Whether you’re new to business or are looking to improve your digital presence, chances are that as you’ve been exploring the world of websites and online services, you’ve come across the term “hosting” multiple times.
But what does “hosting” mean in an IT context? Do you need an external provider for your hosting needs? Or can you go it alone?
We’re going to break down website hosting so you have a better understanding of what it is and why it’s important for your business. We’ll also share information about the different types of hosting services that are available to ensure you can make an informed decision about what’s best for your business.
What is website hosting?
Website hosting means that all the files associated with your website – from the layout and copy to the images and code – are held on a server. This server is connected to the internet, which is how your website appears online.
That sounds simple enough, right? Most web hosting services also provide the tools you need to create and then run your website. But there are different kinds of web hosting services available, which is where it gets a bit more complex.
What are the different kinds of web hosting?
Broadly speaking, there are three main types of web hosting: shared, virtual private server (VPS) and dedicated hosting. As its name implies, shared hosting means you’re sharing the server on which your website sits with others.
The advantage to this is that it’s more cost effective, but the potential downsides are lower performance and security than with other options.
Dedicated hosting means that you get your own server and have full access to its resources. This means you don’t have to compromise on performance and you have more control over the hardware and software that’s run on your server.
Of course, this comes at a cost, so it isn’t a viable solution for all businesses. Depending on what your company does, it may also not be necessary.
VPS hosting, meanwhile, is a bit of a hybrid of shared and dedicated hosting. With a VPS, you get your own private section of a bigger server. So, while you’re paying for a shared server in theory, you have your own “virtual” server within a physical one, giving you more control and security.
Not sure which is the right option for you? That might be a sign it’s time for some business IT support!
Is website hosting and domain hosting the same?
No. It’s important to note that website hosting is not the same as domain hosting, which is also known as domain registration. Domain hosting simply allows you to buy the URL that will be your unique web address (such as sinorrah.co.uk, which is ours).
Your domain name is what enables people to search for and find your site. But when someone types in that URL, the content they receive comes from the server that hosts your website. Both are necessary for an online presence, but they’re not the same.
What about cloud hosting? Is cloud hosting different to website hosting?
Cloud hosting is really another form of web hosting. It’s become much more popular in recent years for many reasons, but let’s start with the basics. Cloud hosting means having access to a network of servers, some virtual and some physical, that allow you to scale up and down your computing power according to your needs.
It’s what’s often referred to as Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS). Ultimately, using cloud hosting services is much more cost effective than maintaining your own data centres and associated servers, which is one of the reasons it’s become so popular.
The ability to scale your computing power up and down as you need to is another significant benefit of cloud hosting.
The main difference between website hosting and cloud hosting is this scalability. Because cloud hosting services are spread across multiple servers, it is much easier to increase or decrease what you’re using, while the use of multiple servers adds redundancy. So, if one server were to go down, others in the same cloud environment could pick up the slack.
Do I need website hosting and cloud hosting for my business?
This question is hard to answer without knowing more about your business specifically, but it’s often possible to consolidate your hosting services with one provider to make it easier for you to manage.
If you’re not sure what sort of hosting services you need, we’d recommend speaking to an IT professional to learn more about what’s available and what might benefit your business.