Complete Guide to Web Hosting
Every website needs somewhere to live. That’s what a web host is for.
At Northwest, we offer hosting that is fast, reliable, secure, and comes with the latest WordPress site builder, free.
We created this guide so you can learn everything you need in order to choose the right hosting plan for you and your business.
What is a Web Host and Why is it Valuable?
A web host is a company that provides the servers (hardware) which store a site’s files and makes them accessible online.
Most businesses can’t afford a site that goes down for days due to a bad server or one that takes forever to load because of outdated hardware. Web hosting services are valuable because they provide constantly maintained, up to date servers at a reasonable cost. Additionally, many hosting platforms offer website building tools that make it possible to get online for any business owner.
- Site Uptime. Good web hosts achieve near constant uptime.
- Server Speed. Good web hosts maintain and regularly update high-performance servers to ensure fast load speeds.
- Site Building Tools. Many web hosts offer site building tools to complement their hosting services.
Some web hosts (like Northwest) offer much more than space on their servers. Northwest offers complete Business Identity services. In fact, if you form your LLC with Northwest, you’ll get your web hosting, domain, matching email, phone number, and more, free.
What to Look for in a Web Host
Once you understand the types of hosting, the next step is to know what features actually matter. The server resources offered by a web host determine how well your website performs, how secure it is, and how smoothly it can grow.
Server Performance
Web hosts vary in the amount of processing power and storage they offer. Below are the main features to compare. These are the terms regarding server resources that allow you to compare apples to apples.
- CPU. Affects how fast your server can process tasks. More powerful CPUs help your site handle more simultaneous visitors.
- RAM. Allows your server to run applications and serve content quickly. More RAM means smoother performance during traffic spikes.
Server technology is also important. Most modern hosting uses SSD or NVMe storage, which is much faster than older HDDs. Faster storage = faster website loading times.
Bandwidth and Data Transfer
Bandwidth determines how much data can be transferred between your site and its visitors. For most business websites, standard bandwidth allocations are more than enough.
Uptime Guarantees
Reliable uptime ensures your customers can access your site when they need to. Most reputable hosting providers ensure over 98%+ uptime.
Security Tools and Protections
Performance means nothing if your site is not secure. A web host should always offer free SSL certificates. Additionally, a web host should offer regular backups to protect against accidental deletions or malicious attacks.
Site Builder Tools
Your web host should include a website tool that allows you to build your own website. Northwest Web Host offers WordPress site builder with professional human support you can count on to make a world-class site yourself. WordPress sites are open-source, which means you own it. A WordPress site is simple to migrate and will never be locked into one particular service.
Comparing Web Hosting Service Types
Web host services differ in the way that they offer access to their servers.
Shared Hosting
Shared hosting is the most common and affordable type of web hosting. With a shared hosting service your website shares server space and resources with other websites on the network. It’s ideal for small sites, blogs, and low-traffic pages.
VPS Hosting
VPS (Virtual Private Server) hosting is a powerful middle ground between shared hosting and the cost of a full dedicated server. With a VPS, each client receives an isolated portion of a physical server, complete with its own guaranteed resources. This matters especially for high-traffic websites that can’t risk being slowed down by other users on the same machine.
Dedicated Hosting
Dedicated hosting is ideal for large websites, resource-intensive applications, and meeting strict compliance or security requirements. This is because it provides an entire physical server reserved for its own use. No resources are split with other customers, so it’s more expensive.
Proprietary Vs Open-Sourced Site Builders
Many web hosting services provide a website building tool customers can use to build their site. There are two types:
- Proprietary Some hosting services use proprietary software to build your site. Many of these work well and are easy to use, but lock you into that specific service. You can’t take the site with you when you go.
- Open-Source Some hosting services use an open-source platform like WordPress that allows you to build a site that you can migrate anywhere.
At Northwest we believe strongly in the importance of using non-proprietary systems as much as possible. Doing so puts the ownership and control in your hands. We don’t like to be locked down and don’t think you should have to be either.
What Makes Northwest Better?
Northwest is an independently owned web host centered on privacy, security, and a human touch.
- Independently Owned. Northwest is never shackled by the needs of short-term shareholder thinking. We invest in quality for the long-term.
- Privacy. Security. Consistent Pricing. We don’t sell client data. All hosting packages include SSL security. And no annoying second-year rate hikes.
- Open-Sourced Platforms. Never put your website on a proprietary platform. When you build a WordPress website at Northwest, it’s yours to keep.
Learn More About Northwest Hosting
Web Hosting FAQs
Using an open-source web platform means that your website is never locked in, it’s yours to take with you wherever you go. An open-source platform is also universal and continually evolving.
A server is a computer dedicated to storing web files and delivering information to other servers and devices called clients. Servers are the technology that make websites available online.
For most small businesses, shared hosting or VPS hosting offers the best balance of affordability, performance, and scalability. As traffic grows, upgrading to a VPS is usually seamless.
Yes. Most reputable hosting providers, including Northwest, allow you to migrate an existing site with minimal downtime, often with guided or assisted transfers.
Not necessarily. Many web hosts provide managed services, intuitive dashboards, and expert support so you can focus on your business instead of server administration.
Anyone can buy their own server and networking equipment, but here is why most small businesses hire a web host:
- Web hosting is cost effective: Buying and maintaining servers, power backups, cooling systems, security, and networking equipment is expensive. A hosting service spreads these costs across many users, making it far more affordable.
- Web hosting makes it easy to grow: Hiring a web host makes it easier to scale your web needs. When your business grows it’s easy to increase your server space and speed without buying new hardware.
- Web hosting improves reliability: Even web hosting servers go down on occasion. But the uptime of Northwest Registered Agent’s servers is around 99.9%, far exceeding what the average small business owner could achieve on their own.