When it comes to hosting a website or application, it's important to consider the pros and cons of the various options available. Writing a list of the advantages and disadvantages of web hosting helps owners of new or aspiring websites determine which services and providers best suit their needs. The pros and cons of web hosting date back to 1772, when Benjamin Franklin famously used the process to make decisions. This simple methodology promotes rigorous analytical thinking, and is still used today by many experts when faced with critical decisions.
Performance is key when it comes to web hosting, as page load speed has a direct impact on the traffic your site attracts and the number of readers you convert into customers. Hosts take advantage of the experience of dozens or even hundreds of system administrators in massive data centers to ensure that their customers' sites appear as quickly as possible. The ideal page load speed for the website's HTML should be less than 1.5 seconds - think of light traveling for approximately 1.3 seconds to reach the Moon! Shared hosting is popular due to its affordability, but it also has a number of drawbacks. The server may be overwhelmed at times, which can cause the site to stop working.
Additionally, shared hosting services often have limited customization options, and can be vulnerable to security breaches. Free web hosting services are even more prone to security issues, as evidenced by the recent Cloudflare bug that leaked sensitive data from customers' websites, such as Uber, 1Password and FitBit HTTPS sessions. Free or cheap web hosting should be avoided at all costs - just look at Wonga, the UK's payday lender, who had 270,000 customer records compromised due to their free web hosting provider! For these reasons, our website management company recommends small businesses stay away from shared hosting. Evaluating the advantages and disadvantages of web hosting helps owners of new or aspiring websites determine which services and providers best suit their needs.
