Need advice for Hosting

Discussion in 'Web Hosting' started by buckmajor, Feb 3, 2011.

  1. #1
    Hi there

    In the past, I have had some bad experience with a few hosting companies and now I'm a little worried about protecting my content, etc. I have been hacked 3 times. All of them with the same hosting company and I even had a strong password (well I can prove it's my hosting company). I am being a little suspicious about my current hosting company which led me here.

    My questions are:
    1. How would protect you content if your business has potential to make millions?
    2. I am hearing a lot VPS is the way to go. Would you do the same if you need to protect your privacy?
    3. Any suggestions?

    Many thanks in advance
    CHEERS :)
     
    buckmajor, Feb 3, 2011 IP
  2. mentos

    mentos Prominent Member

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    #2
    Hi,

    1.Potential? Then you co located the server yourself.

    2. VPS is the the way. Instead you need at least dedicated server.

    3. Host the server at DC without going thru 3rd party such as limestone etc

     
    mentos, Feb 3, 2011 IP
  3. ~ServerPoint~

    ~ServerPoint~ Banned

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    #3
    There are already many well-established web hosting firms nowadays that offer affordable web site hosting plans with excellent capacity and quality.
    Try to do a search via Google or on some review web sites.
     
    ~ServerPoint~, Feb 3, 2011 IP
  4. WSWD

    WSWD Well-Known Member

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    #4
    If you are going to make millions of dollars, you either want to co-locate your server or purchase a dedicated server. You don't want shared hosting, reseller hosting, cloud hosting, VPS hosting, etc. You want to be on the server by yourself. If you are going to make millions, you can certainly afford the $200-300 per month for a dedicated box. ;)
     
    WSWD, Feb 3, 2011 IP
  5. buckmajor

    buckmajor Active Member

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    #5
    Thanks this is what I was looking for. I am actually using a reseller hosting but finding a lot of issues especially being hacked 3 times. I will look into co-locate servers dedicated server. I appreciate the advice, this is something for me work on.

    CHEERS :)
     
    buckmajor, Feb 3, 2011 IP
  6. WSWD

    WSWD Well-Known Member

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    #6
    You're welcome! Good luck on finding something. The quicker you can get away from a shared server to a dedicated server, the better off you're going to be. Of course, as I mentioned, that comes with a hefty price tag too.
     
    WSWD, Feb 3, 2011 IP
  7. RonBrown

    RonBrown Well-Known Member

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    #7
    If your site has been hacked 3 times are you absolutely sure it's the fault of the host? We sometimes have to deal with clients sites that have been hacked, and in all cases it was down to out-of-date scripts or poor programming.

    Saying that, I'm sure there are hosting companies with insecure servers too, so it could be the host, but you need to be sure it's not your own software that is the issue. At the end of the day, no matter how secure the host is, if your software can be compromised nothing is going to stop that happening.


    Backup, Backup, Backup. Keep copies safe. Make copies of copies, and store them in multiple safe locations. Backup any web site changes daily as a minimum and your databases every few hours depending upon how often they change.

    Make your hosting decisions based on what you need, not the prices that are on offer. If you look for the cheapest host you'll get equivalent service.


    There is no absolute privacy unless you colocate and even then any host will be able to get into your server if they have physical access to it. It's important to choose a hosting company/colocation provider you can trust.

    VPSs are fine, dedicated servers are fine too. Each have their strengths and weaknesses and none is better than the other..it depends on your needs. There's no rule that says the progression is shared hosting -> VPS -> Dedicated and that dedicated is the ultimate. It depends on needs, and sometimes a VPS is a better choice than a dedicated server even if you have the budget for a dedicated server.

    Recently we've started moving some customers from dedicated servers over to VPSs because that was a better fit for what they wanted to do. In many cases it also saved them some money too. At other times the performance requirements exceeded what could be delivered by a VPS (Max 4CPUS and 64GB RAM on Hyper-V R2) and a dedicated was the only choice. Sometimes a dedicated server was the best option irrespective of performance needs.

