Multiple domain hosting has many benefits that make it one of the most popular choices available. While there are only a few negative aspects, they should still be considered when choosing a hosting type and provider. If planning to own and operate many websites, multiple domain hosting is the best option.

Most web hosting providers only allow the use of one website per domain. This is due to the number of customers they’re hosting. By allowing only a single website the provider is able to maximize their profits and thus increase bandwidth and storage space to accommodate new customers. Consequently the main method for hosting multiple sites is through the use of add-on domains.

Despite the many benefits available, it’s important to contemplate the two primary shortcomings of multiple domain hosting. These include:

• Accumulation of traffic
• Disastrous downtimes

One of the biggest issues with multiple domain hosting is the accumulation of traffic. If a website or group of websites becomes popular, traffic increases thus eating up bandwidth, server storage space and other aspects the client is paying for. To counterbalance this, the user could simply upgrade their accounts or open a new account to split the traffic.

Also, by checking the log files of each domain name, it’s easy to spot which domains have the most traffic. That way when the client splits accounts, they can identify which domains to place in the new account.

The second downfall is the disastrous results of a server going down. Since all aspects of all sites are on a single server, if that goes down, all sites go down. This showcases the importance of finding a trustworthy and reliable hosting provider.

On the other hand, most servers rarely go down. Also, any decent web hosting provider has backup servers in case of a natural disaster or malicious attack. If an issue does occur, the system switches from the primary server to the backup with little time lost. When searching for a provider, it’s imperative to ascertain the amount of time it takes to switch servers.

Overall, the many benefits of multiple-domain hosting greatly outweigh the costs. Most hosting providers have contingency plans in case of any major issues that arise. Multiple-domain hosting continues to be one of the most popular choices available. As the internet continues to grow and websites expand to networks of websites, the need for this type of technology will greatly increase.

Properly managing your online business can be a fairly difficult task, especially if you are in charge of all of the administrative task that go along with it. Different hosting accounts offer differing amounts of responsibility of your website, so while using a hosting account that comes with complete control over your web server, keep in mind that this control comes with plenty of responsibility. Your primary responsibility is to keep your customers satisfied, which means you are going to need to make sure your site is easy to use and appealing to the eye. However, customer satisfaction is also achieved by maintaining the reliability of your website.  One of the most common yet fixable problems in eCommerce is site downtime.

What is Site Down Time?

Site downtime is when your site goes down and is offline for a while due to server problems. Downtime can result from a variety of internal errors, and sometimes it is just caused by routine server administration such as server resets. Usually your web hosting company will do their best to reset the server in the middle of the night to make sure there is minimal loss of service, however sometimes the server may crash due to other reasons. If you are running on a private server then you can ensure a minimal amount of downtime by maintaining the server correctly. While some downtime can be explained by routine server problems, other cases cannot be dismissed so easily. In many cases downtime can be attributed to the malicious intent of another individual or a security breach such a virus. To prevent such an occurrence you need to adhere to the following information.

Server Firewalls

One of the best ways to protect your web server from security breaches is to setup a competent firewall for your protection. Most web hosting companies offer firewalls by default, however many of them are configured with certain security loopholes that can be exploited by a knowledgeable hacker. If you want your site to be completely secure, then you may want to use your own powerful firewall, or make a few adjustments to the current firewall. If you are not familiar with the process of securing a server properly using a firewall, then you may need to seek the assistance of a qualified internet security specialist. With a good firewall you should be able to block IP addresses and restrict certain kind of traffic to prevent spam attacks. You should also have adequate protection against site intrusion.

(DdoS) Distributed Denial of Service Attacks

One of the most common and detrimental attacks on a server is called a DDoS attack. This kind of attack is simple in nature, yet can be very difficult to prevent. The reason why we mention this attack is because it is responsible for a lot of downtime on many sites. Some times even professional competitors will attack your site using this method simply to bring your site down for a certain period of time. The DdoS attack works because the perpetrator floods a site with a ridiculous amount  of traffic in a short period of time, thus causing the server to shutdown due to internal server limits. When this happens many websites can god own at once, causing an even more difficult situation to resolve. Before you purchase a hosting company make sure you inquire about their abilities to deal with such attacks.

