The truth about hosting: 12 myths it's time to stop believing

Myth №1. «Virtual hosting is dangerous».

Some people believe that if many websites are hosted on a single server, this automatically poses a security risk to the hosted websites. In the past, there were indeed cases where one compromised website could affect others, but now the situation is different. Innovative virtualisation and user isolation technologies make this type of hosting quite reliable — provided that it is provided by a professional provider.

Why modern virtual hosting (VPS) is a secure option:

• Account isolation: customer websites are separated from each other, so hacking one resource does not threaten others.
• Regular updates and protection: modern control panels and antivirus systems are constantly updated, eliminating potential vulnerabilities.
• Backup: data from the server is stored in copies, allowing you to quickly restore your website in case of failure.
• Monitoring and support: professional providers monitor server performance around the clock and respond quickly to suspicious activity.

All these principles are implemented at Maxnet: servers have modern DDOS protection and are constantly monitored, user data is isolated and stored in backups, and support is available 24/7. Therefore, VPS is not a risk, but an optimal combination of security, stability and economy that is suitable for most websites.

Myth №2. «100% uptime is possible».

At first glance, it seems that modern technology allows servers to operate continuously without any downtime. But even in the world's best data centres, there is always a small risk of short downtimes due to maintenance, system updates, unexpected network or power failures.

Why 100% uptime is a myth:

• Technical work: even reliable servers require updates, equipment replacement, or security system checks.
• Physical risks: power outages, cooling system failures, fires, or accidents in the data centre — although rare, they are possible.
• Network factors: routing, DDoS attacks, and problems with global Internet providers can temporarily affect availability.
• Human factor: even automated systems are administered by people, and mistakes happen — for example, during updates or configuration.

The maximum achievable indicator for high-quality hosting is 99.99% uptime. This means less than 5 minutes of downtime per month — practically imperceptible to users, but technically honest. Even leading cloud platforms — such as Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud, or Microsoft Azure — experience large-scale failures from time to time. For example, on 20 October 2025, AWS took down thousands of services around the world due to a DNS error in its US-EAST-1 zone.

How Maxnet solves this:

• -  Our virtual dedicated servers (VDS) are located in modern data centres with backup power and monitoring systems.
• -  All key elements are duplicated to minimise risk.
• -  Scheduled updates are performed during off-peak hours.

Therefore, 100% system uptime is a good marketing promise, but not a technical reality. A reliable hosting provider is not one that promises perfection, but one that provides stability, transparency, and quick response in the event of any failures.

Myth №3. «You don't have to choose paid hosting, because there are free options».

At first glance, free hosting seems like a great way to save money: your website works, and you don't spend any money. But usually, free means compromising on quality, security, and control over your own resources.

Disadvantages of free hosting:

• Limited resources: small amount of memory, traffic limits, restrictions on large files or databases — the website quickly outgrows such conditions.
• Low speed: websites are hosted on overloaded servers, where hundreds of users share the same resources.
• Advertising or third-party branding: the provider may insert banners, logos, or even their own links on your website without your consent.
• Low security: no backups, SSL certificates, or technical support — this poses a risk of data loss or hacking.
• No guarantees: free hosting can be shut down at any time or your website can be deleted without warning.

Therefore, free hosting is not an absolute alternative to paid hosting: it may only be suitable for test pages or educational projects, but not for businesses, online shops, or even personal portfolios. Renting a server from Maxnet is not just a «paid alternative», but a guarantee of stability, security, and control over your website.

Myth №4. «The more expensive the hosting, the better the result».

In reality, a high price does not guarantee that you really need all the resources or that the service is perfectly configured. Many websites start out modestly, and there is no point in overpaying «just in case». What is more important is how many resources your website actually requires, not just how many views it gets.

What to do:

• Estimate how much traffic, what features, and how many media files you will have.
• Choose a plan that covers these needs with room to spare, but without a lot of «extras».
• And pay attention to support, guaranteed speed, system backup, and the ability to upgrade to a larger plan when necessary.

