Selecting a credit union web hosting provider can quickly become overwhelming with all the options out there. First, you’ll need to be aware of the different types of hosting available and the differences between them. The four common types of web hosting are shared, virtual private server (VPS), dedicated, and cloud hosting. Today, we’re going to look at web hosting on a dedicated versus shared server.
Next, you’ll want to understand the basics of web hosting. We’re going to discuss three essential criteria to help you determine whether to host your site on a dedicated or shared server.
Security
As a financial institution, website security should be your number one priority, especially to maintain compliance with federal regulations. Credit union websites hosted on a shared server are at a higher risk for security breaches. Your website shares the host with multiple domains and users. If one of the other sites is infected with a virus or malware or is a victim of a cyberattack, all the other domains on the host become susceptible. Furthermore, if a website is suspected of containing or spreading malicious content, search engines could remove it from their indices, which can lead to the shared IP address of the server to be blacklisted.
Without proper safeguards and practices, any website is vulnerable to cybercrime. You can minimize the risk by hosting your credit union website on a dedicated server. With dedicated hosting, only you have access to the server. This includes controlling the type and level of security measures you deem appropriate for your needs.
Management
When deciding between a shared and dedicated web host, you need to determine how much control and responsibility you want over your credit union website. As we mentioned, with a dedicated web host, you install and monitor any firewalls and security software.
With a shared server, security falls on the hosting company. The hosting provider would control all other aspects of the server as well, such as installing and configuring programs, applications, and scripts needed to keep the server operational. This might be a good option if you don’t have the technical skills or resources. You would still have limited access to manage databases, files, and email accounts.
If you have a dedicated IT team to manage the server, a dedicated web host would allow you to customize the server to meet your changing needs. You might also consider finding a provider that offers managed dedicated hosting plans if you need assistance maintaining the server.
Performance
Considering your future needs when choosing the best type of web host can be a deciding factor. Sharing a server also means sharing resources. If you anticipate your business will grow, you can quickly outgrow a shared server plan. With a shared host, your credit union website will be competing with the other sites for memory, data, storage, and bandwidth. Although your hosting provider will assign each site an allotted amount of resources, it can penalize but not prevent you or the others for exceeding the limit. A sudden spike in traffic on one site can slow the loading time of the others or bring them down completely.
Hosting your credit union website on a dedicated server offers a more consistent, faster, and reliable performance. You also have the option to adjust resources as your needs change.
Final Words
For small and mid-size financial institutions, hosting your website on a shared server may be all you need, especially if you have a limited budget or manpower. If you expect your business to grow, a dedicated web may be a better option; however, be prepared to pay a higher price.
CUWebsite™ Services hosts our customers’ websites on a VPS, which is as affordable as a shared server but has the security, performance, and scalability of a dedicated host. Your website won’t have to compete for resources, and you won’t need to worry about another site infecting yours with malware or viruses. Our team will manage security to meet regulatory compliance while you retain full control of your website. If you’re still unsure of what type of web server is best for you, our team can assist you.