E-commerce web hosting solutions are designed specifically for the online business owner and most of them will be able to accommodate your site’s needs. However, there are some very basic differences between each plan, and these differences need to be scrutinized carefully. Without knowing the importance of each feature, it can be difficult to prioritize and make a decision based on performance. Instead, most customers choose their ecommerce hosting plan based on price and popularity.

Basing your decision on these factors is a poor decision, because in the need you still don’t know what you’re paying for. Ecommerce hosting solutions are supposed to be all-inclusive packages that help your online business thrive, yet many of them are basic packages that only provide frustration and a long learning curve.

Although the popularity of a web hosting company is a good indicator of it’s service, basing your decision solely on price and popularity will almost always result in mishap, and in the end the performance of your hosting endeavors will suffer. In the world of ecommerce hosting, there are several main attributes that comprise the performance of a particular plan: Reliability, Features, and Cost Effectiveness.

Reliability

Perhaps the most important attribute an ecommerce hosting company can have is the reliability and support it provides. Without proper support you could find yourself dealing with confusing dilemmas on your own. This can result in loss of time and money, and even downtime for your website. When it comes to testing the reliability of a web hosting company, you should take the initiative yourself, rather than relying on the opinion of others. Make a few phone calls to the customer service department and ask a few questions. This way you can see how long it takes them to address your issues, how friendly they are, and how knowledgeable their service representatives are.

Some companies may require you to have an account with them before they provide customer service, however you can always make an inquiry about their services, which will serve the same purpose. Only once you’ve tested the customer service for yourself should you rely on the opinions of others. Customer reviews on forums may be helpful, but you don;t want to base your decision solely on this information.

Features

All good ecommerce hosting plans should include a variety of features that make your job as an online business owner easier. Although there are many features to consider, the only one that should be noted here is the shopping cart. Shopping carts make the shopping experience more convenient for your customers, which ultimately translates into more sales and a greater return on your investment. Without a convenient shopping experience, many of your customers will leave your site and find another online business to spend their hard earned money with.

Cost Effectiveness

While price should not be a deciding factor, you also want to make sure you aren’t overpaying for a solution that may prove to be incapable in the long term. Be sure to compare the cost effectiveness of each ecommerce solution before making your decision. If you notice that a particular company is charging more than another, then make sure you understand why the price is higher. If there is no logical explanation for the raise in price, then they may be overcharging you, which is a good indicator that they are not a trustworthy business.

As an online business owner, the security of your website should be at the top of your priority list. Web hosting security is a field that is constantly evolving, with new threats developing every day. Just as you work hard on a daily basis to improve the quality of your website, hackers work just as diligently to circumvent the security measures put in place by your web hosting service provider. The detrimental effects of compromised security can range from minor to major. You may simply experience a short downtime/data loss, or you may even be the victim of fraud. One of the worst scenarios that occurs regularly is when a webmaster is blamed for fraud due to their website being hacked.

When the security of your website is compromised and an intruder gains access to your administrative interface, there is often no way for the defrauded client to distinguish between the actions of you and the hacker. This can result in the loss of your website, your business, lawsuits,  and in some cases even unjustified incarceration!

Fighting an Infinite Yet Invisible Threat

When you think of a hacker, you probably envision a young kid sitting in his mother’s basement typing extremely fast, trying to hack into databases manually. Unfortunately, this is not how hacking works in reality. Real hackers do not do tons of work manually, they use networks of “drones” to do their dirty work for them. These drones are personal computers that have been “hi-jacked” and are being used to carry out small individual tasks that ultimately compromise the security of a server or a network of servers. A single hacker can have as many as 20,000 drones, or more, carrying out pre-set functions at any time. In fact, your personal computer at home may be a drone! If your computer’s RAM is being consumed by a hidden application or “virus” then there is a small chance that your computer’s resources are being used by a hacker!

