The concept of databases existed long before the term “big data” was coined. Every website relies heavily on databases to run efficiently.
Unfortunately, big data has created some new challenges, although it has opened many doors in other ways. As database sizes grow, websites can have a harder time accessing the data that they need. As a result, website managers have been responding to the growing changes wrought by big data by finding more eloquent database solutions.
You can also use cPanels to improve encryption. This is very important in an era where data privacy laws have become far more stringent.
One of the biggest ways to address big data concerns is by employing new cPanel hacks. These hacks can make it easier to connect with the database, which allows websites to streamline their operations.
Using cPanel Hacks to Get the Most Out of Big Data
There are a few ways that cPanels can be great for leveraging your data more effectively:
- You can streamline access to databases and extract data more quickly
- You can use encryption to better secure data
- You can access a variety of tools and add-ons that are compatible with big data
If you have recently made a new website, or have an existing site that you’d like to have hosted with a new web host, then there are hundreds of different companies to choose from but you need to be sure that you are picking from the best web hosting providers.
Hosting is a huge business, and you will find a wide range of different hosting options for your websites including shared hosting, VPS (virtual private server) hosting and even the option for a dedicated server, which is the top end of the web hosting spectrum.
Working out what hosting you need
Not all types of hosting are the same, and the majority of users will be more suited to the shared hosting option, which is where a server is shared amongst hundreds or even thousands of users, who each have a share of the server resources such as disc space, data transfer, email accounts and much more.
If you have a relatively small website, or are creating your first site, then shared hosting is going to be the best option for you. It’s very affordable, and you won’t need to have any technical experience or knowledge to get started with it.
Managing your shared hosting account
Most web hosts offer a selection of shared hosting packages, each with different levels of disc space, add-on domains and other functions. If you are looking to host a single website, then the basic shared hosting package should be ideal for you. If you are interested in looking at some detailed comparisons of web hosts, then head over to the Fortune Lords website, which is full of helpful advice.
The most popular management system for shared hosting is cPanel. It’s a very powerful and easy to use system which gives you full control of every aspect of your hosting account, from the ability to add additional domain names, create email accounts, set up databases and everything in between.
Using cPanel
At first glance, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed when opening cPanel for the first time. There are a huge choice of different sections and options, and you may understandably be anxious about what you see in front of you. Don’t despair, as there are only a few options that you will need to use.
As mentioned earlier, cPanel is an extremely powerful system, and there are a lot of features inside that even power users won’t need. However, for the sake of being the most complete hosting management solution, everything that one could possibly need is included in the system.
The first thing you need to do is to add your domain name to the hosting account. You will first need to update the name servers on your domain name so that it points to the server. When you sign up for your hosting account, you will receive a welcome email with all of your account details, as well as the name servers that you need to use.
Updating these is a very easy process. Just pop over to the registrar when you registered your domain name, and go into the settings for that domain and simply update the nameservers with the ones provided by your host. Once you’ve done this, it could take between 24-48 hours for the name server propagation to complete, during which time, you might not be able to do much or see your site live.
Hidden features of cPanel
There are lots of useful options and functions for you to use inside your cPanel, including a couple of very powerful options that can really help you and your website. You can use them to access databases a lot more easily.
Be warned that not all web hosts will include all possible features inside the cPanel they provide for their hosting, so if you do want to take full advantage, its best to do a little research before signing up to a host.
Importance of SSL
We all know that security and privacy are vital in the digital world, which is why it is important that all websites are operating under the https protocol. This is where the website connection is secure. You will often see a green padlock icon in the browser search bar when visiting a website that is running securely. If you are running any type of e-commerce website, or one where you are collecting private information, running under the https protocol is essential.
Google even got into the act a couple of years ago, and stated that they would start placing greater emphasis in the search engine results on websites who were running securely, rather than those who were not.
To run your site under https you will need to create an SSL certificate. You can purchase these from lots of places including your domain registrar or even specialized security websites that offer nothing but such certificates. The problem is that they can be expensive, and if you are running a number of websites, the cost can soon start adding up, even if you go with the cheapest SSL certificates, which you can pick up for around $10 a year each.
Let’s Encrypt – Setting up your SSL certificates
We mentioned earlier that encryption has become a lot more important during the big data era. This is particularly true as new data privacy laws are rolled out every few months.
The “Let’s Encrypt” program, which is installed on a large number of cPanel installations, allows you to create SSL certificates for all of your domains at no cost. The setup is an extremely easy process – much easier than if you were purchasing them from another company and then going through the set up process.
With “Let’s Encrypt”, once you’ve set up the initial certificate, that’s it. Everything else will take care of itself, including the automatic renewal of certificates when they expire.
Not all hosts will offer this in their cPanel, as some would prefer you to purchase SSL certificates from them at a cost. So it’s a good idea to check with a host beforehand if they offer “Let’s Encrypt” in their cPanel before signing up for a hosting contract.
There are alternative ways in which you can create SSL certificates for no cost, such as via a CDN (content distribution network), but if you are able to sign up for hosting which include “Let’s Encrypt” as part of the cPanel, then this is going to be the easiest way.
cPanel Hacks are Critical to Data-Driven Websites
Big data is a driving force for modern websites. As the need for new data solutions grows, the role of cPanels has never been more important.
Running your website securely is a very important thing to take into consideration, and for a single site, even if you have to purchase an SSL certificate, then it is a worthwhile cost. However, if you run multiple websites or offer hosting for your clients, then purchasing an individual certificate will cost a fair amount.
At the end of the day, privacy is important and having a secure website is vital in today’s day and age. But with “Let’s Encrypt” installed on your cPanel shared hosting, it makes things a lot more economical and easier to do.
