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5 Top Questions to Ask When Choosing a Web Host

Choosing a web host is probably one of the most important decisions you will make a business owner. Today, a website reflects so much on an individual business and hosting is an important part of that. You want to have a website that is accessible all the time and one that mirrors the values you promote as a business. You therefore need to have a web host that is reliable and takes their role and responsibility seriously. If you are new to the process of choosing a web host and setting up a website then the task can seem quite daunting. There are many technical terms and figuring out what is important can be confusing. Here are a few questions to ask your web host so  you can make sure they are a reliable and efficient company for you to work with.

What Hosting Options Do They Offer?

Some hosting companies specialize only in one type of hosting. This could be either shared or dedicated hosting. Ask the web host if this is the case or if they offer both options. It is preferable to work with a company that has a wider range of services. The reason for this is that over time your business may grow and your hosting needs may change. A company that can offer you more than one type of hosting solution will be the better company to work with in the long run.

Can You Migrate Between Hosting Packages?

It is unlikely that your web hosting needs will stay the same over time. Having to change your web host simply because you need a larger hosting package can be time consuming and frustrating.  It will also affect the design and operation of your website. Most reputable web hosts will give you the option to upgrade your web hosting package. The process should be relatively affordable and free of hassles. The web host should be able to assist you with an easy migration to your new package. They should also be able to make recommendations as to what type of package you should upgrade to.

What Servers Do They Use and When Were They Last Upgraded?

A reputable web host will be diligent about keeping up with technology. At the pace at which technology advances, web hosts should be upgrading their servers every year or two. If they leave it longer than that then it is possible that the technology they are using will become outdated. This can in turn affect the functionality of your website. They should also be able to give you specifics on the capacity of the servers. If they give you the names of the particular servers, you can quickly and easily read online reviews of the servers. This will allow you to establish if they are reliable machines.

Is There a Support Desk and When Are They Available?

A support desk is probably one of the most important aspects of web hosting. Even a business owner that has some technical knowledge will not have the same level of expertise as people who work in the industry on a daily basis. In addition, the help desk will have access to the server and is able to do diagnostics should any problems arise. Having access to an efficient helpdesk will help you maintain a professional website. Their hours of operation are important because your website will be online 24/7. If the support desk only operates during office hours, it may mean that problems with your website lie unattended for a period of time.  Any time that your website is not operational reflects badly on your business. You therefore want to ensure that if there are any problems, you can get them quickly and easily resolved.

What Anti-Virus and Security Measures Do They Have in Place?

It is vital to have good security on your website, especially if you are being hosted on a shared server. Remember that your website is the face of your business. You want it therefore to be as professional as you are. You don’t want your clients logging into your website and then being concerned about the security of their personal details. You also do not want your website unknowingly spreading a virus.  The web host should perform regular virus scans and take analytics of the server to make sure that it is clean and the risk of infection is minimized.

Business and Internet Security (Page 1 of 2)

Taking chances when it comes to Internet Security is never something to be taken lightly. Though some private and casual computer users will likely do so, business owners who make use of computers to store both business and customer data must consider security a top priority. Having run a business myself I can say with the utmost of confidence that not only must you have some sort of Computer Security set up for your PC’s but must also make use of reliable and dependable software. It is an all to common practice in business these days to cut corners in an attempt to save a buck and while I have seen several businesses cut expenses even in security applications to do so is simply folly.

When my partner and I began our business venture a couple of years ago the first thing we did after deciding to start the business was to begin with Security Research. Though we both involved ourselves with finding the very best security software I was tasked with the majority of the project. I was initially disappointed by all of the PC Security Software I had looked at as none seemed to deliver an all in one experience. Being an ample computer user and fairly tech savvy I didn’t want to treat my businesses network as I did my home network. Using several different antivirus applications to both eliminate and keep threats at bay wasn’t going to cut it in the business world. The program I needed had to bring everything to the table so that I would know I’m getting the best bang for my buck and that my business and its confidential information would remain safe.

