Free Hosting

This one is really quite similar to shared hosting, and in fact, it typically is. However, free hosting removes the most annoying part of any hosting plan—the cost! Companies like Amazon, Google, WordPress, etc. offer free locations where users can store their websites. Typically, this is only a good idea for small time productions, as these freebies often come with a company-specific URL code.

Based on our experience WHG recommends 000WebHost as a good Free hosting provider.

Shared Hosting

This is a basic one, but one we feel you should be (at least) familiar with. Nine times out of ten, when one is talking about budget or low-end hosting, what one is really discussing is shared hosting. The idea behind the technology is simple, and certainly lends itself to cutting corners in the name of saving dollars. In our eyes, it’s best to think of shared hosting in this way:

Consider your average storage unit complex. There’s only one location that houses all the various units, but at that site you’ll find dozens and dozens of individual storage locations. Tenants come and go, depositing and removing their items at will, but all from a single address: Though their individual unit is, of course, blocked off from the others. In much the same way, shared hosting allows users to access a single server—or sometimes a single block of servers—while still utilizing only their individual space. This is made possible by partitioning a server into hundreds of smaller chunks, which can then be sold to a client. The client uploads their data via FTP to their personal directory, and is then free to mangle, change, or edit their website at will.

Obviously, there are a few drawbacks to this style of web hosting. Primarily, speed and performance are often compromised, as hundreds of users drawing from the same location can reduce bandwidth availability across the board. Likewise, these arrangements typically come with some level of data cap, giving only a set number of gigabytes to the user in both storage and transfer. A good way to think about these limitations is to imagine a shared web hosting server as an apartment complex: If a dozen tenants arrive at once, the elevators will be running slowly, as they’re capacity is quickly met, requiring a slight wait. So is it the same for shared hosting, which is why our next category is so important for business sites.
Based on our experience and reviews WHG recommends WebHostingHub as a reliable shared hosting provider.

VPS Hosting

This service actually comes in somewhere between shared hosting and dedicated hosting. The basic idea behind the technology bears a lot of resemblance to shared hosting, but with an important distinction: A VPS host mitigates its server space through partitions, allowing each partition to run a separate operating system as if it were an actual server. So in this sense, using VPS technology to handle your data is smart, as it allows for similar performance quality to dedicate hosting. However, as it is still shared by several other users on the same hardware, it’s somewhat cheaper than buying an entire hardware set. For the power-hungry user with a tight budget, it’s the perfect compromise.

Based on our experience and reviews WHG recommends InMotion Hosting as a reliable VPS hosting provider.

Dedicated Server Hosting

In this method of web hosting, the need for shared space and bandwidth contentions is thrown out the window, as a single entity controls the entire server. This is in direct contrast to the previously mentioned shared hosting method, which divides a central server or databank into hundreds (or sometimes thousands) of shared units. With dedicated hosting, whichever organization owns the lease also owns all of the server’s power, space, and performance.

There are several benefits and costs to hosting your website in this manner, but no drawback is more noticeable than the overhead cost. If you decide to purchase a dedicated server space from a third-party, your monthly rates will be much higher than with a shared hosting provider. However, as you own the entire server, you will experience drastically improved performance and disc availability over a shared host. Should you decide to purchase a server yourself, your costs will also increase, as you’ll have to invest in a professional to manage the hardware for you. Also, should any problems arise with the hardware, all of the repair and maintenance costs rest on your shoulders, as the sole proprietor of the unit.

Managed Hosting

This one is essentially the same thing as dedicated hosting, but we still feel it’s worth mentioning, in case you run across the term somewhere. Managed hosting is identical in nature to dedicated server services (you still own the server) but instead of having you perform all of the maintenance is taken care of for you. In a lot of ways, it’s like hiring a janitorial service to clean the apartment complex you purchased all the way back in point number three.

Based on our experience and reviews WHG recommends InMotion Hosting as a reliable dedicated hosting provider.

Cloud Hosting

Cloud hosting is a newer service, and one that operates on a completely different scale than both dedicated and shared hosting. In cloud hosting (which is currently trumpeted by companies like Laughing Squid and Amazon Web Services) your data and site are spread out across a network of peer-connected server banks and computers. In other words, rather than storing all of your information at a single location, whether that location is wholly owned by you or a third-party, cloud hosting instead spreads your data out across the “cloud.” By doing so, cloud hosts can avoid a number of complications inherent to more traditional hosting methods.

