Web Hosting 101: The Fundamentals for Newbies

Understand the basic types of web hosting service.

Web hosting – we’ve all heard of it; we all know what it is and how important it is. That being said, genuinely understanding web hosting is entirely different. Most prematurely conclude it’s a super technical and complicated subject and never give it a second thought. But here’s the thing – all 21st-century businesses need web hosting, and the key to securing the best hosting for any given business lies in understanding the basics. Ignorance is never bliss but can prove to be rather expensive, which is why it’s crucial to understand the critical differences between the various web hosting packages on offer today. 

Hosting Service Types The 4 Basic Types of Web Hosting Packages

It doesn’t take a genius to work out that a website with no more than 100 visitors each week has very different requirements than one attracting 10,000 per hour. As high-end business websites suffer from insufficient hosting service packages, thousands more are paying for services they’ll never use. So what are the main differences between the standard packages on offer?

Shared Hosting

A shared hosting package can be picked up for no more than about $10 per month – some even give their most essential services away for free. The principle of shared hosting is relatively simple – you share a server with other businesses. You thus may be limited by the capacity of the server and the demands of the different companies using it. The most significant advantage is the meagre cost, though limited control makes basic shared hosting unsuitable for more demanding sites—the ideal choice for small businesses and hobbyists.

VPS – Virtual Private Servers

A virtual private server (VPS) bridges the gap between shared and private server hosting, offering most of the benefits of a private server for a lower price. The physical server is still technically shared, but a virtual section is allocated to each website it hosts. Medium-size businesses often opt for VPS packages to curb costs while taking greater control of their sites.

Dedicated Servers

Dedicated servers offer total control and nearly infallible reliability. The business pays for the rental of a private server it uses exclusively. Costs vary considerably by the size and nature of the server and the accompanying service package. Dedicated servers are often considered the only realistic option for prominent businesses and corporations.

Cloud Hosting

Last up, cloud hosting is another example of a virtual hosting service that comes with the advantage of being massively scalable – you only ever pay for what you need and can expand at any time. Costs vary, and control over the server is minimal. Still, businesses that cannot accurately predict their website traffic or find it necessary to adjust regularly could benefit significantly from cloud hosting services.