The Different Types of Web Hosting: Which One Is the Best for You? | Storm Internet

Web hosting is central to your website’s speed, reliability and availability. All websites have a host, but the needs of a personal blogger will vary drastically from those of an international company.

If you’re new to website hosting, then you probably have lots of questions about which provider is right for you, but you’re in the right place! In this post, we’ll reveal the different types of hosting, so you can find the best solution for your needs.

What Is Web Hosting?

Web hosting is a service that allows you to host your website or blog on the internet. It’s like renting space in an office building, but instead of renting it for business purposes, you’re using it for personal use.

Many people mix up hosting and domains, but while hosting gives you a dedicated space to advertise your business or personal website, a domain provides the address so people can find you.

The most common web hosting services are shared VPS (virtual private server) and dedicated servers. However, cloud hosting and colocation have become popular options in recent years.

Let’s take a look at each in more detail.

Shared Hosting

Shared hosting is where multiple websites are hosted on one physical server by sharing its resources with other customers who also have their sites on the same hardware.

It’s the most popular hosting type because sharing with other websites often means you pay less, and many bloggers or small businesses use this solution.

Pros

Perhaps the most significant advantage of shared hosting is the convenience it offers. You don’t need any specialist knowledge, and plans are incredibly cheap.

Most shared hosting providers also offer users a free domain name when they subscribe, and this solution is best if you want to focus on growing your website without all of the technical stuff.

Cons

Shared hosting has its drawbacks, and the most significant is that you’re sharing space with others. Just like a large household might find a standard internet connection lags, your website might slow down if other sites are taking up too much space through traffic surges.

VPS Hosting

Virtual Private Server (VPS) hosting is when a customer rents out part of a single machine as their own virtual computer within another larger machine containing many such virtual computers running together on different software programs simultaneously.

It’s similar to renting a flat because you’re not sharing the apartment with anyone else, but you live in a large building with others.

Pros

The main advantage of VPS hosting is that it allows you to install any software, whereas shared hosting doesn’t let you do this. You have your own space, so you can customise it to your needs, without spending a fortune.

Cons

VPS hosting gives you more flexibility, but there’s also a lot more responsibility involved too. If you don’t have much technical knowledge, this option might not suit you because you must maintain the security and perform regular maintenance.

Dedicated Server Hosting

Dedicated server hosting is the type of web where the customer has complete control over their hardware, operating system (OS), and bandwidth usage without sharing any resources with other customers on that machine or network of machines.

This service typically costs more than shared hosting because there are no economies of scale to lower prices by using cheaper hardware while still providing high-quality services like those found in data centres.

Pros

Dedicated server hosting is ideal for large businesses that generate constant traffic streams because it can accommodate your space and speed requirements.

As this set-up is exclusive to you, there’s extra security and privacy, which is something you don’t get in other hosting types.

Cons

Paying for a dedicated hosting package is fine for large businesses, but you should assess your current traffic and decide whether it’s right for you.

Dedicated hosting is more expensive than the other hosting solutions, so smaller websites might find they don’t need the extra space.

You also need to maintain your hosting package, which requires a lot of technical know-how.

Managed Hosting

Managed hosting is a sub-type of other hosting packages, which is highly convenient for website owners that don’t want to focus on technical maintenance.

These packages often include data recovery, regular maintenance, on-demand technical support and hardware replacement. A managed hosting solution can benefit small and large businesses, but you will pay extra for the dedicated support.

Cloud Hosting

Cloud hosting is the type of web where customers rent out space on a network of servers. These types are often more reliable than other options because they distribute resources across multiple machines instead of just one computer or device that could fail due to hardware issues (such as an overheated processor).

This also means there’s better security since hackers can’t access all files at once if they manage to get into one particular server in your system.

Pros

The main advantage of cloud hosting is that it’s flexible and scalable, so you only pay for what you use. If your business grows, this solution can accommodate the extra traffic without any problems. Cloud hosting has robust uptime, which means no downtime during maintenance periods or when one server fails.

Cons

There might be customisation limits in some cases, but this ultimately depends on your cloud solution. Managing a cloud system can also be challenging, and higher costs are related to frequent usage.

Colocation Hosting

Colocation hosting is where you install your server in a data centre. You have access to the same security, bandwidth and physical support as using managed services from an external provider.

Pros

There’s greater flexibility with colocation hosting because it gives you full control over your servers. It also allows for faster data transfer speeds, which means better performance for visitors accessing your website or application remotely through cloud computing technologies such as virtualisation (e-commerce).

Cons

It can be difficult to maintain a colocation hosting solution yourself without expert technical knowledge, and the cost of this hosting package can be expensive for small businesses.

Also, most providers ask for a long term arrangement, which means you have to be completely sure that colocation is right for your needs.

Final Thoughts

Well, there you have it; the different types of web server hosting solutions available to all websites. Your choice depends on numerous factors, including:

• Space Needs
• Technical Knowledge
• How Fast Your Business is Growing
• Budget

If you’d like some advice on the best hosting packages for you, please don’t hesitate to contact our friendly team.