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• By Bigleap

The Complete Guide to Web Hosting: Types, Services, and How to Choose the Best One

Whether you're a blogger or a business enthusiast who just launched a startup or full fledged entrepreneur who owns a well reputed company, having a website is important. That goes without saying how important it is to make your website available to the general public.

Web hosting is the two-word solution for publishing your website on the internet. This blog intends to provide the details regarding web hosting, its types, services and how to choose the right one that suits your needs.

Web Hosting

Web hosting is a service that facilitates a website to be accessible on the internet. Companies that own servers, also known as web hosts, provide their clients with the features to create, launch and maintain websites.

Why do you need a web hosting service?

Isn't it possible to buy your own server? Technically yes, you can. But that comes along with certain complexities. Considering how the back end of the digital information flow works, maintaining a server takes a lot more than meets the eye.

You will have to buy the equipment, set up the infrastructure, ensure there is reliable internet connection, handle all the security management, hardware upkeep and many more, which might be overwhelming for most individuals or small enterprises.

When you approach a website host and render their service, all of these intricacies related to the server are taken away from your shoulder. You rent their space and save your data and information there which is then made available to the public.

Types of web hosting services

1. Shared Hosting

In shared hosting multiple websites share the same server. This is a cost-effective option, but it will likely affect the performance of the website. You, along with other websites in that server will share the available disc size and bandwidth.

Benefits

• Cost-effective
• The server updates and other software configurations will be monitored and handled by the web hosts
• It comes with 24/7 customer support
• Ideal for websites with moderate traffic

Limitations

• The resources are limited.
• The high traffic-spikes can affect the loading speed of the website
• There are chances for security risk.
• Cannot customize the server configurations

2. Wordpress Hosting (Managed Wordpress hosting)

It includes pre-installed wordpress and is specifically optimized for wordpress sites.

Benefits

• Enhances the performance of wordpress sites
• Facilitates auto updation for security patches, updates and backups.
• Has built-in caching and content delivery network that aids in the faster loading and accessibility of the website globally.

Limitations

• Sudden traffic-spike of other websites may affect your website’s loading time
• It is costlier than shared hosting.
• Customization is still limited.

3. VPS Hosting

In VPS hosting a single physical server is split using virtualization technology, creating multiple virtual servers that share resources. And each of these virtual servers will be distributed with a fixed RAM and storage facilities.

Benefits

• More efficient than shared hosting.
• Distributed with a fixed set of CPU, bandwidth and storage allocated to your website.
• More control over the website performance.
• Comparatively high uptime.

Limitations

• Expensive compared to shared hosting, as it provides more dedicated resources.
• VPS users are expected to have more technical knowledge regarding the software configurations and updates
• Although it offers more dedicated resources, it still has limitations, as it is the subset of a single physical server. So if it exceeds the limit, it might affect the website performance.

4. Dedicated Hosting

In dedicated hosting an entire physical server is allotted to host a single website. It allows for the peak performance of the website as no resources are being shared. It is an ideal choice for websites which are resource-loaded.

Benefits

• The complete root access to the server enables customization
• Follows tight security protocols with regular updates, backups and other features.
• Since an entire server is at disposal, it is possible to upgrade its physical components, for instance add more storage, RAM etc.
• High uptime with a reliable back-up system.

Limitations

• It is very expensive
• Technical expertise is required to manage it.

Also Read: Why Your Business Needs a Strong Online Presence?

Domain registration

Domain name is your unique website address. It is often easier for the users to remember. A simple yet relevant domain name is often recommended and check if the name you selected is available using a domain registrar.

You should register the domain name and it is usually done for a period of 1-10 years.

SSL Certification

Secure Socket Layer is a digital certificate that encrypts the data transferred between the user and the website. It also protects confidential data such as passwords and personal data.

How to choose the right web hosting service

There are some key factors to be taken into account while selecting the right web hosting service.

• Understand the needs of your website. If it's a personal blog,or business site, online store, your web hosting requirements may differ accordingly.
• Choose a reliable web host, read reviews about their services.
• Select the appropriate web hosting package that guarantees high uptime, optimum storage and performance, 24/7 customer support, high end security features, user-friendly panels or dash boards and back up.
• Register your domain name.
• Set up the web hosting and build your website.

Inorder to build a strong and reliable online presence choosing the right website hosting survive is necessary. There are multiple hosting services that are available. So select the most appropriate one that meets your needs and set the ground for your website to thrive.