The term 'web hosting' mostly refers to companies renting out their web servers to businesses or individuals who wish to make their websites available on the internet.

What does it mean to host a site?

Hosting involves storing and maintaining files that make up a particular website on a web server that is connected to the internet 24/7. These can be HTML documents, images, audio, video and other types of files that, when viewed over the internet, deliver your website to its visitors.

The web server gives each hosted website a unique internet protocol (IP) address. This enables visitors to use the website's address (ie the domain name) to find and access the site via an internet browser. Read about the difference between a domain and web hosting.

Types of web hosting

There are three ways for a business to operate a website. You can:

• host it on your own server in-house
• outsource it to an external hosting provider
• host the website on a server owned and operated by an internet service provider (ISP)

Hosting your own web server in-house can be expensive and requires significant resources and technical knowledge. Alternatively, you can buy a hosting service from an external provider, such as an internet service provider.

Types of web hosting services

If you are thinking of hosting your website externally, you will generally have a choice between three types of web servers:

• shared
• dedicated
• virtual, including cloud hosting

As well as the server space, some web hosting services can also provide value-added services, such as:

• easy-to-use website building tools
• site statistics
• search engine optimisation features
• shopping carts
• one-click app installers
• unlimited number of email addresses
• customer support
• other control, maintenance and safety features

How much does it cost to host a website?

If you are a sole trader or a small business, it is possible to host a basic website on a free web host. However, there may be significant risks involved with the free service you receive as free web hosts typically have more frequent 'down time' than their commercial counterparts.

If you run a web-based business, or if having a website is important to your operations, a commercial web host may be a better choice. The average costs of commercial web hosting plans vary, depending on the:

• hosting provider
• the service they provide as part of the package
• the size of your website
• the expected traffic to your website
• whether you need email addresses
• whether you need e-commerce functionality, etc

With many hosting options available, it can be difficult to know what to look for. There are many factors to consider when choosing a web hosting provider.

There are many different factors to consider when looking for a web host. The most important ones relate to your website's functionality, performance and reliability. Each of these can significantly affect the success of your site.

Website functionality

The functionality of a website largely depends on the software used. It can determine:

• the range of features it offers
• the ways in which it presents content to the user
• how the content is kept fresh and updated

When choosing a web host, make sure that the provider can support the applications, the specific scripts or software your website will be using.

Unless you have in-house expertise, you may need advice from your internet service provider or website designer. You should follow best practice in web design.

Website performance

To perform well, your website will need a fast connection to the internet. The speed of the connection will depend on the available bandwidth. If your connection is not fast enough, users will only be able to access your web pages slowly. This can cause particular problems if many users are trying to access your site at the same time. Most external hosting services refer to this as the 'backbone' - the speed of connection into their servers.

Type of web server

Your choice of web server is another key consideration when choosing a web host, as it will also affect the performance of your site. You can either go for:

• a dedicated server - where only your site is hosted on the machine
• a shared hosting service - where you share the machine with other sites

Shared hosting can negatively affect the speed and availability of your website. The server specification will be a critical factor in the performance of the site in this case - specifically the processor speed and the disk space needed for the website to operate effectively. See the pros and cons of using ISP for hosting.

Website reliability

Your website should be available 24/7 - you will need to maintain and support it. The more you rely on your website, the less you can afford to wait until the following morning to fix critical problems.

Website hosting security

Security is an ongoing concern on the internet, so any hosting solution you choose should demonstrate that it is secure and able to withstand hackers, fraudsters and other attacks.

Your web host should, at the very least, offer:

• backups and restore points - stored securely away from the main server
• disaster recovery plans - to help you recover your website in case of system failures
• network monitoring - to spot unusual activity and mitigate risks
• firewalls - including other basic intrusion prevention methods
• antivirus and malware scanning and removal
• SSL (secure sockets layer) certificates, if you need to transfer sensitive data such as online payments to and from the server
• some level of management support - most crucially with file management, access and user permissions, logins, applications, software updates, etc

You should ensure that the web host follows other best practices to protect your business online.

To set up a website, you will need both a domain name and a web host. These are closely connected, but entirely different things - you will need both if you want to make your website accessible to the public.

What is a domain name?

Your domain name is the name of your website or your URL. For example, www(dot)mynewbusiness(dot)com.

You can buy a domain name by going to a domain name registrar. Buying a domain name secures only that specific internet address. It doesn't give you the space on which to host your website. A domain name on its own won't make your website 'live' and available on the internet.

Difference between a website and a domain

For customers to access your website, the files that make it up (eg text and images) have to be stored on a web host - a computer server with high-speed 24/7 internet access.

The server assigns a unique internet protocol (IP) address to the hosted site. This is typically a string of numbers, not decipherable to humans. A domain name is a human-friendly way to identify an IP address of a particular website over the internet.

What is an IP address used for?

When your customers type your domain name into their web browser, it translates the domain name into the relevant IP address and sends a request to the web host server to bring up your website's files on their screen. This is essentially how your customers are able to view your website. So, for your website to be available online, you have to have both a domain name, as well as a hosted website.

If you have yet to choose your business domain name, there is a lot to think through - from the different types of domain names to trade marking considerations. 

If you have a domain name but are looking for hosting, see factors to consider when choosing a web hosting provider.

Using an internet service provider (ISP) for web hosting is an external hosting solution where the ISP is responsible for ensuring that your website is connected to the internet 24/7.

ISPs can provide different types of web hosting services, including:

• shared server hosting
• dedicated hosting
• co-location hosting

Shared server hosting

With this type of hosting, the ISP owns the server, which is located in its offices. The ISP uses this server to host several other websites as well as yours. Shared server hosting is cost-effective, but may not be an option if you want to use complex technologies such as databases, secure certificates and tools that enable you to customise webpages for different users.

Dedicated hosting

With dedicated hosting, your website is the only one hosted on a particular server. This option suits large websites with high user traffic, or those requiring special software or particularly high levels of security. While this approach offers the most powerful and secure solution, it is more expensive.

Co-location hosting

With co-location, you place your own server that you own or rent at the premises of the ISP to take advantage of their better technical infrastructure. With this option, you are generally responsible for maintaining the actual data and the website components.

See other factors to consider when choosing a web hosting provider.

Advantages of using an ISP for hosting

• You do not need to invest in your own web server.
• Most ISPs have very fast connections to the internet.
• The ISP's server should offer a very high degree of availability (up time) and reliability.
• The ISP should have a secure operating environment, high-quality virus protection and the latest software patches to ensure the security of your site.

Disadvantages of using an ISP for hosting

• You need to trust your ISP to maintain the availability and security of your website.
• If the ISP is hosting too many other sites on a shared server, this may compromise your website's performance.
• If the ISP gets blacklisted (eg because of hosting adult content sites or spam sites), this can directly affect you. For example, you may find that your IP address is on various spam blacklists. This can cause your emails to be filtered out and junked or you may not be able to register with certain services, websites, forums, etc.

If you are setting up a corporate website, you will need to choose between outsourcing your hosting or hosting the site internally. Both approaches have pros and cons. You will need to weigh them up carefully to ensure that you choose the right fit for your business.

