How To Decide Which Web Server To Use for Small Businesses

Key takeaways:

• A web server delivers your website’s content. Apache, Nginx, and IIS are the most common types, each serving different needs.
• When choosing a server, you can share resources (shared hosting) or have a server all to yourself (dedicated hosting). Shared hosting is cost-effective, while dedicated hosting offers more control and performance.
• You don’t choose the server hardware directly, but understanding the software and hosting configurations helps you make smarter decisions on performance and scalability.

Ever wondered how you can open a website on your computer, phone, or tablet and it works the same every time? What makes that possible are web servers.

While a website can run on a basic computer, the hardware can’t handle running it for many users at once. That’s where web servers for web hosting come in. They store your website’s data and make it available to anyone, anywhere, at any time.

You’ve probably seen those rows of blinking machines in spy or hacking movies—that’s a web server at work. It runs 24/7, which helps keep your site fast, reliable, and accessible. But how do you choose the right web server for your website?

What are the different types of web servers?

When we talk about types of web servers, we don’t mean the physical machines. We’re referring to the server software that runs on that hardware. This software essentially determines how your site is served to visitors. It can also affect everything from speed and website traffic handling to plugin compatibility and content management system support.

Here are three of the most common types of web server software:

• Apache. Apache is one of the most widely used web servers. It’s known for being flexible, stable, and compatible with different website platforms including WordPress. It supports a variety of plugins and themes. It’s also favored for its ability to easily integrate server-side languages for dynamic content generation. Many hosting providers use it, which makes it a solid all-around choice for small business websites.
• Nginx. Nginx (pronounced “engine-x”) is designed for high performance. It handles large amounts of traffic efficiently and is often used to help websites load faster. Some hosting providers use Nginx alone, while others pair it with Apache to boost speed and scalability without sacrificing compatibility.
• Internet Information Services (IIS). IIS is Microsoft’s web server software. It’s typically used for websites built with ASP.NET and other Microsoft-based technologies. If your website is developed in a Windows environment or depends on Microsoft integrations, IIS is likely the server behind the scenes.

How to decide which web server to use

Whether you’re running your own server or renting one, the process starts the same way. You’ll need to understand what your business needs and choose a setup that fits. From there, it’s all about deciding how much control and support you’re comfortable handling.

Step 1. Select the right hosting option

Hosting options vary widely, so before you make a choice, it helps to know what’s out there. To save you time, we’ve done the research for you. Below you’ll find the basic information to know about the major hosting options.

Shared hosting

With shared hosting, your provider supplies space for multiple websites on a single server. This offers an affordable, hassle-free solution for small business websites, as most don’t receive enough traffic to require a dedicated server.

Some of the key benefits include:

• Budget-friendly with built-in tools. Many plans come with free email, a domain, or a site builder, making it easy to get started without extra costs.
• No server maintenance. The host takes care of backend setup, updates, and patches.
• Basic security covered. Reputable providers implement standard protections against common threats.

Dedicated hosting

Dedicated hosting provides all the resource management and value-added services that come with shared hosting, along with one extra benefit. With a dedicated host, your website files will live on their own server, which means they won’t share space with other business websites.

The biggest pro of dedicated hosting is that it ensures the performance of your website. However, this option also comes with a significant con: it costs more than shared hosting. So, unless you have a high traffic website, it’s unlikely you need it.

Keep in mind that as your website traffic grows and your business needs change, you can always speak to your hosting provider about upgrading from shared to dedicated hosting services.

VPS hosting

With VPS hosting, a single physical server is split into separate virtual server environments, each acting like its own private server. It offers many of the same benefits as dedicated hosting, such as greater control and customization, but at a lower cost. You won’t manage the hardware, but you can install custom apps, tweak settings, and manage the environment as if it were your own server.

Cloud hosting

Cloud hosting runs your website across multiple servers. This setup is highly reliable because if one server fails, another can take over without disrupting your site. It also scales easily, which makes it a strong option for growing businesses or sites with unpredictable traffic patterns.

