The key difference between a good and a great Web Host is reliability. A reliable Web Hosting Provider ensures basic qualities like Reliability and Security without compromises.
How do you determine which provider will make your website blaze in a sea of Web Hosting services now available online?
To answer this, we need to recognize the five primary foundations that a great Web Hosting Provider must have:
- Reliability
- Scalability
- Security
- Support
- Performance
As long as a Web Host has a proven track record of these capabilities, as mentioned earlier, you are likely to enjoy the other qualities of the host by default.
Reliability
It is determined by the Web Host Provider’s ability to maintain high uptime even during high-traffic scenarios. A reliable Web Host will withstand vast traffic without hurting your website’s loading time. To ensure such functionality, a great Web Host maintains high-quality servers & on-site maintenance personnel. In short, the indicators of reliability are:
- Over 99% Uptime
- Genuine Customer Recommendations
- Clear Refund Policy
- Transparent SLA (Service Level Agreement)
- Availability of Demo services
Scalability
Scalability is another critical element of a great Web Hosting provider. Let’s say your website occasionally gets a high amount of visitors at particular times of the year. Now, with a trusted Web Host, you won’t have to stress about traffic as they will scale the resources to suit your website’s needs. A highly scalable Web Hosting Provider should provide the following features:
- Bandwidth Scaling
- Auto Scaling Feature
- Offers Multiple Hosting plans
- Offers CDN (Content Delivery Network) Integration
- Backup or Redundant Servers
Security
Data and Server protection is a zero-compromise attribute that any Web Host should provide. Protection from known & unknown types of attacks is crucial for your website. Shield against malware, phishing, XSS, MITM & DDoS is essential. On top of that, a decent Web Host will also have a defense against newly developed Machine Learning-assisted incursions. As for Security, a great Web Host will provide the following features:
- Offers SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) Certificates
- Standard Threat Protection (DDoS, XSS, MITM, Malware, etc.)
- Legal Agreements & Privacy Policies
- Active & Passive Protection against Security Threats
- Physical Data Center Security
Customer Support
24/7 support is the industry standard. However, a great Web Host will provide in-depth support with human operators behind the call. Most Web Hosts tend to dodge this vital responsibility by throwing AI-assisted chatbots; however, a genuine Web Hosting provider will always have specialized personnel to help you resolve any issues. These five signs ensure that the Web Hosting Provider takes Customer Support seriously:
- Multichannel Support (Online and Offline)
- Responds quickly
- Provides Ticketing Systems
- Human Operators pick up your calls
- Provides In-depth assistance instead of general guidance
Performance
In this fast-paced generation of eCommerce & short-form videos, a second delay in the load time of your website can translate to a lost customer. Every second matters and a great Web Host is aware of that. An outstanding Web Host will ensure a load time of 0.5 – 1 Second across all devices. Such features are standard among industry-leading Web Hosting Providers like Illuhost. These five following web hosting features are the absolute standard for performance:
- Low Load Time (0.5-2 Seconds)
- High-Performance Server (High-End CPU, sufficient RAM, SSD, etc.)
- Database Caching and Indexing
- Great Content Management Tools
- Multiple Server Locations
Choosing a Web Hosting Provider is challenging as you’ll be stuck with a long-term agreement since switching Hosts frequently is not preferable. However, following this guide is going to make your purchasing decision easier. Watch out for discounts as often Web Host providers market their packages at humble prices.
