Many businesses throughout the world rely very strongly on their websites to increase both profit and productivity. This means that they also rely on their website’s host to ensure that their business is consistently running smoothly. In order to fully understand the importance of having a proper web host, it is important to know what it is that a web host does.
A web host is a digital provider which provides both businesses and individuals with the proper tools to allow consumers to view their services on the Internet. These providers store your website on their servers and provide you with a domain if you do not already have one. When your domain name is typed into a search engine they will connect the user to your website using a DNS (Domain Name System). These servers store a lot of sensitive information which is why it is crucial that you have a secure one to protect yourself and your customers from the negative effects of web host hacking.
How To Choose The Right Website Host For Your Business
These negative effects have been felt by large companies throughout the country and by their consumers as well, but various industries feel these effects differently based on what field they specialize in. For example, Premera which is a well-known health insurance provider had their web host hacked in 2015 resulting in the theft of their users financial and medical information. Another popular industry that is often hacked is large retail stores who have their customer’s credit card information stolen. Some examples of retail stores that have had this happen include:
- Target,
- Sears
- Kmart
- Home Depot
It is always possible for a web host to be hacked but here are some important tips to keep in mind when choosing your web host to help keep this from happening.
1. Understand Your Business’s Hosting Needs
By understanding what things a host offers that your company will not need you can immediately rule out which web host plans are not right for your needs, limiting how much time you need to spend during your search. While going through this process some important things to take into account is how many websites a host provides you with, how much storage space you will receive, and what type of domain they will provide you with. Some may provide you with a basic domain and others may provide you with a premium domain. If you are interested in finding a web hosting provider who also can provide you with web design you should check MangoMatter. This will also allow you to determine how much you will need to be paying for the web host’s services.
2. Worry Less About the Price
One common mistake many new websites make when choosing their host is dwelling too much on the affordability of the host and less on the security that it offers. This will prevent them from making the best decision and they will not prioritize the most important qualities that the host has available for their users. Websites that use slower servers will also have a lower processing speed, affecting the functionality of the site. You should also avoid using young startup web host companies who offer unusually low prices. Often companies will do this in an attempt to rope in more customers but chances are that if the prices seem too good to be true, they are.
3. Understand the Terms of Service
Everyone knows that whenever the terms of service come up on your screen the first thing you do is skip through it. However, reading the terms of service is a very important step in determining what the web host will offer you in the event that something happens, resulting in you needing a refund. This will also show you any important dates that may affect how you are expecting your time with the company to play out.
4. Read Their Reviews
Many times in the event that someone has a negative experience with a web hosting company their first step will be to openly express them on at least one of multiple review sites. You should look at two or three different review websites to make sure that you are getting a decent idea of how people feel about that specific web host. It is also important that you cycle through the reviews and read the most negatively rated ones so that you understand exactly what people disliked about their experience. For instance, Hosting Foundry built a page for Canada and they know what they’re doing. It is so important to find services with positive reviews!
5. Determine a Plan B
Many web hosts already have specific plans in place in case they experience a security breach in their system that must be dealt with at a quick pace. If you already are familiar with the plan that the host has in place it will make you feel more comfortable with the company itself, and keep you from panicking in the event that the host is hacked into. On the off chance that the company does not have a plan in place this should be a clear indicator that you will want to look into other hosting alternatives. This plan should include making sure that the hackers no longer have a way into your information, retrieving any information that has been deleted, and repairing any other weak areas in their program.
6. Figure Out Customer Support Rating
It is important for you to figure out how well the company operates in terms of their tech support team. Some companies may try to hire those who are inexperienced to cut back on their labor costs but in doing so are providing their customers with employees who may not be as helpful as someone with a decent amount of experience in the web hosting field. These employees should be able to explain to you at least the basics of the role they fill at their company and how web hosting works. Also, check what methods of communication are available and aim for a company has 24/7 tech support. This way you will have assistance when you need it.
7. Check Their Security Features
Many companies may only provide you with basic information on the security features they offer. In order to ensure the security of your website is solid try to find a company that can explain to you in full detail exactly what kind of security they will be offering. If an employee is reluctant to go into a great number of details with you it is likely that they do not have them. A secure company would train their employees to understand what they are selling to people and how it works enough to explain it to their consumers.
8. Determine Necessary Help
Some companies are designed specifically for those with more knowledge when it comes to how web hosting works so it is important to determine how much help and explaining you will need from staff on a daily to weekly basis. If you are someone who knows nothing or the bare basics about web hosting, you should look for a host that can provide you with information as you need it, so that you will stay in the loop of what is going on with your website. If you are someone who knows a fair amount about the subject you may not need as much help so it can be a bit less of a necessity when you are making your choice.
9. Business Email
Whether your business is young or has been around for years many owners find that having a business email would make their work much easier to manage. If this is something that you definitely want it is important to make sure that the host you choose offers it as part of their hosting package, because a great number may not. You will also want to pay attention to how much the price of the email makes your total hosting cost fluctuate because while some hosts include it in the final price others consider it as an added on feature. To make this decision, consider what the aim of your business is and how many employees or consumers may try to contact you on a day to day basis. This will likely tell you whether you need your own private email or can manage by using another one, such as Gmail.
If you keep these tips in mind throughout the duration of your search for a reliable web hosting service, you may find that the process is much easier than previously imagined. You can also be more confident in your choice and the fact that your website will be as secure, efficient, and safe as possible.
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