How to Choose a Joomla Hosting Provider
Similar to a town’s public library where books are tracked, kept and stored, Joomla, another Web CMS (Content Management System), functions similar to this, by keeping track of every single content on a website. Content may vary from documents, simple text, photographs, music or videos, and this can be managed by Joomla without the need of the people behind a website to have in-depth technical skills or knowledge. Well-known organizations that use Joomla include IHOP (a chain of restaurants) and Harvard University among others.
When someone needs to build a website, one can easily seek the help of a Joomla hosting provider and you can be sure that your website will be up and running in a matter of hours or even in minutes. And, if one has more advanced technical skills or knowledge and the website you need to build requires a more sophisticated design and functionality, then Joomla can also help with its framework in building reservation systems, inventory control systems, data reporting tools, application bridges, customized product catalogs, advanced corporate directories, tools for communication and e-commerce systems.
Since Joomla is an open source CMS, a developer can download it for free, get the latest version and start his or her source code customization work to implement more functionalities into the Joomla CMS. If one is a beginner, as mentioned earlier, then there are many hosting providers that can offer their services with one-click installation and client empowerment features to manage their own websites with ease. However, these are important things you must consider before going with a Joomla host provider:
1. Data Storage Space – This is initially what website owners should take care of. Different hosting providers may have plans that can range from 1 GB to 5 GB of storage, with varying prices. It can be said though that 1 GB of storage can create 2000 average size pages using the Joomla platform. With this, whether an individual, an institution or corporation that needs to build a website, you can easily estimate the amount of data storage space you require.
2. Data Storage Technology – One should consider building their Joomla website with a hosting provider that gives them not only ample storage but also reliable storage technology that will maximize data transmission and processing performance. The most common data storage technology implemented into Joomla Hosting is RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disk) devices that come in various versions, depending on the balance of schemes it integrates.
Generally, what happens with RAID is that it divides and then replicates data between multiple physical drives (thus the term “array”). By then: When the OS (Operating System) is perfectly working, then it accesses it as a single drive. As for hard disks, it is important to know how much work it does to operate the storage. Some providers use disks with an RPM (revolution per minute) of 15000. RPM is the number of spins that the disc makes per minute. The higher the RPM, the faster the disk operates and processes data. However, the three key elements that this technology has which you needs to remember include:
- Capacity
- Performance
- Resiliency
3. Data Transfer Volume – After determining what technology for data storage is being used by the hosting provider, then that’s the time a website owner looks into how much data can be transferred using their Joomla website. Data transfers in this sense mean how much content would be shown on a website on a monthly basis. Most providers offer an average of 50GB to a maximum of 150GB transfers on a monthly basis. This translates to an average of 120000 page views/month to 360000 page views/month.
4. Backup Management Features – It is also important to consider how many times the provider backs up stord data on a daily basis and how much time is needed before the backup can be completely generated. Some providers may back up data two times in a day and retain this backup for a month. Others also provide customer login functionalities to perform and manage restorations quickly without compromising security.
5. Domains – Some hosting providers usually give one domain name, the registration of which would be completed by them. This is of course the minimum. Some providers can issue 3 to 5 domains, depending on the plan that a customer has subscribed to. Others have a key plan feature where they give the customer the ability to enter an unlimited number of sub-domains and domains. Another key feature is the provision of unlimited number of parked domains that point to the same account and content.
6. Optimized Performance Platform – On a website owner’s perspective, this varies, but what’s important is to know if the provider can guarantee reliable and consistent page load speed, and that it would be available to visitors 24/7 all year round. Another guarantee is that certified technical support professionals can be contacted for expert advice and assistance 24/7 all year round.
Wholly owned and managed infrastructures by providers mean everything (from the physical server down to the network switches) can ensure standardized operating procedures and can deliver good level of services. As for technical support, a customer may want to go for a provider that offers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week support service from certified engineers. In addition, a provider that has round-the-clock network and Web server management and monitoring systems is suggested. This guarantees the customer that a professional is working on an issue with the service even before a ticket is submitted to check for that problem.
7. Provider Data Center Location – It is easier to have a provider whose servers are within the customer’s area, or at least servers located in well-secured facilities. While it is beneficial to have multiple locations for visibility, the quality of these locations is more important.
Some other key factors that you must consider include:
- How an account can be set up with the provider;
- If it is an advocate of green technology (if they implement and use processes and equipment that are environmentally friendly);
- Most recommend a provider that’s been in the business for years;
If it’s a fairly new business, is a trial period or money-back guarantee given to customers?
These are just some of the many considerations one has to make. It may be very challenging to select the right Joomla Web hosting provider and account for your particular needs. However, a good mix of everything mentioned above can help you determine the Joomla hosting provider and the Joomla hosting account you need.