When signing up for a web hosting service, even if they provide inexpensive web host services, usually our assumption is that security measures would be adequately taken care of. And why not? The amount that we pay for web hosting is meant to include the provision of security as well. But does that really hold true under all circumstances? Probably not.

The truth is that while all web hosting services ? whether low cost web hosting services or expensive ones, do invest in security measures for their clients, no method can be truly and absolutely foolproof. Otherwise, the numerous instances of hacking that we hear of on
frequent occasions would definitely not have been happening.

The problem is, if the security measures have improved, so have the tactics of the hackers and malicious attackers. Using sophisticated means, they are able to hack into just about any account on any site, and possibly do enormous amount of damage. Using botnets, they can send out viruses that can cripple entire networks of companies of what may well be thousands of machines.

Yet, it does not necessarily imply that you need to be completely alarmed and terrified.

Instead, you need to cross-check if the security measures in place are reasonably adequate and to your satisfaction. You also need to inquire about the back up plans of your hosting service provider for those security measures, in case the former measures fail.

Having said that, you also need to look at things from the point of view of the web hosting service provider. Do you think they would appreciate the security of their client?s websites and data being compromised? In all probability, definitely not.

They operate in an environment where they face enormous competition on an ongoing basis. To ensure that their customers remain with them, as well as to have a steady flow of new customers coming in regularly, it is in their own interest to ensure that they invest in adequate security measures. Low cost or not, it is certain that they would not want to compromise on the security of your website or that of your customers.

That said, there are some measures that you can take at your end as well, to be adequately prepared in case of any eventuality. The foremost and relatively easiest way would be to have an email ready, ideally in automated form, so that whenever a security breach is detected or predicted, it can be sent out. This will essentially reassure customers about the steps that you are taking to safeguard their data. You can also inform them that subsequent to all the steps
that you are taking, they too need to have all the latest antivirus and other protection measures at their end, so that there is ample security coverage all around.

Your customers will only be delighted to see the proactive measures that you are taking, as well as at the fact that you really care for their well being and that of their websites and data. With that faith, not only will they continue to do business with you, they will also recommend your services to other prospective clients.

So, as you can clearly see, small steps taken at your end and at your web service provider?s end can together go a long way in ensuring security for the hosted websites and data. While no method can be absolutely foolproof or ensure security under all circumstances, you can at least be reassured that majority of the minor malicious attacks will definitely be thwarted with your initiatives.

In summary, do not assume that a cheap web hosting service would necessarily have loopholes when it comes to security; instead, focus on ensuring security of your data and that of your customers in tandem with your hosting service provider, using reasonably simple ways.

Authors’ Bio
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Lena Morrish & Dima Nikolayenko are owners of the Bridge To Success Co. If you consider moving your business online and are looking for inexpensive web host solutions or worried about other issues related to your online business, you can find your answers on www.InternetBusinessBTS.com.

Thanks for having this blog back to normal operation, it was been suspended couple of days ago. And the reason is my blog consumed much allocated server resources. Well, leave it to them because I already transferred my site to another hosting company.

I’m just so happy that it’s now online and I’m back to my blogging game. And to maximized the moment! I’ll take this post to say Thank You to my advertiser who just renewed his ads on my blog awhile ago and paid 128$ for 2 ads. Thanks for sticking with me through my downtime.

Google merge with experts from Amazon, eBay, Green Grid and the Lawrence Berkeley National Lab to offer web hosting service providers ideas on how to get the most out of their equipment at Google’s Data Centre Efficiency Summit.

Here’s internet search giant videotaped sessions, which was held in April of this year.

According to Google…

“Sustainability is good for the environment, but it makes good business sense too. Most of our work is focused on saving resources such as electricity and water and, more often than not, we find that these actions lead to reduced operating costs. “Being “green” is essential to keeping our business competitive,” Google added.

A single search creates the equivalent of 2g of CO2.

After running one of my blog on cheap web hosting server for one year, I can say that cheap hosting really sucks. I tought it would help me lessen the cost of my make money online campaign but it fails me.

The downtime is about 20 percent, that 20 percent is big loss for me. The blog I transfered is a having a nice amount of traffic, about 100k-150k unique visitors per month and moving to a new hosting provider using dedicated web hosting server is the best solution.

It’s quite expensive but blogging is one of my living source. Moving to dedicated web hosting is an investment to me.

Note: Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go.

Switzerland, France, United Kingdom, United States or where ever you are in the world. How much the server location affects or does hosting really affect your website’s SERPs?

Matt Cutts, a Google Engineer will help you explain further about this SEO issue.

Related Entries:

• How does website hosting affect SEO
• Advantages of Linux server hosting and Windows server hosting
• How to choose a web hosting server
• How to find a good hosting plan

Is website hosting affect Search Engine Ranking Position (SERP)? When you’re integrating Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) strategy on your website, web hosting is not likely to be a big factor. But yet, there are subtle ways that it can affect your search engine rankings.

