The web hosting service is one of the most demanded on the Internet. It is not for less, since there are currently billions of sites throughout the Internet, sites that require this service in order to function.
But, what is hosting and what should you take into account when choosing a provider for this service? On this occasion, we are going to go a little deeper into this topic and we will give you some tips and recommendations so that you can choose the most suitable hosting service for you.
Web hosting service. What is?
A hosting service is an online hosting that will allow you to publish a site on the internet. When hiring a web hosting service, you are actually renting space on a physical server. In this space you can store all the data and files necessary for your website to work properly.
So, instead of hosting people, what the hosting service does is host the content of your website. In this way, your page can be visited at any time using any device connected to the Internet.
As an example, when you want to consult a file on your computer, that file or content is stored somewhere on your PC. In most cases, it is stored on the hard drive or it can also be on a USB device.
Something very similar happens with the content of websites. The websites and their content must be stored somewhere so that they can be viewed over the Internet. So in this particular case, it must be stored on a web server. This server is nothing more than a physical computer that allows us to offer different types of hosting, where it is possible to host the files of various websites.
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How does web hosting work?
As we have mentioned, the data and files of a website are hosted on a server. A server is just a physical computer that keeps running 24/7 so your site is always available to anyone who wants to see it.
This server must be in continuous operation, and your hosting provider is responsible for it. Also your hosting provider must protect your site from malicious attacks and transfer all the content of your website, from that server to the browsers so that your visitors can view it.
So when creating a new website, it is necessary to hire a web hosting company that can provide space on their server. In this way, your hosting provider is going to store your site files, databases, and media on their server.
When a user on the Internet types your domain name, for example virtualcns.com, the server transfers all the data and files necessary to fulfill that request, displaying your web page on their device.
Being the web hosting service a key piece to have your own website, it is convenient to know some tips to choose the best provider. Some useful recommendations will make it easier for you to choose the best hosting service according to the needs and requirements of your company.
Web hosting: how to choose the best provider?
In order for you to choose the best web hosting service provider, there are some important factors that you must assess. Making the right decision in this regard is crucial for your project in the medium and long term. So, I have summarized the most important characteristics to choose your provider.
1. Consider web space.
We have mentioned that a hosting service is nothing more than hiring a space on a web server. Of course, space is precisely one of the factors to consider. Therefore, you should pay close attention since each web hosting plan has a different size and space.
If the demand for content and space on your site is high, a poor plan can lead to major performance issues. On the other hand, if the hosting service does not offer adequate space for the requirements of your project, you should definitely discard it immediately.
2. Investigate the control panel.
When hiring a web hosting service, another aspect that you should pay close attention to is the control panel. From this panel you can manage all applications and services.
That means that from the control panel you will be able to create email accounts, redirect domains, install applications and much more. All in a very simple way and without any complications.
Regarding this, most web hosting providers have their control panel with services such as Plesk or the most recognized called cPanel. Both are the best control panels on the market, very friendly, intuitive and with all the necessary features to configure your hosting.
However, there are other hosting providers that offer their own control panel. And this is where you should pay close attention. If you choose a web hosting service with its own panel, it is highly recommended that you first request a free trial before purchasing this service.
With a free trial, you’ll be able to see how that dashboard performs. After all, you are the one who is going to work with the panel, and if its operation is difficult or cumbersome, you are going to have many complications in the future.
3. Possibility of creating email accounts.
Email accounts are a great tool for companies, as they convey professionalism and are very easy to manage. In fact, these email accounts can be linked to email platforms like Gmail. In most cases, the simplest hosting plans offer the possibility of creating email accounts.
The most basic plans offer between 1 to 10 accounts, and more advanced ones offer unlimited accounts. Depending on the requirements of your company in this regard, you can approve or reject a web hosting provider.
4. Take into account the monthly transfer.
Many are confused by the term transfer or monthly traffic. To choose a good provider, you need to know what it means, especially if your site begins to receive many visits.
The term monthly transfer is the amount of data that your site can transmit to users during a month. As an example, imagine that your website is 20 kilobytes in size and is visited by 2 people. In this case, you will need a transfer of 40 kilobytes.
Of course, the best web hosting providers do not set any limits. They offer unlimited monthly transfer. Therefore, it is very important that you investigate if that provider limits the monthly transfer. In that case, I advise you to discard it, since you will present problems in the future.
5. The price of the hosting service.
As it cannot be otherwise, the price will always be a factor to take into account. However, it is not the deciding factor in choosing between one provider or another. As the old saying goes: cheap is expensive…
This popular saying applies very well when choosing a web hosting service, since a very attractive offer can be very expensive in the long run.
Finally, an additional factor to take into account is the support of web hosting. Good support is always an important plus in case of problems with your page. So take all these factors into account and you will surely choose the most suitable provider for your project.
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