For instance, bandwidth constraints and a lack of scalability are no problem with a cloud-based provider. If your content is suddenly put on high demand due to an unprecedented number of media requests, a cloud host can simply scale up the number of available points your data can be reached from. This is called scalability, and is a service that a single server simply cannot provide. Likewise, as your site is stored across an entire network of computers, there’s no need to worry about space limitations. Should you require more disc space to work with, your provider can simply open up a few more locations, ensuring your media—no matter how large—is open for distribution.

With cloud hosting, you are also guaranteed a near perfect uptime. Because your site is available at a multitude of locations around the globe, there’s little to no chance your data will disappear with an unexpected power failure. Should a single IP location go down, another will be added to the network map, delivering your media as if nothing had happened.

Based on our experience and reviews WHG recommends Rackspace as a reliable cloud hosting provider.

Reseller Hosting

One of our favorites, reseller hosting has got to be one of the coolest ideas to spring out of the Internet since Al Gore and that video about the exploding whale. Companies that offer a lot of shared hosting, at some point along the line, realized they could just as easily repackage all that space and give it to reseller distributors, instead of proper tenants. It does them no harm, as the new distributor takes the space he leases from the company’s servers, and then sells it as if he were a proper hosting provider. It’s a brilliant step forward, as it allows media professionals like graphic designers and web developers to host their client’s websites without needing to send them off to a third-party. It puts money back into the economy, in case you were looking for a campaign slogan to work with.

Based on our experience and reviews WHG recommends HostGator as a reliable reseller hosting provider.

SEO Hosting

A little more dubious than the aforementioned methods, SEO hosting’s benefits are somewhat vague. The technology essentially allows web masters to assign specific IP addresses to multiple domains, as well as monitor a wealth of SEO oriented data. Then again, we aren’t really sure if this kind of technology works at all, or if it’s really quite worth your time. But, if you’re extremely concerned about the SEO integrity of your media, there’s no better way to host it than with a server that’s got search engine optimization built right into the title!

Based on our experience and reviews WHG recommends SeoHosting as a reliable SEO hosting provider.

Hope you liked my descriptions of the various web hosting types. Please leave your comments below.

PS: I would like to thank Sergey Epifanov (Google+, Twitter) from DesignContest.com for creating these beautiful hosting icons.

Thanks,
Art

Related posts:

• January 18, 2012 – InMotion Hosting In-Depth Analysis
• December 2, 2011 – Is Cloud Computing Worth It for Your Business?
• November 19, 2011 – Know What Cloud Hosting Has to Offer You
• November 19, 2011 – The Future of Cloud Computing – Where it’s Going, and What it Means for You
• October 5, 2011 – A Look at Common Cloud Hosting Lingo, Part One
• September 27, 2011 – Why Your Site Would Be Better With a Virtual Server
• September 25, 2011 – What To Remember When Moving To A New Control Panel
• September 7, 2011 – Pros and Cons of Shared Hosting
• September 2, 2011 – Saving Money and Increasing Sales with the Cloud
• September 1, 2011 – Budget Web Hosting: Is It Worth the Buck?

Experts estimate that by 2015 the total cost of all businesses using the cloud will be around $72.9 billion. The cloud — this new technology that is heavily used by mammoth corporations like Google, Skype, and Amazon — is here to stay.

But does cloud computing make sense for YOUR business? Should you move to the cloud?

In this article I will explain the pros and cons of business cloud computing services and you can decide for yourself if it is something you would like to try for your company.

One thing is certain: Cloud computing helps small businesses compete with large businesses. This is because you will have the same tools at your disposal.

Small businesses can now use affordable and robust web applications to accomplish pretty much anything, from document management to email hosting to enterprise resource planning. Cloud apps like Gmail, Dropbox, and Salesforce are remarkable because large enterprises, tiny organizations, and ordinary people can all benefit from them.

What’s the case for using Cloud Computing?

It’s all about cost reduction.

Using the cloud can reduce or eliminate the need for an IT staff. Software updates, maintenance, and server hardware upgrades are all managed by the people that created the software. That means less hassle and lower costs.

Also, the cloud moves as fast as your business expands, which means it’s infinitely scalable. When an ordinary website gets so much traffic that it exceeds the server’s capacities, the site goes down. In the cloud, the website scales to meet the demand.

Paying for cloud hosting is similar to paying for your electric/water bill. You only pay for what you use.

Cloud computing also enhances collaboration. You can access data from any computer with the internet, and use collaborative web applications to communicate and get things done.

