The world of IT is one that is notoriously complex, which goes some-way in explaining why there are few people that truly understand what is going on. Take, for instance, websites – although you might appreciate the need for this, there is a strong likelihood that you are clueless in relation to the way that it operates and functions. Whilst you are not going to be judged for this, it could lead to you running into obstacles further down the line. For example, if you would like to change your web hosting package, you might find your lack of understanding to be an issue.
You would be amazed at the number of myths and misconceptions that are in circulation about web hosting. Typically, these are spread by individuals that are confused about the subject matter – this means that you must be wary about what you do, and more importantly do-not, listen to. If you are looking to expand your knowledge in this department, you have come to the right place. With more than twenty years of first-hand experience, catalyst2 is here to shed some light on the malicious rumours that, to put it simply, you needn’t pay attention to.
There is no Scalability when you use Shared Hosting
There has always been a bit of a stigma associated with shared hosting, especially when put in direct comparison with dedicated servers. Some firms are under the impression that if they aren’t blessed with equipment that is unique to them, the service is not worth their attention. This is a point-of-view that could lead to you missing out on packages which could have been perfectly-suited to your business. Just because managed dedicated hosting is not financially viable for you, does not necessarily mean that shared hosting deserves to be painted in a negative light.
When you are first starting out in your chosen area of expertise, the chances are that your primary goal will be to achieve rapid growth. A fantastic way in which to get the ball rolling involves putting-together a website that is in a league of its own. This can give you a platform to advertise your high-end goods, and hopefully generate sales on a daily basis. However, if you thought that the situation would change when you finally achieved sustainable success, we recommend that you take a moment to reevaluate your stance. Scalability is a huge aspect of any hosting package, and you would be amazed at the flexibility which is available to you.
At first, you will be on a server with a number of other websites. This will keep your expenses to a minimum, as well as allow you to have your site up-and-running. If you go through a purple patch, you might want to adjust the amount of power that is diverted to your website, so that loading times are left untouched. With dedicated hosting, this is something that is taken as a given. What may have escaped your notice is that shared packages carry with them an air of versatility. There is no-need for you to panic about a decision you made months ago impacting your long-term goals.
Free Options can Work in your Favour
It stands to reason that when you speak to a firm that, above all-else, looks to build a successful foundation upon free web hosting, they will do everything in their power to draw your attention towards the benefits that they carry with them. You need to keep in-mind that without your business, they will struggle to make a turnover themselves. As such, it is in their best interests to only highlight the positive connotations that free packages have to offer.
If you were to blindly believe everything to do with non-subscription based web hosting options, it would not take long for things to start unravelling. Without a doubt, the attractive quality of this type of service comes in the form of huge savings, both now and in the future. By removing the expense that you were previously subjected to in regards to website hosting, you have additional funds to work with across the board, which will no-doubt come as music to your ears. Whether you think that this could be invested in hiring a team member, or wish to spend on upgrading your equipment, it does not matter. What matters, in your mind, is that you are cutting a corner in a shrewd fashion. In reality, things will not work out quite like this.
Whilst we cannot argue about the reduction that can be experienced in relation to your outgoings, you should not allow this to be the deciding factor in your decision-making process. Across the board, the lack of charges is an indication that you will not be granted access to the state-of-the-art technical equipment which is considered ‘standard’ with paid packages. The knock-on effect of the sub-standard quality will see your operations take a turn for the worse. When you find yourself having to dedicate more-and-more of your precious time towards fighting fires on this front, we guarantee that you will have wished that you initially took the upfront costs of the paid services on the chin.
Security is not Important
Cyber crime has seen a huge spike since the turn of the century, and this can be attributed to the improvements that have slowly-but-surely taken place within the technical sector. Whilst it is true that the majority of these work in your favour, this is not the case across the board. Those with foul intentions have identified that this is an area that they can exploit, hence why you need to try and be wary. When you are looking at hosting providers, one of the first questions that you should put to them is in relation to the proactive methods that they implement to keep your website safe.
