You've
decided Odoo is the right ERP for your business. You've seen the
demos, spoken to a consultant, maybe even started a free trial. And
then someone mentions hosting — and suddenly a decision that felt
simple becomes a list of questions you don't know how to answer.
What's
a VPS? Do you need a server? What about backups? Who handles
security? Who do you call when something breaks?
If
any of that sounds familiar, this guide is written for you. We're
going to explain exactly what managed Odoo hosting means, what's
included, what you don't have to worry about and why it's the
approach that makes the most sense for businesses that want Odoo to
work without building an IT department.
What
Is Managed Odoo Hosting, Exactly?
When
you run software like Odoo, it has to live somewhere, on a server
connected to the internet. That server needs to be set up,
maintained, secured, backed up, and monitored around the clock. If
anything goes wrong, it needs to be fixed, usually urgently.
With
self-hosting, all of that is your responsibility. You rent a server
from a provider like Hetzner or DigitalOcean and install Odoo
yourself. If the server goes down, you deal with it. If a security
update is needed, you apply it. If backups need to be configured,
that's on you, and if they fail, your data is gone.
Managed
Odoo hosting means a specialist provider, like Skysize, handles
everything. You get Odoo. We handle the rest.
Here
is what 'everything' actually includes:
What
Is Included With Managed Hosting
Infrastructure
setup: your Odoo environment is deployed and configured from the
start, connected to your Git repository and ready to run
SSL
certificates: your Odoo instance is secured with HTTPS
automatically, renewed without any action from you
Automatic
backups: your data is backed up regularly, and crucially, you can
download those backups at any time. You own your data and you can
always take it with you
Security
patching: when Odoo or the underlying server software releases
security updates, they are applied without you having to manage the
process
Uptime
monitoring: your instance is monitored continuously, not just during
business hours
Support
with a formal SLA: if something goes wrong, there is a real team to
contact with a committed response time, not a forum or a ticket
system that might take days
Git-based
deployment: updates and customisations are deployed by pushing to
your repository, no manual server access required
Why
This Matters If You Are Not a Technical Person
Let's
be honest about something. Odoo is powerful software. But it was
originally built with the assumption that someone technical would be
managing the infrastructure. If that's not you, if you're a
business owner, an operations manager, or a finance director who just
wants accurate invoices and good inventory management then the
technical side of hosting is a genuine problem.
Setting
up a server incorrectly can mean your data is exposed. Forgetting to
configure backups means a hard drive failure wipes months of work.
Missing a security patch can mean a breach. None of these outcomes
require negligence on your part. They just require not having a
dedicated IT person.
Managed
hosting removes that entire risk category. It's not outsourcing a
problem it's choosing not to have the problem in the first place.
What
About Odoo.com's Online Version?
Odoo
offers its own cloud version, called Odoo Online (or Odoo.sh for more
control). These are legitimate options, but they come with
constraints. Odoo Online only supports the Enterprise edition,
meaning you pay Odoo's full licensing fees on top of hosting costs.
Odoo.sh is more flexible but still doesn't support the Community
edition and is significantly more expensive than dedicated managed
hosting alternatives.
Skysize
supports both Odoo Community and Odoo Enterprise which means if
you're running Community to keep licensing costs down, you still have
access to fully managed hosting without being forced to upgrade.
'But
What If I Want to Leave?'
This
is a fair question, and we'd rather you ask it now than worry about
it later. Your backups are downloadable at any time. You own your
data completely. If you ever decide to move, to a different
provider, to self-hosting, anywhere, you take everything with you.
Your database, your customisations, your complete Odoo setup. There
is no data ransom, no exit fee, no lock-in.
How
to Get Started Without Needing to Know What a Git Repository Is
Here
is the honest reality: Odoo managed hosting still requires a
technical step at the start, connecting your Odoo instance to a
code repository. For most non-technical business owners, that step is
a wall.
That's
why we don't just offer a free trial and leave you to figure it out.
We offer a free 20-minute setup call. A real person from Skysize
walks you through the setup, handles the technical steps, and makes
sure your Odoo instance is running before the call ends.
You
don't need to know what a git repository is. You just need 20
minutes.