Whether you already run an eCommerce site or are in the process of developing one, choosing the right hosting option is a must. But with so many different hosting plans to choose from, how can you know for sure which is suitable for your needs?
It may be time to reconsider if you’re currently utilizing a free or shared/cloud hosting plan. You should opt for a dedicated hosting plan to provide your customers with the most excellent reliability and security when shopping on your site.
So, what exactly is a dedicated server, and what are the benefits of dedicated hosting for eCommerce businesses?
Dedicated Servers: The Basics
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Dedicated hosting is just one of several ways to host your eCommerce website/platform. Shared/cloud hosting and self-hosting are two other relatively popular options. So, what’s the difference between all of these hosting options?
When your eCommerce website is self-hosted, you purchase and maintain all the hardware and software related to running your site’s server. With a shared or cloud-based hosting service, on the other hand, your server is completely housed in a third-party location by a hosting company. You simply pay to use it, while the hosting company maintains all the hardware. However, you’re also sharing your hosting plan – and its resources – with other users on your plan.
With dedicated hosting, you can enjoy having your server hosted and maintained in a third-party location. Meanwhile, you have the entire server to yourself rather than sharing your resources with others on your plan. This means you don’t have to worry about your site slowing down when another user takes up a lot of bandwidth; in many cases, it’s the best of both worlds.
Benefits of Dedicated Servers for eCommerce
For those who run an eCommerce site, there are many reasons to opt for dedicated hosting over shared hosting or even self-hosting. For starters, dedicated servers offer the best speeds and fastest page-loading times. Because your server’s resources are being allocated directly to your eCommerce site, you don’t have to worry about latency and lag due to other users on your shared host competing for bandwidth or other resources. And, of course, when your site runs smoothly and without lag, your customers will likely stick around, make purchases, and become return customers.
Security is another important benefit when you opt for dedicated hosting for your eCommerce site. When you run an eCommerce site, you’re handling sensitive information regularly. This includes your customers’ payment information, contact information, and other important data. Your customers need to feel confident that this data is safe each time they shop on your eCommerce site; otherwise, they’re not likely to return.
Any eCommerce site needs a data breach – especially one that compromises sensitive customer information. To maximize security, then, you really should opt for dedicated hosting. Specifically, a dedicated server will offer better security than a self-hosted or shared server. Because you won’t be sharing your hosting plan with other users, you won’t have to worry about security vulnerabilities that others could cause to your account. At the same time, dedicated hosting companies go above and beyond with their server security to give customers added peace of mind.
While exact security features can vary from one hosting platform to the next, many dedicated servers offer safeguards such as DDoS protection, physical security, data backup options, and more. All of these features can reduce your eCommerce site’s risk of falling victim to an attack, protecting your customers’ data while giving your company a better reputation for security.
Choosing an eCommerce Dedicated Server
As you can see, there are many reasons to choose a dedicated server for hosting your eCommerce site. While it’s true that a dedicated hosting plan may cost more than a comparable shared hosting plan, the benefits far outweigh the added cost. Meanwhile, choosing a dedicated server is almost always more affordable than self-hosting because you don’t have to worry about purchasing, housing, and maintaining your own server hardware.
So, what exactly should you be looking for if you’re shopping for an eCommerce dedicated hosting plan? Start by making sure that your plan will be fully customizable so that it can grow and scale with your business. You don’t want to be stuck paying for features or specifications you don’t need. You also don’t want to be stuck with a hosting plan that doesn’t work for your business.
You’ll also want to emphasize security as you shop for a dedicated server. Specifically, be on the lookout for security features that will give you (and your customers) some added protection and peace of mind. Many hosting platforms these days, for example, offer free standard protection against distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks. This can help protect your eCommerce site from unexpected downtime related to an attack, which could otherwise cost your business a lot of money while potentially tarnishing your reputation.
Aside from digital security features, you’ll also want to explore a hosting company’s physical security measures. Ideally, the hosting company you select will have surveillance on their data center properties 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Staffed security and access control are other possible security safeguards to look for.
Last but not least, make sure that the hosting company you select for your dedicated server will be reliable. Specifically, if you can find a hosting company that offers some service level agreement (SLA) for uptime, this can give you added protection and peace of mind. After all, most eCommerce sites cannot afford even a few minutes of unexpected downtime. If any issues occur, you’ll also want to make sure you can get ahold of somebody in support 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for immediate assistance.
Ready to Make the Switch?
A dedicated server is the fastest, most secure, and most reliable hosting option for most eCommerce websites. The key is finding the right dedicated hosting company to suit your needs and budget. ReliableSite offers a wide range of dedicated hosting options to accommodate your needs. Plus, our plans are fully customizable so that they can scale with your eCommerce business.