What are Web Hosting Services?

Web hosting is primarily a service that will allow individuals and organizations to post a website or web page onto the Internet. A web host, also known as a web hosting service provider, is a business model. They provide the services and technologies needed for your website or webpage to be viewed on the Internet.

Websites are stored or hosted on special computers called servers. When Internet users want to visit your website, they need to type your website address or domain into their browser. Their computer or laptop will then automatically get connected to the server, and your web pages will be delivered to them via the browser.

There are 5 most basic types of web hosting services you can choose from. There are other forms of web hosting as well. One of them is home servers or dedicated servers you set up entirely on your own. But as with any DIY tech project, make sure you have done all the necessary research beforehand.

When you decide to host a website, you need an online home. Your hosting provider will allot a place on a web server to store all of your files related to your website. These files will be delivered immediately when a browser makes a request by typing in your domain name.

When you pay for the web hosting services, you are actually renting storage space on the Internet just like you would rent a physical office for your business.

Web hosting services work by maintaining secure and stable storage spaces. Web hosts generally provide more than just simple data storage. It is a core part of the functionality. Hosts will store data on hardware known as web servers. As an online user, you can easily access the web server.

Without a large host capacity and proper maintenance, your websites may behave erratically. Meaning your hosted website will not function properly. That will create a more time-consuming process for your website’s visitors. This, in turn, will impact your business’s sales and deprive your audience of information.

Self-hosting

There are ways wherein you can create your web servers with PC software. But the cost of such a setup may actually be higher compared to a dedicated host provider.

That is why most users today rely on third-party services. They generally guarantee certain features and services on a 24/7 basis.

Big enterprise companies might choose to host their own website, as they can invest in servers and other resources. But for small- to medium-businesses, web-hosting providers are a much better budget-friendly option.

Benefits of self hosting include continuous accessibility for users, better security against hackers, routine maintenance, and technical support for you when unexpected issues crop up.

Here are some of the different types of web hosting available.

1 Shared hosting

This is a common and economical option. Shared hosting services generally manage multiple clients from the same server system. It is a good option when your needs and budget are limited.
But it comes with a trade-off. There are chances as there might be an opportunity for disruption. Primarily because the server’s resources get distributed between multiple users.

2 Virtual private servers

Virtual private server or VPS hosting is a popular option similar to shared hosting. But the difference is your files get stored in a dedicated space with dedicated resources.
As a result, the cost goes up, but this solution reduces the risk of sharing hardware with your provider’s other clients or subscribers.

3 Dedicated hosting

In this case, you are provided a dedicated server. This setup cuts the security and performance risks associated with shared hosting. As a result you can gain substantial functionality, but this increases your need for regular management and maintenance, thus increasing costs.

4 Managed hosting

It is a more customized option where you have access to a dedicated server, but you do not have its administrative options. In case of managed hosting, security and maintenance responsibilities lie with your provider.
Your responsibility is to manage content via FTP (File Transfer Protocol). FTP is the rule that networked computers use while they communicate with each other.

5 Cloud hosting

Cloud hosting is the latest option that allows resource sharing and scales primarily to drive down costs. The setup also reduces the risk of noticeable service disruptions.
The hosting services become more affordable compared to other options. But you need to closely understand how the plan pricing works before you commit to one.

Important features to look for in a web host provider:

1 Amount of Storage

When choosing your web hosting, you should first ask – how much data can I store? Some hosts may mention unlimited storage. But you need to be careful before buying. Go with a host that sets clear limits.

2 Loading Speed

As Google once said – even a two-second delay can cause your website to lose potential customers. The attention span is very short these days. Especially on the Internet, where surfers expect every page to load in a few microseconds.
Hence, the web host providers need to provide instantaneous page load i.e. good website speed while loading.

3 Uptime Percentage

Your website is of no value if customers can not even access the website. Hence the uptime of a website has to be at least 99.94% on average. So if any web host provides a lower uptime percentage – then it is not worth considering.

4 Email Accounts

A good web hosting provider lets you have an unlimited or, at times, fixed number of email accounts. The feature is based on the package you have chosen. Moreover, certain security measures also come with the package, which helps ensure that no spam can enter your inbox.

5 Backups Frequency

Depending on your hosting plans – they will provide data backups on a weekly or daily basis. For the more affordable plans, they might impose a fixed number of backups for a day or a week. The backups can be automatic or manual. Most companies prefer daily automated backups.

6 CMS Support

For any eCommerce website, support for a CMS or content management system is crucial. Although WordPress is the most popular choice, there are other CMS options as well. You can also go for more specialized platforms like Joomla, Magento, Drupal, etc., which allow better organization of the site.

7 Customer Support

Proactive customer support is crucial to any hosting service. The support team needs to respond to your call for any issue at any time.

If you plan to start your own website in the UAE, you can select any of these service providers in Dubai.

1 Cloudways

Do you want your WordPress site to load 200% faster? Cloudways is your answer. They are a cloud VPS managed service provider, providing a managed cloud hosting platform for your business.

2 Temok

Temok provides shared hosting plans at your budgeted price and great features along with it.

3 Godaddy UAE

Godaddy is a known brand – a leader in web hosting solutions across the globe. Godaddy also provides cheap web hosting in the UAE for your business needs.

4 HostSailor

HostSailor is a known name as they offer flexible hosting solutions with best-in-class dedicated and VPS servers. If you choose Hostsailor as your website hosting provider, you can avail of many exciting features.

How to Choose the Best Hosting Provider?

It is indeed true that there are so many hosting options to consider from hence it is easy to get overwhelmed comparing them all. If you are unable to read through the list of features and check pricing plans, switch gears and spend some time with our experts at Markfiniti.

However, once you have a solid idea of the basics of web hosting, think about what format is most suitable for you. Whether you would be interested in a shared or dedicated setup. It is worth making a short checklist of key features so that you can more quickly scan through the plans.

But if you are looking for a good starting place today, you can consider the different hosting packages offered by Markfiniti.