During our SEO assessment, we found out that there are three main ways in which a website’s hosting may adversely affect its SERP.

1. Poor server uptime can effect on the ability of a search engine to index a website.

When the spider visits the URLs and receives a 404 error “page not found” error message because the server is down, definitely spider will failed to index any new or updated content of the site.

2. Secure Hosting Server

If you are hosted there on a shared IP and a small percentage of others on that IP have also been compromised, how secure or trusted is that?

“Google uses its own criteria, procedures, and tools to identify sites that host or distribute badware. In some cases, third parties can add malicious code to legitimate sites, which would cause us to show the warning message.”

Related Entries:

• How can SEO help your business success?
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• Check list how to find Professional SEO Company

Basically, it depends upon the scripting language that is used in your website. If languages like PHP, MySQL, or Perl are used in your website, Linux server hosting is preferable. But if you are thinking for ASP Dot Net scripting language then your finest choice would the window hosting.

Advantages of Linux:

1. It is an open source software product. Economical, so it means that you don’t need the high licensing fees that other operating systems do, download freely and use it.
2. Can be converted to Windows website without much hassle.
3. Reliable and cost effective solution for scripting language like PHP, MySQL, or Perl etc.
4. Can run many databases such mSQL, MySQL and PostgreSQL.
5. Much secure than Windows hosting according to several hacker I’ve meet.

Windows server hosting:

1. Of course, dot net technologies are available on this platform. (.NET technologies was innovated by Microsoft, thats why)
2. Access Databases are only obtainable with a Windows server hosting plan.
3. If you are using Microsoft’s Sharepoint services (Integration with Microsoft Office System) a Windows Hosting plan is only reliable choice for you.

Linux server hosting plans are economical than Windows server hosting but if you want specific Microsoft technologies, get Windows server.

Related Entries:

• How to find a good hosting plan
• How to choose a web hosting server

As the proprietor of an online business it is important to choose a best web hosting service, read tips how to find hosting plan for your website. Your web hosting controls the server where your website is stored, and picking the best one can mean the difference between killer website and lousy one.

What web hosting server to choose?

Dedicated Servers vs. Shared Servers

A dedicated server is a server in which the entire server is dedicated to your website. Taking up a whole server also cost monthly sum of money. While shared server setup is much cheaper, but the resources will be shared to the people or company who used the web hosting services.

Virtual Private Servers (VPS)

Advantage, virtual private server is integration of two alternatives. It is partitioned for your resources privacy but the expense is not as great as dedicated servers.

Sandboxes and Honeypots is just another feature of the VPS, has a package ability of testing software updates while keeping the main site secure. So if there is a suspected security breach, the second server runs as “bait” for the hacker. It will serve as the real site without sensitive information.

If you are not a Web developer and you don’t have any idea about web development, how do you know which company to select or who are you going to pick to design your Website? Here are hints how to find a best Web Design Company or Web Designer:

1.    Customer service availabity (Live Support)

It really helps to have someone who is there for you when problem arises. The point there is they can solve the problem instantly. So pick a web design company who got a live support such chat or voice.

2.    Impressive Portfolio

Review the websites they had done before. Sample of work’s done is stronger than any fancy and bubbly text found in designer’s website.

3.    Able to understand your website needs

It’s useless to design your website in full flash when it can be run smoothly on html, flash is expensive and not Search Engine friendly. If you want to edit your website personally in the future, asks the designer to build it in Content Management System (CMS).

4.    Contact handling

Find out if your Web designer will handle your email settings for your Website. Webmail looks much better and more professional rather than Yahoo, Hotmail or AOL.

5.    Provide you a 99% uptime guarantee hosting service (If hosting included)

Your website uptime is very much important; would you like to see your website always down? Here are ways how to find a good hosting plan and how to choose a web hosting server.

6.    Provide you Pre-optimization

Every website needs to meet the guidelines of major search engines (Google, MSN and Yahoo) in order to be indexed, I strongly advice to get a designer who has an idea about Search Engine Optimization (SEO). Beautiful website is useless if nobody knows it.

You need to considered many aspects when finding a good hosting plan, space, bandwidth, support, customer testimonial, domain price, contract, and more. So better scan this guide that may help you to find your best hosting plan:

1. Review Hosting Forums
Dig hosting review and offers thread. Post request on forums, digitalpoint and webmasterworld is the best forum boards I guess.

2. Search Engine
Google or Yahoo will give you a list of major hosting company on top 10 results. Review and compare one by one, choose a hosting company who offer relatively cheap and reliable according to service you want.

3. Search for offers and best deals
Search for hosting coupons or offers by means of forums or search engine.

4. Ask a Webmaster
There will be experienced webmaster give you a couple recommendation.