    The privacy and safety of your web site depends entirely upon how well the server is set-up, secured, and maintained. If none of these are done correctly, you will be at risk. Sometimes a VPS or Dedicated is worse than Shared Hosting unless they are fully managed or you know what you are doing. IF you're not experienced, and can't afford a fully managed service and set-up, shared hosting may actually be your safest bet.

    Be prepared to spend a proportion of your income on your hosting set-up. When your "millions" depend on a $10 hosting plan, then you run a great risk. As the income increases, increase the budget for hosting to provide more resilient services, faster servers, better automated backup, and start to cluster and load-balance. As time goes on your hosting infrastructure and investment should reflect the income being received from your online presence. If you really are going to make a huge income from your web site, make sure you choose a company that has the skills, finances, experience, and set-up that will allow you to grow and change over time. Choose wisely now while you have the flexibility to make that decision. Make the wrong decision and it could end up being a costly mistake.
     
    RonBrown, Feb 4, 2011 IP
  8. srisen2

    srisen2 Peon

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    #8
    i would suggest a vps as it allows you to ensure your in a enclosed environment and you can completely control your server configuration.

    This can allow you to setup whatever security features you would like where on a shared or reseller plan you are much more at the mercy of your provider
     
    srisen2, Feb 4, 2011 IP
  9. swiftnomad

    swiftnomad Active Member

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    #9
    getting set-up on a cloud would be good if you can afford it. You can configure a CDN -- you should really look into it. I would also get your scripts in order.. enable suPHP.
     
    swiftnomad, Feb 4, 2011 IP
  10. buckmajor

    buckmajor Active Member

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    #10
    Hi,

    Can you be more specific about out of date scripts? And how does one site gets hacked with only; index.html, one image with a 'Coming soon' title?? That's funny, you sound exactly the same as their customer support and then no real answer to my question...oh wait, I wouldn't be surprise if work for them lol....no serious I wouldn't be surprise!!

    Did you say
    How are you making sense if hosting is what I need and there is nothing about paying for cheap hosting will pay the consequences with a lot technical issues as the ones I have already listed??
     
    buckmajor, Feb 4, 2011 IP
  11. RonBrown

    RonBrown Well-Known Member

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    #11
    No need to get snotty. You asked a question, I answered it. Just because you don't like what I said, or dont understand the answer, is no reason to start making dumb accusations.

    Look it up. Out-of-date scripts being used by many sites are a hackers dream. If you don't get it then what's the point? Wordpress, Joomla, Drupal, and many other systems release security updates. Even Operating Systems have regular security updates. If you've got dodgy scripts, badly patched systems, or bad programming, you potentially have a problem. That's why I asked the question



    You didn't specify that. We're not all possessed with psychic abilities to just "know" these things if you don't tell us. If you'd been more specific then there wouldn't have been the need to ask that question.

    However, I did specify that there are unsecure hosts out there too, but the question needed to be asked.


    It was a legitimate question to ask and my answer is perfectly sound. In fact, I'd say my answer to your questions and the points made in your post were well-considered and extremely valid.

    Yeah, well prepare to be surprised. What a stupid thing to say. I've no idea who your host is but I can guarantee that you're not one of our customers. Never were, never will be.

    You talk big, saying your site is potentially worth millions, and now your say your hosting requirements are "I need hosting". Wow! If that's the extent of your knowledge then your site is worth squat.

    A site that is worth millions isn't likely to run on a shared hosting plan, and is even less likely to be running a hosting plan that is off-the-shelf. It will be a custom set-up designed to provide the needs of the client. We have customers who sell millions of pound every week through their sites and their requirements are a little more than "we need hosting". They want absolute uptime guaranteed, they need database servers that never shut down and are redundant and clustered (because hardware does sometimes break down). They have so many visitors that they require clustered and load balanced web servers with no single points of failure. They want their databases backed up every hour with 4 days worth of backups kept with copies kept off-site every 24 hours. That's the sort of thing I'm talking about when I say "make hosting decisions based on need". Yes, they spend 5-figures a month on their hosting, but it did all start out on a shared hosting plan, and has built up to their current set-up of 11 servers.


