If you are planning to create a new website, you are going to need a server to host your website. This is a service that is offered by web hosting companies, of which there are many. These companies will have hundreds or thousands of computers stored in a data centre. These data centres are generally large rooms where the computers are stored in a temperature and humidity controlled environment. This is in order to protect the hardware and in turn protect the data stored on their machines. Web hosting companies can also offer clients a fast and reliable internet connection to keep their websites online at all times.
Web hosting companies will offer a range of web hosting services and can be difficult to decide which one is for you. Here are the most popular types of web hosting explained:
Dedicated Hosting: With this type of hosting you have a server dedicated to yourself. This means that if you have a number of websites you can store them all on the one server. Dedicated hosting provides you with the ability to access your server remotely and make any software installs or updates when necessary. This type of hosting is best suited to companies that have a large website with a lot of traffic. It can also be a costly option.
Shared Hosting: This is the most widely used type of web hosting. Unlike dedicated hosting, you share a server with other websites. However, this does not mean that the other website administrators have access to your website and data and vice-versa, each website on the server is a separate entity. Each client is allocated space on the server but you all share the computer’s resources such as its RAM and CPU. There may be restrictions in relation to software installing and updating. This is a suitable option for most reasonable sized websites and is cost effective.
Collocated Hosting: With collocated hosting, the client owns the server as opposed to renting it like with dedicated hosting. Because you own the server you can make any hardware and software changes you like. Any changes may need to be made at the data centre itself by your own administrator, as the hosting company may not provide these services. With this type of web hosting, the hosting company will usually only provide you with the storage and internet connection for your server.
Free Web Hosting: There are companies who offer web hosting for free, however they are mostly supported by advertisements. You will also have a limited package with this type of hosting and may not be able to make any software changes. This is suitable for companies that feel they need to have a basic website but do not rely on it at all in the running of their business.
Cloud Hosting: This type of hosting is only around a few years but is becoming increasingly popular. Instead of your website folders and data being stored on one server, it will be stored across a number of different servers. With multiple servers, if there is a technical problem with one server the others will compensate. This means that your websites performance will not be affected in such situations. This service is not suitable for those who have data privacy issues. Cloud hosting companies do not charge a flat monthly rate but charge on the basis of how much resources you use.
You should carry out some research before choosing which type of web hosting suits you and your website. It is important to get your website hosted correctly from the beginning so that you do not have to waste any more time and money with it than necessary.