While it’s possible to self-host a UniFi Controller, doing it right can be very difficult.
You need to take care of installation, backups, software updates and make sure it runs securely. A Shodan search reveals numerous instances where these controllers are exposed to the internet without proper security measures. This is why I created UniHosted.
I'm trying to raise the bar from a sec perspective, and I’m quite proud of the result. Everything is automated with Ansible, and new servers are provisioned using Terraform. Gotta love Infrastructure as Code! ;) We also use multiple cloud providers to manage the risk of a catastrophic event. Remember the OVH cloud incident [2].
Other solutions, like Hostifi, have gotten quite expensive. Servers cost money; I know that. But I feel that if I can generate a decent living from business customers, I can offer it for free for the rest of us (up to 5 devices).
You should know it’s a shared server, but it's a great way to get started.
I would love to hear your feedback, so feel free to ask me anything.
For hackers who love to run UniFi devices at home, I added a free plan that allows for 5 devices.