In today’s modern world, websites are our storefronts, our information libraries, and the first impressions we make on our customers. That’s why keeping them up and running smoothly is more important than ever.
One of the major factors in keeping a website in good shape is solid web hosting. It’s the backbone of your site, contributing to everything from its security against hackers to the speed that it loads to the amount of web traffic it can support at once.
However, there are several options for hosting. Should you host your website yourself? Should you go with a managed hosting company? Should you share your server with other websites, or should you have your own server?
Let’s dive deeper into hosting, what you should know about it, and how to choose the best option for your needs.
What Exactly Is Web Hosting?
The term “web hosting” describes the process of giving your website a home. Websites and apps are housed on powerful computers called servers, which store websites and make them accessible to visitors. The geographical locations of these servers also play a role in how quickly websites load, with servers that are closer to users resulting in shorter load times.
We typically take the entire loading process for granted, expecting that when we click on a website, it will show up. But there’s a lot going on behind the scenes!
While you may spend a lot of time looking for the right company to help you design and build your website, deciding where to host your site once it’s complete is also an important decision. Good hosting helps you ensure your site remains up and running, stays secure, and reduces load times for your users.
Different Types of Web Hosting
While all websites require hosting, there are some different options on how to do it.
The first difference in web hosting styles is unmanaged hosting versus managed hosting. With unmanaged hosting, a website owner has full control over their server. This means that if issues arise, they are responsible for responding and fixing the issues. In managed hosting, a third party is paid to oversee the website’s hosting needs and manage the server that it’s hosted on. When problems arise, the manager is there to assist.
Another choice is between shared hosting and dedicated hosting. Shared hosting is when a website is housed on a server that also houses other sites. The site will share resources on the server, which means other sites could slow it down if they’re taking up too many resources. But the option is also very common and less expensive.
Meanwhile, dedicated hosting is a higher-cost option and is when a server is only used for one site, which eliminates the potential for other sites to cause issues. Dedicated hosting is an especially helpful option for e-commerce sites or government websites, where a website going down is a major and costly issue.
At Webspec, our managed hosting services include an additional option for high availability hosting, which is a custom solution that uses a fleet of servers to allow your site to handle high amounts of traffic when it needs to and keep it from going down. It’s a great option for important government websites and large businesses that want to take extra steps to ensure their site continuously stays accessible.
How Web Hosting Affects Site Speed
The amount of time it takes your website to load plays a major role in your website’s user experience. It’s a factor that Google takes into account when it measures the quality of your website, and research has shown that users are more likely to leave your site quickly if it takes longer to load. For example, a 2017 Google study found that users are 32% more likely to bounce off of your website if your load time is 3 seconds versus 1 second. If your load time is 5 seconds, the number increases to 90%.
There are many ways to optimize for site speed, including reducing the size of your images and minimizing unnecessary portions of code. But one way to enhance your speed is making sure the server (or servers) you host on has enough resources to support your visitors, and that it isn’t too far away from them.
A hosting recommendation that Webspec often makes is using a content delivery network (CDN) to improve your site speed. These networks use servers across the world to store copies of your site’s files and deliver them from the location closest to them, reducing the wait time. We offer this service for free for sites that host with us.
Secure Web Hosting: What You Should Look For
Websites are constantly under attack, and security is an important part of choosing where to house your website. Looking into and comparing security levels for different web hosting services and price points is an important factor in making your decision.
At Webspec, we take the security of your website and hosting environment seriously. We defend your site from application attacks by using a web application firewall (WAF) that blocks any requests to your site that seem malicious. This is part of our services for both shared and dedicated hosting.
We also create daily backups of your site. In the unlikely event that your website is hacked, we can pull the latest backup to keep a version of your site up and running.
The Benefits of Local Hosting Services
There are many choices on where to house your site, from large companies to more localized services.
When you work with Webspec on a web design project, we’d also love to host your site. Our team is here to help you work through your hosting needs and the pros and cons of all of your options.
As a local company, we are able to give you prompt, attentive support 24/7. We have two full-time systems administrators on staff and always have someone on call, meaning your notifications go directly to us anytime you have an issue. No calling into a call center and waiting to talk to a representative.
Our team manages the hosting for hundreds of websites—big and small—with unmatched attention to detail and responsiveness. You’ll receive a personal touch with our services—our team is always just a phone call away to help with any hosting needs or questions you may have.
Find Secure, Fast Web Hosting Services at Webspec
Here at Webspec, we’re prepared to help host your site, no matter how big or detailed. Contact us today to learn more about how we can meet your hosting needs!
