Creating and getting started with a website involves many steps, including web hosting. This is a service consisting of storing and hosting all the digital data of the site in a dedicated disk space.
The way in which this data is hosted will depend on the performance of the website thereafter, and in particular the accessibility, the number of visits, the conversion rate, etc. To ensure this performance, web hosts offer various and varied offers among which it is not always easy to navigate. Here are the points to consider when choosing your web host.
Clearly define your needs and expectations
The first point to focus on is your needs. To define them clearly, you will have to ask yourself about different technical elements such as the type of website to set up, for example. Indeed, an e-commerce site, for example, will require the integration of an online payment system, while a simple showcase site will not necessarily need it.
It will also be necessary to consider the level of daily traffic you want to achieve, the storage capacity required by your data, the number of professional email addresses and domain names you will need, etc. The definition of these needs will also allow you to know all the services that will be useful to you and the budget that will have to be mobilized to benefit from them, as well as the type of accommodation that will be the most suitable.
Study and compare the service offers offered by the host
In order to benefit from quality web hosting offered by an experienced service provider, you will need to base yourself on a few essential criteria. In general, the formulas offered by service providers revolve around the type of server. 4 types of servers define the type of hosting, so you can opt for shared hosting, in which you will share a server with other customers. This solution is often preferred when the needs in terms of storage and bandwidth are not very important. Moreover, it is inexpensive, and suitable for limited budgets.
Cloud hosting consists of storing site data on several virtual servers. Its concept is similar to that of shared hosting in the sense that the servers are shared with other users, however, it offers more flexibility by adapting the bandwidth speed to your real needs, for example.
VPS hosting or Virtual Private Server allows you to have a virtual machine on a dedicated server. It is suitable for companies whose needs will grow rapidly, which requires a certain flexibility in terms of hosting service.
Finally, dedicated hosting consists of storing your data on a server reserved for you. Large sites generating significant traffic opt for this solution because of its efficiency and reliability, but be aware that it is particularly expensive.
Disk space reserved for media
The media are the photos, videos and other heavy files displayed on the site. These being particularly large, it makes sense that a disk space should be dedicated to them so as not to impinge on the performance of the site itself. A good web host should offer you this option.
Bandwidth dedicated to website traffic
Most of the time the bandwidth is between 20 and 100 GB, while some providers may even offer an unlimited option. The volume of bandwidth offered by the service provider must be carefully adapted to the density of traffic you plan on your site, to prevent it from becoming inaccessible when the ceiling is reached.
Of the proposed operating system
Your web host will have to give you the choice between several operating systems. Even if this option seems trivial, it is always better to have the choice of the system with which you will be most comfortable. This will make it easier for you to get started.
The availability of technical support
It is not given to everyone to understand all the technical intricacies relating to web hosting, and some breakdowns cannot be resolved by the customer. This is also the raison d’être of technical support, which must be able to resolve any problems that may arise. Check that the web host offers support available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, in French and on several communication channels: telephone, instant messaging, social networks… And above all, remember to test them beforehand!
The level of security offered by the host
Hosting data on outsourced servers exposes you to many risks such as failures or even worse, hacking. Your web host must therefore be able to provide you with options to guarantee the security of your data and that of your potential customers, in compliance with the GDPR. This can be IP blocking for example, but also the provision of an SSL certificate, as well as the automatic backup option.
The backup
Securing your data also involves the possibility of performing regular backups to avoid data loss in the event of a crash. It is therefore essential that the host offers this functionality (by WordPress plug-ins for example) of automatic backup, crucial in situations where it is necessary to restore the website to an earlier version.
The possibility of migrating to other offers
When you launch a website, you necessarily envision an increase in traffic and audience in the medium or long term. The hosting offer you choose must therefore allow you to migrate to another offer more suited to your audience when it increases. If this is not the case, it will have to offer you the possibility of migrating to other hosts. Although the practice is common, you may come across hosts that do not offer this migration facility. It is therefore always prudent to check this option before subscribing to an offer.