WordPress hosting

WordPress hosting is designed specifically for WordPress sites. It supports themes and plugins, handles automatic updates, and is optimized for performance and security. If you want a streamlined way to run a WordPress site without managing the backend, this is a practical and low-maintenance choice.

Step 2. Look at uptime and performance

Most reliable hosting providers offer at least 99.9% uptime, but it’s worth checking how they define and track that number. Look into the infrastructure behind their claims—things like backup servers, caching, and CDNs all help keep your site fast and available. You can also test a host’s performance using free tools to see how well their servers really deliver.

Step 3. Make sure the server supports your website

Not all servers are built the same. Some only support certain programming languages or systems, which can affect whether your site will work properly. If your website relies on a specific platform or tool like WordPress, PHP, or a database, make sure the server is compatible with it. You’ll also want to confirm whether the server runs on Linux or Windows, depending on what your site needs.

Step 4. Check scalability and room to grow

As your site gets more traffic or content, you’ll need more power and space. Some providers let you scale up your resources easily, while others might require you to migrate to a new server entirely. Look for a setup that gives you room to grow without major disruption.

Step 5. Look for built-in security features

Security matters, even if you’re just getting started. Some servers include protections like firewalls, malware scanning, and free SSL certificates. If your business handles sensitive customer data or takes online payments, make sure the server meets basic security standards and compliance requirements.

Factors to consider when choosing a server

You won’t typically choose the server software or hardware directly—that’s handled by your hosting provider. But here’s the good news: you can choose your hosting provider. And if you’re feeling confident in your technical know-how, you can ask a few smart questions to make sure their servers match your website’s needs.

Where are the servers located?

Ask where their data centers are based. The closer they are to your audience, the faster your site will load. If your business focuses on a local or regional market, nearby servers can improve your site’s speed and overall user experience.

Can I configure the server if needed?

Some websites or applications need more than the basics—like custom plugins, advanced caching rules, or non-standard software. If that sounds like something your site might need now or in the future, it’s worth asking how much access you’ll have to the server. Some providers let you install and configure things freely, while others keep it locked down for the sake of simplicity and security.

What systems are in place for reliability?

Even the best servers can fail, so it’s worth asking what kind of safeguards your provider uses. Do they have backup power, mirrored storage, or failover systems to keep your site running if something goes wrong?

Do you need your own dedicated server?

As a small to medium sized business (SMB), it may sound ideal to have a dedicated server. With your own server, you won’t be sharing resources, so you won’t need to worry about other people’s websites slowing things down or having your bandwidth usage reduce the speed of your server. But few websites require a dedicated server. High-volume websites like busy eCommerce sites or online publications with a large readership are the exception.

Self-hosting your SMB’s dedicated server can be risky for the following reasons:

• Everything depends on you, including the availability and security of your website.
• You’ll have to take care of maintenance, upgrades, and patches for its operating system. Servers that aren’t maintained and patched can quickly become vulnerable to hackers who might try to disable your website or even steal customer information.
• You’ll need to take precautions to protect sensitive information, such as financial records, customer details or your own intellectual property.
• If your business is subject to regulations such as PCI-DSS or HIPAA, you’ll have to ensure your server is secured to protect yourself from potential liability and regulatory fines.
• You’ll need to reserve enough bandwidth for high-traffic periods. If your site attracts significant traffic during certain seasons or if you receive unexpected publicity that brings traffic to your site, you’ll need to have enough network resources to keep your site up and running during these periods of high demand.

Set your website up with the right server environment

We’ve covered the core essentials of choosing the right web server and hosting setup. You now know what a web server is, how different types work, and why managing one yourself isn’t the most practical choice for most small businesses. We also explored the hosting options available if you’re looking to scale or need something more flexible.

Now it comes down to making a smart choice. Focus on finding a hosting provider that delivers reliable performance, supports your growth, and removes the technical hassle. At Network Solutions, our hosting plans are built on secure, high-performance servers and backed by expert support, so your site runs smoothly from day one.

Launch smart. Host with a setup that’s built to perform.

Frequently asked questions