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Domains, hosting & SSL
Understand the basics behind getting a website online, from choosing a domain name to hosting and securing your site with SSL.
What are these things?
Domain name
Your website address, such as yourbusiness.co.uk. It helps people find you online.
Hosting
The service that stores your website files and makes them available on the internet.
SSL
A security certificate that helps protect data and shows visitors that your site uses a secure connection.
How they work together
These parts have different jobs, but they work together to make your website accessible and secure.
01 Domain name
You register a domain name, for example yourbusiness.co.uk.
02 DNS points to hosting
Your domain’s DNS settings direct visitors to the server or service where your website is hosted.
03 Hosting serves the website
Your hosting environment stores and delivers the website’s files and data.
04 SSL secures the connection
An SSL/TLS certificate encrypts the connection between your website and its visitors.
Good to know
Your domain and hosting do not have to be bought from the same company. Keeping track of where each service is managed is more important than keeping everything with one provider.
Choosing a domain name
Your domain should be easy to remember, easy to type and appropriate for the people you want to reach.
Keep it simple and easy to spell
Short, clear and memorable names are easier for people to find and remember.
Choose an extension that suits your audience
Common choices include .co.uk, .com and other country-specific or specialist extensions. Choose one that makes sense for your business and audience.
Avoid names that are too long or confusing
Hyphens, numbers and unusual spellings can make a domain harder to say, type or share.
Check availability and renew it on time
Make sure the name is available before building your brand around it, and keep the registration renewed so you do not lose it.
A note on domain ownership
Where possible, the business should be the registrant or have clear access to the registrar account. If a designer or agency registers the domain for you, make sure ownership, login access and renewal responsibilities are agreed from the start.
Types of hosting
There are several types of hosting, each suited to different needs. The names and packages vary between providers, but these are common examples.
| Type | Best for | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Shared hosting | Small websites and starters | Lower cost, but your site shares server resources with other websites. |
| VPS hosting | Growing websites or users needing more control | A virtual private server provides more dedicated resources and control than shared hosting. |
| Managed hosting | Businesses wanting less technical upkeep | The provider handles more of the server management, updates, security or support, depending on the package. |
| Cloud hosting | Sites needing flexibility or scalability | Uses distributed infrastructure and can scale resources as demand changes. |
What to look for in a hosting provider
There are several types of hosting, each suited to different needs. The names and packages vary between providers, but these are common examples.
- Reliable uptime and a good support reputation.
- Backups, including how often they run and how restores work.
- SSL/TLS support, ideally included and renewed automatically.
- Enough storage, bandwidth and server resources for your website.
- Clear pricing, including what happens when an introductory offer ends.
- A sensible route to upgrade if the website grows.
What SSL does
SSL stands for Secure Sockets Layer, although modern secure connections use the newer TLS technology. The term ‘SSL certificate’ is still commonly used. Its main job is to help secure the connection between a website and its visitors.
Encrypts data between the site and visitor
It helps protect information sent between a visitor’s browser and your website from being read in transit.
Helps build trust
Visitors expect modern websites to use a secure connection, particularly when they are entering personal or payment information.
Usually shown by HTTPS in the browser
A secured website uses https:// rather than http://. Browsers may also show a security indicator in the address bar.
Important for forms, logins and payments
HTTPS should be used across the whole website, not only on pages that collect sensitive information.
Do you need to buy an SSL certificate?
Often, no. Many hosting providers include SSL/TLS certificates and manage renewal automatically. Free certificates are also available through services such as Let’s Encrypt. Check what your hosting package includes before paying for a separate certificate.
Before you buy
Ask these questions before registering a domain or choosing a hosting provider.
Who will own and manage the domain?
Who will manage the website and hosting account?
Do you need email hosting too, and is it included or separate?
How much traffic and storage are you likely to need?
Will the website need more resources as the business grows?
Is technical support included and how is it provided?
Are backups included, and can you restore them easily?
Are renewal prices and cancellation or transfer terms clear?
Is SSL/TLS included and automatically renewed?
Further reading
Trusted sources for learning more about domains, website security and SSL/TLS.
ICANN – About domain names
A beginner-friendly explanation of domain names and the Domain Name System (DNS).
National Cyber Security Centre – Cyber security advice for small and medium-sized organisations
UK guidance on protecting websites, accounts, devices and business data.
Let’s Encrypt – Getting started
Explains free SSL/TLS certificates and how they are commonly provided and managed.
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