Just because something is affordable doesn’t mean that it is short on quality. For instance, just consider your options in cheap web hosting. You don’t have to empty your bank account to get dedicated servers or managed hosting if you do a bit of comparison shopping and review at least one top web hosting companies list.

The best way to begin a search is to make a short, but concise, list of the options you know you must have in order to create the right type of website. Remember, there are commercial sites that need e-commerce features, and there are some people who need to work only with companies that feature Windows hosting options. There are small business owners who are looking just to do some marketing, and then there are much larger businesses that need every possible feature imaginable. The great thing is that all of these groups and individuals can actually find cheap web hosting options that give them what they need and at a price they can live with.

Once you have the basic criteria for your web host, you can simply find a good source for a top web hosting companies list and do a side by side comparison. Remember, some hosting companies extend limited-time offers, or deals that last only for the first thirty to ninety days of the service. The key is to read all of the proverbial fine print in order to understand exactly what it is you are signing up for. You need to also consider if the terms under which you create the site will allow you ample freedom.

Congratulations on your first dedicated server. Once you receive the information for you server, you will probably want to start migrating or creating your website immediately. However, if you have little to no experience with systems administration you should first thoroughly understand the tools you have at your disposal before you get started.

Often overlooked, the journey toward dedicated server enlightenment begins with your webhost. Though the reading may be a bit dry, you would do well to understand specifically what you bought, what you are responsible for, and what things your webhost will take care. Here is a general list of what you will want to do:

• Read Over and Understand your TOS: Your Terms of Service specify the legalities of your server. In it you will find those things your service provider is responsible for and those things you are responsible for. Pay close attention to uptime guarantees, any information on scheduled downtime, and the steps needed to cancel your service. Keep a copy of the TOS handy.
• Read Over and Understand your Support Package: Even with unmanaged dedicated servers, the webhost is still responsible for some support. Understand what things are covered with your monthly fee and what things cost extra. Also keep a copy of this, if available, handy.
• Check the Licensing Contracts: This especially holds true for software on Windows dedicated server boxes. Ensure that the licensing is up-to-date and any base licensed software is authentic. The last thing you want is to be audited by a company such as Microsoft or RedHat and found to be using an illegal copy.
• Have Your Hosts Contact Info Readily Available: You should have your server’s information readily available such as on an encrypted file on your desktop. Your webhost’s contact information should also be programmed into your cell phone. Emergencies rarely happen at convenient times and having this available so you can quickly resolve problems is a must.

At its most basic your dedicated server box should come with an operating system, a web server, and a database server.  On top of this, you may have programming language support, a control panel, security software, and backup software.  Even if you have managed support there are a few things you should know:

It has been a boom year for hackers and web hacking. Tom Canavan, Joomla web security expert, identifies an increase of greater than 600% in overall hacking this last year. Tom’s book “Joomla! Web Security”, a Packt publication, expands on the threats of web security.

Hacker issues bothered a couple of our clients this year and if it didn’t do anything else for us, it sure kept us all on our toes. Hacking comes as more of an embarrassment than a true threat, however the results are damaging to intellectual property, brand identity and most of customer confidence. Hacking is a common occurrence on all public web platforms and CMS systems, however we continue to win the battle and have the ability to leverage one of the largest global networks of expert Joomla developers and programmers and are proud to say that the Joomla community is one of the fastest to respond.

It continues to be a battle to keep the bad guys out so we’ve gathered some tips and links to help you keep your Joomla website secure and safe.

The world of online sales, whether of products or services, can be daunting at first; the options seem confusing and the information conflicted. Yet as the designer or developer of an online store, you will need to guide your client through the maze of choices in order to get it up and running.

I have developed many e-commerce websites during my career as a Web developer. I’ve used and modified off-the-shelf software and have also developed custom solutions — so I know from experience that there are a number of important questions to answer before presenting possible solutions to a client. Getting all the pertinent information up front is vital if such a project is to run smoothly, and it can save you from delays during the process. It can also help you advise the client on whether they need a full custom cart or an open-source or off-the-shelf product.

This article responds to some questions you should be asking of your client before putting together a proposal for the development of an e-commerce website. I’ll explain the most important things to think about in terms of taking payments and credit card security. It should give you enough information to be able to guide your client and to look up more detailed information about the aspects that apply to your particular situation.