If hackers were able to expose the flaws in your defence, the damage that they could potentially do to your reputation is, in a word, significant. For example, you will likely be holding onto a large quantity of bank details; in the wrong hands, we are sure that you can imagine the consequences that could potentially unfold. Similarly, there is enough data to mean that identity fraud is a risk that you need to try and be mindful of.
Any company that wishes to flourish in the web hosting sector should be able to offer a guarantee in relation to the supplementary security measures that are in-place. Anti-virus software should be regarded as a bare minimum – if this is not included in the package, we suggest that you turn your business elsewhere. Irrespective of if you think that you are a prime candidate for a virtual private server, or you believe that a dedicated server is a suitable alternative to VPS services, the fact of the matter is that you can’t put a price on keeping sensitive information confidential.
Cloud Hosting Offers Poor Loading Times
Cloud hosting is regarded as the up-and-coming option in regards to the hosting world. When this innovation first came into existence, it was seen to be the answer to the problems that firms had with storage. However, as things have evolved, corporations have started to see the unlimited possibilities that cloud systems can provide. In essence, cloud hosting uses the Internet to great effect, meaning that you don’t have to be dependent on a single server. Some have heralded this option as the natural choice for anyone that doesn’t want to take risks relating to blackouts. If you can’t be reliant on your mains electricity supply, this could be a hosting option that entices you.
Despite all that is good about cloud hosting, there is a rumour that has been doing the rounds that makes people hesitant to pull the trigger. Should you have heard that website’s that take advantage of cloud-based systems are prone to slow loading speeds, allow us to put your mind at ease. If anything, the contrary to this is true. There is a fantastic level of adaptability which you are privy to when you go down this particular avenue.
When you receive the knowledge that your website is about to receive a massive influx of traffic, the chances are that your first thoughts will have been towards keeping things running as smoothly as possible. For those of you that have been looking into VPS packages, you should be aware that quick changes will be tricky to complete. The same cannot be said for cloud hosting. With a click of a button, you can transfer your website to an alternative data center. As the years go on, we promise that this will be a feature which you become increasingly grateful for.
Uptime doesn’t Matter
If this is your first time coming across catalyst2, you may be curious to learn why we are always very committed to pointing you in the direction of our uptime stats. This, in case you didn’t know, is a percentage out of one hundred which takes into account the periods of time that a hosting provider hasn’t been able to keep websites live. The higher the number, the more reliable the firm is in this department. Were you to discover that the uptime is lurking in an amber or red colour, this is a warning sign that cannot be swept under the carpet.
As an example, we have been operating in excess of twenty years – during this time, we have proven to be the epitome of reliability. Our uptime is nothing short of exceptional, which is a contributing factor in our stellar reputation. In conjunction with the not-inconsiderable number of Trustpilot testimonials, we feel that this is more-than enough to convince our audience of our credentials.
Looking to the Future
We recognise that web hosting may not be a topic that, before now, you were particularly interested in. It is rather niche, hence why there are firms popping up across the country which profess to specialise in offering state-of-the-art hosting solutions. These companies can help to remove some of the stress and hassle that is typically associated with servers and hosting. Here at catalyst2, we have sought to become the UK’s most accomplished and proficient facilitators of hosting services. If you are looking to get things started, we should certainly be your first point-of-call.
Over the past couple of years, it is safe to say that VPS hosting in the UK has exploded in terms of popularity; the same can be said for managed hosting services. Unfortunately, it is the increase in demand which can potentially cause you some issues. Namely, these relate to the difficulty that you have in narrowing down your options, until you are left with a provider that you feel can cater to your needs. When you decide to work with the likes of catalyst2, you should understand that we are not like some of the web hosting firms that you have previously come across. The equipment that we possess, such as dedicated servers and bespoke data centers, means that we are perfectly-poised to assist anyone and everyone that comes to us.
Are you intrigued by the prospect of incorporating a VPS server into your business’s IT infrastructure? Do you feel that you need to revamp the manner that you host your website, but are unsure as to how to go about doing this? If these are circumstances that you are face-to-face with, catalyst2 is the place for you. A message to us directly at sales@catalyst2.com is the best way to start your journey with us – feel free to reach out to us with any queries that you might have.
