Is Amazon Good for Hosting WordPress?
Many individuals are asking this question, as Amazon has recently launched a new web host called AWS (Amazon Web Services) – and it’s the perfect host for WordPress.
More and more businesses are moving their websites to the Cloud, as it provides many advantages, not the least of which is cost-effectiveness, since you’re paying only for what you use. While you might assume that all web hosting is the same, you would be wrong. There are several crucial differences between traditional web hosts and cloud-based hosts, and you need to be aware of these if you want to choose the right one for your needs.
Features
The first and most important thing to consider when looking at a web host is the features they provide. Does the host allow for auto-installation of WordPress? Do they provide a drag-and-drop interface for building your site? What about staging areas and tools to make your site easier to manage?
Traditional web hosts will give you a basic account with limited features, making it quite difficult to actually build a website. However, with cloud-based hosts, all these features and more are readily available, so you don’t have to settle for anything less than the best.
Cost
Another important factor to consider when choosing a web host is the cost. Most people are aware of the massive discounts you can get if you’re a student or a military personnel, but even those who are not should know that cheap web hosting is often quite limited in functionality. Most cloud-based hosts provide a free version with limited features, making it quite difficult to actually build a website, which is why many individuals choose to use a professional web host for this purpose.
The cost of Cloud-based hosting can vary from free to $2.95 per month, with the latter being the cost of a traditional web host. The major difference is that you’re not paying for the servers you use, rather, you’re paying for the time you utilize their services.
Bandwidth
Bandwidth is the amount of data (such as web pages, images, or videos) you can transfer to or from a website during a particular period of time. When talking about bandwidth, many people think about the amount of data they’re using or about to use, but the important thing to consider is the rate at which you’re using it. If you’re using a small amount of data, you won’t notice any difference between 1 and 10 Mbps, however, if you’re using a large amount, you’ll quickly notice the difference between 1 and 10 Mbps, and even 1 and 100 Mbps. Your host determines the amount of data you can access each month, so be sure to avoid going over that amount, otherwise, you’ll be charged for it.
Traditional web hosts usually provide low-bandwidth options, making it quite difficult for users to actually use their services for anything other than basic websites. However, with many Cloud-based hosts, high-bandwidth options are available, allowing for much faster website load times and enhanced functionality.
Security
Last but not least, we have security. If your website gets hacked or infected with malware, you’ll be faced with the expensive task of removing it and replacing it with a clean copy. This is something you don’t want to have to do, as it could potentially damage your online reputation. Hackers these days can get quite creative, so be careful what kind of websites you host on your server, or you might find yourself in a bit of a pickle.
Traditional web hosts often provide little to no security, as they don’t want your account to be able to be hacked. This is why they discourage you from using any custom themes or plugins, as they might expose your account to security risks. If you’ve ever tried to use a free web host for creating a website, you’ll most likely have been warned not to use such custom themes and plugins, as they put your account at risk of being hacked.
With Cloud-based hosts, you’re protected by their service, so if your account is ever compromised, they’ll replace it as soon as they can, without any need to contact you. This is why many experts believe that Cloud-based hosting is the safest option. Of course, you shouldn’t be doing anything that might put you at risk either.
Conclusion
While there are several benefits to Cloud-based hosting, it’s quite important to remember the differences between the two before making a decision. If you’re looking for a free option, you’ll probably want to consider a traditional web host, as they tend to have lower monthly bills. If you’re looking for a more powerful option, you’ll want to consider a cloud-based host, as they provide many advantages, not the least of which is cost-effectiveness.