There are a great many factors that make a first class server hosting company, but how about the most important ones? For example does a dedicated server company really need to have a fantastic website to keep your server online and support you when you need it? Will your whole experience fall apart if customer service don't ring once a month to find out how you are? It would be nice, but it most certainly isn't essential! Here are the three top things that in my mind, make the best of server hosting companies.
The main thing that makes a great server host, is uptime and reliability! I was tempted to put support first, however if you have a host with great uptime and reliability, you shouldn't need support. For first rate uptime, a number of practises need to be followed. The first is to use business grade hardware. I am talking about branded rack-mount servers. Believe it or not, there are some dedicated server providers for example, who are using cheap desktops to host your websites! Try and suss these companies out and avoid them! Next the network should have high end capacity to cope with large amounts of traffic both when it is quiet, and more importantly during peak times. The company's organisation skills are of utmost importance. You will find a better organised company has less problems. On the other hand an oversubscribed company who do not keep on top of their equipment could end up formatting the wrong server.
Second is support- a very close second! It's very important a server host manages their customer's expectations very carefully. Some customers demand an instant response. Others who are quite happy to wait days for a reply. If the query is trivial, a same day response is okay. However, in an emergency, you really want an instant response. You should find a company that is able to meet these expectations.
Pricing is also important in deciding the best server host. That might be hard to believe, given you normally 'get what you pay for'. However, this is extremely relevant given the current economic climate. A great many firms are trying to cut their budgets. IT is normally reigned in first. Thus if you can find a server hosting company that is competitive on price, as well as delivering on the points above, you are onto a winner. Don't be led to believe you need to pay ten times more just to be looked after. There are many companies overcharging for what other server hosts do better at a fraction of the cost.
Whatever you need for server hosting, please do your research first. Try and avoid contracts that tie you in for ages. Never pay up front for a year. If a company disappears you'll need your data to move. There are a great many reliable and affordable server hosts out there- a quick google for server hosting will start to reveal some of the best.
The main thing that makes a great server host, is uptime and reliability! I was tempted to put support first, however if you have a host with great uptime and reliability, you shouldn't need support. For first rate uptime, a number of practises need to be followed. The first is to use business grade hardware. I am talking about branded rack-mount servers. Believe it or not, there are some dedicated server providers for example, who are using cheap desktops to host your websites! Try and suss these companies out and avoid them! Next the network should have high end capacity to cope with large amounts of traffic both when it is quiet, and more importantly during peak times. The company's organisation skills are of utmost importance. You will find a better organised company has less problems. On the other hand an oversubscribed company who do not keep on top of their equipment could end up formatting the wrong server.
Second is support- a very close second! It's very important a server host manages their customer's expectations very carefully. Some customers demand an instant response. Others who are quite happy to wait days for a reply. If the query is trivial, a same day response is okay. However, in an emergency, you really want an instant response. You should find a company that is able to meet these expectations.
Pricing is also important in deciding the best server host. That might be hard to believe, given you normally 'get what you pay for'. However, this is extremely relevant given the current economic climate. A great many firms are trying to cut their budgets. IT is normally reigned in first. Thus if you can find a server hosting company that is competitive on price, as well as delivering on the points above, you are onto a winner. Don't be led to believe you need to pay ten times more just to be looked after. There are many companies overcharging for what other server hosts do better at a fraction of the cost.
Whatever you need for server hosting, please do your research first. Try and avoid contracts that tie you in for ages. Never pay up front for a year. If a company disappears you'll need your data to move. There are a great many reliable and affordable server hosts out there- a quick google for server hosting will start to reveal some of the best.
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