In-house hosting vs outsourcing

Outsourcing to an external web host may be an attractive proposition if you need an 'off the shelf' solution, or lack the skills and infrastructure internally to carry out the necessary work.

Typically, small and medium-size businesses prefer to contract out their hosting to either a specialist provider or an internet service provider (ISP). See pros and cons of using ISP for hosting.

In-house hosting may be a good choice for businesses large enough to have the expertise and the financial resources to ensure security and smooth operation of the hosting equipment and systems.

Not only will you need a web server, but you'll also require a high-speed connection to the internet, and you will be directly responsible for its day-to-day operation and 24-hour support. You will also have to take into account the cost of maintenance and software licences. See how to host your own business website.

Advantages of the in-house web hosting

• You have full control over access to the website.
• The choice of hardware, including the ease and expandability of upgrades, is yours.
• You also have control over the operating environment - the software and systems that run on the web server.
• You can manage web storage space and performance more effectively.
• You are not contractually or legally bound to use a specific provider.

Disadvantages of the in-house web hosting

• The cost of buying your own web server hardware, associated software and high-speed internet connectivity (typically using a dedicated connection).
• The technical skills you or your staff will require in order to develop, maintain and upgrade the website, and to keep up to date with the latest technical developments.
• The resources needed to provide round-the-clock support for the website in order to ensure its availability for users.
• The need for specialist security expertise in employing tools and techniques to maintain the security of your website.

If you're considering hosting your website internally, make sure that you can:

• provide 24-hour support internally on an ongoing basis
• build an in-house IT team with the right set of specialist skills to maintain the system
• implement appropriate monitoring systems and procedures
• take immediate and effective action when problems occur

If you're unable to guarantee this, a hosted option may be cheaper and less risky. See factors to consider when choosing a web hosting provider.

You can use an internet service provider (ISP) to host a simple website without worrying too much about the underlying technologies. However, if you want to host the website yourself, you will need to understand what's involved and what operating systems, software and applications you may need.

Server operating systems

There are three core operating systems that enable web servers to run. These are:

• Windows Servers
• Unix
• Linux

Email

This can be provided by your hosting company, but often businesses choose to outsource this to a dedicated email provider such as Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace, formerly known as G Suite for business.

Web server software

This software sits on top of the operating system and runs the web hosting services. It deals with all elements of hosting the web pages, including requests from visitors to view them, and running programs or scripts. The most common types of web server software are:

• Apache
• Microsoft Internet Information Services (IIS)

Web Authoring languages

These are the software languages used to develop applications on the website. Examples include:

• HTML (HyperText Markup Language) - a programming language used in the creation of simple web pages
• CGI (Common Gateway Interface) scripts - used to produce dynamic and interactive web pages, eg JSP, PHP, ASP, Cold Fusion and Perl

Application development tools

These are types of web editor software used to design and develop web pages, and incorporate features such as graphics, multimedia and user interactivity. Examples include Microsoft Expression, Adobe Dreamweaver and Adobe Flash.

Databases

Database technologies can store large quantities of information that can be used to update information on your website. The solutions available to you will depend upon the volume of information you wish to hold and the likely web traffic that the system will have to support. Examples of high volume, high-traffic database systems include:

• Microsoft SQL Server
• Oracle
• PostgreSQL
• MySQL

E-commerce

You can use a range of e-commerce software packages for the development of an e-commerce site. See how to set up an online shop with an e-commerce package.

Upgrade path

As your business expands and your website grows, it's important to have a plan for upgrading your hosting. There will often be additional costs and functionality required specific to the type of web application you are hosting. Sometimes it will be necessary to change your hosting arrangements to accommodate these additional requirements.

With traditional web hosting, you buy or rent a physical machine - a server - that gives you resources like memory and processing speed. With cloud hosting, you are effectively renting virtual hardware and server space for your website.

How does cloud hosting work?

Cloud hosting uses the resources of a number of virtual servers to accommodate all the aspects of hosting your site. These resources are utilised as and when needed. You only pay for what you use and, because you can access these resources at any time, you don't need to pay for additional capacity.

Is the cloud a server?

The cloud itself is not a server. A server is physical hardware - dedicated entirely to your business or shared with others. A cloud server is a logical server that is built, hosted and delivered through the cloud. It has similar capabilities to a typical physical server, but it resides in a virtualised environment and is managed by your cloud hosting provider.

You can choose from several types of cloud services for full or partial hosting. The cloud option reduces costs of buying hardware and paying IT staff, and allows smaller businesses to share advanced IT resources.

Problems with cloud web hosting

You may experience several possible issues with cloud hosting:

Connectivity

You will need a fast internet connection to allow you to use cloud solutions. If you will mainly be using these at your business premises, you may need to check what internet connection speed is available, and what contingency plans are in place if connectivity is lost. See more on choosing a business broadband connection.

Cost of ownership

Cloud services are often delivered as a software as a service model, usually in the form of a monthly cost. Some companies prefer this from a cash flow perspective. You should consider the cost of cloud services over a period of three years to allow you to compare cloud products with more traditional software products.

Service level agreement

Check the conditions of your service level agreement, what happens if something goes wrong, who is liable for putting them right, and what are the timescales for fixing the issue.

Data security

It is important to understand the security of your data, including where the data will be stored and whether it will be encrypted. See how to comply with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR).

To find out if cloud hosting is a good option for your business, read about the advantages of cloud computing and find tips for moving your business to the cloud.

Finding the best servers to host your website on can be daunting. There are many things to consider, not least:

• the type of site you wish to build
• how to manage it
• whether to host it in-house or on externally

As well as this, you should also think about server upgrades, monitoring and security, content management, and customer service. Read more on choosing a web hosting provider.

Server security

Websites can come under threat from hackers, viruses and other types of cyber attacks. If you are hosting your website in-house, you will need to put your own security measures in place.

If you use third-party hosting services, server security will generally be their responsibility. Look for assurances that they are running firewalls and malware detection, and monitor their servers for unusual activity. See more on cyber security for business.

Server upgrades and monitoring

You should monitor the web server performance - including its central processing unit, memory, disk usage, network performance and backup utilities. From time to time, you will also need to install new versions of the server software or upgrade hardware components.

If downtime is needed for updates, try to restrict these to overnight or when minimum disruption is likely for your customers. If you host your website externally, the provider will generally be responsible for upgrades and monitoring server performance.

Content management

Content management systems (CMS) allow authorised users across your business to easily add or modify web content without the assistance of specialist web staff or extensive technical knowledge. When choosing a hosting provider, keep in mind that the host should support whatever CMS you wish to use with your site. Read more about content management systems.

Tech support

Customer service is essential in web hosting. Even the best host can't guarantee a 100 per cent uptime, so it is inevitable that technical issues may turn up. Before this happens, you will want to know:

• what support channels the host offers, eg live chat, phone, email
• when is the support available, eg 24/7 or during business hours
• is there a limit to the support you can get as part of the package

See how to choose an IT supplier for your business.

