Choosing web hosting service is essentially renting space on a server, which can be like renting an apartment. For a monthly fee, you reside in that apartment, and all maintenance is the responsibility of the property owner.
As a renter, you have access to certain amenities that would otherwise require special knowledge and be a costly investment. In web hosting, you would buy space on the server for your website files. The files are secure and only you can update, add, and remove files.
The amenities are considered the disk space, data transfer, POP3 email accounts, technical support, mailing lists, ecommerce capability, design tools, web-based email, FTP sub-accounts, etc. With the purchase of a web hosting plan, you have purchased the service and expertise of the web hosting company - the technical skills, network and system architecture, web servers, and applications.
Important criteria should be taken into account when you are looking for a hosting provider. Look upon your hosting as an investment rather than a cost, especially if your site is significant to your business or livelihood. A checklist is a good way to sort out the host that will provide the type of hosting you are looking for. |