*Updated 8/11/2023
If you’re ready to develop and launch a website, you will want to understand your options in regard to website hosting. Every website you have ever visited has relied on hosting services to be viewable and accessible to the internet public. There is no getting around it. Choosing a hosting provider is a critical factor in maximizing the success of your website. Without website hosting, your website would have no space to exist on the World Wide Web. Hosting allows people to connect to your website, keeps your information protected, and reliably stores your files and data.
Americaneagle.com, a website hosting and security company (and more), offers support to get your website successfully up and running. We can help you compare options that suit your needs relating to storage size, speed, security, customer service, scalability, uptime, and cost. Below, we have laid out an introductory guide to website hosting options.
What is Website Hosting?
Website hosting refers to renting or buying a space to house a website on the internet. While it is possible to set up and manage website hosting on your own, it has become an increasingly complicated and expensive endeavor. Most modern businesses employ a web hosting service provider who supplies the resources and services required for a website to be publicly viewable on the internet.
Websites are stored on servers. A server is a physical computer that connects your website to other users and runs continuously, allowing your website to be viewable at all times. Operating a server requires consistent maintenance of the equipment, infrastructure, hardware, and software. A web hosting service provider rents space on their physical servers to store website files, data, and information. Websites hosted with a hosting provider are like renting a virtual storefront property. To operate a business, you have to consider renting or buying a space to operate. That consideration applies to the real world and the internet alike.
Why is Web Hosting Important?
Without web hosting, no one can visit your website. As described above, when your website is hosted, its files are stored on a server that makes it accessible to internet users. Operating and maintaining a server is increasingly complicated and expensive. Ultimately, employing a web hosting company is the most common, convenient, and cost-effective way to host a website.
It is also important to consider the security of your website’s information. Web hosting service providers are responsible for ensuring that your website maximizes advanced security technologies to protect you and your customers.
What are the Main Types of Hosting?
There are multiple website hosting options available, all with their own benefits and characteristics to consider when deciding what would work best for your business’s website. Most web hosting service providers will offer different hosting packages that suit various customer needs. Ultimately, the goals of your website and the traffic generates will determine what website hosting method is most appropriate.
The Most Popular Website Hosting Options
Here are the most popular website hosting options available today:
Dedicated Virtual Private Server (VPS) Hosting
When using Virtual Private Server (VPS) hosting your website will be sharing a physical server with others. That server is partitioned so that each user is allocated their own resources and space for their website. Unlike shared hosting, your website’s performance will not be impacted by the traffic of other sites due to the partitioning of the server. Functionally, this server operates as a dedicated server, offering high customizability and root access. This type of hosting is a popular choice for mid-market and large-market businesses.
Cloud Hosting
Cloud hosting providers utilize multiple data centers with storage across a distributed network of servers that are located in different geographical regions. A benefit of working on a network of cloud hosting servers is that you can hop from one to another as issues arise, ensuring maximum uptime and functionality for your site visitors. This type of hosting can also be scaled to meet varying business demands and is not limited to the abilities of a single server. Cloud storage providers usually follow a pay-as-you-go pricing model, where users pay for the storage space and bandwidth they consume. This provides flexibility for organizations with fluctuating storage requirements.
Shared Hosting
This cost-effective option is great for new websites that won’t see an abundance of initial traffic. For small businesses and personal websites, this option will save money while functioning perfectly for basic website capabilities. While shared hosting is a great place to start, pursuing this option could limit your website’s scalability and some features, such as advanced metrics and reporting. Additionally, since you are sharing a server with other websites, the speed of your website could fluctuate with the traffic patterns of other websites hosted on your shared server.
How to Choose a Hosting Provider
In order to choose a reliable hosting provider, multiple factors need to be taken into consideration. As you continue your research, bear in mind that you are not just looking for a hosting provider that suits your website’s current needs, but its future needs as well. Here are some factors to consider when choosing a hosting provider:
Security
Website security is paramount to safeguard your website and user data in today's digital landscape that is filled with an ever-increasing array of cyber threats. When selecting a hosting provider, prioritize one that offers robust security measures. Request detailed explanation of security certificates, backups, firewalls, and malware scanning to safeguard your website and protect user data. A secure hosting environment instills trust in your visitors and helps you avoid potential security breaches.
Americaneagle.com has been hosting sites for over 20 years. We are compliant with PCI (Payment Card Industry) as a level one service provider. This is the highest level of compliance. The PCI DSS (Data Security Standard) is a single security standard comprised of the cardholder security programs from the five major credit card companies. The standard was created to protect customers from increasing identity theft and security breaches. In 2007, Americaneagle.com became one of the first ten data centers in the world to achieve PCI compliance in managed hosting. We have continued the program for the years since then. We are validated by a Visa-approved auditor who performs a one-week on-site audit on an annual basis.
