Choosing a Web Hosting Service

Business owners who opt for a Web hosting service have many points to consider before picking the company they want to work with, chief among them:

  • Budget. Hosting can range from $5 to well over $1,000 per month or more, depending on the client's needs. In some cases, this will vary month to month if the provider charges based on bandwidth usage. When planning a budget, business owners must first consider the importance of Web services to their operations. An e-commerce retailer whose primary business is selling products logically will spend more money than a local restaurant that simply wants to post its menu online.
  • Internet tools. Besides the Web site itself, the business owner also should decide if he needs e-mail, as well as FTP access. For instance, almost any Web server can host some kind of e-mail, but only specific kinds can host a Microsoft Exchange server, which many companies use to sync e-mail, contacts and calendar events in real time between computers, PDAs, etc. It also is important to consider the number of users and space needed. Some e-mail hosting providers have a maximum amount permitted per user, which may not be suitable for all client needs.
  • Software. Servers most frequently are Linux-based, which is open source and free, or Microsoft Windows-based or FreeBSD-based, both of which must be licensed. Shared-hosting providers limit what software can be installed, since it can affect multiple sites. If a business owner needs specific or custom software, he may have to go with a dedicated hosting service.
  • Bandwidth, disk storage space and data transfer rate. A Web site's speed is affected by the type of server it is stored on and its hardware capabilities. The better the CPU, the more the memory; the better optimized the server is, the faster the Web site can load. How much bandwidth is needed is determined by the Web- page size (a page with streamed video is much larger and takes longer to load than a plain HTML page), as well as the number of visitors to the site itself.

    One of the biggest costs associated with Web hosting is bandwidth. Clients usually purchase a limited amount, which they configure based on usage. If a client underestimates, he risks slowing down his site, or worse, crashing it. To avoid this, he should learn in advance how a host provider allocates bandwidth between clients. Sometimes, it is possible to use a dedicated bandwidth line instead of sharing it with others - usually via a dedicated server.

  • Security and reliability. A business owner should always ask the hosting provider what security measures they offer. Requesting references and checking online reviews also are smart moves. Good questions are important:
    • How is the server guarded from theft?
    • Is the server properly cooled? What fire prevention and humidity control measures are in place?
    • Are there generator backups if there's a loss of power? Are there redundant backups of the servers in case they fail or are damaged?
    • What firewalls and other network security measures are in place? Do they screen clients to keep out spammers or scammers?

    Besides hardware and network security, the reliability of the company itself is important - another reason to get references and check reviews of the hosting provider. A client might need access to technical support 24/7 if the site is a vital part of his business, so he should check to see if that is available as well.

    Also, he will want to know how long it takes a provider to respond to support requests, means of support (e-mail, phone, chat) and how helpful they are in general. Network uptime, or how often the server is available and working without issues, also is something to investigate.

  • Control panels. Some hosting providers use custom control panels, while others license well-known ones. Whichever they employ, a potential client should be sure he is comfortable with the degree of control he will have over the server. He also should consider the functionality of other site management tools the Web hosting provider may offer, as well as ease of use.

  • Scalability. When a company is new or growing, the business owner should consider how easily he will be able to upgrade his needs via his provider.
  • Front-end tools. Web site owners should have a range of tools readily available from the hosting provider, preferably through all-in-one packages. These include Web site analytics, which track the number of visitors to the site and where they come from, as well as assistance with Web design or database management. Some hosting providers, such as Yahoo! Stores, provide not just hosting, but also a functional database management system for managing products for sale. Sites of this sort are customizable to look however clients want them to.