[Full Guide] What is Hosting? Types of Hosting | Know Before Purchasing hosting

A detailed guide on What hosting is, types of hosting such as web hosting and its types such as shared hosting, cloud hosting, managed to host, etc, email hosting, and video hosting.

[Explained] What is Hosting?

Hosting is a service that provides an individual or organization with storage and computer resources in exchange for the lodging and maintenance of one or more websites and related services. While IP-based hosting isn’t required, most cases involve web-based services that make a website or web service worldwide accessible via the Internet.

A website or other data is hosted on a server or other computer so that it may be accessed through the Internet.

What is the definition of a hosting server?

A server is a real computer that operates continuously to ensure that your website is available to everyone who wants to view it at any time. Your web host is charged with keeping that server up and operating, defending it from harmful threats, and sending your material — such as text, photos, and files — from the server to your visitor’s browsers.

Types Of Hosting

There is more than one type of hosting. Hosting like Web hosting, Email hosting, Video hosting, etc.

First, let’s talk about web hosting, and later on in the queue are Email and Video hosting.

A. Web Hosting?

Here is the explanation of Web hosting or What is hosting a website?

Web hosting is a service that allows people and businesses to publish a website or web page on the Internet. A web host, also known as a web hosting service provider, is a company that offers the technology and services required to access a website or webpage on the Internet.

Websites are hosted or kept on servers, which are dedicated computers. All Internet visitors need to do is put your website URL or domain into their browser to visit your site.

After that, their machine will connect to your server, and your web pages will be provided to them through the browser.

Most web hosts provide several forms of hosting to meet the demands of various clients, whether you want to create a primary personal blog or operate a substantial online business that requires a complex company website.

In web hosting also, there are many types, so let’s know more in-depth…

Types of web hosting and their difference and what is its need

#1. What is Shared Hosting?

A shared web hosting service is one in which several websites are hosted on a single web server linked to the Internet. This is often the most cost-effective hosting solution because server maintenance costs are divided over several clients. When you select shared hosting, your website will share a physical server with one or more other websites.

A shared hosting plan is a service in which numerous websites are hosted on a single physical server. Because many users share the server’s resources, this hosting is inexpensive. This is the most cost-effective solution for small businesses to host a website, especially if it is their first time publishing their page online.

A shared hosting plan provides the tools to establish, administer, and grow your website. You may use a site builder to create your site or install WordPress, Joomla, or other content management systems on a shared hosting account.

You may also add databases to your account, update email addresses, forwarders, and auto-responders, and add domains. Some providers may only allow you to add a handful of domains to your account, while others will let you add as many as you wish. Shared plans might differ in functionality and cost from one firm to the next.

Pros of Shared Hosting

• It is low cost Because numerous users use the same resources, the running expenses are shared, making Shared Hosting the most cost-effective hosting and excellent for small online business websites.
• There is no need for specific technical knowledge to setup
• It’s both economical and beneficial. As long as you follow our Terms of Service, you can host an infinite number of websites on the same server with shared hosting.
• There are Pre-configured server options.
• User-friendly control panel for beginners. This form of hosting is ideal for newcomers who want an online presence but lack knowledge or technical competence in server upkeep.
• It is simple to upgrade. If your website grows in popularity and requires additional resources, you may switch to our next-level hosting anytime.

Cons of Shared Hosting

• There is little or no control over server configuration
• There is no root access. A shared server with several users does not provide its users’ root access.
• You are unable to set up your server. This server does not have root access and only supports a limited number of custom installations.
• The restricted resources of shared hosting can manage low to medium loads. A sudden large inflow or excessive traffic may cause your website to crash or load slowly.
• The Traffic surges on other websites can slow down your website as ts is shared.
• Resources are limited. Websites that demand significant function and customization may encounter poor performance due to how shared hosting works and resources being split among several users on one server.

When should I use shared hosting?

Shared hosting is appropriate for small to medium-sized enterprises or organizations, personal projects (blogs or portfolios) with low traffic requirements, and those who want to develop websites but lack the time and technical knowledge to run their servers. If you believe your site requires more resources, or if you detect or expect more traffic, you should consider changing to a more powerful hosting plan, such as one of our Dedicated hosting packages.

