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Web Hosting, Web Hosting UK, Dedicated Servers, Managed Hosting, Dedicated Server | CWCS
In today’s fast-moving digital world, where information always seems readily available, it is only too easy to get lulled in to a false sense of security. Indeed, it can be hard to imagine this data that has become part of your everyday life suddenly not being there.
Indeed, it cannot be stressed enough, that data loss remains a continuing and very real risk. Natural disasters, extreme weather, power failures, component wear and tear: these can all cause computer disks to fail, and lead to serious data loss. The only way to guard against this ever-present risk is to back up your data regularly, consistently and securely.
Ideally, however, you should have a plan B, and even a plan C to protect your most precious data. Where your website is concerned, your backup “plan A” should, of course, be the responsibility of your web hosting company. Do gain assurances from any prospective web hosting company that they have a sound backup policy. Your plan B could complement your website hosting company’s backup service – through backing up the most recent local copy of your site to a USB external hard drive.
Finally, it’s better to be safe than sorry, so have a plan C in mind. This could consist of an account with one of the increasingly popular internet backup services.
Here at CWCS we take backup seriously, and will ensure that your site is regularly backed up to one of our highly secure, weather-proof, theft-proof, and fire-resistant data centres.
Part of the business of running a website is maintaining an awareness of security threats, as well as taking any necessary preventative measures. This can seem quite a challenge, especially if you are responsible for a mission critical website, perhaps involved in e-commerce. However, you are not alone and there is plenty of support and advice available.
The key to a strong security strategy is to take a wide-angled, 360 degree approach. Take a look at your whole relationship with IT, from your web hosting service to your mobile phone.
Such a consolidated approach will enhance the security of your website, directly or indirectly. Amongst the steps you should take are the following:
-Verify with your dedicated server company that they operate a robust firewall, and have up-to-date industry standard security software installed on their server network.
-Regarding your own site, if you are using scripts (computer files which execute code behind the scenes), make sure they come from trusted sources.
-Regularly change your website control panel passwords, and use password creation software to generate hyper-secure passwords for all your devices.
-Install industry-standard security software on your home PC, so that any copies of your site uploaded from home are secure.
Should you choose web site hosting with CWCS we can assure you that our servers are protected by robust, enterprise-level security measures. Furthermore, any concerns you should have regarding your site security will be promptly addressed by our superb and passionate technical support team.
When choosing a web hosting company it’s likely that at some stage you might need to consider Linux server hosting.
Some background on Linux may help you make a more informed decision on your web hosting route.
Linux is a computer operating system akin to Windows and Apple Mac. It performs the vital behind-the-scenes tasks of your day to day computing.
Linux is named after the Finnish software engineer Linus Thorvalds, who began working on his project around 1991. Linux became one of the first examples of a truly “open source” (or “free to use”) operating system.
Linux is now the core operating system powering numerous offshoots , such as “Ubuntu”, “Red Hat” and “Mint”, also open source.
Linux computers particularly come in to their own as Web servers.
Linux servers have a reputation for stability and resilience, being able to run for extended periods (for example, 90 days in one test), with no system errors causing a need for a forced restart, unlike some other operating systems.
Another advantage of a Linux server is the cost benefit of going with open source. Whilst there may well be hardware, support, and maintenance costs for your web site, companies can still benefit from not having to pay software licensing fees.
Meanwhile, Linux has a reputation for robust security. The strict system of file permissions, for instance, makes Linux servers harder to hack and disrupt.
Whatever your choice of web hosting server, here at CWCS Managed Hosting we can provide expert advice and dedicated 24/7 technical support by phone or email.
Security is one of the most pressing concerns for any website owner, especially if the site is integral to their business and a means of income.
One of the keys to a secure website is to ensure that your web hosting company takes security as seriously as you do. So, when researching web hosting deals, take the trouble to ask the company about three key aspects: firewalls, virus protection, and backup.
A firewall is a hardware or software component that minimises the risk, as far as practicably possible, of intrusion on to the hosting web server. A firewall is the first line of defence, and is arguably the most crucial part of your armoury.
Antivirus software is the second line of defence and works, a little bit like vaccines, by checking against a harmless internal database of known threats and neutralising any software on the host PC that appears to be “carrying” that threat.
Finally, there’s backup. Backup is essential in the event of data loss of all kinds (theft and fire damage for instance). However, a good and frequent backup service will mean you can get your site restored by your website hosting company in the unfortunate event that a hacker manages to break through the first two lines of defence and corrupt your site.
Here at CWCS we provide the most up-to-date and robust security services as part of our hosting packages, as well as regular site backups, in combination with high-quality, dedicated and responsive technical support.
Having found a website hosting company and launched your site, you might want to consider adding online retail to your site, otherwise known as e-commerce.
There’s no doubting that e-commerce is almost impossible to ignore for any growing business. The figures tell there own story with the UK e-commerce market now valued at around £69 billion.
However, before leaping on the bandwagon there are some practical steps to consider.
First, to trade online beyond comprehensively, you will need what’s called a ‘Merchant Account’. This is a financial contract with a merchant acquiring bank that will let you accept debit and credit card payments. You can acquire one from a third party broker or direct from the banks themselves.
Next you will need to set up your website to handle e-commerce. There are a range of options, from simply using Paypal (which does not require a merchant account), to complex e-commerce software, which would include the vital ’shopping cart’. Many website designers are now geared up to integrating e-commerce in to their projects from the outset, so it is worth considering handing the whole process over to a professional designer.
Finally, a reliable, secure web hosting company, which can guarantee maximum uptime for your site, is essential. Here at CWCS, with our 99.99% operational guarantee, we can look after all your web hosting needs, and will be happy to assist you with any increase in traffic should you decide to branch out in to e-commerce.
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