The internet is a fantastic tool to use, but it can be daunting to learn the more technical parts. That is why we have started this 101 series; to break down fundamentals of the internet to help you better understand how things work.
Today’s topic is web hosting, which is what we use to create websites. Let’s get started!
What is web hosting?
Web hosting is a key part of how websites work; web hosting is the process of renting or purchased space on a server where the data for your website is stored. This data includes HTML, CSS, images, and more, and needs to be hosted on an online server in order to be accessible on the internet.
Why do I need web hosting?
If you want a website, you will need somewhere to host it. This is where web hosting comes in!
Having a website solidifies your online presence, whether as an individual or as a business. A lot of websites act as a hub, including:
- Information about the business/individual
- Online store for selling goods
- Portfolio of work
- Blog posts/articles
- Social media links
- Contact information
Whether you want to use a website builder like Squarespace or Weebly, or you want to purchase web hosting and build your website from scratch, having a website is critical for growth in this day and age.
How do I get web hosting?
Once you have a domain name, you can look into web hosting for your website. There are a few different types of web hosting, each with their own pros & cons depending on what you need and what stage your business is at.
Shared Hosting
Shared hosting is web hosting that shares resources with other hosting accounts on the same server. It’s the cheapest form of hosting and a great place to start!
[table “16” not found /]Best suited for:
- Small self-hosted websites
- Hobby bloggers
- Small business websites
VPS Hosting
VPS (Virtual Private Server) hosting is very similar to shared hosting, with the only different being that it shares a physical server with other hosting accounts and has its own virtual real estate on that server with dedicated resources.
[table “17” not found /]Best suited for:
- Small to medium-sized business websites
- Media-heavy websites
Dedicated Hosting
Dedicated hosting is the next step up from the previous options, giving you full rental rights over an entire web server. This means your web hosting account is the only one using the server, which allows you the ability to use full resources and control of the environment.
[table “18” not found /]Best suited for:
- High-traffic websites
- Web applications
- Processing sensitive customer data
- eCommerce websites
Managed Hosting
Managed hosting is a hosting solution where a MSP (Managed Service Provider) provides: web hosting, infrastructure support, and hardware management & maintenance
With managed hosting, many different scenarios are possible, including:
- Managed on-premises data centre
- Managed cloud hosting
- Managed VPS hosting
- Managed shared hosting
Best for:
- Growing online businesses without in-house IT staff
- Small business owners
- Entrepreneurs
Cloud Hosting
Cloud hosting is very similar to VPS hosting; the main different is that, instead of renting virtual space on one physical server, you gain access to resources across distributes servers.
[table “20” not found /]Best suited for:
- High-growth websites
- Web applications
- Enterprise websites
- eCommerce stores
Colocation
Colocation involves hosting your personal servers in a colocation centre.
For a fee, the centre covers: bandwidth, electricity, IP address, cooling, and server monitoring & maintenance. In turn, you bring your own: server, storage, and networking equipment. You’ll also be responsible for managing server software, IP/DNS configurations, and hardware replacement.
[table “21” not found /]Best suited for:
- Enterprises in regulated industries (healthcare, finance, government)
How do I choose the best hosting service for me/my business’ needs?
Deciding on the best hosting solution comes down to a lot of factors, and it can be difficult to determine what is the best plan for now and what you may need in the future.
For most, a shared hosting plan is the best place to start because it is cost-effective and the easiest option to get started with. From there, most hosting providers allow you to upgrade and downgrade your plan according to your needs.
And if you outgrow the hosting capabilities of a hosting provider, you can always migrate your website data to a larger hosting provider with more options.
Our staff can assist you with determining the best kind of hosting for your circumstances, as well as suggestions on how to get the most out of your hosting and anything else you may need to ensure the best hosting experience.
If you have any further questions about web hosting or would like to get hosting setup for yourself, contact us by submitting a support ticket from your Client Area account!