When should you upgrade from Shared Hosting?

It is always a good idea to plan for future growth. As your company expands, so will the requirements of your website. When this happens, you should consider switching to a more powerful hosting plan like our Dedicated hosting servers.

Here are some things to keep an eye out for on your website.

Loading time is slow. If the site pages load painfully slowly even after optimization, you should seriously consider upgrading.

Custom scripts and cron tasks do not function. Because of timeouts, your site’s functions are not working as well as they used to.

The increase in traffic. If you anticipate a spike in traffic to your website that exceeds the capacity of your shared server, it is preferable to change to a more powerful hosting package.

• It is necessary to have a larger email capacity.
• Storage space is limited with shared hosting.
• If you do not utilize Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace, your emails will use the same storage space as your website.
• Your company may require graphic content upgrades that are resource-intensive for shared hosting.
• Custom installs or customization on your server may also be required, which may only be accomplished with VPS or Dedicated hosting.

#2. What is VPS Hosting?

A VPS is a “Virtual Private Server.”  it’s a private server, which means it’ll be entirely yours. A VPS service provides a defined number of resources you do not have to share with anyone. It’s similar to having a dedicated or private server, except it’s virtual.

“virtual” refers to a partition on a real server devoted to you. This virtual server allows you to acquire root access, install your favorite operating system, and work on your project with unprecedented freedom. In other words…

A virtual private server is a virtual computer that an Internet hosting business sells as a service. The phrase “virtual dedicated server” has a similar meaning. Customers may have super user-level access to that operating system instance on a virtual private server, allowing them to install nearly any program that works on that OS.

Advantages of VPS Hosting

A few factors make VPS hosting the perfect choice for specific projects. If you want many resources and unrivaled stability, VPS hosting is for you, but the honest answer is a little more complicated.

To begin with, VPS hosting provides you with dedicated resources. This means you won’t have to share your CPU, RAM, or storage space. You have a set amount that you may spend at your leisure.

The nature of VPS hosting ensures dependability. Because all resources are appropriately assigned to users, peak consumption times do not impact server stability.

You gain root access and complete control over the available resources. That means you may install various operating systems, work on resource-intensive projects, and accomplish much more than you could with shared hosting. Unfortunately, the customer support team will only assist you with inquiries on VPS hosting management and other back-end issues.

Pros of VPS Hosting

• You get the dedicated server space.
• The Traffic surges on other websites do not affect your performance.
• You have root access to the server.
• You can easily scale
• There is high customizability

Cons of VPS Hosting

• It is more expensive than other types of hosting, such as shared hosting.
• You should have technical and server management knowledge

#3. What is Cloud Hosting?

Cloud hosting is a server and network architecture that divides a single physical server into several virtual servers using software. These devices are frequently referred to as virtual machines or VMs.

What is Public Cloud?

The user commonly configures the public cloud using a control panel and RESTful API. You can establish cloud servers in seconds, scale them up effortlessly, and destroy them whenever possible.

What is Private Cloud?

Private Cloud, also known as private virtualization, offers the same redundancy as our Public Cloud options but with the added protection of dedicated hardware.

What is Hybrid Cloud?

The Hybrid Cloud provides the best of both worlds. You may set up a tailored Private Cloud environment for compassionate data and essential applications.

What is Managed Cloud?

Managed Cloud is first set up by our cloud professionals and released to you after the setup and basic settings are complete.

The Benefits of Cloud Hosting

• Easy to use: Manage your server like a pro with a simple control panel with all the necessary elements to establish a robust online presence.
• Dedicated Resources: Get a dedicated IP address, as well as a portion of RAM, CPU, and SSD Disk Space. The materials offered are entirely committed to you and no one else!
• Fully Managed: You can sit back and rest as we handle server uptime, maintenance, and monitoring.

Pros of Cloud Hosting

• The little to no downtime in cloud hosting
• Server failures do not affect your website and will run fine.
• Allocates resources on demand
• You can only pay for what you use
• It is more scalable than other web hosting types

Cons of Cloud Hosting

• It is hard to estimate the actual costs
• The root access is not always provided

#4. What is Dedicated Hosting?

