Is Your Hosting Company Really the Best?
When choosing a web host for your website, the main things you want to look at are reliability, support, and features. Sadly, many hosting companies won’t tell you exactly what you want to hear and instead try to up-sale you on their proprietary hardware and software.
While this may seem like a good idea at first, it often leads to increased maintenance costs and security concerns.
In this article we will discuss the importance of being upfront with your host regarding security and how to avoid up-selling by providing the necessary details to ensure you get what you need.
What Is Data Security?
The most basic level of security provided by web hosts is by encrypting your data as it travels to and from your website. This type of security is called Data Security 1 (DS1).
Simply put, data security (DS) is the process of ensuring that the resources your host provides, such as email, databases, and websites, are secure by using a combination of techniques and software.
When you use the services of a hosting company, your data is stored on their platform and they have the ability to access and control your data whenever they want. Because of this, you need to be sure that your data is always secure, even when it’s not under your direct control.
Why Do I Need To Be Data Security-conscious?
There are numerous reasons why you need to be security-conscious when using a web host. First, the data your host stores about you (including your personal information) is highly valuable to them. If they can’t guarantee the security of this data, they may not be able to provide the services you need.
Data security is also extremely important for companies that store a large amount of data (such as credit card information) on their servers. The more they know about you, the easier it will be for them to steal your data.
Finally, whenever you use a public computer, unsecured remote connections (such as the one provided by WiFi) exist, which means that your data could be stolen by anyone within range.
More Than Meets The Eye
Not only does your host have the ability to access and control your data, they also have the ability to use this data for various purposes. For example, they may use your email address to send you promotional materials or they may sell your information to third-parties (including marketing companies).
If you want to avoid this type of personal information being used against you, you need to be sure that your host provides you with the option to disable this feature (if it’s available). Additionally, be sure to read their privacy policy to understand exactly what they will and will not do with your information.
In some instances, your host may use your personal data for internal purposes (such as analyzing traffic so they can provide you with better service)
Even when your data is securely stored, there are many ways in which it can be accessed, changed, or destroyed by unauthorized individuals. For this reason, it is extremely important to keep your data completely private and secure from unauthorized access by using various methods (such as strong passwords and two-factor authentication).
Can I Use A VPN With My Hosting?
One important feature you need to look at when choosing a web host is whether or not they offer VPN support. A VPN, or virtual private network, is a service that allows you to create a private, encrypted connection between your computer and the internet, via a server operated by a third-party.
By connecting to the internet through a VPN, your digital footprint becomes much more difficult to track. This is because all of your online activity, including your web searches, emails, and social media account details, are encrypted as they travel to and from your device. VPNs also help to prevent eavesdropping, information-leaking, and connection-monitoring by hackers and government entities.
VPNs are extremely useful when accessing resources, such as databases or corporate networks, that you shouldn’t have access to otherwise (such as your personal email account). They also work well when using public hotspots (such as those provided by T-Mobile or Hotels.com), where you may be connecting to an unencrypted network.
Some hosting companies offer a free VPN, while others charge you for the service. Always inquire as to what the fee structure is before you make any purchases. Furthermore, remember that every VPN has a basic plan and a premium plan; the cheaper the plan, the fewer the features.
Am I Secure With My Hosting?
Another important consideration is whether or not you feel secure using the services of your host. Some hosting companies store your data on computer servers that are located in data centers that are maintained by the US government, allowing them to comply with government data-security regulations. In other words, your data may be more secure on their servers than it is on your device.
Additionally, some hosting companies employ multiple data centers located around the world, which adds an extra level of security to your account. This way, even if one of the data centers is attacked, your data will still be safe. Inevitably, some attacks will succeed, but as long as there is redundancy, the overall security of your data will still be very high. This feature is sometimes referred to as Multi-Data Center Offering (MDCO).
What About Site Speed?
A website loaded quickly is much more likely to appeal to your intended audience. When users take a brief moment to glance at your website, they will quickly hit the back button if it takes more than three seconds to load. In fact, according to HubSpot Blogs’ research, 66% of users leave a site if it takes longer than three seconds to load, and 72% will leave a site if it takes more than five seconds.
Unfortunately, many hosting companies do nothing to ensure your site loads as quickly as possible. For this reason, you should always choose a hosting company that provides solutions to speed up your site.
Features Galore
You may also want to consider whether or not your host offers certain features that make website creation easier for you or provide additional perks to your account. Some examples of features you may want to consider include:
- Multiple domain names
- Free domain name parking
- A dedicated IP address
- Free setup
- Free domain privacy
- Free backups
- Free domain transfers
- Free upgrades
- Free domain privacy
- SSD storage
- Cloudflare security
- Full-featured CMS
- W3 Total Cache
- SSD storage
- Cloudflare security
- Full-featured CMS
- W3 Total Cache
- SSD storage
- Cloudflare security
- Full-featured CMS
- W3 Total Cache
- SSD storage
- Cloudflare security
- Full-featured CMS
- W3 Total Cache
- SSD storage
- Cloudflare security
- Full-featured CMS
- W3 Total Cache
Always consult the FAQ section of their website to determine what features are available and how to use them. You should look for a hosting company that provides support via email, chat, or phone, as this will save you a lot of frustration should you have any problems.
More Than Meets The Eye
When choosing a web host, don’t just look at what they offer in terms of features. Look at everything from the standpoint of whether or not this will satisfy your needs. This is because, as mentioned earlier, your host may use your personal data for various purposes, including selling it to third-parties. If this is something you’re uncomfortable with, then you might want to consider another host.