If you are a Windows web developer and use technologies such as ASP.NET and Microsoft SQL Server then you will realize the importance of Windows web hosting as Windows hosting plans will be the only real choice for you. If you haven’t used Windows web technologies before then you will find that there are very close ties between the technologies that you use to develop web applications and the operating system itself, providing you with an architecture that will enable you to make the most of what you have at your disposal so that you can create feature-rich web applications. Another primary reason for selecting Windows hosting services is the additional services that are offered alongside many Windows hosting plans; a good example of this would be Microsoft Exchange Hosting – Exchange is a enterprise-class messaging and collaboration platform that provides you with more than just email, including features such as calendars and contact management – because in the business world this application can cost a lot if it is to be deployed by a single business, but in a hosting environment this will allow business customers to save money whilst having access to one of the most powerful messaging solutions available. Although Windows hosting plans generally cost more than Linux hosting solutions of a similar specification, there is added reassurance with using a commercial product because you can be sure that Microsoft will provide Windows servers with updates regularly.

What can Windows hosting offer me over Linux hosting?

Windows hosting services can provide you with a number of exclusive features that aren’t available with Linux services; it is usually these features that sway many businesses towards choosing Windows hosting over a similar Linux service. Some of these exclusive features include:

• Scripting language support – one of the most attractive features of Windows web hosting for many web developers is the support that is offered for a vast array of scripting languages and frameworks – the main scripting framework used by developers for the Windows platform is ASP.NET as this has also been developed by Microsoft and therefore has close ties with the operating system, allowing you to develop highly functional web applications that can tap into the operating system to offer you scalability and security – however, if you wish to develop websites in other languages to run alongside your ASP websites then a majority of Windows web hosting plans also come with support languages that you may typically associate with the Linux platform, such as PHP and Perl
• Database support – as well as support for an array of scripting languages, Windows hosting plans are also able to offer support for a number of different database systems to meet the needs of businesses that may be using applications that may have specific requirements – Microsoft SQL Server is an enterprise-class database application that has been developed by Microsoft and is aimed at businesses that require scalability and a database system that will be able to cope with high load spikes and as this is a Microsoft application, it will only work with servers running the Windows operating system – Microsoft Access is seen as more of a desktop database application, although these databases can also be used with Windows web hosting packages when used web applications, furthermore you can also expect any good Windows web hosting plan to provide support for MySQL Server
• Security – a Windows web hosting server will provide you with a more secure hosting environment as opposed to a Linux hosting server because of the fact that Microsoft releases updates for the operating system on a regular basis to counter any security threats as they arise, whereas Linux is an open source operating system meaning that updates to the system aren’t guaranteed on a regular basis meaning that if a security hole is discovered, it could take a while for any form of patch to become available and during this time hackers are going to be able to devise plans to compromise servers that feature such security holes.

Are there any disadvantages of Windows hosting for me to be aware of?

You should be aware of the fact that a Windows web hosting plan will cost you more than a Linux web hosting service of a similar specification. Although this may appear to be a disadvantage at first, the reasoning behind it is because Windows is a commercial product and this means that for as long as the version of the operating system that your web hosting provider is using is supported, updates will be released on a regular basis to ensure that servers are protected against the latest security threats.

Although Windows does offer support for scripting languages that you would typically associate with Linux platforms, it should be noted that the support offered is likely to be very limited when compared to what Linux can offer. Even though PHP functions perfectly well on a Windows servers, some third-party modules that have been designed to work with the core of the language may not work on Windows and if they do they may not provide the intended functionality. It is recommended that Windows hosting is chosen primarily for the hosting of ASP.NET websites and that if you are using a scripting language that is supported by the Linux platform, that you choose a Linux hosting package as a means of meeting your requirements and saving yourself some money in the process.

In conclusion, Windows web hosting plans should be considered in situations where you require the use of features that are specific to the Windows operating system, such as the support for ASP.NET and Microsoft SQL Server databases that is offered. Windows web hosting plans are offered by a majority of web hosting companies so finding a web hosting plan that meets your individual requirements should be simple – the hard part may be finding a web hosting company that will be able to provide you with the comprehensive support that you wish for from any web hosting company as indeed this can be hard to find.

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