If you are trying to understand how to create your website, it is also a must-have for you to know about Web Hosting. Web Hosting is essential to keep your website live.
When creating a website, there are several steps involved in the process, starting with registering a Domain with a service like HostGator, GoDaddy, Google Domains, or Bluehost. Once you have chosen a Unique Address, you will need to change it to a Nameserver like Cloud Flare, OpenDNS, Clean Browsing, and Google Public DNS that will direct your website visitors to the correct IP address (this is optional). Next comes Web Hosting, which is where your website will be located.
We will help you understand Web Hosting, why you need it, and how much it will cost you to get your website up and running.
What is Web Hosting?
If you are planning to create a website and keep it online, you will need reliable Web Hosting. It is a must-have!
Web Hosting is an online service that allows you to publish your website on the Internet. It allows anyone to access your website as long as they have an active Internet connection and a device such as a Desktop or Mobile Phone.
Theoretically, you can host your website on an actual server, but some Hosting Service Providers allocate space on a Web Server for a website to store its files. The space allocated to a website on a server depends on the different types of Hosting, such as Shared, Dedicated, and VPS.
In terms of a Server, it is a computer that connects other web users from anywhere in the world to your website. Therefore, Web Hosting Service Providers use Servers, Connectivity, and Associated Services to host websites.
Web Hosting makes all the files that make up a website, such as code and images, available for viewing online. This means that every website you have ever visited is hosted on a server.
So, Web Hosting is the process of buying or renting space to host a website on the World Wide Web (WWW).
Why do you need hosting for a website?
As we discussed earlier, Web Hosting is required to get your website online.
When we refer to your website, we mean that it is yours, because you have complete control over it. If your website is on a free platform, it means that you have to agree to their Terms and Conditions, and we have heard several stories about how many profitable websites that many of its owners have worked hard on for years have been taken down.
You will get more customization options with your own website, and today, Web Hosting companies offer 24/7 customer support if you ever face any problems. A secure web hosting company keeps your website data and your client’s personal data safe by fighting online threats, hacks, and other cyber attacks.
Therefore, the web hosting service provider you choose provides all the hardware and software needed to host your website’s resources and data on a server. This server is connected to the internet so that everyone can access your content.
Most hosting companies also offer other useful features like website builder resources, email accounts, and security tools that you can further utilize to manage your website.
Different Types of Web Hosting
Once you have chosen your domain name, you will need to sign up for a hosting plan, which will allow your website to be accessible on the internet. Your web hosting service provider is then responsible for storing all your files, assets, and databases on the server. They will make sure that your server is up and running and prevent security breaches.
So, what is the process of hosting a website? The process of Web Hosting starts with the files that make up a website. These files are uploaded from a computer to a Web Server. Here, the server’s resources such as Hard Drive Space, RAM, and Bandwidth are allocated to the website.
Today, there are different types of Web Hosting, so let’s look at the most common ones.
Shared Hosting
This is an economical option where your Hosting Service Provider manages multiple clients/websites on the same server system. However, much like a Co-Working Space, you have all the modern facilities here, but you cannot add anything new to it.
It should be noted that sharing a server can lead to problems if there is an increase in traffic. But these days, generous amounts of resources are offered to ensure good performance. Therefore, if your needs and budget are limited and you are starting with a small website, it is a good option.
Dedicated Hosting
Here, you get a Dedicated Server that offers reliability and significant performance. This option reduces the security and performance risks associated with Shared Hosting, which also means higher costs, more regular management, and more maintenance.
For high-demand enterprise-grade websites, the best option is to own the entire server. Small and medium-sized businesses don’t need to spend tens of thousands of dollars each month on a Dedicated Web Server for their business. Therefore, you should choose the Hosting Plan that best suits your needs and the Grade your website belongs to.
Virtual Private Servers (VPS)
Similar to Shared Hosting, this is a step up from the norm. This Hosting Service uses Virtualization Technology to provide Private Resources to multiple users. Virtual Private Machine Web Hosting is a more secure and stable solution chosen by website owners with medium-level traffic.
The cost is usually higher than Shared Hosting, as your files are stored on Dedicated Resources with Dedicated Space, but it is cheaper than renting an entire server. However, the risk of sharing hardware with the provider’s other clients is reduced.
Managed Hosting
Here, you have access to a Dedicated Server, but the administrative tasks, including Setup, Management, Security, and Support, are handled by your hosting company. It is affordable and reduces the risk of slow-loading sites, the risk of the site crashing if there is a surge in traffic, and problems finding IT support.
Cloud Hosting
This is a newer option that involves sharing resources that is more cost-effective compared to other options. It reduces costs and ensures that resources are allocated to keep things running smoothly, further reducing the risk of significant service outages during sudden traffic surges.
But make sure you understand what you are getting and for how much before signing up for this option, as there are more variable pricing models.
How Much Does Hosting a Website Cost?
So, now you know why you need Web Hosting and the different options available in the market, and how much does Web Hosting cost? Let’s go.
The cost of Web Hosting varies by provider, and while you can get Free Web Hosting, it is best to avoid them.
Free Web Hosting basically comes with Limited Disk Space and Lower Bandwidth depending on the Data Transfer or Traffic. Their servers are often overloaded, meaning there is more downtime.
Opting for Free Hosting can cause problems with the Domain Name in your URL. They can place advertisements on your website without your knowledge, which is not good for your website, as such websites are considered low quality and spammy.
There is also a limit to the number of images and videos you can upload. It is worth noting that there is a higher risk of security breaches that can lead to theft of your customer information and other data.
By paying for Web Hosting, you gain complete control over your website and its content. Paid Web Hosting includes more features than Free Hosting.
Paid Hosting Plans offer you reliable servers and stable network connections, so reliability is a big deal. Slow uploads or frequent down websites can be frustrating for visitors. So, check the host’s uptime history before you decide on one.
In addition to high bandwidth, Paid Web Hosting also offers high security. Additionally, a commercial host will provide you with a Control Panel (cPanel) so that you can manage various aspects of your website’s hosting account. Many hosting providers also allow Add-on Domains, which are hosting more than one domain from a single account.
As with everything, you get what you pay for, and if you don’t expect high traffic, you can easily get by with these website hosting services for as little as $150 per year on Shared Hosting. Higher Capacity Hosting Plans will cost you a lot more and can start at $150.
There is usually an option to choose between monthly and annual payment plans, so you can make your decision based on that if you want a cheaper option or want to see the reliability of the service firsthand.
