPS

The Problem

You've picked DigitalOcean for its straightforward pricing and tooling, but setting up a Droplet properly — snapshots, firewalls, the right image, a working stack — and migrating an existing site across takes real setup work beyond just clicking 'create Droplet'.

About this problem

DigitalOcean is popular for its clean interface and predictable pricing, with useful extras like snapshots and floating IPs, but a fresh Droplet is still just a bare server until it's properly configured with a web server, PHP, a database, and sensible firewall rules. People new to DigitalOcean often skip the Cloud Firewall feature entirely and rely only on the server's local firewall, missing an extra layer of protection the platform offers for free.

This typically comes up when someone's chosen DigitalOcean specifically for its reputation for reliability and good documentation, or to take advantage of Droplet snapshots for easy backups.

What's Included

• Setting up the DigitalOcean Droplet with DigitalOcean's Cloud Firewall and the server's local firewall both configured correctly
• Installing the web server, PHP and database stack needed for your site
• Migrating files, database, and recreating SSL certificates
• Setting up a Droplet snapshot schedule if you want built-in backups
• DNS cutover planning with minimal downtime

What's NOT Included

• DigitalOcean account creation/billing setup — done directly with DigitalOcean
• Choosing Droplet size/region — happy to advise, but the final choice and cost are yours
• Ongoing server maintenance after the move

How It Works

1. Provision the Droplet (or use one you've created) and configure DigitalOcean's Cloud Firewall alongside the server's own local firewall.
2. Install and configure the web server, PHP version and database engine the site needs.
3. Transfer website files and import the database, adjusting any provider-specific paths from the old host.
4. Set up SSL certificates and confirm HTTPS works cleanly.
5. Optionally configure a Droplet snapshot schedule for simple, platform-native backups.
6. Verify the site fully before switching DNS, then do a final live check once pointed at the new Droplet.

In practice: you buy the service, send over whatever access or details the job needs, I investigate and do the work, and you confirm it's resolved before we call it done.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is DigitalOcean good for hosting a small business website?

Yes, DigitalOcean's Droplets are a solid, well-documented option for most standard websites, with predictable pricing and useful extras like snapshots.

What is a DigitalOcean Droplet?

It's DigitalOcean's name for a VPS — a virtual private server you get full root access to, the same as any other VPS provider, just with DigitalOcean's own tooling and interface around it.

Do I need to configure DigitalOcean's Cloud Firewall separately from the server firewall?

It's recommended — Cloud Firewall works at the network level before traffic even reaches the server, giving you an extra layer on top of the server's own firewall (like UFW).

Can DigitalOcean snapshots replace proper backups?

They're a convenient, fast way to restore a whole server to a point in time, but they're not a substitute for database-level backups if you need to restore just one piece of data rather than the whole server.

How much downtime happens moving to a DigitalOcean Droplet?

Minimal — the new Droplet is fully set up and tested before DNS is switched, so downtime is typically just normal DNS propagation time.

Can I move a WordPress site to DigitalOcean myself using their one-click app?

You can, but DigitalOcean's one-click WordPress image comes with its own default configuration that may not match your current setup — migrating manually gives more control over matching your existing site exactly.