The Engine for Growing Small and Medium Businesses Simply stated, Web hosting is a combination of the hardware, software, connectivity and services that "house" or "host" a Web site on secure servers located in a data center. By hosting its Web site, a business can affordably leverage the power of a high-speed network, around-the-clock expert support and security, and state-of-the-art technology. Now, small and medium size businesses are positioned to enter new markets via the Web and tackle the Goliaths. At Ibangla, we see Web hosting as the engine for growing a small and medium size business. In mere minutes and with minimal capital investment, business can harness the power of the Internet and the Web to reach and service new customers across the globe, generate more revenue, increase efficiency, enhance customer service, and improve communications. But how do small and medium sized businesses realize the benefits of the Internet and turn on their Web engine? It's easy - by outsourcing their Web hosting needs to a hosting service provider, or HSP. By turning to a HSP, small and medium businesses now can quickly, easily, and affordably launch, run and grow an effective Web presence. In fact, more than 60 percent of companies outsourced their Web sites in 2000. For example, Ibangla is a HSP offering products and services to help make Web hosting a reality for small and medium businesses. The company offers shared hosting plans, virtual dedicated and dedicated hosting plans, business applications hosting, value-added services and more - coupled with a commitment to customer care. Web hosting is enabling businesses around the world to turn on their online engine to reach new profits, markets and success via their Web site. The opportunity is growing with each passing day. The Internet has revolutionized the very way in which we live and work. Originally envisioned as supporting a range of functions such as file sharing and remote computer logins, the Internet has spawned innovations such as electronic mail and the World Wide Web. As a result, a global mechanism now exists for information dissemination, collaboration, marketing and e-commerce. And, the Internet has triggered the "third wave" of computing. The "first wave" saw centralized, mainframe computing, while the "second wave" is marked by the introduction of the personal computer, or PC, and decentralized computing. While the first and second waves increased computing capabilities, both had significant drawbacks for small and medium businesses. Both models required a heavy financial investment and a high degree of technical expertise. The "Goliaths" of the business world clearly had the advantage - they could afford the financial and human investment required to efficiently leverage computing technologies to grow their business and market share. But the "third wave" - Internet-centric computing - has moved the power of computing to the network while simultaneously removing the barriers confronting small and medium businesses. The epicenter of the "third wave" is Web hosting. Additional information Shared vs. Managed Dedicated Hosting What is a Server Operating System? Domain Name