    I answered your questions. I based my answer of what you asked directly and worked on the assumption that your site really was "potentially worth millions". My advice was sound about some of the things to look out for e.g. "choose a company that has the skills, finances and experience ...that will allow you to grow". Perfectly valid advice because if you choose a host who doesn't have the finances to purchase new servers for you when you need them, or the skills to implement systems that suit your hosting requirements, then you'll waste time and money moving around trying to find one who does when your site does start to make the income you predict.

    If you don't want to take the advice offered that's fine. I'm not forcing you to listen to what I say, but don't go around making baseless accusations, suggest that I'm colluding with your existing hosting company, or providing unsound advice. I answered your questions and gave advice within the context of what was said in your post. I guess I won't be doing that again if that's the attitude you get when offering sound advice that comes from over 12 years in the hosting industry helping thousands of clients grow their online presence and helped more than a handfull make their millions via their web sites (all of them who STILL host with us).
     
    Last edited: Feb 5, 2011
    RonBrown, Feb 5, 2011 IP
  12. buckmajor

    buckmajor Active Member

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    #12
    lol...with all your comments, your the one who talking big. I didn't bother reading it, no difference. Huh? I will never be your customer?? Yea great customer service you got going??
     
    buckmajor, Feb 6, 2011 IP
  13. RonBrown

    RonBrown Well-Known Member

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    #13
    If you didn't read it then how come you commented on what I said? You could at least be consistent when attempting to dis.

    You've no idea about our customer service, and no you never will be one of our customers. That has nothing to do with any level of customer service and everything to do with the fact that you aren't capable of distinguishing between genuine help being provided and some delusion that we're working with your host to undermine you. We've no time for that level of paranoia where people see a conspiracy at every turn.
     
    RonBrown, Feb 6, 2011 IP
  14. thewantedhost

    thewantedhost Peon

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    #14
    1and1 hosting in the cloud.
    Or dedicated servers, they are ridiculously cheap.

    I found that VPS' are pretty much pointless, because its fair share resource (so all you really gain is root access).
    I would say definitely to get a dedicated server, or hosting in the cloud from 1and1 (no I am not affiliated with them, and yes, I own my own hosting company, which, would you believe I am not promoting as it would not be the best option for you, unlike others in this thread.
     
    thewantedhost, Feb 6, 2011 IP
  15. buckmajor

    buckmajor Active Member

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    #15
    Alright then. PEACE!!
     
    buckmajor, Feb 6, 2011 IP
  16. WebIntellects - Rob

    WebIntellects - Rob Active Member

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    #16
    With the right web hosting company, your business web site can be much easier than you think.
    Read customer hosting reviews before making any order.
     
    WebIntellects - Rob, Feb 7, 2011 IP
  17. buckmajor

    buckmajor Active Member

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    #17
    I have a few hosting companies to avoid, thanks to those reviews.
     
    buckmajor, Feb 7, 2011 IP
  18. srisen2

    srisen2 Peon

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    #18
    If you can find a dedicated server for less than $100/mo with the power you need for your site i would say go for it as VPS's are a cheaper alternative but can require alot of management and tweaking much more than a dedicated server as they are bound to only use a portion of the cpu.
     
    srisen2, Feb 7, 2011 IP
  19. Susan_WebExper

    Susan_WebExper Peon

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    #19
    There are thousands of web hosts online today and its an extremely
    competitive and also very confusing to choose the right one.

    My favourite is dailyrazor.com since one year I use it with no problem

    THE BEST uptime
    THE BEST support 24/7
    THE BEST reliability
    THE BEST price
     
    Susan_WebExper, Feb 17, 2011 IP