A dedicated hosting service, also known as a dedicated server or managed hosting service, is a kind of Internet hosting in which the customer rents a whole server that is not shared with anybody else. This is more adaptable than shared hosting since companies have complete control of the server, including the choice of operating system, hardware, etc.

It is a type of Internet hosting in which a physical server (or servers) is devoted to a single business customer. The customer gets total control over the system, allowing them to configure it for their specific needs, such as performance and security. The physical server and environment, as well as the accompanying services and technical support, are provided by the hosting provider.

Website owners may freely install any program, control the configuration, and administer their site with dedicated hosting. The provider typically solely maintains the server; however, hosting packages differ in terms of maintenance and assistance provided.

There are two types of dedicated hosting, one is managed, and another is unmanaged.

The former is simpler to use because the web host will handle upkeep, but the latter is ideal for sophisticated users.

You may create a custom firewall, install software and alter server configurations, have a dedicated IP address, and configure the security settings with unmanaged dedicated hosting.

This solution is ideal for high-traffic websites that value website security and page load speeds because of its versatility. High Ecommerce websites, online gaming servers, agency websites with many clients, and businesses with large databases are all examples.

The Benefits of Dedicated Hosting

• Control – An organization’s IT department controls the server, apps, and operating systems as the sole tenant in a dedicated environment.
• Flexibility – Businesses may quickly modify server settings, install new applications, and alter resources to match their requirements.
• Performance – A dedicated server can be optimized to handle an organization’s most demanding applications and performance needs.
• Businesses may modify the server to fit their security and regulatory requirements.
• Dedicated and shared hosting are at different extremes of the web hosting spectrum. However, dedicated hosting provides distinct advantages for web developers, particularly in reducing the limitations of shared hosting.
• Security – Because no other sites share the server, there is no chance of infection from viruses, malware, or other difficulties from neighboring sites. In truth, server providers are expensive, but they employ stringent security procedures to safeguard data stored on their server network. Deploying software tools for network and system scanning for hackers, spammers, Trojans, crashers, works, and other security risks is one of the measures.
• Control and Flexibility – Because the client leases the entire server and does not share it with anybody, total control provides greater flexibility than shared hosting, including the ability to choose hardware, operating system, and other features.
• High-Performance: Because the server’s resources are always accessible, site speed, general stability, performance, and email stability, are increased.

Pros of Dedicated Hosting

• Performance – The storage space, bandwidth, CPU, and other resources are tailored to your site’s requirements, so there will be no issues if traffic spikes unexpectedly.
• You will have full control over server configuration
• You can access the server and its configurations with unmanaged dedicated hosting. This hosting service is extremely cost-effective for large firms and organizations that can afford to engage IT professionals.
• There are high-reliability and security options.
• The root access to your server
• Because the server is entirely yours, security is of the utmost importance. Aside from that, having a dedicated server implies having a dedicated IP address, which is required to install an SSL certificate.
  Most hosting companies give additional options to dedicated server users. Premium support, simple updates, RAID storage, and regular backups are a few examples.

Cons of Dedicated Hosting

• When compared to other hosting plans, the monthly cost is higher.
• If you choose unmanaged dedicated hosting, you must be technically savvy to administer and maintain the server.
• There is high cost, more oriented toward larger businesses.
• Technical and server management knowledge is also needed

#5. What is Managed WordPress Hosting?

Compared to shared WordPress hosting, managed WordPress hosting provides significantly greater technical assistance and security. They also provide faster-operating speeds and performance, with more resources (and no competition) accessible to each individual customer.

Managed WordPress hosting provides a tremendous level of assistance for your website. Your hosting service handles most of your site’s hardware and software maintenance. They’ll keep your security up to date and manage updates for you. Many managed WordPress hosting packages include 1-click staging, allowing you to test your site’s updates in a development environment.

You’ll also have access to expert-level assistance to assist you with any problems with your site. Managed WordPress hosting will cost more than shared WordPress hosting. As a result, it is a better solution for larger, more established businesses, as well as brands wishing to grow their WordPress site in the future.

