How to Choose the Right Database Hosting Service
Microsoft SQL Server and Access are Two Solutions for Small Websites
Oct 22, 2009
A database hosting service is the backbone for any dynamic website including e-commerce, content sites, or blogs. A poorly designed database design can cause a website to slow to the point where poor performance hurts a reader’s experience. One important factor in performance is choosing the right website hosting service.
Two database applications are available for website owners. Microsoft SQL Server is designed for small to large businesses while MS Access is more advantageous for the small website with few customers or web pages.
Microsoft SQL Server Hosting Service
Microsoft SQL Server hosting is more expensive than other database solutions such as MySQL, but it is also more scalable and the tools that come with the application make it easier for website developers to create better dynamic solutions. Microsoft SQL Server hosting is most beneficial for website owners who plan to extend the website to more advanced features.
For instance, an MS_SQL Server hosting solution lets a small e-commerce site with only a few products extend its storefront to thousands of products. Website owners can also save thousands and even millions of customer records and retrieve the information within seconds, making the web application fast for visitors.
Microsoft Access for Websites
Microsoft Access is a small database application included with the Microsoft Office Suite. The software is beneficial for those website owners who only have a small amount of products and customers. Microsoft Access is an application that is made for those website owners who can’t afford a personal software programmer and need to do all the reporting, software design, and maintenance on their own.
The disadvantage of using Microsoft Access as a solution for dynamic content is that it is not scalable if the company grows. It can become a bottleneck in performance if the website expands and grows beyond a small business. If large queries or storage is needed, Microsoft Access can take several minutes to perform the request, which is inefficient for website readers.
Choosing a Database Hosting Service
Although Microsoft SQL Server hosting appears to be the best solution, if the website will not grow beyond a small content or e-commerce site, the cost associated might not be necessary. Several factors should be considered before deciding on the best database hosting service.
- Small, personal websites selling a few products can use Microsoft Access programming for dynamic content
- Business websites that plan to grow should consider Microsoft SQL Server hosting for scalability
- Websites with a high volume of visitors should purchase MS SQL Server hosting
- Small startup companies with limited funds can use MS Access and expand to SQL Server when funds are available
- SQL Server hosting is better for web applications with a lot of customizations since they are more easily customized by programmers
Database hosting services have become a requirement for any modern website. Without a database, a company is unable to serve content rich, dynamic web pages to visitors. When choosing a service, ensure the most efficient choice is used, or website visitors may leave the site due to poor performance.
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