To the uninitiated, the term “web hosts” probably conjures up images of creepy-crawly spiders. The truth, however, is quite innocuous. A web host provider is one that leases web space and bandwidth to website owners. The host sets up an account for its customers that can be used to upload HTML documents, PHP scripts, graphics and so on. Do a Google search for “web hosts” and you’ll be astounded at the results. It is estimated that there are over 6 million of them and you’re probably wondering who they are. That’s not surprising, because there are no real “brands” in the web hosts market. That does not mean that they are clones, with little differentiating one from the other. Web hosts vary in the size and variety of services they provide. Check this out. Minimal shared hosting services: Minimal shared hosting services provide very little storage space and bandwidth. Such services come with limited features, often with no support for PHP, multiple email addresses or web statistics. While this might be adequate for a maverick teenager’s personal web page, minimal shared hosting services are not suitable for any kind of serious website activity. Shared hosting services: These are the most popular web hosts in the market, and can be compared to a high rise apartment. Nearly all small and medium businesses need only a small part of the resources of a web server. Using this type of service allows users to share the cost of a fast internet connection, pretty much like how tenants in the apartment share costs of maintenance and overheads. It also supports all types of features such as PHP or ASP, MySQL, multiple email addresses, large storage space and high bandwidth. There is however, the threat of lower security due to the number of other clients on the same server. There is also a limitation in the number of email addresses, databases and domains that can be supported, similar to the shortage of parking spaces in the apartment building. Unmanaged dedicated servers: This serves the need for large storage capacity and bandwidth. A dedicated server does not limit the number of databases and email addresses that can be created. Bandwidth is much greater and users are typically allotted 500-1000GB per month. Users needing extra storage space may have to order a new hard drive for their server. Managed dedicated servers: Managed hosting provides varied facilities at a wide range of prices depending on the required level of security, reliability and support. Users are well advised to thoroughly research the internet or inquire from trusted associates before choosing a managed dedicated web host or entering into a long term contract with one. If you ever need to decide on a web host, pay careful attention to the unique needs of your business. Different websites need different solutions, depending upon factors such as the need for reliability, security and the volume of data management. Careful research is necessary before identifying a vendor.