When you are looking to develop your business online, choosing a hosting provider is an important decision. With so many companies offering this service, there are several key points you should ensure are covered to protect your business and optimise future growth.
The right host for you
The operating system is a key consideration. Hosting providers will often offer a choice between Linux- and Windows-based accounts. Your choice should be based on your individual needs, as both systems have their benefits. Reputable hosting providers such as https://www.names.co.uk/web-hosting can talk you through which option is best for you.
For smaller or seasonal enterprises, scalability is a crucial issue. Make sure that your web hosting package can adapt instantly as your needs change or traffic fluctuates without your website going down as a result.
Your host’s system to backup and restore your files is another factor to check. These processes are vital in the event of technical problems or cybersecurity issues; what’s more, backup should ideally be frequent and automated. Your host’s ability to quickly restore your site and its files following such an incident is essential to avoid your business potentially missing out on custom. A reliable website is one that can minimise its bounce rate and improve its SEO ranking.
Consider your security
If your customers are likely to make transactions or enter personal data, your website needs to show that it can be trusted. Your hosting service needs to have stringent measures in place, including secure server abilities. It is worth exploring the SSL certification options available and checking that SFTP (secure file transfer protocol) is supported. As part of their package, hosting providers should provide malware and antivirus scanning and help you to remove any viruses or malware that may be found.
You will often be able to see your scan reports whenever you want, which provides reassurance. Web hosts that enable a content distribution network (CDN) will have additional protection against DDoS (distributed denial of service) attacks in addition to offering their clients faster download speeds.
There are a number of considerations when choosing a hosting provider. Whilst your business’s needs will dictate many of your choices, some are universal. Questions of reliability, scalability and security must be addressed by your hosting service, as any weaknesses could ultimately be disastrous for your business by costing you customers and revenue.