WordPress -WordPress is an open-source content management system that enables even the most environmentally conscious builders to design and develop their websites. It may be used to create anything from a basic blog page to an e-commerce website to a company or portfolio website. The term “open-source” refers to the fact that it comprises pieces created by and shared among people who utilize it.

Pros of Managed WordPress Hosting

• Servers are specifically optimized WordPress.
• Beginner-friendly user panel
• No Technical Knowledge is required to set up managed hosting
• Get help from WordPress experts for any issue
• Reliability with peace of mind
• Everything is managed for you; no need for extra staff.
• Get better website performance
• Get better security
• Automated updated
• Automatic Backups of the site
• Auto WordPress Install, you need to install with technical knowledge
• Get better customer support
• ONE-CLICK Staging [A staging environment for WordPress serves as a copy of your website. You may use it to test any changes you want to make to a WordPress site, such as upgrading themes and plugins or fully redesigning the site.]

Cons of Managed WordPress Hosting

• There is only WordPress, no other cms.
• Managed hosting is more expensive than a shared one
• There is no custom or domain email in managed hosting
• You can not run multisite on one managed hosting
• It is difficult to migrate or move out from managed hosting
• There are Possible Limits on Plugins, such as Low flexibility with plugins.
• The website will be auto/Forced updated to higher versions

B. Reseller Hosting

Reseller web hosting is a service in which one company (a hosting provider) rents hard drive space and bandwidth to another (small-to-medium-sized business), who then rents the space to third parties (entrepreneurs-small business).

Simply, reseller hosting allows you to provide hosting to your clients as if you were a web hosting firm. This is common for prospective entrepreneurs who want to establish their own web hosting company or for present web developers and designers who want to expand their brand offerings.

Pros of Reseller Hosting

1. Lower Expenses or Cost – Reseller hosting plans are reasonably priced. It makes things easier because you won’t have to invest in the technology, infrastructure, or equipment required to start a web hosting company.
2. Reseller hosting provides a variety of packages that provide a variety of resources without raising the cost. Reseller Hosting Business is the most cost-effective solution for starting a new company.
3. Focus on the Business –  Because all of the chores connected to updates, server maintenance, connection, security, and so on are the responsibility of the web hosting provider you’ve rented or purchased from, it concentrates on the commercial elements of running a web hosting business rather than the technical ones.
4. Brand Building – You obtain resources from a larger web hosting service provider when you use reseller hosting. However, you can develop the primary brand image and your personality. It implies that your clients will not know you have purchased or rented identical resources from another service provider when you host other websites.
5. Expandable – If your website receives a lot of traffic, has a lot of pages, or your company has many websites, reseller hosting will provide you with more features and space. For example, instead of purchasing multiple hosting plans, you may operate different components of your sites from different URLs and servers.
6. Add-on Features – Reseller hosting includes more features than basic hosting services. The website’s management panel will also be more capable, allowing you to administer your site better. In addition, several organizations will provide infinite SSL certificates and services like Cpanel.
7. Brand Building– Reseller hosting allows you to create your own identity and brand while selling the resources of another web hosting service provider. Clients will not know you are renting space from a different web hosting business.

Cons of Reseller Hosting

• Dependency of Web Hosting Company – The success of your business will be determined by the quality of the initial web hosting provider. This implies that if their server is frequently down or if there are several technical difficulties, it will have an impact on your business.
• Providing time to Customer Service – You’re still accountable for responding to client inquiries if you provide web hosting services, even if it’s reseller hosting. It might kill your business if you don’t take the time to answer these questions appropriately.
• Difficulty – If you’ve never managed a company website before, you’ll find the control panels and features of reseller hosting to be extremely difficult.
• Reseller hosting’s features and control panels are tough to navigate unless you’re an expert at running a website.
• Migration Will Affect Your Clients – If you switch web hosting providers, you must migrate all your client’s data. Because this may be extremely challenging, a dedicated server or Virtual Private Server is advised (VPS). A dedicated or virtual private server makes switching providers easier and more expensive.
• Limited Access – Because reseller hosting only provides limited access to the server, you’ll have to go via your web hosting service provider for most things.