This makes it much easier for teams collaborating in different locations.

Why businesses are slow to use the cloud?

Not everything about using the cloud is good. It’s time to visit the cons and leave it up to you to weigh the different sides.

One major issue is data security. You can never be too certain who has access to your data, especially with the increased prevalence of hacking and cyber attacks.

There’s also a chance for data loss. Not too long ago, many users of Evernote, a popular note-taking cloud application, were affected by data loss. Evernote backs up user data to six different places, but a one-in-a-million fluke was still able to cause data loss affecting over 6,000 users.

Another issue is that cloud apps aren’t entirely future-proof. It may not be possible to export your data into a format you can easily use elsewhere. And what happens if you cancel your subscription or your account is deleted? These are all things you should consider before implementing cloud applications into your business processes.

Some tips for moving to the cloud

If you do decide to move to the cloud, here are some tips that will be beneficial to you:

• Thing Big – Can the server provider of your choice provide adequate space to you if your business grows? If the answer is no, search for another company that can.
• Export your data – Put your data in standard, ubiquitous formats, just in case data is lost or you choose to switch to another provider.
• Read Agreement – This is probably the most important tip I can give you. A. See what you’re going to be paying for! B. Are there fees for termination? C. What are the privacy agreements? D. Anything else that seems important to you.
• Evaluate different service providers – Many cloud applications offer a free trial or even a free version. Take advantage of this. Look at the user interface (see if it’s laid out the way you like). There are some great cloud hosting providers out there. Never forget to do your homework.
• Have fun – Cloud computing is ultimately about improving your business’ bottom line and making your processes more efficient and effective. But don’t be afraid to have fun. The cloud is changing fast, and there are lots of cool and interesting ways to take advantage of it.

A guest post by Derek Conjar.

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• January 20, 2012 – Data Backup and Recovery Solutions
• November 19, 2011 – The Future of Cloud Computing – Where it’s Going, and What it Means for You
• October 5, 2011 – A Look at Common Cloud Hosting Lingo, Part One
• September 2, 2011 – Saving Money and Increasing Sales with the Cloud
• August 31, 2011 – Top 5 Cloud Storage Service Providers
• August 24, 2011 – What Small Business Owners Should Know About Cloud Hosting
• November 16, 2010 – Is Cloud VPS Hosting Right for Novice Webmasters?
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• August 4, 2009 – Is Cloud Computing Behind the Twitter Hack?
• April 21, 2009 – The Crave Behind Cloud Hosting

All joking aside, cloud hosting is easily the biggest thing to happen to the world of web hosting since the invention of the server. That being said, many webmasters think the service is over-hyped, while some have gone absolutely gaga over it. Which side has it right? Well, that’s up for grabs. But no matter how you feel about cloud hosting, we’d certainly hope you know the pros and cons of the revolution. In case you need a refresher, we’ve got our full thoughts on the matter below.

Cloud Hosting Cuts Costs: There’s no doubt about it, using cloud hosting certainly cuts back on your overhead expenses. Like your electrical bill each month, you pay only for the time you use. No need to worry about having enough bandwidth or disc space, as both are handed to you when you require it, and vanish back into the cloud when you don’t. Considering you’re only paying for what you need, cloud hosting is simply the most efficacious way to host your company’s site.

It’s Easy to Install: Another benefit of cloud hosting is its ease of implementation. The service is simple to install, and as it’s all done remotely, there’s no extra strain on your business to set up your server. In essence, cloud hosting is a hassle-free alternative to the traditional physical server.

Mobility is King: By nature of being in the cloud, your employees can access work related information from anywhere in the world. This means your site can be updated while on the go, encouraging your business to get energetic and move about the globe. This is more of an opportunity than anything, but one we think well worth pursuing.

Cloud Hosting is Faster: Cloud hosting is faster than traditional physical hosting in almost every sense. It becomes functional quicker, and takes less time to be operational. Not only that, but the service itself delivers content more quickly than your physical server ever could. This saves your business valuable, and makes your Web content that much more efficient.

Cloud Hosting is No Worry Hosting: With cloud hosting, you can take it easy! There are no updates or hardware upgrades to bog down the system, so kick back and watch the bytes flow!

