Web hosting for small businesses: what you actually need

Web hosting is the computer your website lives on. You don't need to understand servers to choose well. You just need to match the hosting to what your site does.

The main types of hosting

• Shared hosting puts many small sites on one server. It's cheap (from about €5 a month) and fine for a brochure site with modest traffic.
• Managed WordPress hosting is tuned for WordPress and usually includes automatic updates, daily backups and faster support. Expect €15 to €50 a month.
• VPS or cloud hosting gives your site its own share of a server. It suits busy online shops and web apps, and someone needs to manage it.
• Hosted platforms such as Shopify, Squarespace and Wix include hosting in their monthly price, so there's nothing separate to buy.

What to check before you buy

• Backups. Daily backups, kept for at least a couple of weeks, and a simple way to restore them. Ask how often they test restores.
• Free SSL certificate. The padlock in the browser. It's standard now, so don't pay extra for a basic one.
• Support. How do you reach them, and how quickly do they answer? Irish business hours matter if something breaks.
• Speed. A data centre in Ireland or elsewhere in Europe keeps pages fast for Irish visitors.
• Email. Some plans include email addresses at your domain. Many businesses use Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace for email instead, which is more reliable.

Your customers' data

If your website collects personal data (contact forms, bookings, orders), GDPR applies. Hosting in the EU keeps things simpler, and your host should offer a data processing agreement. Ask where your data and backups are stored.

Moving to a new host

An experienced provider can copy your site, test it on the new server and then switch your domain over, so visitors see little or no downtime. Make sure you have the login for your domain name before you start.

Getting help

Not sure what you need? Post a request for web hosting and describe your site. Providers will recommend a plan and quote for setting it up or moving it.