I’ve heard all the horror stories of business being sued and/or shut down due to poor security measures taken by owners who feel penny pinching is the way to solve all problems. I was determined not to be that type of owner nor did I want my business to suffer the effects of that management style. After some exhaustive research and substandard results I felt it was time to consult with those that had gone down this road before me. I actually spoke with my former employer whom I was employed with prior to starting my businesses. She revealed that not only did they take PC Security seriously but that they also went with a company that they found through several internet searches. This company she had chosen and still uses to this day is known as eEye. eEye specializes in creating tools that will allow just about anyone to successfully remove threats from their computers and networks while at the same time keep those same threats out and away from their machines.

This information piqued my curiosity and so I began looking at eEye’s website and list of PC Security applications. As I was initially pleased with what I saw I began scouring the internet for opinions and reviews of the said programs. The majority of users said the same things my former employer did and they shared her opinions on the programs as well. After going over the results with my business partner we decided to invest in a couple of eEye’s products. We began with Blink® Professional Edition which would allow us to remove and keep all threats out of our computers and do it all in one program. Secondly we ended up with their Security Management Appliance 1505 which would further reduce our exposure to attacks, thus protecting our client and business data. Once things got set up both my partner and I couldn’t have been more pleased. Our network and individual PC’s have rum smoothly with little to no issues for close to two years. In addition to that, now that we are a much larger company than we were a few years ago we’ve taken on a small but effective IT staff of which the Director shares our tastes in Endpoint Security software so things continue to run as though we’ve never had any issues.

Business and Internet Security (Page 1 of 2)

Taking chances when it comes to Internet Security is never something to be taken lightly. Though some private and casual computer users will likely do so, business owners who make use of computers to store both business and customer data must consider security a top priority. Having run a business myself I can say with the utmost of confidence that not only must you have some sort of Computer Security set up for your PC’s but must also make use of reliable and dependable software. It is an all to common practice in business these days to cut corners in an attempt to save a buck and while I have seen several businesses cut expenses even in security applications to do so is simply folly.

When my partner and I began our business venture a couple of years ago the first thing we did after deciding to start the business was to begin with Security Research. Though we both involved ourselves with finding the very best security software I was tasked with the majority of the project. I was initially disappointed by all of the PC Security Software I had looked at as none seemed to deliver an all in one experience. Being an ample computer user and fairly tech savvy I didn’t want to treat my businesses network as I did my home network. Using several different antivirus applications to both eliminate and keep threats at bay wasn’t going to cut it in the business world. The program I needed had to bring everything to the table so that I would know I’m getting the best bang for my buck and that my business and its confidential information would remain safe.

I’ve heard all the horror stories of business being sued and/or shut down due to poor security measures taken by owners who feel penny pinching is the way to solve all problems. I was determined not to be that type of owner nor did I want my business to suffer the effects of that management style. After some exhaustive research and substandard results I felt it was time to consult with those that had gone down this road before me. I actually spoke with my former employer whom I was employed with prior to starting my businesses. She revealed that not only did they take PC Security seriously but that they also went with a company that they found through several internet searches. This company she had chosen and still uses to this day is known as eEye. eEye specializes in creating tools that will allow just about anyone to successfully remove threats from their computers and networks while at the same time keep those same threats out and away from their machines.

This information piqued my curiosity and so I began looking at eEye’s website and list of PC Security applications. As I was initially pleased with what I saw I began scouring the internet for opinions and reviews of the said programs. The majority of users said the same things my former employer did and they shared her opinions on the programs as well. After going over the results with my business partner we decided to invest in a couple of eEye’s products. We began with Blink® Professional Edition which would allow us to remove and keep all threats out of our computers and do it all in one program. Secondly we ended up with their Security Management Appliance 1505 which would further reduce our exposure to attacks, thus protecting our client and business data. Once things got set up both my partner and I couldn’t have been more pleased. Our network and individual PC’s have rum smoothly with little to no issues for close to two years. In addition to that, now that we are a much larger company than we were a few years ago we’ve taken on a small but effective IT staff of which the Director shares our tastes in Endpoint Security software so things continue to run as though we’ve never had any issues.