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• September 2, 2011 – Saving Money and Increasing Sales with the Cloud
• August 31, 2011 – Top 5 Cloud Storage Service Providers
• August 31, 2011 – The Buzz Surrounding FireHost
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The cloud, though, introduces such a here-there-everywhere-nowhere dynamic that it’s very easy to get lost in the idea.  By looking at it this way we are not just discussing a problem in beginner comprehension.  It’s becoming noticed by many in the IT world that this technology is developing far faster than our ability to handle the breadth of its implications.

Collaborating under a cloud

This has resulted in a sudden explosion of organizations, working groups, and companies frantically working together to create some sort of cloud standards that will keep it from devolving into a giant mess of incompatible, insecure and expensive alternatives.  Here’s a quick summary of who the major players and movements are right now:

• Open Data Center Alliance – Probably the largest of these organizations despite only just having passed its 1^st birthday, the Open Data Center Alliance (ODCA) just recently published a suggested listed of cloud computing requirements.  It has among its 280 members leaders in both the corporate and user-driven IT world.  When Wall Street heavyweights like BMW, JPMorgan Chase and the Walt Disney Company join forces with respected IT organizations like Dell and Red Hat, you know that they’re working on something big.
• Cloud Security Alliance – Working with the ODCA is the Cloud Security Alliance (CSA). Born from a call to action in 2008, the CSA is jam-packed with major business and IT organizations.  Its goal is to develop a consistent, accepted set of cloud security standards.
• Cloud Standards Customer Council – This organization works to be the middle man between standard-setting organizations and “end users”, which in this case means companies that are seeking to adopt these technologies.  It lists more than 100 corporate members, including Lockheed Martin and Citigroup.
• OpenStack – OpenStack is a community-supported cloud-based operating system.  It is currently in use by over 100 companies.  The open-source (hence the name) OpenStack project was founded by RackSpace and NASA.
• Open Cloud Initiative – This is a newer organization, announced a few months ago at the OSCON 2011 Open Source Convention.  They appear to be reacting to problems they see in the way that cloud computing currently works with open-source standards, though it was not clear from their web site exactly what problems they were trying to address.
• Cloud Standards Wiki – Finally, it doesn’t get much more open than an organization whose main page is a wiki.  The Cloud Standards Wiki is a place for all organizations doing work in this area to post their information and collaborate further.  You can find information here about other organizations such as the Distributed Management Task Force, the Open Grid Forum, and the Object Management Group.

What are they trying to do?

So what exactly are all of these groups trying to standardize?  Here’s a quick rundown:

• Security – This is the mother of all cloud problems.  No technical terms are required here for you to see the problem: bits is going to be flying all over the place.  Without a hardened set of standards, networks could become minefields of security weaknesses.  Worse still is the potential in a cloud for a security breach to branch out like wildfire.
• Interoperability – Quickly shared information and application use is going to require coordination of data and security protocols.  It’ll be easy for cloud breakdowns or just inefficiencies to occur because parts of it are not setup to handle the communication standards of some of its other components.
• Manageability – The existence of a cloud-based architecture is going to require a more sophisticated level of management created above it, both in technical and human forms.  One study suggests that without some constructive coordination, the IT industry might spend $2 trillion in developing the management necessary to handle these changes just in the years 2010-2015 alone.
• Cost and efficiency – Those $2 trillion in R&D will be passed on to you.  Nobody wants that.  Soon there are going to be more internet ready devices in the world than people (maybe you’re surprised that there aren’t already).  While this is not so much a standardization issue, high transition costs might significantly hamper all of the attempts at advancements in the above listed problems, creating a nasty vicious cycle of cloud chaos.

So what does this mean to me?

The main people who want to keep a close eye on these developments are web site owners.  If you have no interest in the web other than watching some movies and posting on Facebook, then you’re pretty much just along for the ride anyway.  Of course, don’t let this stop you from being careful at all times no matter what you do.

If you are hosting a website, then the main thing that you’ll want to do is just exercise caution when it comes to setting up an account with a cloud host.  None of the above problems necessarily mean that any one host you pick is going to be unreliable.  But when it comes to the cloud, we’re all in very (pardon the pun) foggy, uncharted territory here.  If there is only a few dollars difference between using a cloud and using, say, a VPS (virtual private server), you may want to consider going for the latter for sake of simplicity.  It may be more expensive, but you’re buying a bit of clarity with it.

If you do decide to purchase a cloud-based hosting account, it’s going to probably get to a point soon where web hosts will be advertising the types of standards that their cloud services run by.  If they don’t, ask.  No one host can possibly keep up with the rate at which this technology is advancing.  A responsible host will fall back on the combined research of organizations like the above.  If your host is actually a member of one of them, all the better.

