subject: Identifying the Right Windows Hosting Provider [print this page] It is never wise to compare "apples to oranges" and when you need to work with a Windows hosting provider, you should limit your search only to those who can give you precisely what you need. For example, you might have found a top web hosting companies list that lines up sites based on such factors as the number of email addresses, the amount of bandwidth, and the guaranteed uptime percentage, but if they don't extend Windows hosting, they might not be a good option for you.
Let's understand why this one factor might be essential to your decision making process. Firstly, if you have a website already up and running, and which uses different Windows based applications to function, you will have only two choices. Use a Windows hosting service or rework the entire site. Just consider that any database features would have to be redone to accommodate something like Linux hosting, and any web design might not integrate with an alternative platform. These might be issues that could be easily resolved, but this translates to something known as "downtime".
Even a cheap web hosting option will guarantee that no downtime occurs and will usually indicate that a site has a guaranteed uptime of 99.9%. If you have to rewrite or redesign a site, test it for functionality, and then publish it through a new managed hosting service, you will find that you experience at least a day of downtime. This means that people who are trying to visit the site will get error codes, and a large number of these potential visitors may decide that the site is permanently defunct, and then never return!
This is only a very simple illustration as to the reasoning behind sticking with a Windows hosting service when transitioning to a new provider or beginning a new site. The best way to identify the right services for your needs is through the use of a top web hosting companies list that will accurately indicate which cheap web hosting companies offer Windows hosting options. Such a list will also usually compare plan features and pricing too. This is an invaluable tool for making the wisest business or website decisions because it will give you a very complete picture of your options. For instance, you may not have realized that you wanted uptime guarantees or lots of bandwidth, but a thorough list of available companies would usually itemize such options.
