how to choose web hosting - part 3

13. Site Backup

There are times when a site crashes. Perhaps a hacker got into your WordPress blog and replaced your index.php file, or your entire database got nuked, or the server had a severe hard disk failure.
If your web host does site backups regularly then there is nothing to worry about when these incidents happen.
Your hosting provider should be able to restore back your full (or at least, a big chunk of) site in no time.
On backups, here are a few key questions to ask your web host:
*.Does your web host provide full backups regularly?
*.Can site backup be done easily via the control panel?
*.Can you create auto backup your site easily via cron job or other program?
*.Can you restore your backup files by yourself easily (so you don’t have to wait for the support staffs to do it for you during disaster time)?

14. An Easy-to-use Hosting Control Panel

A user-friendly and functional hosting control panel is very, very important.
It doesn’t matter if it’s a cPanel or a Plesk or a third party control panels (like what we have at GoDaddy) – we are okay as long as it is user-friendly and come with all the necessary functions. Without an adequate control panel, you will be left at the mercy of the hosting tech support staff – even if all you need is some basic server changes.
I once had an account with IX Web Hosting, though it’s not a bad host – multiple dedicated IPs at a very reasonable price plus great tech support – but I had to cancel my account because it’s custom control panel is such a pain in the ass.

15. Does The Web Host Provide 24/7 Live Chat Support?

Personally I prefer live chat over phone, feel free to change this factor to “24/7 Telephone Support” if you think otherwise. What we want is someone who can throw us the life saving rope instantly when we press the S.O.S button.
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