February 15th, 2017
These days, most businesses are shifting to cloud web hosting. As security concerns for our emails and data keeps rising and the demand for reliable websites continues to grow, it's no surprise that end-user spending on cloud services was estimated to top more than $180 billion by 2015. But while using a cloud hosting service is a huge priority for businesses, actually choosing one can be a daunting task. One thing's for sure: if you're still using a single server for your web hosting, it's time to consider moving to the cloud. To help you in your search for finding the best cloud host for your business, here's what you need to focus on:
What are your needs?
Cloud hosting is used for a variety of things, but it's helpful to know its most common uses and how they line up with your requirements. Many businesses handle all of their emails through cloud hosting. Others use file backups and databases. Most e-commerce sites also use cloud hosting because their industry requires 24/7 access for their customers. And other businesses use cloud hosting for storage and sharing. Typically, a given business will need a combination of these things, so be sure to ask your web hosting company what they offer.
What are the security measures included?
While cloud hosting reduces the likelihood of server downtime, the majority of organizations need to know that their websites, emails, and data will be secure. Security needs to be the number one priority with any type of hosting. SSL is the standard first line of defense, but you'll need additional encryption protection. Make sure that whatever hosting service you decide on offers 128-bit encryption at the very least.
What are your options for recovery?
Although it may be unlikely, it's possible that your data could be threatened or lost. You'll need to make sure that your hosting service can take the appropriate steps to recover your data and safeguard it before an event should take place. Ideally, your hosting company should automatically replicate your data; this means that a cloud system can be recreated, should the unthinkable occur. Don't take a chance with valuable information, and don't assume that nothing could happen to it.
If you're interested in switching over to cloud web hosting, we're here to help. Contact us today to find out more.