What are the essentials I’ll need for my site?
- Traffic: Traffic means how much data is used on a website. If you have lots of visitors, you are getting a lot of traffic.
- Web space: Web space is the storage available on the web server. It is also called storage or disk space.
- Domain: The domain is the name of your website. If you need to run more than one website under different names, then you may need more than one.
- Subdomains: Some websites will have lots of different parts and sections. A subdomain helps organize these.
- Email accounts: Perhaps you’ll need different email accounts for people to contact you.
- Databases: Most hosting providers will allow you to create MySQL or MS SQL databases. Depending on your package, you will be able to have a certain number of them.
When you look at other hosting providers you may have noticed that there are three words in particular which are used to describe the features included in their hosting plans:
- Unlimited: This is a tricky label, because certain things, such as data transfer speed, are not unlimited. Unlimited traffic might mean levels of traffic that cannot be exceeded.
- Unmetered: This means that the provider is offering a set amount of web space which can be used as you see fit.
- Scalable: This means that the amount can be adjusted to meet demand.
What should I look out for when it comes to technical configuration?
How the web hosting service is configured is an essential element to take into consideration. Most web hosting services have Linux as their operating system, but if you want to run Windows programs you may be better off choosing a package with a Windows operating system using ASP, ASP.NET and SQL Servers. The different DBMS are also a key factor in making a decision, and not all providers offer each one. Most offer MySQL or MMSQL, but if you want to use PostgreSQL or MariaDB, take a closer look to see which providers offer this. Not all web hosting providers offer SSH — this can be an important feature for those who want to use more modern solutions, as the outdated FTP is not as secure. In terms of hardware, check whether the provider offers SSD hard disks, and where the data centers are located. It is important to know which type of programming language is available, because it will change how you develop your website in the future. Ruby, Perl and Python, Node.js, SSI and CGI are the usual supported languages.
Are web hosting services expensive?
IONOS offers you attractive deals on professional web hosting. The costs vary depending on the package you opt for and the optional additional features you choose. Please refer to the respective plan for more information.
Which target group is the IONOS web hosting package best suited to?
Our packages are aimed at companies, agencies, institutions and private individuals. Beginners will find suitable offers just as easily as bloggers, web developers, **students **and start-ups. We offer companies and agencies enough storage space and resources for multimedia company websites, brand showcases and extensive eCommerce sites. IONOS web hosting is also a suitable option for anyone who wants to move to an experienced provider.
Which security aspects do I have to consider?
- One of the most obvious risks to site security is lack of encryption. If you have SSL for your site, your website is more secure against hacking and other threats.
- The different types of DDoS attacks target the different aspects of web hosting through volumetric attacks, application layer attacks and TCP state exhaustion attacks. Having DDoS protection is an important security precaution.
- Backups are not only helpful in the cases of hacked sites, it could happen that you delete important files, or that you install a software or update that breaks the site. If you’ve backed up your website, however, there is nothing that you can’t fix.
- The final vital security feature you should look at is whether web hosting providers enable two factor authentication (2FA). Most providers offer this, and it is an easy way to make sure only authorized users can gain access to your website.