The term 'web hosting' mostly refers to companies renting out their web servers to businesses or individuals who wish to make their websites available on the internet.

What does it mean to host a site?

Hosting involves storing and maintaining files that make up a particular website on a web server that is connected to the internet 24/7. These can be HTML documents, images, audio, video and other types of files that, when viewed over the internet, deliver your website to its visitors.

The web server gives each hosted website a unique internet protocol (IP) address. This enables visitors to use the website's address (ie the domain name) to find and access the site via an internet browser. Read about the difference between a domain and web hosting.

Types of web hosting

There are three ways for a business to operate a website. You can:

• host it on your own server in-house
• outsource it to an external hosting provider
• host the website on a server owned and operated by an internet service provider (ISP)

Hosting your own web server in-house can be expensive and requires significant resources and technical knowledge. Alternatively, you can buy a hosting service from an external provider, such as an internet service provider.

Types of web hosting services

If you are thinking of hosting your website externally, you will generally have a choice between three types of web servers:

• shared
• dedicated
• virtual, including cloud hosting

As well as the server space, some web hosting services can also provide value-added services, such as:

• easy-to-use website building tools
• site statistics
• search engine optimisation features
• shopping carts
• one-click app installers
• unlimited number of email addresses
• customer support
• other control, maintenance and safety features

How much does it cost to host a website?

If you are a sole trader or a small business, it is possible to host a basic website on a free web host. However, there may be significant risks involved with the free service you receive as free web hosts typically have more frequent 'down time' than their commercial counterparts.

If you run a web-based business, or if having a website is important to your operations, a commercial web host may be a better choice. The average costs of commercial web hosting plans vary, depending on the:

• hosting provider
• the service they provide as part of the package
• the size of your website
• the expected traffic to your website
• whether you need email addresses
• whether you need e-commerce functionality, etc

With many hosting options available, it can be difficult to know what to look for. There are many factors to consider when choosing a web hosting provider.

There are many different factors to consider when looking for a web host. The most important ones relate to your website's functionality, performance and reliability. Each of these can significantly affect the success of your site.

Website functionality

The functionality of a website largely depends on the software used. It can determine:

• the range of features it offers
• the ways in which it presents content to the user
• how the content is kept fresh and updated

When choosing a web host, make sure that the provider can support the applications, the specific scripts or software your website will be using.

Unless you have in-house expertise, you may need advice from your internet service provider or website designer. You should follow best practice in web design.

Website performance

To perform well, your website will need a fast connection to the internet. The speed of the connection will depend on the available bandwidth. If your connection is not fast enough, users will only be able to access your web pages slowly. This can cause particular problems if many users are trying to access your site at the same time. Most external hosting services refer to this as the 'backbone' - the speed of connection into their servers.

Type of web server

Your choice of web server is another key consideration when choosing a web host, as it will also affect the performance of your site. You can either go for:

• a dedicated server - where only your site is hosted on the machine
• a shared hosting service - where you share the machine with other sites

Shared hosting can negatively affect the speed and availability of your website. The server specification will be a critical factor in the performance of the site in this case - specifically the processor speed and the disk space needed for the website to operate effectively. See the pros and cons of using ISP for hosting.

Website reliability

Your website should be available 24/7 - you will need to maintain and support it. The more you rely on your website, the less you can afford to wait until the following morning to fix critical problems.

Website hosting security

Security is an ongoing concern on the internet, so any hosting solution you choose should demonstrate that it is secure and able to withstand hackers, fraudsters and other attacks.

Your web host should, at the very least, offer:

• backups and restore points - stored securely away from the main server
• disaster recovery plans - to help you recover your website in case of system failures
• network monitoring - to spot unusual activity and mitigate risks
• firewalls - including other basic intrusion prevention methods
• antivirus and malware scanning and removal
• SSL (secure sockets layer) certificates, if you need to transfer sensitive data such as online payments to and from the server
• some level of management support - most crucially with file management, access and user permissions, logins, applications, software updates, etc

You should ensure that the web host follows other best practices to protect your business online.

To set up a website, you will need both a domain name and a web host. These are closely connected, but entirely different things - you will need both if you want to make your website accessible to the public.

What is a domain name?

Your domain name is the name of your website or your URL. For example, www(dot)mynewbusiness(dot)com.

You can buy a domain name by going to a domain name registrar. Buying a domain name secures only that specific internet address. It doesn't give you the space on which to host your website. A domain name on its own won't make your website 'live' and available on the internet.

Difference between a website and a domain

For customers to access your website, the files that make it up (eg text and images) have to be stored on a web host - a computer server with high-speed 24/7 internet access.

The server assigns a unique internet protocol (IP) address to the hosted site. This is typically a string of numbers, not decipherable to humans. A domain name is a human-friendly way to identify an IP address of a particular website over the internet.

What is an IP address used for?

When your customers type your domain name into their web browser, it translates the domain name into the relevant IP address and sends a request to the web host server to bring up your website's files on their screen. This is essentially how your customers are able to view your website. So, for your website to be available online, you have to have both a domain name, as well as a hosted website.

If you have yet to choose your business domain name, there is a lot to think through - from the different types of domain names to trade marking considerations. 

If you have a domain name but are looking for hosting, see factors to consider when choosing a web hosting provider.

Using an internet service provider (ISP) for web hosting is an external hosting solution where the ISP is responsible for ensuring that your website is connected to the internet 24/7.

ISPs can provide different types of web hosting services, including:

• shared server hosting
• dedicated hosting
• co-location hosting

Shared server hosting

With this type of hosting, the ISP owns the server, which is located in its offices. The ISP uses this server to host several other websites as well as yours. Shared server hosting is cost-effective, but may not be an option if you want to use complex technologies such as databases, secure certificates and tools that enable you to customise webpages for different users.

Dedicated hosting

With dedicated hosting, your website is the only one hosted on a particular server. This option suits large websites with high user traffic, or those requiring special software or particularly high levels of security. While this approach offers the most powerful and secure solution, it is more expensive.

Co-location hosting

With co-location, you place your own server that you own or rent at the premises of the ISP to take advantage of their better technical infrastructure. With this option, you are generally responsible for maintaining the actual data and the website components.

See other factors to consider when choosing a web hosting provider.

Advantages of using an ISP for hosting

• You do not need to invest in your own web server.
• Most ISPs have very fast connections to the internet.
• The ISP's server should offer a very high degree of availability (up time) and reliability.
• The ISP should have a secure operating environment, high-quality virus protection and the latest software patches to ensure the security of your site.

Disadvantages of using an ISP for hosting

• You need to trust your ISP to maintain the availability and security of your website.
• If the ISP is hosting too many other sites on a shared server, this may compromise your website's performance.
• If the ISP gets blacklisted (eg because of hosting adult content sites or spam sites), this can directly affect you. For example, you may find that your IP address is on various spam blacklists. This can cause your emails to be filtered out and junked or you may not be able to register with certain services, websites, forums, etc.

If you are setting up a corporate website, you will need to choose between outsourcing your hosting or hosting the site internally. Both approaches have pros and cons. You will need to weigh them up carefully to ensure that you choose the right fit for your business.

