What is web hosting?
Web hosting is a service that enables clients to publish and maintain their own websites, with the aid of web hosting providers. To start your website, you must first register a domain name and then find a web hosting company that offers what you need for the price you want to spend.
It is essentially a service that provides a space on the internet to store and access files for a website. Hosting services generally charge by the month, with prices varying depending on how much bandwidth and disk space is needed. For example, one may pay $5 per month for 2 GB of data storage and 1 MB of monthly transfer speed or $15 per month to have unlimited storage and 10 MB transfer speed.
Types of Web Hosting: Shared, VPS, Dedicated
It’s important to understand the difference between shared, VPS and dedicated hosting before making a decision on which plan is best for you and your website. To put it simply:
Shared Hosting
Many businesses need a cost effective solution and Shared Hosting provides a convenient entry-level solution. On a Shared Hosting plan your website will be stored on the same server as many other websites. All domains share the same resources, such as RAM and CPU. However, because all resources are shared, the cost is relatively low, making it the option for website owners in their initial stages, but it is important to note that the shared resources can mean that the website may operate slowly due to the same system being taxed by a higher number of websites.
If the alternative is not having a website, then having a shared hosting is absolutely fine because it means one way or another atleast your website is up and running and accessible. Choosing a partner like Thor Solutions enables you to have a cost effective Hosting which doesn’t over load servers and keeps servers secure as the Shared servers can get compromised by other website owners which will ultimately affect your website’s user experience.
Virtual private server (VPS) hosting
A VPS hosting plan is the perfect solution between a shared server and a dedicated server. It’s ideal for websites that need more control, but don’t necessarily need a dedicated server. VPS are the new golden standard with some amazing solutions like AWS, Digital Ocean & Linode.
VPS hosting is unique because each website is hosted within its own space on the server, though it still shares a physical server with other users, the number of users are greatly reduced and the amount of resources per user is much more. While VPS hosting provides website owners with more customization and storage space, they’re still not able to handle incredibly high traffic levels or spikes in usage meaning that the site performance can still be affected by other sites on the server
Typically, VPS hosting is used by website owners who want dedicated hosting but don’t have the technical knowledge or budgets. VPS hosting offers the cost benefits of shared hosting with the control of dedicated hosting. A great choice for advanced users and those that want specific software and package installations.
VPS still needs a fair bit of server management knowledge, let Thor Solutions through its brand Thor Host help you manage your servers with our White Glove service.
Dedicated server hosting
Dedicated hosting gives website owners the most control over the server that their website is stored on. That’s because the server is exclusively rented by you and your website is the only one stored on it. This means that you have full root and admin access, so you can control everything from security to operating system that you run.
However, all that control comes with a price.
Dedicated servers cost are one of the most expensive web hosting options. Typically, they are used by website owners with high levels of website traffic, and those who are in need of complete control of their servers. In addition, a high level of technical expertise is required for the installation and ongoing management of the server.
Cloud hosting
Cloud hosting is the current buzzword of the technology industry. In regards to web hosting, it means many computers working together, running applications using combined computing resources. It’s a hosting solution that works via a network and enables companies to consume the computing resource like a utility.
This allows users to employ as many resources as they need without having to build and maintain their own computing infrastructure. The resources that are being used are spread across several servers, reducing the chance of any downtime due to a server malfunction.
Cloud-based hosting is scalable, meaning your site can grow over time, using as many resources as it requires and while the website owner only pays for what they need. All of Thor Host’s basic plans are on Cloud Servers that don’t overcrowd resources
Managed hosting
Most hosting packages you will find online are likely to be managed. Hosting companies provide technical services such as hardware and software setup and configuration, maintenance, hardware replacement, technical support, patching, updating and monitoring. With managed hosting, the provider looks after the day-to-day management of the hardware, operating systems and standardised applications.
Although there are many different options to choose from when it comes to web hosting, it all comes down to choosing a plan that fits your needs. Each plan caters to the specifications of different groups and realizing what your needs in a website are will help you ensure that you’re choosing the right plan for you and your business.
Thor Host’s VPS solutions are completely managed as a white glove service
Which is best for you?
Although there are many different options to choose from when it comes to web hosting, it all comes down to choosing a plan that fits your needs. Each plan caters to the specifications of different groups and realizing what your needs in a website are will help you ensure that you’re choosing the right plan for you and your business.
The crucial factors that you should keep in mind when selecting a web host include the type of website you have, the resources you need, your budget, and expected traffic.
Get in touch with us and we will help you get started on the right plan.
Here’s a quick overview of the advantage of each type of hosting:
Shared Hosting: The most cost-effective option for low traffic websites.
Managed Hosting: Ideal for non-technical users who’d rather defer the more technical tasks to experts.
VPS Hosting: Simply put, this is the best option for websites that have outgrown shared hosting.
Cloud Hosting: Works best for websites that are growing rapidly and need scalable resources.
Dedicated Hosting: Expensive option for large websites where you need to be in control.
Pricing: How much does it cost?
Web hosting is a cost that all business owners should factor into the equation. Low-cost hosting providers are not always the best option. It is important to know your needs and what your website’s traffic volume will be.
Many low-cost providers offer one-size-fits-all packages, which may not give you everything you need at a reasonable price.
