Company and Private Web Hosting Solutions

Choose a Domain Name, Inexpensive Web Design and Web Server Hosting

Oct 4, 2009 Fleur Hupston

Most organizations and some individuals require web server hosting. How to go about setting up a presence on the Internet and choosing a web hosting solution.

Generally, every company needs to have a presence on the Internet even if it is a few static web pages explaining what the company does and how to make contact. How should a company go about getting a web site? What web hosting solutions are available?

Choose a Domain Name

The first step is choosing a domain name for the company. A domain name is what the Internet user will type in on the address bar of his Internet browser. Once the company has chosen a domain name that has not already been taken, it needs to be registered.. Once the company has registered the domain name, it can have a website and e-mail addresses based on the name chosen.

Design a Web Site

The second step is to design a web site that will reflect the corporate identity of the company. A website comprise of a few static pages, or it can be an elaborate dynamic website with on line shopping and support forums etc. The more complex the website the more expensive it gets. Management need to analyze what they want to accomplish with a web site and how much they are willing to spend.

Inexpensive Web Design

There are many free web site templates available on the Internet to choose from. Using a free template will mean a very inexpensive website, for example Wordpress or Joomla will allow a company to add and take away content without the need to have an in depth knowledge of web design.

Web Server Hosting

The next question is where to host the company's website. To host a website requires a web server. A basic web server will do for a static website with a few pages. This can be accomplished with a Microsoft server running IIS, or Linux server running Apache.

A more dynamic web site will require more than the basic installation. For example, if the it was decided to run a “Wordpress” website on a Linux server, then the server would also need PHP and MYSQL installed. This requires more than a basic knowledge of Linux and web hosting.

It should be noted that the web server need not be a dedicated server. It is possible to use one server for a few applications. Security concerns would need to be addressed if it was decided to run a web server on the same physical hardware as another service.

A company that decides to host their own website would also need to have a permanent Internet connection and a dedicated IP address to the outside world. This would also mean an adequate firewall solution.

There are many companies that specialize in web server hosting and will host a the company's web site at their premises. The advantage of having the company's website hosted “off site” at a professional web hosting facility is that it will be cheaper.

In addition, there will be no additional expense to set up other services that might be needed, since this will have already been done by the web hosting provider. The disadvantage is that a certain amount of control is lost, and typically the company web site will be sharing a server with hundreds, if not thousands of other companies.

Cpanel Web Hosting

If a company would like to host their web site off site but still maintain control, they should consider one of the many Internet based sites that offer cpanel web hosting. For a small amount one can sign up, register a domain, create a website, configure e-mail accounts, all without too much experience with web hosting. An example of this is at hostmonster.

The administration of the company web site is done through a web interface called “cpanel” which gives the users easy to use wizards that will help them setup their web site. Using this method of web hosting it will take the average user about thirty minutes to have a dynamic “Wordpress” website up and functioning. The cost? Around $80.00.

Compare Web Hosting

Before committing to a web developer or web site hosting solution, take the time to compare web hosting solutions and the options available. This could save the company lots of money, which is especially important for small, or “startup” companies.

Computers may get viruses along with other computer related problems, so how the IT department handles these issues when the arise is vital in avoiding prolonged downtime for the company. A good help desk solution will help the IT department manage these problems efficiently.

General research is important in understanding all the risks associated with a computer environment. For example, an in depth understanding of how to enhance computer network security is a good place to start in understanding these risks.

Other areas of research could include a closer look at proxy servers, internal hackers and network security solutions. Not to be overlooked would be research on how to implement a secure system to protect against computer theft.

The copyright of the article Company and Private Web Hosting Solutions in Internet is owned by Fleur Hupston. Permission to republish Company and Private Web Hosting Solutions in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.