In-house hosting vs outsourcing

Outsourcing to an external web host may be an attractive proposition if you need an 'off the shelf' solution, or lack the skills and infrastructure internally to carry out the necessary work.

Typically, small and medium-size businesses prefer to contract out their hosting to either a specialist provider or an internet service provider (ISP). See pros and cons of using ISP for hosting.

In-house hosting may be a good choice for businesses large enough to have the expertise and the financial resources to ensure security and smooth operation of the hosting equipment and systems.

Not only will you need a web server, but you'll also require a high-speed connection to the internet, and you will be directly responsible for its day-to-day operation and 24-hour support. You will also have to take into account the cost of maintenance and software licences. See how to host your own business website.

Advantages of the in-house web hosting

• You have full control over access to the website.
• The choice of hardware, including the ease and expandability of upgrades, is yours.
• You also have control over the operating environment - the software and systems that run on the web server.
• You can manage web storage space and performance more effectively.
• You are not contractually or legally bound to use a specific provider.

Disadvantages of the in-house web hosting

• The cost of buying your own web server hardware, associated software and high-speed internet connectivity (typically using a dedicated connection).
• The technical skills you or your staff will require in order to develop, maintain and upgrade the website, and to keep up to date with the latest technical developments.
• The resources needed to provide round-the-clock support for the website in order to ensure its availability for users.
• The need for specialist security expertise in employing tools and techniques to maintain the security of your website.

If you're considering hosting your website internally, make sure that you can:

• provide 24-hour support internally on an ongoing basis
• build an in-house IT team with the right set of specialist skills to maintain the system
• implement appropriate monitoring systems and procedures
• take immediate and effective action when problems occur

If you're unable to guarantee this, a hosted option may be cheaper and less risky. See factors to consider when choosing a web hosting provider.

You can use an internet service provider (ISP) to host a simple website without worrying too much about the underlying technologies. However, if you want to host the website yourself, you will need to understand what's involved and what operating systems, software and applications you may need.

Server operating systems

There are three core operating systems that enable web servers to run. These are:

• Windows Servers
• Unix
• Linux

Email

This can be provided by your hosting company, but often businesses choose to outsource this to a dedicated email provider such as Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace, formerly known as G Suite for business.

Web server software

This software sits on top of the operating system and runs the web hosting services. It deals with all elements of hosting the web pages, including requests from visitors to view them, and running programs or scripts. The most common types of web server software are:

• Apache
• Microsoft Internet Information Services (IIS)

Web Authoring languages

These are the software languages used to develop applications on the website. Examples include:

• HTML (HyperText Markup Language) - a programming language used in the creation of simple web pages
• CGI (Common Gateway Interface) scripts - used to produce dynamic and interactive web pages, eg JSP, PHP, ASP, Cold Fusion and Perl

Application development tools

These are types of web editor software used to design and develop web pages, and incorporate features such as graphics, multimedia and user interactivity. Examples include Microsoft Expression, Adobe Dreamweaver and Adobe Flash.

Databases

Database technologies can store large quantities of information that can be used to update information on your website. The solutions available to you will depend upon the volume of information you wish to hold and the likely web traffic that the system will have to support. Examples of high volume, high-traffic database systems include:

• Microsoft SQL Server
• Oracle
• PostgreSQL
• MySQL

E-commerce

You can use a range of e-commerce software packages for the development of an e-commerce site. See how to set up an online shop with an e-commerce package.

Upgrade path

As your business expands and your website grows, it's important to have a plan for upgrading your hosting. There will often be additional costs and functionality required specific to the type of web application you are hosting. Sometimes it will be necessary to change your hosting arrangements to accommodate these additional requirements.

With traditional web hosting, you buy or rent a physical machine - a server - that gives you resources like memory and processing speed. With cloud hosting, you are effectively renting virtual hardware and server space for your website.

How does cloud hosting work?

Cloud hosting uses the resources of a number of virtual servers to accommodate all the aspects of hosting your site. These resources are utilised as and when needed. You only pay for what you use and, because you can access these resources at any time, you don't need to pay for additional capacity.

Is the cloud a server?

The cloud itself is not a server. A server is physical hardware - dedicated entirely to your business or shared with others. A cloud server is a logical server that is built, hosted and delivered through the cloud. It has similar capabilities to a typical physical server, but it resides in a virtualised environment and is managed by your cloud hosting provider.

You can choose from several types of cloud services for full or partial hosting. The cloud option reduces costs of buying hardware and paying IT staff, and allows smaller businesses to share advanced IT resources.

Problems with cloud web hosting

You may experience several possible issues with cloud hosting:

Connectivity

You will need a fast internet connection to allow you to use cloud solutions. If you will mainly be using these at your business premises, you may need to check what internet connection speed is available, and what contingency plans are in place if connectivity is lost. See more on choosing a business broadband connection.

Cost of ownership

Cloud services are often delivered as a software as a service model, usually in the form of a monthly cost. Some companies prefer this from a cash flow perspective. You should consider the cost of cloud services over a period of three years to allow you to compare cloud products with more traditional software products.

Service level agreement

Check the conditions of your service level agreement, what happens if something goes wrong, who is liable for putting them right, and what are the timescales for fixing the issue.

Data security

It is important to understand the security of your data, including where the data will be stored and whether it will be encrypted. See how to comply with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR).

To find out if cloud hosting is a good option for your business, read about the advantages of cloud computing and find tips for moving your business to the cloud.

Finding the best servers to host your website on can be daunting. There are many things to consider, not least:

• the type of site you wish to build
• how to manage it
• whether to host it in-house or on externally

As well as this, you should also think about server upgrades, monitoring and security, content management, and customer service. Read more on choosing a web hosting provider.

Server security

Websites can come under threat from hackers, viruses and other types of cyber attacks. If you are hosting your website in-house, you will need to put your own security measures in place.

If you use third-party hosting services, server security will generally be their responsibility. Look for assurances that they are running firewalls and malware detection, and monitor their servers for unusual activity. See more on cyber security for business.

Server upgrades and monitoring

You should monitor the web server performance - including its central processing unit, memory, disk usage, network performance and backup utilities. From time to time, you will also need to install new versions of the server software or upgrade hardware components.

If downtime is needed for updates, try to restrict these to overnight or when minimum disruption is likely for your customers. If you host your website externally, the provider will generally be responsible for upgrades and monitoring server performance.

Content management

Content management systems (CMS) allow authorised users across your business to easily add or modify web content without the assistance of specialist web staff or extensive technical knowledge. When choosing a hosting provider, keep in mind that the host should support whatever CMS you wish to use with your site. Read more about content management systems.

Tech support

Customer service is essential in web hosting. Even the best host can't guarantee a 100 per cent uptime, so it is inevitable that technical issues may turn up. Before this happens, you will want to know:

• what support channels the host offers, eg live chat, phone, email
• when is the support available, eg 24/7 or during business hours
• is there a limit to the support you can get as part of the package

See how to choose an IT supplier for your business.

