With most of your customers on the internet, it is unwise to ignore the digital space these days. To serve your customers, you need to have a website. But for a website to exist on the internet, you need a web hosting provider. Yes, it is hosting that allows your website to exist on the internet so that users can access it as and when they want. Hence, if you want your online journey to be smooth, you need to understand that you need a reliable web hosting company. Irrespective of the place where you do your business, it is crucial that you get a reliable web hosting company for your business. So, how do you get the best for your business? You can, of course, Google the best web hosting company in Florida, a top hosting provider in Manchester, or the best web hosting company in Dubai. But when it comes to web hosting, it is vital to know a few things about website hosting so that you get the best for your business.
Let us, therefore, take you through how to select the best web hosting company in Dubai. But before we get there, let us try to understand the type of hosting. Unless you are familiar with the type of hosting, it is tough to choose the right plan for your business.
Different types of hosting
It is essential to select the type of hosting according to your business needs. Broadly, there are six different types of hosting:
Shared hosting
If you are looking for an entry-level website hosting, you can opt for shared hosting. In this hosting plan, you have to share the server with other websites. You need to share resources like RAM and CPU in this plan. Since you share the resources, the cost of shared hosting is relatively low. But it is crucial to understand that you should opt for this plan only if you expect less amount of web traffic.
VPS or virtual private server hosting
As the name suggests, you get a space of your own on the server in case of VPS hosting. But you need to understand that you still share the same physical server with other users. It is a plan that is better than shared hosting, but inferior to dedicated hosting. In VPS hosting, you get more space and customization options. But it is crucial to know that VPS hosting is not suitable if you expect high volumes of traffic.
Dedicated hosting
In dedicated hosting, you get more control over the server. You get full control over the server because you pay the rent for it. Since you get full root and admin access, you can run the program you want. But this is an expensive hosting option. In case you expect to get high levels of website traffic, then you should opt for this plan.
Cloud hosting
Cloud hosting is the most popular hosting option these days. With cloud hosting, you can employ as many resources as you want. The best part is you don’t have to build or maintain the computing infrastructure of your own. Since the resources used in cloud hosting are spread across multiple servers, the chances of server malfunction are significantly low. Also, cloud hosting options are scalable.
Managed hosting
Most of the hosting packages are managed. The service provider provides technical services like hardware and software set up, maintenance, technical support, hardware replacement, updating, patching, and monitoring. In the case of managed hosting, the service provider manages the hardware, operating systems, and most of the applications. You need to choose the plan according to your needs.
Colocation
When you don’t want to keep your servers in-house or in private data centres, you can opt to co-locate them by renting space at a colocation centre. It is the responsibility of the colocation centre to provide the power, IP address, bandwidth, and cooling systems for your servers. You get higher levels of bandwidth than a normal office server in colocation, and that too at a much lower price.
How to select the best web hosting company in Dubai?
Since hosting plays a pivotal role in shaping your online journey, it is crucial to select the web hosting company in Dubai with a lot of caution. Here is what you should do to select the best for your business:
Assess your needs – honestly estimate the traffic you expect on your site
It is crucial to assess your needs first. The amount of traffic you expect on your site would determine the kind of web hosting plan you need and the hosting provider you should select. Hosting service providers usually charge based on the bandwidth you use and the storage space you take.
If you don’t assess your traffic needs honestly, you can face problems when visitors start coming to your site. If you expect high volumes of traffic, you should opt for a plan that offers more bandwidth and storage.
Make sure you select the right hosting package
If you want your online journey to be smooth, you need to make sure that you select the right hosting package. If you expect low traffic, then you can opt for shared hosting. But in case you expect your traffic volumes to be high, then you should consider VPS or dedicated hosting (based on your traffic needs).
While selecting a hosting package, do remember that slow websites can turn your customers away.
Factor in the type of site you plan to launch
Just as it is important to select the right hosting plan, you also need to factor in the type of website you are planning to launch. The type of your website would determine the features you need. For example, an e-commerce website would require different functionalities, so the service provider you choose should promote those features. Similarly, for a blogging site, you would need other features, so your service provider should offer those features.
For example, you can choose a WordPress web host if you are planning to launch a blogging site. For an online store, you can consider an e-commerce hosting service.
Don’t fall for unlimited offers
You should be wary of hosting providers that offer freebies. If you come across ads that offer free storage and free bandwidth for just a few dollars, think twice before signing up with them. There is generally some catch in terms of service that people tend to ignore before signing the contract.
Don’t forget to do some research
Once you know what you want, it is time to do some research. Spend some time on the internet and visit the websites of the web hosts you have shortlisted to learn more about the kind of services they offer.
And finally, don’t forget to compare key factors
After shortlisting some web hosts, it is time to compare key factors. It is crucial to factor in your needs before you sign the deal.
- Price – Do find out what you have to pay upfront and the amount you need to pay every time you renew the contract. Make sure there are no hidden costs.
- Don’t just run after the cheapest web host. Make sure you get the value for what you pay.
- Read the contract carefully – Many people tend to ignore this point. It is vital to go through the Terms of Service carefully. When you read it carefully, only then can you know your rights. Surprises can have a telling effect on your business.
- Technical requirements – It is crucial to ensure that the web host you choose must meet all your site requirements. Do factor in your future needs as well. It is also important to consider who will do the site management.
- Support services – Customer support is an aspect to consider. If your web host is unresponsive to your needs, then you are in for a tough time. You should ensure that the web host you choose should offer round the clock customer support.
- Customization – It is vital to find out whether you can create, customize, and update your website the way you want.
- Ease of set up – it is also crucial to know how long will it take to get your site up and running.
- Cancellation procedure – It is vital to find out in advance what will happen in case you plan to terminate or cancel the contract. Clear all your doubts before you sign the contract.
If you are looking for a reliable web hosting company in Dubai, you should get in touch with vStacks Software Solutions. With powerful datacentres around the world, our hosting plans can help shape your online journey in the right direction. From an enterprise site to an e-commerce store and blogging site, we have plans to suit almost every vertical. We also offer 24X7 technical support to all our customers.
