What is hosting?

Hosting – often also called web hosting – is the storage space for your website on the internet. A hosting provider provides you with servers on which all your website files are stored. This means that your website can be accessed around the clock when someone enters your domain (the URL of your website, for example bscwebdesign.at) in their browser.

How does web hosting work?

With web hosting, a provider stores your website on a server that is permanently connected to the internet. If someone enters your domain, the browser retrieves the data from this server and displays your page – usually within a few seconds.

• The hosting provider operates servers in data centers.
• Your website files (HTML, images, database) are stored on these servers.
• Your domain points to the IP address of the server.
• Visitors enter your domain – the server delivers the page.

What does the domain have to do with hosting?

The domain is the address of your website, for example bscwebdesign.at. Hosting is the place where your website files are located. Without hosting there is no content, without a domain no one can find your site. You can book a domain and hosting with the same provider, but you don’t have to. Many companies secure a suitable address first and then set up the hosting. If you need help choosing a name, take a look at the guide Find domain 2025 – how to choose the right name Technically, it works like this: The domain is linked to the IP address of your hosting server via a DNS entry. For you, this means that people remember the simple name and the browser does the rest in the background.

What types of web hosting are there?

There are various hosting options for small companies and EPUs. The most important types briefly explained:

1. shared hosting (for small websites)

With shared hosting, you share a server with many other websites. This is inexpensive and is often sufficient for small company websites, blogs or landing pages.

2. managed WordPress hosting

Here, the server is specially optimized for WordPress. The provider takes care of updates, security and often also backups. Ideal if you don’t want to do much technical work and need a fast WordPress site.

3. vps hosting (virtual private server)

You get your own virtual server with more performance and control. This is worthwhile if your website has a lot of visitors or you want to run special applications.

4. cloud or dedicated server

Cloud clusters or dedicated physical servers are available for very large projects. This is usually too much for traditional SMEs, but important for large platforms or stores with a lot of access. For most small businesses, shared hosting or managed WordPress hosting is the best combination of price, speed and simplicity.

Conclusion: The choice of hosting provider is important

Your hosting has a major influence on how fast and stable your website runs. Slow servers, frequent outages or missing backups cost trust – and in the worst case scenario, inquiries and sales.

• Pay attention to good loading times and server location (e.g. within the EU).
• An SSL certificate (https) should be included or easily activated.
• Regular backups and support in German are a big plus.
• Plan how much you want your website to grow over the next few years.

Once the hosting is in place, the next step is to find a system with which you can maintain your content – a CMS, for example. You can find out more about this in the article What is a CMS? Simple explanation + examples 2025 .

Frequently asked questions about web hosting

What does web hosting mean?

Web hosting means that a provider makes storage space available on a server so that your website can be accessed on the Internet.

What is the difference between domain and hosting?

The domain is the name of your website (e.g. bscwebdesign.at). Hosting is the server on which all files are stored. Both together make your website accessible.

How much does web hosting cost per month?

Simple shared hosting for small websites is often available from just €5-15 per month. Managed WordPress hosting is a little more expensive, but takes a lot of the technical work off your hands.

Which hosting is suitable for small companies?

For many SMEs, good shared hosting or managed WordPress hosting is sufficient. Support, security, backups and stable loading times are important.

Can I change hosting provider later?

Yes, you can move your website to another provider. This requires some planning, but is technically feasible – many providers offer a relocation service for this.