The term 'web hosting' mostly refers to companies renting out their web servers to businesses or individuals who wish to make their websites available on the internet.

What does it mean to host a site?

Hosting involves storing and maintaining files that make up a particular website on a web server that is connected to the internet 24/7. These can be HTML documents, images, audio, video and other types of files that, when viewed over the internet, deliver your website to its visitors.

The web server gives each hosted website a unique internet protocol (IP) address. This enables visitors to use the website's address (ie the domain name) to find and access the site via an internet browser. Read about the difference between a domain and web hosting.

Types of web hosting

There are three ways for a business to operate a website. You can:

• host it on your own server in-house
• outsource it to an external hosting provider
• host the website on a server owned and operated by an internet service provider (ISP)

Hosting your own web server in-house can be expensive and requires significant resources and technical knowledge. Alternatively, you can buy a hosting service from an external provider, such as an internet service provider.

Types of web hosting services

If you are thinking of hosting your website externally, you will generally have a choice between three types of web servers:

• shared
• dedicated
• virtual, including cloud hosting

As well as the server space, some web hosting services can also provide value-added services, such as:

• easy-to-use website building tools
• site statistics
• search engine optimisation features
• shopping carts
• one-click app installers
• unlimited number of email addresses
• customer support
• other control, maintenance and safety features

How much does it cost to host a website?

If you are a sole trader or a small business, it is possible to host a basic website on a free web host. However, there may be significant risks involved with the free service you receive as free web hosts typically have more frequent 'down time' than their commercial counterparts.

If you run a web-based business, or if having a website is important to your operations, a commercial web host may be a better choice. The average costs of commercial web hosting plans vary, depending on the:

• hosting provider
• the service they provide as part of the package
• the size of your website
• the expected traffic to your website
• whether you need email addresses
• whether you need e-commerce functionality, etc

With many hosting options available, it can be difficult to know what to look for. There are many factors to consider when choosing a web hosting provider.

There are many different factors to consider when looking for a web host. The most important ones relate to your website's functionality, performance and reliability. Each of these can significantly affect the success of your site.

Website functionality

The functionality of a website largely depends on the software used. It can determine:

• the range of features it offers
• the ways in which it presents content to the user
• how the content is kept fresh and updated

When choosing a web host, make sure that the provider can support the applications, the specific scripts or software your website will be using.

Unless you have in-house expertise, you may need advice from your internet service provider or website designer. You should follow best practice in web design.

Website performance

To perform well, your website will need a fast connection to the internet. The speed of the connection will depend on the available bandwidth. If your connection is not fast enough, users will only be able to access your web pages slowly. This can cause particular problems if many users are trying to access your site at the same time. Most external hosting services refer to this as the 'backbone' - the speed of connection into their servers.

Type of web server

Your choice of web server is another key consideration when choosing a web host, as it will also affect the performance of your site. You can either go for:

• a dedicated server - where only your site is hosted on the machine
• a shared hosting service - where you share the machine with other sites

Shared hosting can negatively affect the speed and availability of your website. The server specification will be a critical factor in the performance of the site in this case - specifically the processor speed and the disk space needed for the website to operate effectively. See the pros and cons of using ISP for hosting.

Website reliability

Your website should be available 24/7 - you will need to maintain and support it. The more you rely on your website, the less you can afford to wait until the following morning to fix critical problems.

Website hosting security

Security is an ongoing concern on the internet, so any hosting solution you choose should demonstrate that it is secure and able to withstand hackers, fraudsters and other attacks.

Your web host should, at the very least, offer:

• backups and restore points - stored securely away from the main server
• disaster recovery plans - to help you recover your website in case of system failures
• network monitoring - to spot unusual activity and mitigate risks
• firewalls - including other basic intrusion prevention methods
• antivirus and malware scanning and removal
• SSL (secure sockets layer) certificates, if you need to transfer sensitive data such as online payments to and from the server
• some level of management support - most crucially with file management, access and user permissions, logins, applications, software updates, etc

You should ensure that the web host follows other best practices to protect your business online.

To set up a website, you will need both a domain name and a web host. These are closely connected, but entirely different things - you will need both if you want to make your website accessible to the public.

What is a domain name?

Your domain name is the name of your website or your URL. For example, www(dot)mynewbusiness(dot)com.

You can buy a domain name by going to a domain name registrar. Buying a domain name secures only that specific internet address. It doesn't give you the space on which to host your website. A domain name on its own won't make your website 'live' and available on the internet.

Difference between a website and a domain

For customers to access your website, the files that make it up (eg text and images) have to be stored on a web host - a computer server with high-speed 24/7 internet access.

The server assigns a unique internet protocol (IP) address to the hosted site. This is typically a string of numbers, not decipherable to humans. A domain name is a human-friendly way to identify an IP address of a particular website over the internet.

What is an IP address used for?

When your customers type your domain name into their web browser, it translates the domain name into the relevant IP address and sends a request to the web host server to bring up your website's files on their screen. This is essentially how your customers are able to view your website. So, for your website to be available online, you have to have both a domain name, as well as a hosted website.

If you have yet to choose your business domain name, there is a lot to think through - from the different types of domain names to trade marking considerations. 

If you have a domain name but are looking for hosting, see factors to consider when choosing a web hosting provider.

Using an internet service provider (ISP) for web hosting is an external hosting solution where the ISP is responsible for ensuring that your website is connected to the internet 24/7.

ISPs can provide different types of web hosting services, including:

• shared server hosting
• dedicated hosting
• co-location hosting

Shared server hosting

With this type of hosting, the ISP owns the server, which is located in its offices. The ISP uses this server to host several other websites as well as yours. Shared server hosting is cost-effective, but may not be an option if you want to use complex technologies such as databases, secure certificates and tools that enable you to customise webpages for different users.

Dedicated hosting

With dedicated hosting, your website is the only one hosted on a particular server. This option suits large websites with high user traffic, or those requiring special software or particularly high levels of security. While this approach offers the most powerful and secure solution, it is more expensive.

Co-location hosting

With co-location, you place your own server that you own or rent at the premises of the ISP to take advantage of their better technical infrastructure. With this option, you are generally responsible for maintaining the actual data and the website components.

See other factors to consider when choosing a web hosting provider.

Advantages of using an ISP for hosting

• You do not need to invest in your own web server.
• Most ISPs have very fast connections to the internet.
• The ISP's server should offer a very high degree of availability (up time) and reliability.
• The ISP should have a secure operating environment, high-quality virus protection and the latest software patches to ensure the security of your site.

Disadvantages of using an ISP for hosting

• You need to trust your ISP to maintain the availability and security of your website.
• If the ISP is hosting too many other sites on a shared server, this may compromise your website's performance.
• If the ISP gets blacklisted (eg because of hosting adult content sites or spam sites), this can directly affect you. For example, you may find that your IP address is on various spam blacklists. This can cause your emails to be filtered out and junked or you may not be able to register with certain services, websites, forums, etc.

If you are setting up a corporate website, you will need to choose between outsourcing your hosting or hosting the site internally. Both approaches have pros and cons. You will need to weigh them up carefully to ensure that you choose the right fit for your business.

