Web Hosting — Know the Facts Before you Choose

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Web Hosting Explained: Things You Should Know

A basic explanation of web hosting is deceptively simple: Any computer where a web page's data files are physically located to be accessed via the Internet is called a host. However, that's just the beginning of the invention that has revolutionized the way we do business.

Quite literally these days, a business that's not on the Internet is invisible to most customers. That's because the “World Wide Web” is where a majority of customers go first to shop for most goods and/or services today. This means that a business owner must have at least a basic understanding of how web hosting and websites work.

Although it has come to prominence in the past 15 years, the Internet is actually 40 years old. The first computer connections were set up around 1969 between universities and military installations to share information in the event of a major catastrophe such as nuclear war. In the early 1990s, the Internet became broadly available to anyone through the development of a concept known as the World Wide Web. New types of software called "browsers" made it possible to view and interact with collections of related files known as web sites.

Even by the late 1980s, businesses had discovered the advantages of allowing customers to buy products via computer. The advent of the World Wide Web and browsers that let people interact with the Internet through images caused online business, now known as "e-commerce," to explode. Enter the website hosting company.

As explained earlier, web hosting companies are businesses that allow customers to place their websites on the company's computers to be seen on the Internet. Various kinds of software allow a business or its website designer to create the pages that go into a website. These designs are saved as types of files made to be read on the Internet. Often these files end in some extension such as HTML, ASP or similar designations. These files are "uploaded" - transferred between computers via telephone lines - to the computer or server that's providing the Internet access.

While a business owner may not need to understand the technical end of how to create a website, wise company leaders need to pay attention to what makes a web site function well. These factors are crucial when choosing a web service company:

Disk space: This refers to the amount of storage a web hosting company allows each customer on its server. Some web hosting companies limit the size of files that can be uploaded to its server, which can be a problem for a company that offers a variety of products. It's essential to be sure that a web host provides sufficient storage space.

Bandwidth: This means how much information can be exchanged between computers at any time. In real terms, it refers to how many customers can access your business website, how many inquiries they can make for goods and services, how efficiently they can make online purchases, and so on. Be alert to the amount of bandwidth available for a business website.

Security: Anyone doing business on the Internet should have a website with SSL (Secure Socket Layers) capacity. This is a type of security software that protects customers' sensitive information, such as credit card numbers, from being accessed by unauthorized persons.

Reliability: If a business doesn't host its own website, it's at the mercy of the web hosting company. This means that when the web host's computers aren't working, neither is your online business. Reliability in web hosting is called "uptime." The best web hosting companies have uptime rates of 99 percent or better, meaning that for all intents and purposes, they're working all the time.

Technical support: Let's face it: If a business wanted to focus on working with computers, it would be a computer company, right? That's why good technical support is the key to a well-functioning website. A business should be able to have its web host resolve any technical issues around the clock.

Businesses that understand what they need for these services will be well prepared to choose a web hosting company.