A Beginner’s Guide to Choose the Perfect Hosting Plan

November 22, 2023 By Christine Margret No Comments 4 minutes

Website hosting is a vital service offered by businesses responsible for operating and maintaining the physical servers on which all websites are hosted. For the average web user who simply navigates the internet and visits websites, there’s no need to be aware of it. Before understanding web hosting in detail, let’s secure your browsing experience with FastestVPN. A VPN is an essential tool to protect your digital identity from potential surveillance and other online threats. Get FastestVPN today.

Guide to Choose the Best Hosting Plan

However, if you plan on becoming a website owner, selecting the right web hosting provider and plan ensures that web hosting remains a relatively hands-off concern in your day-to-day activities. Now, let’s take a look at the 3 fundamental functions that a hosting provider will offer:

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File Storage

Websites, regardless of their complexity, comprise numerous files. Even a basic website contains dozens of files, encompassing images, text, and design elements that collectively shape its appearance. Web hosting plans serve as the storage space for all these files.

Uptime

In the web hosting domain, the period during which your site’s files are accessible to visitors is referred to as uptime. While many web hosting providers might encounter occasional lapses in uptime, when a server doesn’t operate at full capacity for various reasons, reputable providers strive to minimize such downtime. The industry standard for uptime stands at 99.9%, a benchmark that quality web hosting providers pledge to meet or exceed.

Security

Your web host’s security measures serve as a protective shield for your website, similar to the security system guarding your home from intruders. Security holds significant importance for all websites, but it’s especially critical for businesses and e-commerce websites. In the event of a data breach associated with a business, reputational damage occurs, which may affect customer trust. While there are additional steps you can take to enhance your website’s security, selecting the right web host constitutes a crucial initial step in the right direction.

Selecting the Right Web Hosting Type

While grasping the fundamentals of web hosting is beneficial, if you are beginner you may find yourself quite confused when you encounter a web hosting provider’s site brimming with diverse terminology and hosting options. But don’t worry, we are here to help you!

In essence, there exist several primary types of web hosting plans. Here’s a breakdown of each type:

Shared Hosting

Shared web hosting entails a provider hosting multiple customers’ websites on the same server. Since resources are divided among numerous websites, shared hosting is cost-effective, making it an ideal choice for personal websites or small businesses. However, sharing server resources means that available space for files and bandwidth for site visitors is limited. Consequently, if your website experiences substantial growth or shares a server with a high-traffic site, performance may decline.

Cloud Hosting

Cloud hosting is a viable upgrade if you outgrow shared hosting or if your website encounters unpredictable traffic patterns. It offers flexibility and faster speeds, accommodating larger sites with increased traffic. Cloud hosting allows you to pay only for the resources you use, making it suitable for websites with fluctuating visitor counts. If you aspire to scale and adapt to changing traffic levels, cloud hosting presents the optimal solution.

VPS Hosting

VPS, or virtual private server hosting, maintains shared server aspects but with fewer cohabiting websites, each segregated to prevent performance interference. VPS plans, while more expensive than shared hosting, offer a middle-ground option, enhancing security and stability. They are well-suited for mid-level businesses seeking added reliability.

eCommerce Hosting

Building an eCommerce website necessitates a hosting plan tailored to support eCommerce functionalities. While hosting plans typically do not directly provide eCommerce features, you require hosting compatible with your chosen eCommerce software. Additionally, a level of security, such as an SSL certificate suitable for handling sensitive financial data from visitors, is essential.

Dedicated Hosting

Dedicated hosting allocates an entire web server exclusively to your website, eliminating resource-sharing with other sites. This grants large space, bandwidth, and control over server functions. Dedicated hosting suits large businesses with high traffic volumes or those requiring complex website functionalities. While it comes at a higher cost, dedicated plans deliver exceptional value when the need arises. However, for many new websites, they may offer more resources than necessary.

Conclusion

In conclusion, web hosting is the essential service that ensures your website’s files are stored, accessible, and secure. Keep in mind that selecting the right hosting type is crucial, with options like shared, cloud, VPS, eCommerce, and dedicated hosting to suit different needs. Your choice depends on factors like website size, traffic, and business requirements. Understanding these basics empowers you to make informed decisions as you embark on your online journey.