In-house hosting vs outsourcing

Outsourcing to an external web host may be an attractive proposition if you need an 'off the shelf' solution, or lack the skills and infrastructure internally to carry out the necessary work.

Typically, small and medium-size businesses prefer to contract out their hosting to either a specialist provider or an internet service provider (ISP). See pros and cons of using ISP for hosting.

In-house hosting may be a good choice for businesses large enough to have the expertise and the financial resources to ensure security and smooth operation of the hosting equipment and systems.

Not only will you need a web server, but you'll also require a high-speed connection to the internet, and you will be directly responsible for its day-to-day operation and 24-hour support. You will also have to take into account the cost of maintenance and software licences. See how to host your own business website.

Advantages of the in-house web hosting

• You have full control over access to the website.
• The choice of hardware, including the ease and expandability of upgrades, is yours.
• You also have control over the operating environment - the software and systems that run on the web server.
• You can manage web storage space and performance more effectively.
• You are not contractually or legally bound to use a specific provider.

Disadvantages of the in-house web hosting

• The cost of buying your own web server hardware, associated software and high-speed internet connectivity (typically using a dedicated connection).
• The technical skills you or your staff will require in order to develop, maintain and upgrade the website, and to keep up to date with the latest technical developments.
• The resources needed to provide round-the-clock support for the website in order to ensure its availability for users.
• The need for specialist security expertise in employing tools and techniques to maintain the security of your website.

If you're considering hosting your website internally, make sure that you can:

• provide 24-hour support internally on an ongoing basis
• build an in-house IT team with the right set of specialist skills to maintain the system
• implement appropriate monitoring systems and procedures
• take immediate and effective action when problems occur

If you're unable to guarantee this, a hosted option may be cheaper and less risky. See factors to consider when choosing a web hosting provider.

You can use an internet service provider (ISP) to host a simple website without worrying too much about the underlying technologies. However, if you want to host the website yourself, you will need to understand what's involved and what operating systems, software and applications you may need.

Server operating systems

There are three core operating systems that enable web servers to run. These are:

• Windows Servers
• Unix
• Linux

Email

This can be provided by your hosting company, but often businesses choose to outsource this to a dedicated email provider such as Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace, formerly known as G Suite for business.

Web server software

This software sits on top of the operating system and runs the web hosting services. It deals with all elements of hosting the web pages, including requests from visitors to view them, and running programs or scripts. The most common types of web server software are:

• Apache
• Microsoft Internet Information Services (IIS)

Web Authoring languages

These are the software languages used to develop applications on the website. Examples include:

• HTML (HyperText Markup Language) - a programming language used in the creation of simple web pages
• CGI (Common Gateway Interface) scripts - used to produce dynamic and interactive web pages, eg JSP, PHP, ASP, Cold Fusion and Perl

Application development tools

These are types of web editor software used to design and develop web pages, and incorporate features such as graphics, multimedia and user interactivity. Examples include Microsoft Expression, Adobe Dreamweaver and Adobe Flash.

Databases

Database technologies can store large quantities of information that can be used to update information on your website. The solutions available to you will depend upon the volume of information you wish to hold and the likely web traffic that the system will have to support. Examples of high volume, high-traffic database systems include:

• Microsoft SQL Server
• Oracle
• PostgreSQL
• MySQL

E-commerce

You can use a range of e-commerce software packages for the development of an e-commerce site. See how to set up an online shop with an e-commerce package.

Upgrade path

As your business expands and your website grows, it's important to have a plan for upgrading your hosting. There will often be additional costs and functionality required specific to the type of web application you are hosting. Sometimes it will be necessary to change your hosting arrangements to accommodate these additional requirements.

With traditional web hosting, you buy or rent a physical machine - a server - that gives you resources like memory and processing speed. With cloud hosting, you are effectively renting virtual hardware and server space for your website.

How does cloud hosting work?

Cloud hosting uses the resources of a number of virtual servers to accommodate all the aspects of hosting your site. These resources are utilised as and when needed. You only pay for what you use and, because you can access these resources at any time, you don't need to pay for additional capacity.

Is the cloud a server?

The cloud itself is not a server. A server is physical hardware - dedicated entirely to your business or shared with others. A cloud server is a logical server that is built, hosted and delivered through the cloud. It has similar capabilities to a typical physical server, but it resides in a virtualised environment and is managed by your cloud hosting provider.

You can choose from several types of cloud services for full or partial hosting. The cloud option reduces costs of buying hardware and paying IT staff, and allows smaller businesses to share advanced IT resources.

Problems with cloud web hosting

You may experience several possible issues with cloud hosting:

Connectivity

You will need a fast internet connection to allow you to use cloud solutions. If you will mainly be using these at your business premises, you may need to check what internet connection speed is available, and what contingency plans are in place if connectivity is lost. See more on choosing a business broadband connection.

Cost of ownership

Cloud services are often delivered as a software as a service model, usually in the form of a monthly cost. Some companies prefer this from a cash flow perspective. You should consider the cost of cloud services over a period of three years to allow you to compare cloud products with more traditional software products.

Service level agreement

Check the conditions of your service level agreement, what happens if something goes wrong, who is liable for putting them right, and what are the timescales for fixing the issue.

Data security

It is important to understand the security of your data, including where the data will be stored and whether it will be encrypted. See how to comply with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR).

To find out if cloud hosting is a good option for your business, read about the advantages of cloud computing and find tips for moving your business to the cloud.

Finding the best servers to host your website on can be daunting. There are many things to consider, not least:

• the type of site you wish to build
• how to manage it
• whether to host it in-house or on externally

As well as this, you should also think about server upgrades, monitoring and security, content management, and customer service. Read more on choosing a web hosting provider.

Server security

Websites can come under threat from hackers, viruses and other types of cyber attacks. If you are hosting your website in-house, you will need to put your own security measures in place.

If you use third-party hosting services, server security will generally be their responsibility. Look for assurances that they are running firewalls and malware detection, and monitor their servers for unusual activity. See more on cyber security for business.

Server upgrades and monitoring

You should monitor the web server performance - including its central processing unit, memory, disk usage, network performance and backup utilities. From time to time, you will also need to install new versions of the server software or upgrade hardware components.

If downtime is needed for updates, try to restrict these to overnight or when minimum disruption is likely for your customers. If you host your website externally, the provider will generally be responsible for upgrades and monitoring server performance.

Content management

Content management systems (CMS) allow authorised users across your business to easily add or modify web content without the assistance of specialist web staff or extensive technical knowledge. When choosing a hosting provider, keep in mind that the host should support whatever CMS you wish to use with your site. Read more about content management systems.

Tech support

Customer service is essential in web hosting. Even the best host can't guarantee a 100 per cent uptime, so it is inevitable that technical issues may turn up. Before this happens, you will want to know:

• what support channels the host offers, eg live chat, phone, email
• when is the support available, eg 24/7 or during business hours
• is there a limit to the support you can get as part of the package

See how to choose an IT supplier for your business.

