Do you want to establish your online store? Or maybe you want to start a travel or cooking blog to share your stories with other people online? Regardless of what the case might be, if you want to reach audiences, users and people across the globe, your website needs to be hosted on the web first. But what does that even mean? The process of web hosting involves uploading your website along with all of its content on a designated web server. Ultimately, this is what enables your website to be accessed worldwide.

Types of web hosting

There are many different types of web hosting opportunities such as shared hosting, a virtual private server, abbreviated as VPS, and dedicated servers amongst others. In terms of price, shared hosting comes out as the cheapest due to the fact that there are a number of websites hosted on the same server. This, consequently, means that they are required to share that server’s resources between themselves, meaning that if one website on the server gains a sudden increase in traffic or resource consumption, the other websites will be negatively impacted due to resource deprivation and starvation.

On the other hand, if you do not want to share a server with others and desire to have all the space for yourself, you could invest in the most expensive option, which is a dedicated server. With a dedicated server, you have access to all of its resources, storage and operative memory, meaning that your website will run smooth and fast, while also being capable of managing and handling heavy traffic and server load. Because of this, dedicated servers are usually utilized by large companies and online ecommerce websites that are required to handle a substantial amount of information exchanges and daily requests.

Why is a VPS the right choice

A VPS or a Virtual Private Server, combines the best of both worlds, while also being available at an affordable price. A VPS utilizes virtualization technology to run multiple independent entities with their own separate resources on the same web server. In order to better explain this, we will use some real-life examples to illustrate it. Imagine that shared hosting is a college dormitory – you would need to share the same kitchen, bathroom and living room with other people, whereas by using a VPS you are essentially renting your own flat in an apartment block with all of these rooms included just for yourself. But what are the other benefits to using a VPS apart from personalized resource allocation? One benefit is the fact that you have the ability to manually configure and install server applications as well as manage the server’s system resources including the processing power (CPU), the active memory (RAM) and the storage (SSD). Moreover, you also get root access to your websites directory, which can help you manage your website more meticulously by providing you with more control over everything and a better hands-on experience. Additionally, a virtual private server is also easily scalable, meaning that you can effortlessly upgrade it should you see a drastic increase in your website’s traffic or resource consumption (not to mention that a VPS is quite affordable). The only possible drawback that a VPS could have is that it does require some prior technical knowledge due to the fact that it allows you to manage most of its aspects in detail. However, while optional, previous experience is not essential as most hosting providers do offer additional support in terms of setting up, operating and resolving any problems that could arise with the server.

What is a Bitcoin VPS and why is it useful?

The name is actually really self-explanatory: a Bitcoin VPS is a virtual private server that you can pay for using Bitcoin. As a matter of fact there are hosting providers that accept divergent cryptocurrencies as payments for their servers such as VPSBG.EU where you can pay using both Bitcoin and Litecoin. But why would you pay using Bitcoin? Paying with most types of crypto is cheap, reliable and most importantly – secure. Due to the blockchain technology your payment details are safely stored and the chances of information leaks occurring are next to impossible. However, in terms of speed, transactions can sometimes take longer to complete, but if you do not want to wait excessively, then you might consider using the Lightning Network, which helps cut waiting times substantially, while preserving the transactions’ security and integrity.

Contrary to popular belief, the relationship between a business and its tech support is hugely important. If you’re considering outsourcing the management of your IT to a professional company, then it’s crucial you do your due diligence and ensure they align with your goals and values before you sign anything. The work of an IT support company is fundamental in minimising disruptions in your day-to-day operations and cementing business continuity. As they play such a crucial role in your business operations, it is imperative that you find a service provider that aligns with your values as a business and understands your goals.

If it’s been a few months since you signed the contract, you might be wondering if the company you chose is right for you. There are many reasons why your managed service provider may fall short of the mark. Before deciding to switch or stay with your tech support, be sure to ask yourself the following questions to make absolutely sure you’re making the right decision.

1. Are they listening? 

Understanding your business goals and aspirations, acknowledging your frustrations and otherwise building a relationship with you and your staff should be of the utmost importance to your tech support. If your IT support goes on about themselves and talks at you, then you may have come across a company that is all about pushing their agenda. It is of paramount importance that your tech support not only listens to your concerns and aspirations but actively takes it all on board and plans accordingly. 

• Are they delivering proactive solutions?

A professional IT company will offer a variety of different levels, services and solutions for your business. If you are paying for a fully managed IT service, then your chosen company should be actively monitoring and managing your tech. This is known as a proactive service, the idea being your tech support will find and resolve any potential issues before they escalate. Proactive solutions are rooted in management and planning. This kind of support should eventuate in a long-term strategy that future proofs your system and maintains your digital infrastructure and assets.

If your contract stipulates a fully managed service but you’re encountering a number of problems that have been interrupting your day-to-day operations, then your IT support company may not be monitoring your system as they promised. 

Unplanned outages can cause major disruptions and severe migraines for businesses and their teams alike. If it’s within your budget, it always pays to avoid a reactive service, also known as break-fix solutions, where your tech support will resolve issues as they happen. Although it may be cheaper upfront, in the long run, a reactive service can end up costing your business more in unnecessary downtime, data losses and unexpected crashes.

• Do you have a dedicated account manager?

There’s nothing worse than having to repeatedly explain a fault or issue to multiple different people every time you call – or even worse, being put in touch with a call centre representative who has no idea who you are, what your business does or perhaps most pertinent, how to fix the issue you are experiencing.  

It’s important to watch out for a business that will pass you from person to person. A professional IT service provider will provide you with a dedicated accounts manager. This dedicated manager will build a relationship with you and your team, get to know your company through and through and build a strategy that nurtures growth within your business. 

• Are you receiving reasonable response times?

Are issues with your tech common? Do you have a growing pile of unresolved support tickets clogging up your desk and email?

Slow response times and a “there’s nothing we can do” mindset are immediate red flags when it comes to IT support. If you and your team are attempting to contact your tech support for help and receiving slow response times and lingering resolutions, then it may be time to switch your IT company. A slow response time is especially pertinent if your IT support is responding with disdain or even slap-dash repairs that only work momentarily. If you aren’t receiving a proactive, relatively fast response to disruptions, it may be time to switch to a provider who will.  

• Is your team picking up the slack?

If members of your team are diverting their time and fixing issues your IT support should be resolving, then it is definitely time to switch providers. Your staff should not have to resolve tech issues themselves in order to mitigate the effects of a poorly performing IT support service. 

Although it can be difficult for you to pick up on this problem, the best way to avoid it is to regularly seek feedback from your staff about the performance of your tech support. Ensuring your IT support is doing their job will ease tension within your own team, boost productivity and in the long-term, cement your business continuity. 

Finding the right IT support provider for you

A quick search on any online search engine will reveal hundreds if not thousands of IT support services local to your business all promising the very best in remote and in-house tech support. However, while it’s easy to find tech support, it’s a lot more difficult to find the right support for you and your business.

Your chosen company should align to the same values as your own organisation, as well as take your goals and aspirations into account. Nurturing business growth and evolving with your company should be their primary concern. A professional IT support service will also proactively manage your tech and resolve issues before they escalate, ensuring you experience minimal disruptions to your day-to-day operations in the event of downtime or a crash.

To start off with, try searching a few different keywords with your location. You might try ‘IT Support Bristol’ or ‘IT Management Margate’. From there, it should be easy enough to narrow down your choices until you find a company that vibes with your business. Just don’t sign with the first company you find!