Why Does Our Website Hosting Cost Money?

We have been asked (more than once) “What is this hosting invoice for? Why does hosting cost money?”

Although it’s not the main focus of our business, it’s something we aim to do well. No one likes a bill but a lot goes into our hosting. We’d like to explain exactly what sets our web hosting service apart.

Web hosting is the service that allows a website to appear on the world wide web. Your website is composed of files (images, scripts, stylesheets and documents) which reside on a server. It is not uncommon for one website to use more than one server – for example keeping images on separate, optimised device.

The server is the device which literally ‘serves’ those files to the network when requested by the network. A web server runs 24/7, all day every day so that anyone can view your website any time.

When a user enters your domain name (e.g. widgets.com), the Domain Name System (DNS) identifies the server on which those files are hosted and requests the resources to build your website. Once your computer has received the required files, the browser assembles them as a web page.

A server used to be a single, physical computer. These days, a server typically is a software container, running on much bigger physical devices which mimic the functionality of that traditional hardware. Thus, “web server” can denote the hardware itself (the physical server) or the software architecture that runs the server.

Software-based systems tend to be more:

• Expansible – rather than physically opening the box and dropping in a new hard disk (and copying information from the old disk to the new), is a software system, additonal storage can be allocated
• Flexible – device memory can, again, be allocated to temporarily cope with a sudden surge in traffic
• Robust – several servers can exist across an array of physical devices. This means if one physical device fails, the individual servers can generally keep running
• More Secure – deploying security patches and software upates is easier and quicker when a number of devices are hosted in the same physical environment.
• Cheaper – although the array on which a number of servers run are larger and more expensive than an old-fashioned, physical server, sharing the resources across a number of ‘server-owners’ means the costs are spread. Nonetheless, any web server must be run continuously.

The lifecycle of servers and networking components demands regular replacements or upgrades, contributing to a significant portion of operational expenses. These foundational elements of hosting infrastructure, alongside their maintenance and power consumption, form the bedrock of the costs involved in delivering our hosting services.

Web servers are typically stored in date-centres. Date-centres are dedicated facilities with high capacity connection to the internet, refrigeration, continuous power, backup continuous power and significant security. Date-centres are not cheap to run.

We pay for the use of data centres which are fully carbon offset, meaning our hosting operations result in a net reduction of atmospheric carbon dioxide. It probably costs a bit more, but it’s what we do. It is not negotiable.

Bandwidth and Storage Capacities

Bandwidth is essential for facilitating swift website access for your visitors. Storage capacity dictates how much content your website can effectively store, from text and images to videos and downloadable files. We pay a premium for excellent bandwidth so your website is as fast as it can be.

Our hosting plans are tailored to accommodate sites with extensive content or high visitor traffic. This necessites a proportional investment in resources. The provision of these vital services, along with the commitment to reliability and speed, naturally incurs costs.

Not only do we ensure we have ample storage for all of our hosted services, all of our websites are continuously backed up. Should the worst happen, we can have you back online in no time.

Dedicated Technical Support

We pride ourselves on providing exceptional technical support, ensuring that telephone assistance is available any time. We’re pretty knowledgeable ourselves and, when we’re left scratching our heads, we’re on first name terms with our providers’ skilled technicians.

We’ve not broken them yet. From straightforward questions to complex technical challenges, they meet them all.

This level of support is indispensable for maintaining minimal downtime and ensuring that any potential disruptions are swiftly addressed, thereby safeguarding your online operations.

Advanced Security Measures

Cybersecurity is paramount. We invest heavily in industry-standard security protocols (and better) to shield your website from cyber threats. This includes hacking attempts, malware infections and other vulnerabilities.

This encompasses the deployment of firewalls, intrusion detection, regular software patches and adherence to stringent industry standards for data protection. These proactive security measures are vital for preserving the integrity and trustworthiness of your online presence. They represent a significant portion of our operational expenditure.

Scalability and Performance Enhancements

Websites evolve and experience fluctuations in traffic and resource demands. Our hosting solutions are designed to be scalable, enabling you to adjust resource allocations in alignment with your current requirements. Furthermore, we employ performance optimisation techniques, including content delivery networks (CDNs) and caching strategies, to ensure that your website remains fast and accessible to users worldwide. The development and maintenance of these sophisticated technologies require ongoing investment, which is reflected in our hosting fees.

Conclusion

No one likes bills, we’d love to all of this for free. It may look like we’re charging for nothing but you could argue the same of your landlord. And, like them, the process of maintaining space for you incurs costs that must be met by somebody.