The term 'web hosting' mostly refers to companies renting out their web servers to businesses or individuals who wish to make their websites available on the internet.

What does it mean to host a site?

Hosting involves storing and maintaining files that make up a particular website on a web server that is connected to the internet 24/7. These can be HTML documents, images, audio, video and other types of files that, when viewed over the internet, deliver your website to its visitors.

The web server gives each hosted website a unique internet protocol (IP) address. This enables visitors to use the website's address (ie the domain name) to find and access the site via an internet browser. Read about the difference between a domain and web hosting.

Types of web hosting

There are three ways for a business to operate a website. You can:

• host it on your own server in-house
• outsource it to an external hosting provider
• host the website on a server owned and operated by an internet service provider (ISP)

Hosting your own web server in-house can be expensive and requires significant resources and technical knowledge. Alternatively, you can buy a hosting service from an external provider, such as an internet service provider.

Types of web hosting services

If you are thinking of hosting your website externally, you will generally have a choice between three types of web servers:

• shared
• dedicated
• virtual, including cloud hosting

As well as the server space, some web hosting services can also provide value-added services, such as:

• easy-to-use website building tools
• site statistics
• search engine optimisation features
• shopping carts
• one-click app installers
• unlimited number of email addresses
• customer support
• other control, maintenance and safety features

How much does it cost to host a website?

If you are a sole trader or a small business, it is possible to host a basic website on a free web host. However, there may be significant risks involved with the free service you receive as free web hosts typically have more frequent 'down time' than their commercial counterparts.

If you run a web-based business, or if having a website is important to your operations, a commercial web host may be a better choice. The average costs of commercial web hosting plans vary, depending on the:

• hosting provider
• the service they provide as part of the package
• the size of your website
• the expected traffic to your website
• whether you need email addresses
• whether you need e-commerce functionality, etc

With many hosting options available, it can be difficult to know what to look for. There are many factors to consider when choosing a web hosting provider.

There are many different factors to consider when looking for a web host. The most important ones relate to your website's functionality, performance and reliability. Each of these can significantly affect the success of your site.

Website functionality

The functionality of a website largely depends on the software used. It can determine:

• the range of features it offers
• the ways in which it presents content to the user
• how the content is kept fresh and updated

When choosing a web host, make sure that the provider can support the applications, the specific scripts or software your website will be using.

Unless you have in-house expertise, you may need advice from your internet service provider or website designer. You should follow best practice in web design.

Website performance

To perform well, your website will need a fast connection to the internet. The speed of the connection will depend on the available bandwidth. If your connection is not fast enough, users will only be able to access your web pages slowly. This can cause particular problems if many users are trying to access your site at the same time. Most external hosting services refer to this as the 'backbone' - the speed of connection into their servers.

Type of web server

Your choice of web server is another key consideration when choosing a web host, as it will also affect the performance of your site. You can either go for:

• a dedicated server - where only your site is hosted on the machine
• a shared hosting service - where you share the machine with other sites

Shared hosting can negatively affect the speed and availability of your website. The server specification will be a critical factor in the performance of the site in this case - specifically the processor speed and the disk space needed for the website to operate effectively. See the pros and cons of using ISP for hosting.

Website reliability

Your website should be available 24/7 - you will need to maintain and support it. The more you rely on your website, the less you can afford to wait until the following morning to fix critical problems.

Website hosting security

Security is an ongoing concern on the internet, so any hosting solution you choose should demonstrate that it is secure and able to withstand hackers, fraudsters and other attacks.

Your web host should, at the very least, offer:

• backups and restore points - stored securely away from the main server
• disaster recovery plans - to help you recover your website in case of system failures
• network monitoring - to spot unusual activity and mitigate risks
• firewalls - including other basic intrusion prevention methods
• antivirus and malware scanning and removal
• SSL (secure sockets layer) certificates, if you need to transfer sensitive data such as online payments to and from the server
• some level of management support - most crucially with file management, access and user permissions, logins, applications, software updates, etc

You should ensure that the web host follows other best practices to protect your business online.

To set up a website, you will need both a domain name and a web host. These are closely connected, but entirely different things - you will need both if you want to make your website accessible to the public.

What is a domain name?

Your domain name is the name of your website or your URL. For example, www(dot)mynewbusiness(dot)com.

You can buy a domain name by going to a domain name registrar. Buying a domain name secures only that specific internet address. It doesn't give you the space on which to host your website. A domain name on its own won't make your website 'live' and available on the internet.

Difference between a website and a domain

For customers to access your website, the files that make it up (eg text and images) have to be stored on a web host - a computer server with high-speed 24/7 internet access.

The server assigns a unique internet protocol (IP) address to the hosted site. This is typically a string of numbers, not decipherable to humans. A domain name is a human-friendly way to identify an IP address of a particular website over the internet.

What is an IP address used for?

When your customers type your domain name into their web browser, it translates the domain name into the relevant IP address and sends a request to the web host server to bring up your website's files on their screen. This is essentially how your customers are able to view your website. So, for your website to be available online, you have to have both a domain name, as well as a hosted website.

If you have yet to choose your business domain name, there is a lot to think through - from the different types of domain names to trade marking considerations. 

If you have a domain name but are looking for hosting, see factors to consider when choosing a web hosting provider.

Using an internet service provider (ISP) for web hosting is an external hosting solution where the ISP is responsible for ensuring that your website is connected to the internet 24/7.

ISPs can provide different types of web hosting services, including:

• shared server hosting
• dedicated hosting
• co-location hosting

Shared server hosting

With this type of hosting, the ISP owns the server, which is located in its offices. The ISP uses this server to host several other websites as well as yours. Shared server hosting is cost-effective, but may not be an option if you want to use complex technologies such as databases, secure certificates and tools that enable you to customise webpages for different users.

Dedicated hosting

With dedicated hosting, your website is the only one hosted on a particular server. This option suits large websites with high user traffic, or those requiring special software or particularly high levels of security. While this approach offers the most powerful and secure solution, it is more expensive.

Co-location hosting

With co-location, you place your own server that you own or rent at the premises of the ISP to take advantage of their better technical infrastructure. With this option, you are generally responsible for maintaining the actual data and the website components.

See other factors to consider when choosing a web hosting provider.

Advantages of using an ISP for hosting

• You do not need to invest in your own web server.
• Most ISPs have very fast connections to the internet.
• The ISP's server should offer a very high degree of availability (up time) and reliability.
• The ISP should have a secure operating environment, high-quality virus protection and the latest software patches to ensure the security of your site.

Disadvantages of using an ISP for hosting

• You need to trust your ISP to maintain the availability and security of your website.
• If the ISP is hosting too many other sites on a shared server, this may compromise your website's performance.
• If the ISP gets blacklisted (eg because of hosting adult content sites or spam sites), this can directly affect you. For example, you may find that your IP address is on various spam blacklists. This can cause your emails to be filtered out and junked or you may not be able to register with certain services, websites, forums, etc.

If you are setting up a corporate website, you will need to choose between outsourcing your hosting or hosting the site internally. Both approaches have pros and cons. You will need to weigh them up carefully to ensure that you choose the right fit for your business.

