Beginner’s Guide on Hosting an Application for the first time

Hosting a website is a common phenomenon in the web hosting industry. Every one of us is aware of hosting a website and its parameters.

In our blogger community when I was asked about hosting an application then I was a little bit worried as I was not aware of hosting an application.

Or

I can say that I have driven myself deeply into hosting a website which is why hosting an application is halted. On the other hand, this motivated me to study hosting an application and thought of writing an article.

This guide will help you to know everything about app hosting so that you can easily prepare your startup’s app launch without experiencing technical flaws.  

What is App Hosting?

Application hosting refers to the practice of running and maintaining software applications on remote servers or cloud infrastructure rather than on local machines.

In this model, the applications are made accessible to users over the internet.

The hosting provider is responsible for the management, maintenance, and security of the underlying infrastructure, allowing users or organizations to focus on using the application without worrying about hardware, networking, or system administration.

Moreover, Mobile apps generally operate on databases and connectivity. It’s a hidden sauce that lightens up your app from behind the scenes and helps you to store crucial data and functionality in the form of versatility.

Read: A Comprehensive Guide to Content Management Systems

Check below the App Hosting Options:

Cloud Hosting:

We at Hostripples offer scalable and flexible web hosting solutions. Our aim is to provide a wide range of services, such as virtual machines, containers, serverless computing, and managed Kubernetes clusters, allowing you to deploy and manage applications easily.

There are also other cloud hosting providers available in the market those are Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google Cloud Platform, and Microsoft Azure, which provide virtualized infrastructure and managed services to host and run applications.

In cloud hosting, resources are provisioned or released as per the need, and costs are managed as per usage. It’s a kind of inverse VPS in which a cloud hosting setup will pull resources from various servers to supply the computing power that needs to handle existing traffic or users.

Platform as a Service (PaaS) Providers:

It is a cloud computing model in which 3^rd party provider focuses to deliver hardware and software tools to users on the Internet. Generally, these tools are needed for application development.

It hosts the hardware and software on its infrastructure. That is why, PaaS free developers can easily install in–house hardware and software to develop or run a new application.  

PaaS providers are Hostripples, Heroku, Firebase, and Microsoft Azure App Service which intellectually manage the infrastructure and offer a platform to deploy, manage and scale applications. This platform comes with an easy, simple interface and streamlined deployment process, allowing developers to focus on code rather than infrastructure.

Virtual Private Servers (VPS):

With VPS hosting, you get a virtualized server environment within a physical server. We offer VPS hosting that gives you more control and customization options compared to shared hosting. VPS is a cost-effective option and suits developers with some system administration skills.

Dedicated Servers:

In this option, you rent an entire physical server dedicated solely to your application. Dedicated servers provide the highest level of control, performance, and security but require more expertise to manage.  You can our team to know more about dedicated hosting.

Read: Why Dedicated Hosting is the Best Option for Hosting a Website?

Managed Hosting Services:

Managed hosting services like Hostripples cater to specific applications, such as WordPress websites. We handle services like server setup, maintenance, and security, and allow you to focus on managing your application’s content and functionality.

Remember that the choice of app hosting option depends on factors like the complexity of your application, technical expertise, budget, and scalability requirements. It’s essential to assess each option’s features, pricing, performance, and support before making a decision. Additionally, always keep an eye out for new hosting services that might emerge in the rapidly evolving tech landscape.

How to Select the Right Hosting Infrastructure

Application Requirements: Understand the specific requirements of your application, such as the programming language, framework, database, and any specialized software it needs. Certain hosting options may be better suited for specific technologies.

Performance: Assess the performance needs of your application. Different hosting options have varying levels of processing power, memory, and storage capacities. Consider options that offer high-performance hardware or allow you to optimize the infrastructure for your application’s needs.

Security: Ensure that the hosting infrastructure provides robust security measures, such as firewalls, intrusion detection, data encryption, and regular security updates. Managed hosting services and cloud providers often offer strong security features.

Budget: Determine your budget for hosting. Shared hosting or VPS solutions might be more cost effective for smaller projects, while cloud-based solutions allow you to pay for resources on a usage basis, which can be beneficial for applications with varying workloads.

Compliance and Regulations: If your application handles sensitive data or needs to comply with specific regulations (e.g., GDPR, HIPAA), ensure that the hosting provider meets the necessary compliance requirements.

Location: Consider the physical location of the hosting servers. Hosting your application close to your target audience can reduce latency and improve performance.

Backup and Disaster Recovery: Check the backup and disaster recovery options offered by the hosting provider. Regular backups and disaster recovery plans are essential for safeguarding your application’s data.

Read: All About VPS Hosting is Explained

How to Select App Hosting Provider?

We all know that applications have their own uniqueness in terms of performance, scalability, security, and functionality. That is why, we need to dig into more options before selecting the best application hosting provider.