In the end, what this means is to hang onto your hat.  Cloud computing is something quite exciting.  Nothing in this world is exciting, however, without at least a little sense of danger.

Related posts:

• September 2, 2011 – Saving Money and Increasing Sales with the Cloud
• August 31, 2011 – Top 5 Cloud Storage Service Providers
• August 4, 2009 – Is Cloud Computing Behind the Twitter Hack?
• April 21, 2009 – The Crave Behind Cloud Hosting
• December 19, 2011 – Cloud Backup & Online Storage Services
• December 2, 2011 – Is Cloud Computing Worth It for Your Business?
• October 29, 2011 – Future Uses and Growth of Cloud Computing
• October 5, 2011 – A Look at Common Cloud Hosting Lingo, Part One
• August 24, 2011 – What Small Business Owners Should Know About Cloud Hosting
• May 19, 2011 – HP Awarded NASA Cloud Hosting Contract

We’re glad you asked! We’ve got enough expertise under our belt to give you this quick guide to common cloud computing lingo. We’ll be looking at some standard phrases, giving you the low down on what in the heck of things all this really means. Check below, and keep your thinking caps on!

“The Cloud”: So, what in the heck is a cloud, anyway? A cloud is simply a different way of storing data and information. With a cloud host, the data, software, and code you upload are stored directly on the Internet, rather than the provider’s personal intranet. This means you can get at your data from anywhere in the world, and it also means you have the option to scale up as much as you need, and to release that scalability once you’ve completed whatever task you needed. This isn’t a new way of doing things—at least not very, anyway—but referring to this process as “the cloud” has only just now become standard.

Hybrid Hosting: This is a combination for both cloud hosting and standard dedicated hosting, in which more vital information, like the operating system, is saved to the hard drive. All the other stuff you put up is saved to the cloud. This is because a dedicated server is much sturdier, as well as safer, and is better suited to holding your vitals. The cloud, on the other hand, performs better under heavy load, and is perfect for holding all the extra junk—like your graphical website—that you want the users to see.

Cloudsourcing: Rather than having a traditional IT service that handles your support, a cloud service handles all of your troubleshooting needs.

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• November 19, 2011 – The Future of Cloud Computing – Where it’s Going, and What it Means for You
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• August 31, 2011 – Top 5 Cloud Storage Service Providers
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• November 16, 2010 – Is Cloud VPS Hosting Right for Novice Webmasters?
• September 20, 2010 – Conventional VPS Hosting vs Cloud VPS Hosting
• July 20, 2010 – An Overview of Hybrid Hosting
• August 4, 2009 – Is Cloud Computing Behind the Twitter Hack?
• April 21, 2009 – The Crave Behind Cloud Hosting

Ease of Use

The hosting type allows for the functionality of an internal information technology department without requiring the technical knowledge and capital costs. Also, cloud hosting allows for usage to be adjusted based on need which significantly reduces costs. Another advantage is the redundancy and backup features that typically offer unlimited storage and triple redundancy.

Remote Access

Additionally, users can run all applications, databases and servers using remote access. It is as simple as logging in from a computer with a username and password and having access to all aspects of the server. Therefore, users can concentrate on the core aspects of their business without needed to manage information technology issues. The largest cloud providers include Microsoft, Google and Amazon Web Services.

Practicality

Selecting cloud hosting is the best option currently available on the market as it is extremely practical. For all types of websites: business and personal, cloud computing provides the most flexibility and is the perfect choice for beginners that do not wish to invest their time in the learning the logistics of web hosting. Furthermore, for startups on a budget, you only pay for what you use.

Adjustable Monthly Plans

Your sales will surely increase as cloud hosting permits the maximum amount of traffic which adjusts your plan as traffic is reduced. Therefore, you will have as much freedom due to flexibility as you desire.

Controlling Resource Utilization

The greatest demand of the web hosting customer is having the ability to control the utilization because billing is calculated specifically on what you have used. Although cloud hosting may end up being slightly more expensive than shared, you will not be limited in the amount of customization, flexibility and utilization.

Cloud hosting is an excellent method of increasing sales and saving money due to the flexibility allotted by the web hosting type. Many large and small businesses are making the switch as they see the many benefits to cloud hosting technology.

