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Top Web Hosting Trends to Watch in 2017
A few years ago, CloudTweaks put together an interesting infographic on the history of the web hosting industry.
A few years ago, CloudTweaks put together an interesting infographic on the history of the web hosting industry. They pointed out that in 1991, website operators needed to setup their own server to establish a presence online. In 1995, GeoCities made history by offering up to one megabyte in storage space to website owners. This was a major milestone in the new industry.
Over 20 years later, the web hosting industry is still going through regular changes. Here are several of the biggest trends gripping the industry in 2017.
Growth of Managed WordPress Hosting
WordPress has been the most popular blogging Content Management System (CMS) for years. According to ManageWP, there are currently nearly 75 million WordPress websites on the Internet, which account for almost 20% of all sites in the world.
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However, many hosting solutions have left a lot to be desired. Many WordPress sites have high downtime rates and security holes, largely due to inadequate hosting. New managed WordPress hosting plans are becoming more popular in 2017, especially after several recent hacking incidents targeting the CMS.
Greater Focus on Cloud Hosting Security
Cloud hosting is growing at an unprecedented pace. However, the explosive growth of cloud hosting solutions has exposed many of the flaws with the technology, especially security issues.
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Jim Reavis, CEO of the Cloud Security Alliance, states that cloud hosting providers are developing new security solutions, which include:
- Development of DevSecOps teams
- Introduction of serverless processes
- AI and automation security protocols
- Microsegmentation
“Virtual machines are widely used and often considered to be the basic building block of cloud infrastructure,” Reavis states. “However, containers, event-driven code execution and other unique serverless capabilities are challenging VMs due to their ease of use from a developer perspective.”
As more organizations migrate to the cloud, demand for robust security solutions will rise. More companies are expected to depend on serverless processes.
Green Web Hosting Makes Its Mark
Digital technology tends to be more environmentally friendly than traditional media. However, there has always been room for improvement. A growing number of companies are looking for more sustainable web hosting solutions.
Global Industry Analysts, Inc. recently released a report showing that the demand for green web hosting has risen sharply in 2017. More companies are transitioning to greener business models, so growth in demand should accelerate more in the near future.
Growth in Hosting Reselling
The web hosting industry has become very competitive. Many companies are worried about competition from large entities such as Amazon, which have recently entered the market. ERP News reports that smaller providers are turning to hosting reselling rather than tackling these competitors head-on.
“Because of the wide adoption of cloud computing, big players such as Amazon and Apple are entering the field. To survive this onslaught, small businesses are changing tactics. Knowing that they cannot compete with the big guys, they are forming stronger partnerships with each other and with resellers.
This affiliate-reseller strategy is working. One company bundles some of its services and sells them to the second one, which has lower infrastructure costs and, therefore, higher margins. The second company then sells the bundled services to online companies and small businesses. It targets a specific niche while providing competitive prices and excellent customer service. In the end, both small companies make handsome profit margins.”
Three Hosting Companies Responding to the Changing Industry
Savvy web hosting providers must carefully follow changes in the market if they hope to stay ahead of the competition in an increasingly changing marketplace. Here are three companies that are adapting to these changes in 2017.
Host.AG has been one of the leading cloud hosting companies for years. They state that they are constantly working on improving their infrastructure. They take security very seriously and offer some of the best DDoS protection of any hosting provider.
TrueHoster is a newer company that is focused on providing the best possible cloud solutions. They offer scalable services for as little as one euro. They also understand the need for DDoS protection, so they offer it for free with their hosting packages.
BelCloud is a versatile hosting platform that relies on the infrastructure of other hosting companies, such as TrueHoster and Host.AG. They recognize the value in reselling hosting services.
