Domain Name
A domain name is the text that a user types into a browser window to reach a particular website. For instance, the domain name for Google is ‘google.com’.
The actual address of a website is a complex numerical IP address (e.g. 192.0.2.2), but thanks to DNS, users are able to enter human-friendly domain names and be routed to the websites they are looking for. This process is known as a DNS lookup.
Easiest Option
We offer fully managed domain names, so once we've registered your domain, you don't need to do anything with it.
We include a FREE domain-validated SSL certificate, and Cloudflare protection, and we'll do any updates as and when they're needed.
Technical ability needed: none
Cheapest Option
You can register and manage your domain name through any one of hundreds of domain registrars.
You'll need to do DNS updates as and when they're needed and arrange your own SSL certificate if you need one.
Technical ability needed: moderate
Hosting
Web hosting makes the files that comprise a website (code, images, etc.) available for viewing online.
The type of hosting you need largely depends on the type of website you have and the amount of traffic it gets. All hosting we provide is managed, so we'll monitor and adjust as necessary.
To ensure the integrity of our hosting, server access (including FTP & MySQL) is not provided to clients.
If you prefer to arrange your own hosting, we can provide recommendations and a specification.
Shared Hosting
A number of websites are hosted on the same server, sharing resources such as processing power and memory. Each website will have its own space on the hard drive.
The number of websites hosted on a shared server can vary.
The cheapest providers will have hundreds, if not thousands of websites all sharing the same resources. Downtime (when your website is unavailable or very slow) can be siginificant.
The more expensive providers will carefully monitor how their servers are being used and keep out the riff-raff. You're still sharing resources, but those resources are well maintained.
Most of the standard brochure and ecommerce websites we host are on managed, shared servers.
Virtual Private Server
Similar to shared hosting, a Virtual Private Server, or VPS, can host many websites but the resources are reserved for each user. You have more control over those resources and customisation of the Operating System and installed software becomes possible.
Most of the bespoke systems we build use a managed VPS.
Dedicated Hosting
A Dedicated Server is an entire physical server with all of its resources reserved for a single user.
With the introduction of Virtual Private Servers and the Cloud, dedicated servers have seen a decline in usage in recent years. The costs involved in securing and maintaining them put them out of reach for most users.
Cloud Hosting
A difficult concept to understand because there is no server to speak of. Components and resources are called from a massive network as and when they're needed rather than being stored in one physical location. There is no single point of failure, and points of access are heavily secured with the use of ciphers and keys rather than passwords.
Our own Site Manager system uses Cloud technologies
Easiest Option
Let us manage everything for you. We'll use one of our shared, VPS or Cloud options.
Technical ability needed: none
Cheapest Option
If you prefer to arrange your own hosting, we can provide recommendations and a specification.
You'll need to carry out your own server maintenance and keep in mind that any updates you need us to do may be more convoluted.
Technical ability needed: moderate to advanced
Ownership
Just like buying or renting a home, website ownership and rental options come with both pros and cons.
Owning a website
Owning your website means that your website is yours, no matter which hosting platform you use or how many times you switch providers.
Just like buying a home, buying a website comes with a higher upfront cost than renting does. However, the amount of money you spend buying your website is an investment that you can hold on to in the long run.
You'll own all the files that make your website work. You can choose to host with us, but it's not a requirement, so long as your chosen host will support your website.
Maintenance
You'll need to do your own maintenance, or pay someone to do it.
Please note, if you're hosting with us, to preserve the integrity of our servers, we only allow server access for our own staff. We'll add a maintenance plan to your hosting contract.
Our owned options
Renting a Website
The cost of renting a website is one of the main reasons most businesses choose this form of hosting. Renting tends to be the cheaper option, with monthly fees that reflect the level of service you can expect to receive. The lower cost of renting is balanced by the fact that you only receive the services as long as you continue to work with the same provider.
You own the content of your website, but not the files that make it work.
After an inital period covering the costs of creating the website, your monthly fees will reduce.
Maintenance
Maintenance and support are included in the monthly fee. Upgrades and new features are usually more straightforward to provide, and added to your monthly fee rather than priced upfront.
Our rented options
Rent to Own
A compromise between renting and owning. You'll have a time limited agreement, usually 2 or 3 years, during which period you'll rent the website. After the inital period, you'll own the website and be able to transfer all the files elsewhere.
Maintenance
During the time limited agreement and as long as you continue to host with us, maintenance is included.
If you chose to transfer elsewhere, you'll need to arrange your own maintenance.
Rent to Own Options