Resistant Viruses

Online viruses are similar to biological viruses, as they are constantly mutating and becoming stronger and more resistant to treatment. To prevent your personal computer from becoming the victim of a new virus, it is important to keep your anti-virus software updated.  Choosing a web hosting company that updates their security measures regularly will prevent your website from becoming a victim as well. This bring us to our next segment.

Security Capabilities of Your Hosting Provider

If you are like 90 percent of webmasters, then chances are your website is hosted by a third-party hosting service.  It is important to realize that many of these hosting companies are losing employees regularly due to the falling economy, and simply do not have the resources necessary to combat the ever-growing security threats in modern cyber-space. Since the security of your website is in the hands of a third-party company, it is important to make the necessary inquiries regarding their manpower, server capabilities and support staff. Choosing a cheap web host is not recommended for a serious online business owner.

An Example of a Serious Security Threat

Some hackers engage in the practice of “click stealing.” Click stealing is when a hacker places a redirect link over a button on your website, causing the information to be secretly sent to a third-party website. This is especially dangerous when the information is private financial information. An example would be an order form submit button. The hacker “steals” the click from the submit button, and the information is redirected to a phony web page that mimics the check out page of your website. This is a serious threat, and if you are using a third-party host it is important to make sure they are aware of this.

Resentful Employees

If you run a large online business, with tech savvy employees, it is important to change your site’s passwords and security configuration every time you fire an employee. Some employee’s may attempt to seek revenge if they are resentful towards your decision to terminate them.

Customer service and technical support are considered the foundation of any web hosting provider.  Both are vital for running a successful hosting business as they reflect the credibility and reliability of the company.  They also encourage confidence in potential customers because in the event of technical issues or extensive downtime, the consumer can rely on the hosting provider’s support system to have their questions and concerns addressed.

We will use an example to validate the importance of web hosing support.  Let’s say you run an online gift shop and Christmas Eve is the time your business generates the most revenue.  Your site starts to experience technical difficulties on December 23 and eventually goes down.  With customers having no way to access your store, you begin to miss out on sale after sale.  Now imagine if you had no support team to contact during this time.  Though most companies keep downtime to a minimum, these instances occur often and can deliver a crucial blow to your online business.  Because 100% availability is hard to guarantee, all web hosting companies should put major emphasis on their support services.

Must-Have Support Features

Responsive and satisfactory support is a quality every customer should look for in a web hosting service.  Not only can it make or break the company, but also be the determining factor in whether your site fails or succeeds.  A reliable hosting provider is one that delivers superior support on a basis of 24/7/365.  Since your site will essentially always be open, your host’s support team should always be available, weekends and holidays included.  Features you can’t do without are toll-free phone and email.  Support through ticket systems is becoming a common feature so this another method of contact you may want to look out for.  While promptness isn’t assured, support tickets make a great way to deal with issues that are not all that urgent.  With that said, you still don’t want to wait days or weeks just to have your matters addressed.  A good hosting provider will not make you wait it out and address your ticket queries within 12 to 24 hours of submitting it.

Conclusion

When it comes down to it, support is vital for the both the customer and web hosting company. The customer needs to establish their credibility as a website owner while the company must provide a system that ensures customer satisfaction in a fiercely competitive market.  Many hosts realize this, and this is why most of them offer 24/7 support to their customers.  This is all comforting to see, but it is still a good idea to check the company’s availability by calling their office during weekend or odd hours.  The response or lack thereof, will give you an idea about their credibility and overall reliability.  A web host cannot afford to compromise on customer service and technical support in an industry where customers rely heavily on the company’s IT infrastructure and expertise.   It is up to the customer to find the host that actually lives up to these values.