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• August 31, 2011 – Top 5 Cloud Storage Service Providers
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• December 19, 2011 – Cloud Backup & Online Storage Services
• December 2, 2011 – Is Cloud Computing Worth It for Your Business?
• October 29, 2011 – Future Uses and Growth of Cloud Computing
• October 5, 2011 – A Look at Common Cloud Hosting Lingo, Part One
• August 24, 2011 – What Small Business Owners Should Know About Cloud Hosting
• November 16, 2010 – Is Cloud VPS Hosting Right for Novice Webmasters?

Amazon Web Services

Despite Amazon’s recent outage, the company continues to offer attractive cloud storage features tailored for small businesses. Amazon is a top choice for small business ventures because customers are not required to purchase hardware. Instead, users pay a small fee each month to access Amazon’s infrastructure in a cloud computing environment.  Customers have the ability to order computing services and storage on an as-needed basis to meet individual hosting needs. Amazon places computing power in the control of the customers as they can add or remove processing power and storage space in real time as well as delivering several layers of security to protect valuable data. Amazon is a great pay-as-you-grow cloud hosting option.

Office 365

Microsoft just recently threw its proverbial hat into the cloud ring introducing Office 365. Small business owners opting for Office 365 have access to all of MS Office’s applications without the need to install the actual software on computers or servers.  Users are granted access to documents, contacts, e-mail, and calendars to devices connected to the Internet. Office 365 is available for a very affordable $6 per month.  It’s best suited for small businesses employing less than 25 employees and don’t have an IT employee on staff.  In addition to the 25 GB mailbox, users benefit from the ability to edit documents and spreadsheets simultaneously.  Additionally, users have access to PC-to-PC audio, instant messaging, and video calls.

Google Apps

Google also offers cloud storage services designed for small business owners. Google is a bit more established than Microsoft, offering cloud apps now for over a year. Google’s cloud services are very similar to Microsoft’s cloud plan.  Users  are granted customized e-mail addresses, calendar, mobile e-mail, IM access, Google Sites, Google Docs, spam filtering, 24/7 customer support and 99.9% guaranteed uptime.  Google’s cloud services are available for an affordable $5 per month.

Apple’s iCloud

Although not currently available as Apple is scheduled to unveil iCloud in Fall 2011.  Apple’s iCloud is best described as “an online hard drive on steroids”.   iCloud will offer users a vast array of features such as storing music, photos, apps, documents and other data online.  Additionally, it will deliver services wireless to laptops, iPad, or smartphones.  Similar to Microsoft and Google, iCloud will grant access to e-mails, calendars, and contacts as well as allowing multiple users to edit documents simultaneously.

Dropbox.com

Finally, a newcomer to the cloud industry, Dropbox is a cloud storage service provider to watch. Dropbox allows users to store important files on the provider’s secure website, easily accessible via Windows, Linux, Mac, iPad, Android/BlackBerry phones, and iPhone. Other attractive features include the fact the service is free for 2 GB of storage space, $9.99/month for 50 GB of storage, and $19.99/month for 100 GB of storage.  Dropbox also works without the need to be connected to the Internet.  Furthermore, users can opt to transfer part of a huge file or manually set bandwidth limits to prevent crashing servers. Like the previous providers, users can also work simultaneously on documents.

Web hosting news and updates delivered to your Twitter — follow WebHostGeeks!

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Secure Cloud Hosting

FireHost leads the industry when it comes to offering users a robust and flexible cloud hosting infrastructure. The company goes the extra mile when providing enterprise security which includes web application protection, real-time blocked hacking reports with origin mapping, HIPPA and PCI complainant, and SSL VPN access for enhanced secured cloud server management.

FireHost’s Managed Support includes 24/7/365 customer support via phone, ticket or live chat, daily backup snapshots with 30-day retention, monitoring of servers and applications with immediate action when necessary, and an impressive SLA guarantee promising 100% uptime which includes network and infrastructure.

Furthermore, FireHost offers users independent scalable resources including memory (up to 84 GB), storage (up to 3 storage tiers available including SATA,SAS, and SSD), and processors (up to 8 processor cores). Detailed hourly, daily, weekly, monthly and annual server performance is also available.

PCI 2.0 Compliant Cloud Hosting

FireHost’s PCI 2.0 Compliant Cloud Hosting is an ideal solution for e-commerce ventures allowing business owners to spend more time focusing on expanding customer bases rather than exhausting valuable resources on administrative aspects of running a business.  Supported operating systems include 64-bit Windows Server 2008 and 64-bit Linux.  The PCI DSS Ready Plan offers users log management, vulnerability monitoring, antivirus protection, managed SSL Service, 1 Gps public& private network, two-factor authentication, and application & DB server isolation.