In-house hosting vs outsourcing

Outsourcing to an external web host may be an attractive proposition if you need an 'off the shelf' solution, or lack the skills and infrastructure internally to carry out the necessary work.

Typically, small and medium-size businesses prefer to contract out their hosting to either a specialist provider or an internet service provider (ISP). See pros and cons of using ISP for hosting.

In-house hosting may be a good choice for businesses large enough to have the expertise and the financial resources to ensure security and smooth operation of the hosting equipment and systems.

Not only will you need a web server, but you'll also require a high-speed connection to the internet, and you will be directly responsible for its day-to-day operation and 24-hour support. You will also have to take into account the cost of maintenance and software licences. See how to host your own business website.

Advantages of the in-house web hosting

• You have full control over access to the website.
• The choice of hardware, including the ease and expandability of upgrades, is yours.
• You also have control over the operating environment - the software and systems that run on the web server.
• You can manage web storage space and performance more effectively.
• You are not contractually or legally bound to use a specific provider.

Disadvantages of the in-house web hosting

• The cost of buying your own web server hardware, associated software and high-speed internet connectivity (typically using a dedicated connection).
• The technical skills you or your staff will require in order to develop, maintain and upgrade the website, and to keep up to date with the latest technical developments.
• The resources needed to provide round-the-clock support for the website in order to ensure its availability for users.
• The need for specialist security expertise in employing tools and techniques to maintain the security of your website.

If you're considering hosting your website internally, make sure that you can:

• provide 24-hour support internally on an ongoing basis
• build an in-house IT team with the right set of specialist skills to maintain the system
• implement appropriate monitoring systems and procedures
• take immediate and effective action when problems occur

If you're unable to guarantee this, a hosted option may be cheaper and less risky. See factors to consider when choosing a web hosting provider.

You can use an internet service provider (ISP) to host a simple website without worrying too much about the underlying technologies. However, if you want to host the website yourself, you will need to understand what's involved and what operating systems, software and applications you may need.

Server operating systems

There are three core operating systems that enable web servers to run. These are:

• Windows Servers
• Unix
• Linux

Email

This can be provided by your hosting company, but often businesses choose to outsource this to a dedicated email provider such as Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace, formerly known as G Suite for business.

Web server software

This software sits on top of the operating system and runs the web hosting services. It deals with all elements of hosting the web pages, including requests from visitors to view them, and running programs or scripts. The most common types of web server software are:

• Apache
• Microsoft Internet Information Services (IIS)

Web Authoring languages

These are the software languages used to develop applications on the website. Examples include:

• HTML (HyperText Markup Language) - a programming language used in the creation of simple web pages
• CGI (Common Gateway Interface) scripts - used to produce dynamic and interactive web pages, eg JSP, PHP, ASP, Cold Fusion and Perl

Application development tools

These are types of web editor software used to design and develop web pages, and incorporate features such as graphics, multimedia and user interactivity. Examples include Microsoft Expression, Adobe Dreamweaver and Adobe Flash.

Databases

Database technologies can store large quantities of information that can be used to update information on your website. The solutions available to you will depend upon the volume of information you wish to hold and the likely web traffic that the system will have to support. Examples of high volume, high-traffic database systems include:

• Microsoft SQL Server
• Oracle
• PostgreSQL
• MySQL

E-commerce

You can use a range of e-commerce software packages for the development of an e-commerce site. See how to set up an online shop with an e-commerce package.

Upgrade path

As your business expands and your website grows, it's important to have a plan for upgrading your hosting. There will often be additional costs and functionality required specific to the type of web application you are hosting. Sometimes it will be necessary to change your hosting arrangements to accommodate these additional requirements.

With traditional web hosting, you buy or rent a physical machine - a server - that gives you resources like memory and processing speed. With cloud hosting, you are effectively renting virtual hardware and server space for your website.

How does cloud hosting work?

Cloud hosting uses the resources of a number of virtual servers to accommodate all the aspects of hosting your site. These resources are utilised as and when needed. You only pay for what you use and, because you can access these resources at any time, you don't need to pay for additional capacity.

Is the cloud a server?

The cloud itself is not a server. A server is physical hardware - dedicated entirely to your business or shared with others. A cloud server is a logical server that is built, hosted and delivered through the cloud. It has similar capabilities to a typical physical server, but it resides in a virtualised environment and is managed by your cloud hosting provider.

You can choose from several types of cloud services for full or partial hosting. The cloud option reduces costs of buying hardware and paying IT staff, and allows smaller businesses to share advanced IT resources.

Problems with cloud web hosting

You may experience several possible issues with cloud hosting:

Connectivity

You will need a fast internet connection to allow you to use cloud solutions. If you will mainly be using these at your business premises, you may need to check what internet connection speed is available, and what contingency plans are in place if connectivity is lost. See more on choosing a business broadband connection.

Cost of ownership

Cloud services are often delivered as a software as a service model, usually in the form of a monthly cost. Some companies prefer this from a cash flow perspective. You should consider the cost of cloud services over a period of three years to allow you to compare cloud products with more traditional software products.

Service level agreement

Check the conditions of your service level agreement, what happens if something goes wrong, who is liable for putting them right, and what are the timescales for fixing the issue.

Data security

It is important to understand the security of your data, including where the data will be stored and whether it will be encrypted. See how to comply with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR).

To find out if cloud hosting is a good option for your business, read about the advantages of cloud computing and find tips for moving your business to the cloud.

Finding the best servers to host your website on can be daunting. There are many things to consider, not least:

• the type of site you wish to build
• how to manage it
• whether to host it in-house or on externally

As well as this, you should also think about server upgrades, monitoring and security, content management, and customer service. Read more on choosing a web hosting provider.

Server security

Websites can come under threat from hackers, viruses and other types of cyber attacks. If you are hosting your website in-house, you will need to put your own security measures in place.

If you use third-party hosting services, server security will generally be their responsibility. Look for assurances that they are running firewalls and malware detection, and monitor their servers for unusual activity. See more on cyber security for business.

Server upgrades and monitoring

You should monitor the web server performance - including its central processing unit, memory, disk usage, network performance and backup utilities. From time to time, you will also need to install new versions of the server software or upgrade hardware components.

If downtime is needed for updates, try to restrict these to overnight or when minimum disruption is likely for your customers. If you host your website externally, the provider will generally be responsible for upgrades and monitoring server performance.

Content management

Content management systems (CMS) allow authorised users across your business to easily add or modify web content without the assistance of specialist web staff or extensive technical knowledge. When choosing a hosting provider, keep in mind that the host should support whatever CMS you wish to use with your site. Read more about content management systems.

Tech support

Customer service is essential in web hosting. Even the best host can't guarantee a 100 per cent uptime, so it is inevitable that technical issues may turn up. Before this happens, you will want to know:

• what support channels the host offers, eg live chat, phone, email
• when is the support available, eg 24/7 or during business hours
• is there a limit to the support you can get as part of the package

See how to choose an IT supplier for your business.