Web hosting providers contract the use of servers through various mediums. Having access to a server, either dedicated or shared, facilitates the ability of a web site to be viewed and accessed via the Internet. Given the extreme capital expenditures associated with proprietary hosting, it makes economic sense to enlist the assistance of a capable hosted provider.

Taking on the task of web hosting without technical knowledge is a daunting and pricey undertaking. Doing so also greatly increases the risk of the web site falling victim to viruses and other malicious activities. Experienced web hosting providers execute expert security measures to ensure optimal defense against would be hackers and others wishing to cause damage.

The web host selection process is not a decision that can be made overnight. Several key factors must be examined. They include: The concept of the site. Will products be sold How much space or bandwidth will be needed How many page views are anticipated And so on.

After careful consideration of site requirements, one of the most important considerations of determining who should be the web hosting provider is dependant upon the ‘uptime’ they guarantee.

The term uptime refers to the amount of time that the website will be accessible. It is important to remember that unforeseen events do occur and that uptime guarantees are not written in stone. That being said, however, any established web hosting provider worthy of your business will strive to guarantee no less than 99.5% uptime.

Calculating uptime is rather simple. First the number of minutes in a month need to be determined. In an average month of 30 days there are 43200 minutes (30x24x60) an 99.95% uptime would equate to 216 minutes of downtime over the course of a month.

While this may seem like a large number to some, smaller and less complex web site owners hardly notice the downtime and a 99.95% uptime guarantee is more than adequate. More complex web sites, and those operating round the clock e-commerce may be better suited for web hosting providers with a 99.9% uptime guarantee as this affords them no more than 4 minutes and 32 seconds of downtime. Completely attainable with the right web host.

Simply because it is referred to as a “guarantee” it is best to understand that technical pitfalls exist, servers are complex pieces of machinery that require maintenance and upgrading on an continual basis and there may be blocks of time where the web site may be rendered inoperable. Conversely, in order to be successful a web site must be accessible the majority of the time. If the web hosted provider does not guarantee a minimum of 99.5% uptime, web sites risk losing viewers and consumers to competitors who’s sites are available and running.