Managed security includes such features as redundant firewall protection, web application protection, and DoS/DDoS mitigation, monitored intrusion detection, managed 30 days backup snapshots,  proactive OS security patches and VPN/SSL server management.  The PCI DSS Ready Plan is designed for those serious about e-commerce growth starting at $845/month with no setup fees or contract required.

HIPPA Cloud Hosting

FireHost’s HIPPA Ready Plan is very similar to the PCI Compliant Ready Plan when considering features and monthly service fees of $845; however, it’s designed more so for healthcare organizations. Regardless of the organization size, FireHost strives to protect sensitive patient and healthcare provider information. In addition to offering the same features and cloud hosting services, the plan also supports 64-bit Windows Server 2008 and 64-bit Linux operating systems.

High Traffic Cloud Hosting

If there’s one area of expertise FireHost is known for is high traffic hosting solutions.  Business owners with large e-commerce sites can truly appreciate a hosting provider that insulates online ventures from being attacked, thus ultimately going offline for indefinite periods of time. The High Traffic Plan offers users an array of features including multiple load balanced servers, available terabytes of storage, redundant enterprise-grade power infrastructure, full root-level access, 24/7/365 monitoring and response, and up to 8 processors/server, and 84 GB of memory/server.  The managed security features include the same as in the other cloud hosting plans.  The High Traffic hosting plan is available for business owners of any size; however, it’s best suited for mid-to-large size online ventures starting at $655/month.

Conclusion

The buzz surrounding FireHost shouldn’t be ignored as it’s one of the leading scalable high-end cloud hosting providers that meets a wide range of needs. Whether looking for a reliable and robust cloud platform to support an e-commerce site, a healthcare organization in need of a secure hosting solution to protect patient information or dynamic hosting services to support heavy website traffic, FireHost accommodates individual hosting needs with a personal and professional quintessence.

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• December 2, 2011 – Is Cloud Computing Worth It for Your Business?
• November 19, 2011 – Know What Cloud Hosting Has to Offer You
• November 19, 2011 – The Future of Cloud Computing – Where it’s Going, and What it Means for You
• October 5, 2011 – A Look at Common Cloud Hosting Lingo, Part One
• September 2, 2011 – Saving Money and Increasing Sales with the Cloud
• August 31, 2011 – Top 5 Cloud Storage Service Providers
• August 24, 2011 – What Small Business Owners Should Know About Cloud Hosting
• August 22, 2011 – The Newest Member of the Cloud Security Alliance
• August 18, 2011 – Rebel Networks to Partner with OnApp

Attentiveness to Cloud Hosting

While many in the web hosting industry swear that cloud hosting is the next best thing since sliced bread, the simple truth is that the hosting environment isn’t fail proof.  Although cloud hosting tends to be more reliable and offer impeccable redundancy rates, business owners need to take into consideration that it’s not an immaculate hosting solution.

In the case of Amazon’s cloud outage, business owners utilizing the cloud services failed to take advantage of the provider’s geographic redundancy, which otherwise would have prevented valuable downtime as a direct result from Amazon’s outage.   It’s essential for business owners opting for cloud services to always remain attentive to new and existing features offered by the provider as well as monitoring network uptime to prepare contingency plans if the server(s) goes down.

 Ensuring Compliance

Cloud hosting providers are not exempt from adhering to specific compliance requirements.  This is especially true for those businesses that handle sensitive data such as credit card information, medical records, or financial transactions.  Providers are entirely responsible for the unambiguous regulations that govern specific data.  For example, a cloud provider hosting confidential software should have the appropriate certification verifying their respective systems meet the necessary requirements.  Ensuring compliance isn’t option; it’s mandatory.

Criteria Checklist

It’s particularly important for small business owners to create a checklist of specific criteria that their cloud hosting provider should meet.  Such criteria should be based on server reliability, security, and compliance.  Also, it’s imperative to have a contingency plan devised in the event of an unforeseeable outage.  Developing a backup plan is vital for those sites that depend on online sales as a source of income.  For business owners considering moving physical infrastructure to a cloud platform, it’s recommended to opt for a provider with more than one data center in the case of natural disaster as well as human error.