C. Email Hosting – What is Email Hosting?

An email hosting account is just for email. Email hosting companies manage email servers.
Email hosting is a service in which a hosting company rents out email servers to its clients. Professional email hosting occurs when both incoming and outgoing emails are controlled by a distinct shared or dedicated mail server.

Email hosting is a service that stores all of your email messages and associated files on a server. When you receive an email to your website’s domain address, the email is routed via the internet and stored on the receiver server. At this stage, the server administrators will decide whether to respond or ignore, considering any spam filters, re-routing requests, and whether the sender is on any blacklists.

The server that hosts Email can be hosted on the same server as your website’s content, on a server controlled by another host, or on two separate servers maintained by the same hosting firm. Email hosting providers may specialize in providing simple email hosting services, although it is increasingly common for businesses to provide bundled email and web hosting packages.

How do email hosting services work?

When you utilize an email hosting service, your email messages and files are all saved on a server. When you get an email from a customer to your domain address, it is forwarded to the server. The server next verifies the email by scanning it for spam or checking whether the sender is on a blacklist.

Because email hosting services are expensive, they supply complex solutions. Your emails will most likely be hosted on a dedicated platform by your email hosting provider. They will also handle your domain name, provide email authentication to avoid scams, keep your organization secure, and so on.

You may have your email hosted by the same company that hosts your website, or you can pick a separate one. You choose your supplier based on your requirements.

Pros/advantages of email hosting

• Having your domain name in your email address improves your brand consistency.
• Email hosting is scalable so that you can scale it with the growth of your site.
• You can also increase the security of your email inbox
• Reliable email hostings provide better uptime.
• There is also integration with other tools
• You will get better privacy
• You can control spam and viruses
• Flexibility
• Higher customer trust trust

Cons/disadvantages of Email Hosting

• You have to take care of backups
• Technical or complex to migrate

D. Video Hosting

The notion of video hosting is the uploading of video material to share it online. Several third-party video hosting platforms are available, including YouTube, Vimeo, Wistia, and others.

Video hosting, in other terms, allows you to post and save your video on a third-party website. Viewers can view the video by going straight to the host website (e.g., YouTube.com), or you can add the video to your website using what is known as embed code.

Using a video host has various advantages, like not worrying about bandwidth, guaranteed uptime, and ease. This service has gained in popularity because of the rising usage of mobile phones that can shoot video and immediately upload it to a website.

It is also used for video blogging, with the blogger submitting the movies to a video host and connecting to them instead of posting them to their server. By doing so, the blogger consumes less bandwidth from their site hosting provider, which is frequently limited.

Remote Video Hosting

Like other cloud-based services, a remote video hosting service streamlines the hosting procedure and reduces the storage and bandwidth expenses associated with self-hosting. To host a video online, you no longer need a master’s degree in programming. Simply upload your video, enter some information (such as a title and description), and copy the URL or embed code supplied.

Choosing a third-party hosting site rather than self-hosting has various advantages and disadvantages.

Pros of Video Hosting

Third-party websites simplify the procedure. You can post a video without knowing anything about programming or hosting technicalities.
Most CMS platforms are compatible with hosting sites. WordPress, for example, may embed straight from hosting sites.
Most hosting platforms include monitoring metrics in their offerings, making it simple to get the most valuable insights.

Cons of Video Hosting

Your site may be unable to support video file uploads due to bandwidth and storage space constraints.
Even if your site can manage the upload, the loading performance of your site may suffer. As a result, you are resulting in dire Search Engine Optimization repercussions.

You’ll need to account for your material’s varying sizes and quality versions to handle varied viewing settings.

Conclusion of Hosting

There are many types of hosting. It is based on what kind of purpose you need hosting.

If you are creating websites, then you will need Web Hosting or creating a custom email, then you will need email hosting, and for video management sites, you need Video hosting.

Are you going to get any new Web Hosting, Email Hosting, Video Hosting, or other?

Let me know below in the comment.