Private Hosting Options – Must Have Features for Complete Hosting Privacy

Updated March 20th, 2019

Choosing private hosting means much more than finding a host that supports privacy and which is committed to secure web hosting – it means choosing a private hosting option that has the right balance of performance, support, server management, plus tier 1 hardware, software and networking.  Use private hosting to secure your business and start resting easy, knowing your hosting is handled with safety and privacy in mind.

What is Private Hosting

Private hosting is where all hosting files, databases and emails are secured so as to be unreadable by anyone in the outside world. In other words, if the computer(s) containing those private files, databases and emails were physically accessed by unauthorized means, they would be encrypted and completely unusable.

Security Choices for Private Hosting

Private hosting means separating ones files, emails and databases from everyone else.  You cannot make hosting private if it’s not separated from everyone else, so security is paramount.

Traditional shared web hosting is historically not private.  Systems used to be setup so that, under certain circumstances, the ‘private’ matters of one hosting account could be compromised by another account on the same server hardware.  For some hosting companies, that’s still the case.  However, at KnownHost, we isolate all accounts so that our shared cloud hosting can be kept separate from all other accounts.

VPS and Cloud VPS hardware is much easier to control, separate, and make private.  Each instance of the operating system is completely unique to each account, effectively giving total control and complete privacy – just like with a dedicated server.  KnownHost VPS and Cloud VPS can be made fully private hosting – ideal for small to medium sized companies wanting privacy and to minimize costs.

Dedicated, the Ultimate for Privacy

Dedicated servers are the ultimate for private web hosting.  With a dedicated server, all aspects of security and privacy can be controlled by the private hosting account customer.  If you’ve got the budget available, choose dedicated servers for the maximum in hosting privacy and security controls.

Must-Have Private Hosting Features

Limiting access is the number one requirement of private hosting.  When no one else can access your files, emails and databases, your system is private.

Encryption is the number two requirement of privacy.  Keeping people away from your hosting items (access) is great, but there are unforeseen circumstances such as physical attacks, novel hacks, etc, that cannot be prevented 100%.  While we make incredible efforts, access limitations aren’t enough – you need encryption.  This article can’t possibly cover all the steps/methods detailing how to implement it, but suffice it to say – you need encryption if you demand privacy!

High specification equipment is a must if you want private hosting with page speeds that aren’t a snooze-fest.  The extra load placed with full encryption can tax budget systems.  You can get cheap private hosting that’s slow.  Or, you can pony up the cash, spend a couple of extra dollars per month, and get a blazing fast private hosting system that feels snappy, with instant page loads.  Don’t settle for less.  Don’t shop for the cheapest private solution you can find.  Instead look for the most performance at a reasonable price.

Privacy Pitfalls to Avoid when Hosting

While making private any of the databases, files and emails against outside intruders, via encryption, is a great thing, there’s one piece of the puzzle not mentioned – inside intruders.  Yes, despite the fact that hosting companies have the keys to the vault (in most cases), when it comes to private hosting, you must make sure that you’re protected against internal threats as well.  This means changing root passwords anytime a system has been accessed and keeping private keys on local private machines and not laying about on the server.  Privacy takes a lot of effort to do well.

Find out more about what you can do with your hosting account and how to do it at our hosting wiki.