Negotiating Service Agreements

As tantalizing as it may sound, cloud providers can’t guarantee that their service won’t go down at any given time.  Usually such alluring appeals are found nestled deep within the service agreement detailing the provider’s level of service.  Many business owners are duped into signing the agreement under the terms of minimal penalties applicable for downtime on behalf of the provider.  This means a server could be down for an indefinite amount of time with no reimbursement of lost sales; therefore, it’s essential to negotiate the terms of the agreement to allow for credit or free service if the provider fails to deliver hosting services for an extended amount of time.  Remember to get it in writing; otherwise it’s a lost cause.

Predicted Market Saturation

As with the infinite number of shared hosting providers saturating the market and devouring competition, expect the same growth forecast among cloud providers.  With the growing number of cloud providers, choosing one that best accommodates hosting needs is becoming more difficult with all of the available choices.

Small business owners should do their homework before selecting a cloud provider to secure a host that meets, or exceeds, all of the criteria on their checklists to ensure the best cloud services to meet a diverse array of needs.

Related posts:

• August 31, 2011 – Top 5 Cloud Storage Service Providers
• December 2, 2011 – Is Cloud Computing Worth It for Your Business?
• November 19, 2011 – The Future of Cloud Computing – Where it’s Going, and What it Means for You
• October 5, 2011 – A Look at Common Cloud Hosting Lingo, Part One
• September 2, 2011 – Saving Money and Increasing Sales with the Cloud
• November 16, 2010 – Is Cloud VPS Hosting Right for Novice Webmasters?
• September 20, 2010 – Conventional VPS Hosting vs Cloud VPS Hosting
• August 4, 2009 – Is Cloud Computing Behind the Twitter Hack?
• April 21, 2009 – The Crave Behind Cloud Hosting
• January 29, 2009 – Do Small Businesses Realize the Benefits of Cloud Hosting?

Customization of Cloud Services

Rebel Networks plans to customize cloud services for private and public offerings. These services include servers, bandwidth and SAN storage which will be built around OnApp’s innovative cloud hosting administrative software. Rebel stated it will offer web hosts an easy and cost-effective method of launching their own cloud hosting products and services.

Cost of Entering the Cloud Computing Market

In recent presentations given at World Hosting Days and the Tier 1 Summit, OnApp representatives discussed the costs of entering the cloud computing market for web hosting companies. Although the costs are not astronomical when utilizing a pre-packaged platform versus customization, the initial costs are significantly higher than an easy entrance into dedicated or shared hosting.

Targeting Hosting Providers

Rebel Networks appears to be targeting the reseller aspect of its cloud services to web hosting businesses that do not boast the resources to make an initial financial investment in the technology.

 Additional Cloud Products

Currently, Rebel Networks is providing back-end infrastructure to approximately 50 web hosting resellers, many of whom have shown a great deal of interest in offering other cloud-based services. However, these same resellers are not interested in tying their current services into another cloud product.

Press Release from Rebel Networks

In another press released, Rebel Networks confirmed they are in-line to capture thousands of new resellers by providing turn-key cloud solutions based on OnApp software, WHMCS, Windows or Linux and Dell server systems.

Rebel Networks Company Information

As one of the leading providers of outsourced Internet hosting solutions, Rebel Networks has many products including, managed dedicated servers, unmanaged colocation, domain name services, Cloud, shared and reseller hosting. The company has a 100 percent uptime and availability guarantee.

Rebel Networks does not believe in loyalty as a result of contract. Instead, they see the web hosting business as performance-based and a high level of customer service. Monthly plans do not lock customers into a contract so they are able to see the value high quality service and excellent performance.

The partnership between Rebel Networks and OnApp will create an excellent synergy between hardware, software and web hosting solutions. It is clear, both tech-companies will benefit from this newfound relationship.

Related posts:

• December 30, 2011 – Comparison of Popular Web Hosting Methods
• December 2, 2011 – Is Cloud Computing Worth It for Your Business?
• November 19, 2011 – Know What Cloud Hosting Has to Offer You
• November 19, 2011 – The Future of Cloud Computing – Where it’s Going, and What it Means for You
• October 5, 2011 – A Look at Common Cloud Hosting Lingo, Part One
• September 2, 2011 – Saving Money and Increasing Sales with the Cloud
• August 31, 2011 – Top 5 Cloud Storage Service Providers
• August 31, 2011 – The Buzz Surrounding FireHost
• August 24, 2011 – What Small Business Owners Should Know About Cloud Hosting
• June 23, 2011 – An Overview of Cloud Hosting for the Hotel Industry