Why I Recommend Using A Professional Web Hosting Service In Lieu Of In House Servers

I sent this document to a client recently to explain why I recommend contracting a professional web hosting service to host their website instead of using an internal web server. While I specifically had their Drupal website in mind this applies to most any CMS using a LAMP stack. I am posting it here again so I can use it later on in case I need it, and if anyone else needs it. In no particular order:

1. It is full featured. – A professional hosting service often has a ‘Control Panel’ or CPanel, which allows the admin to do many tasks including:
   1. Add, edit, modify email accounts.
   2. Add, edit, modify mysql databases.
   3. Add, edit, files and FTP accounts.
   4. Allow password protection of files and directories and subdirectories.
   5. Easily manage multiple domains and subdomains.
   6. Maintain and check logs.
   7. Add software packages as needed.
   8. Etc.
2. It is cheap. – You can already get a great deal for only P1,200.00 per month. In case the hosting plan is inadequate it is easy as sending an email to the host to upgrade the plan even more.
3. 24 hours / 7 days a week email and chat support – Absolutely necessary in case of down time.
4. Easily transferrable to another host in case you want to change them at any time. – Cpanel uses industry standard settings that allow you to easily download your website and transfer to another host within an hour. This is also a good backup strategy.
5. It is using the LAMP stack. – The majority of users of Drupal, the Content Management System (CMS) that the (my client’s) website is based on, use the Linux, Apache, MySQL and PHP stack aka LAMP software bundle. In case there are issues with Drupal the admin has not yet encountered, the normal method to finding a fix is to Google the error message. Because most installations use the same stack the solution is always easy to find because most errors had already been encountered by other Drupal Developers and have usually been thoroughly discussed online.On the other hand, Drupal installations on a Windows server such as the current set up comprise the minority making finding a fix far more difficult.
6. It is easier to access by admin for developer and admin work. – If the developer has access to the Cpanel he can work on the website quickly without having to request access from the MIS.
7. MIS time and resources can be better used elsewhere. – Since hosting the website is far less complicated and takes less time, MIS resources such as their time, servers and IP addresses can be used for other purposes.
8. Professional Hosts are designed to be resilient – Many professional hosts mirror their servers across several locations, some around the globe, to ensure data hosted in their servers is globally accessible at all times. This makes sure that no single server failure will take down websites hosted with them. This also makes sure that in case a network failure occurs with one hosting location, a mirrored copy of the website will be made available because it is hosted elsewhere as well.
9. Quick and Easy Backups – Hosts also offer daily backups to be available for around $7 – $10 a month. This is a no – brainer offer that quickly gives an extra layer of security in case of any crash or hack.

There are probably many other reasons but this is what I had thought of at the time. If you think you have other reasons do feel free to suggest in the comments below.