Managed Hosting
A managed web hosting plan provides website owners the confidence that the technical aspects that advance performance and security are prioritized for an optimal experience for website visitors. Managed hosting providers typically have experienced professionals who can assist with server setup, configuration, and troubleshooting. They can address issues promptly and provide guidance, ensuring your website remains operational and optimized. Managed hosting services include server maintenance, updates, security patches, and backups. Security is at the forefront of managed hosting, typically including firewalls, intrusion detection systems, malware scanning, and other security mechanisms to protect websites and data from potential threats. Regular security audits and proactive monitoring help identify vulnerabilities and mitigate risks as well. Managed hosting allows website owners to focus on core business activities rather than dealing with the complexities of web server management.
Americaneagle.com prioritizes managed hosting for all of our client websites. We offer 24/7/365 monitoring and response for all of our hosted customers.
Performance Optimization
Leading web hosting providers prioritize performance optimization. They employ various techniques such as server caching, content delivery networks (CDNs), and load balancing to ensure fast and reliable website performance. Additionally, they monitor server resources, handle traffic spikes, and optimize configurations to deliver optimal user experiences.
Automated Backups and Disaster Recovery
Managed hosting plans often include automated backup services. Regular backups are performed, ensuring that your website data is safe and can be restored in case of any data loss or accidental deletion. Some providers also offer disaster recovery options to quickly recover your website in the event of a catastrophic failure.
High Uptime and Reliability
With managed hosting, uptime and reliability are prioritized. Providers employ redundant hardware, robust network infrastructure, and failover systems to minimize downtime. They continuously monitor servers and promptly address any issues that may impact your website's availability.
Customer Support
If web hosting issues of any kind arise, it is truly valuable to know there is someone who can provide your business with timely assistance. The amount of support offered by hosting providers can vary. Identify the availability of support tutorial videos, FAQs, 24/7 phone, email, or chat options, and other resources are offered by hosting providers.
Hosting with Americaneagle.com, client websites are professionally monitored 24/7/365. The colleagues who monitor all hosted websites have direct access to the development teams as well.
Resources and technical specifications
Make sure that the hosting provider is offering modern and optimized server hardware, enough disk space, processing power, bandwidth, and meeting all the technical specifications needed to support your website. It is important to understand the capability of the hosting service you are paying for. Additionally, look to see if the provider offers an “uptime guarantee” as keeping your website live, especially for businesses, is crucial. 99.9% is a common uptime guarantee, get it in writing with specifics in regard to how it is measured and what happens if the provider fails to live up to that guarantee.
Client Success
Make sure the hosting provider you choose has plenty of experience hosting websites of a similar size to yours. Ask for references. If you’re a big-name brand or experience extremely high traffic during sales or particular events, select a hosting provider that has demonstrated these abilities – for example, hosting sites with ads playing during Super Bowl Sunday.
Frequently Asked Questions about Website Hosting - FAQs
Americaneagle.com has earned a respected reputation as a leading web hosting provider since the mid-1990s. Here are some of the questions we often receive from new customers. We hope these answers can help you today.
Is it possible to transfer my current website to a new hosting provider?
Yes, it is possible to transfer most websites from one hosting provider to another. Migration services from the new hosting provider should be able to verify that you have access to all website files and source code and assist a successful transfer.
Can I upgrade my hosting plan as my website grows?
Yes, most hosting providers support upgrades hosting plans as your website grows. It's important to choose a provider that offers ample scalability to support your business growth.
Do WordPress sites require special hosting services?
It is recommended, yes. While it is not essential, managed WordPress hosting provides consistent software updates and performance enhancements to optimize WordPress capabilities.
Are there common “hidden fees” from web hosts that I should look out for?
Depending on the type of host, there are some “hidden fees” to watch out for. Cloud providers often charge based on both resource utilization and bandwidth. It is important to keep track of your estimated bills throughout the month in order to avoid a surprising large bill.
Your Website Hosting and Security Partner
Americaneagle.com is proud to provide exceptional website hosting services. Our secure and reliable hosting services include in-house data centers. The experienced server team at Americaneagle.com customizes solutions that anticipate all of each client’s unique needs, from speed, traffic, and hardware space to general performance. Some of the world’s most recognized brands trust Americaneagle.com to keep their websites up and running, performing with excellence, and providing the experience that their customers expect and deserve. You can too.
Visit our Hosting Services page to learn more about our hosting options for VPS, managed, cloud, and shared server solutions. Contact Americaneagle.com today.
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