Let’s face it, not all websites are created equal.  Each website has a unique set of demands and requirements in order to function.  While it may seem like all hosting is the same, there are four distinct types of web hosting that each offer their own set of perks and limitations.  To better understand what type of hosting your website needs, keep reading.

• Dedicated Hosting – Is your website huge? Are there certain items you need to store that contain confidential or private data? Are you shutting down your current servers because your site receives massive amounts of traffic?  If this is the case, then you will probably need to look for dedicated hosting.  This is when you or your company purchases space on an exclusive server, meaning you don’t share the space with anyone.  Dedicated hosting provides more security, more reliability, and more space than shared hosting.  If you aren’t sure if you need dedicated hosting or not, you probably don’t and should look into shared hosting.
• Shared Hosting – This is probably the most common type of hosting used by website owners, since they do not have to be the only person paying to maintain the server on which their website resides.  Instead they can share the costs with other website owners who reside on that server, keeping hosting costs low.  If you choose shared hosting, you will have less control over the administrative side of things which can be a deterrent to those who want more control, but can actually be a good thing for the average Joe who isn’t very technically savvy.  There are space limitations to shared web hosting in addition to some occasional security risks, but this is generally the most versatile, economical option for small to medium sized websites.
• Co-Location Hosting – this is a unique type of hosting that blends the accessibility options of dedicated hosting with the lack of maintenance appeal of shared hosting.  Colocation facilities can also be referred to as data centers, where companies (or individuals) rent space in which to house their servers.  The IT department can access the servers any time they need to, for maintenance, upgrades, etc. while the data center is responsible for making sure the servers have the proper power, ventilation, and connectivity to keep them functioning smoothly.  The costs associated with co-location hosting can vary due to the necessity of having your own server equipment and server racks.  If you need regular access to your servers but don’t have the space to house them, then this option is just right for you.
• Cloud Hosting – this is becoming a very popular option for web hosting since the costs are the lowest of all options and it can provide great accessibility options for webmasters and IT departments. Think of cloud hosting like your electric bill.  You do not have to provide the power lines or even generate the power, and you get billed each month based on how much electricity you consume.  The same with cloud hosting.  You avoid the overhead costs of having to purchase and maintain servers, and only pay for what you consume.  This is a viable option for those who would normally be in the market for shared hosting, as the features are very similar.  The same concerns over security of data persist with cloud hosting, although the technology is advancing rapidly enough to combat this. 

Depending on the needs of your website or your company’s IT department, you should now be able to accurately determine which type of web hosting meets your requirements.  If you are still unsure after reading this, you might want to get private consultation or at least take the “Better Safe than Sorry” approach and get more than you think you’ll need.

About the Author: Aaron Garcia is an SEO project manager for MorePro Marketing. He has more than three years of experience managing websites and determining hosting needs for clients.