For example, you decided to start with cloud hosting, and as I said above you’ve to dig deeply to get the best cloud hosting provider then the question comes how to choose?

Below you will see the slugs that will help you to select a web hosting provider for hosting the application.  

Identify your app’s requirements: Understand the specific requirements of your application, including its programming language, framework, database, and any other dependencies. This will help you narrow down hosting providers that support your tech stack.

Performance and Scalability: Evaluate the provider’s performance metrics, including server specifications, data center locations, and network speed. Ensure that the hosting provider offers scalability options to handle traffic spikes and growth in users.

Uptime and Reliability: Look for providers with a proven track record of high uptime and reliability. Check if they have Service Level Agreements (SLAs) that guarantee a certain level of uptime.

Security Measures: Examine the security features offered by the hosting provider, such as firewalls, DDoS protection, data encryption, and regular security updates. Robust security is critical, especially if your application handles sensitive user data.

Data Backup and Disaster Recovery: Check the provider’s data backup policies and disaster recovery plans. Regular backups and redundancy measures are essential to protect your app’s data in case of unforeseen events.

24*7 support service: It’s your prime concern to monitor the customer support offered by the web hosting provider. 24/7 support, responsive communication channels, and knowledgeable support staff are vital, especially during critical incidents.

Scalability and Flexibility: Consider your app’s growth trajectory and whether the hosting provider can accommodate increasing demands. Scalable solutions like cloud hosting allow you to easily adjust resources as needed.

Cost and Pricing Structure: Compare pricing plans and consider the overall cost for your app’s requirements. Take note of any hidden fees or additional costs that might arise as your app scales.

User Reviews and Reputation: Look for reviews and feedback from other customers about the hosting provider’s services. Consider the provider’s reputation in the industry and whether they have experience hosting apps similar to yours.

Compliance and Regulations: If your app deals with sensitive data or is subject to specific regulations (e.g., GDPR, HIPAA), ensure that the hosting provider complies with the necessary standards.

Trial Periods and Money-Back Guarantees: Whenever possible, take advantage of trial periods or money-back guarantees to test the hosting provider’s services before committing to a long-term plan.

Migration and Lock-In Policies: Check if the hosting provider offers easy migration options in case you need to move your app to a different provider in the future. Also, be aware of any lock-in policies that might limit your ability to switch providers.

Community and Resources: Some hosting providers have active communities and extensive documentation that can be valuable resources when troubleshooting issues or optimizing your app’s performance.

Read: How to Select the Best Datacenter Location for Your Website?

Steps to implement App Hosting

Implementing app hosting involves setting up the infrastructure and services required to make your application accessible to users over the Internet. Below are the general steps to guide you through the process:

Choose a web hosting provider:

Select a hosting provider that suits your application’s requirements. We are ready to serve our customers 24*7 by offering the best features to host an application.  

Register a Domain Name:

Choose and register a domain name for your application. A domain name is the address that users will use to access your application (e.g., www.example.com).

Set Up a Server:

Depending on your web hosting provider, create a virtual server (such as an AWS EC2 instance or a DigitalOcean droplet) to host your application. This server will run your application code and handle incoming requests.

Based on your hosting requirement you’ve to select the hosting service and ask your web hosting provider to set up a server. However, a server comes with the required environment and libraries for the smooth operation of the application. It also looks after the physical requirement of the application such as the required memory and processor that make sure there are enough resources to manage and access the application’s functions. 

Configure the Server:

Install the necessary software and dependencies required to run your application. This may include web servers (e.g., Apache or Nginx), databases (e.g., MySQL, PostgreSQL), and any other components your app needs.

Deploy Your Application:

Upload your application code and files to the server. If you are using version control, you can use tools like Git to push your code to the server.

Set Up Domain DNS:

Configure your domain’s DNS settings to point to your server’s IP address. This step will link your domain name to your server so that users can access your app using the domain name.

Secure Your Application:

Implement security measures such as SSL certificates (HTTPS) to encrypt data transmission, firewalls, and other security best practices to protect your app from potential threats.

Monitor and Scale:

Set up monitoring tools to track the performance and health of your application. As your app grows, you might need to scale your infrastructure to handle increased traffic. Many hosting providers offer auto-scaling features to manage this automatically.

Regular Backups:

Ensure you have a backup strategy in place to prevent data loss. Regularly back up your data, configurations, and code to a secure location.

Test Your Application:

Before making your application live, thoroughly test it to ensure everything is functioning as expected.

Wrapping Up

It’s time to wrap up the article and it’s suggested that different hosting providers have various interfaces and features, so specific steps may vary depending on your chosen platform.  

By carefully evaluating these factors, you can find the best app hosting provider that suits your application’s needs, provides excellent support, ensures security, and fits within your budget constraints.

Keep in mind your long-term goals and be open to scaling up or migrating to a different provider if necessary.