When ordering hosting from Maxnet, you can start with the basic tariff and then easily scale up: you don't overpay for resources that you don't currently use, but you have the opportunity to grow — this is especially convenient for start-ups or personal projects.

Myth №5. «If the website is small, you can get cheap hosting».

Some owners of small websites believe that it is enough to get the cheapest hosting and everything will work. But this is not the case: cheap plans may have limitations (e.g., slower disks, a large number of other websites on the same server, low support priority). As a result, your website may run slowly or freeze, especially if traffic increases sharply. In other words, even a «small» website deserves reliable professional hosting.

When choosing paid hosting, pay attention not only to the price, but also to:

• The type of drives (SSD/NVMe).
• How many other websites are on the server (the fewer, the better).
• The provider's reputation.
• The response speed of customer support.

Maxnet offers tariff plans that are optimised for different tasks — and even with the lowest tariff, you will receive high-quality features and support. Therefore, there is no need to limit yourself to the minimum, but you should choose wisely.

Myth №6. «Website speed does not depend on hosting speed».

A powerful server is only part of the equation. If a website is overloaded with plugins, unoptimised code, or large images, it can be slow even on the best hosting.

What affects website speed:

• Image and code optimization.
• Caching, content delivery network (CDN).
• Server location.
• Performance tests after updates.

At Maxnet, servers run on fast NVMe drives, with modern versions of PHP, caching, and a stable network. This allows us to create a fast environment for your website.

Myth №7. «An SSL certificate is not necessary — the main thing is that the website works».

Some people believe that SSL is only for shops or large companies, and that it is an unnecessary formality for ordinary websites. In fact, a security certificate is important for all websites, as it encrypts data transmission between the user and the server, protecting even a simple feedback form.

In addition, websites without HTTPS are now marked as «unsafe» by browsers and may lose user trust and search rankings.

What to do:

• Install a free SSL certificate (e.g., Let's Encrypt) or purchase an extended one if you need additional verification.
• Ensure that your hosting provider automatically renews the certificate and supports HTTPS connections.

At Maxnet, you can connect an SSL certificate in just a few clicks, and the system will automatically take care of the rest, ensuring a secure connection and the trust of your visitors.

Myth №8. «The choice of hosting does not depend on the CMS on which the website is built».

In fact, this is not the case. The platform on which the website is built directly influences which hosting will be best for it. Different CMSs have their own technical requirements: some require a specific version of PHP or database, others require additional modules or caching support. For example, WordPress works great even on a basic plan if the server is optimised for it, while Magento requires a much more powerful environment. If the hosting does not meet these requirements, the website may run slowly, with errors, or not start at all.

What to look for when choosing hosting for CMS:

• Technical compatibility: make sure that the server supports the required versions of PHP, databases, and necessary extensions.
• Performance: optimised hosting will ensure fast website performance even under high load.
• Security: specialised hosting has protection against typical attacks specific to a particular CMS.
• Convenience: the ability to automatically install the system, updates and backups greatly simplifies your work.
• Support: a technical team that knows the specifics of CMS will help you solve problems faster.

Maxnet takes this into account: our servers support the latest versions of PHP, databases, and extensions required for popular CMS. Therefore, regardless of whether your website is built on WordPress, OpenCart, or another platform, you will get stable, secure, and fast performance without unnecessary configuration.

Myth №9. «Hosting has absolutely no effect on SEO — only content matters».

If you think that writing great content and optimising images is all there is to SEO, and that hosting doesn't matter, you're wrong. In fact, website loading speed, stability, and uptime are factors that search engines take into account. If a website takes a long time to load or crashes frequently, this has a negative impact on the user, and search engines may «downgrade» such websites.

When choosing a hosting provider, consider the following:

• How long does your page take to load (test after launch)?
• How often does downtime occur — what does the provider say?
• Whether the hosting has a configured cache, CDN (if necessary).

Maxnet's plans provide modern servers and sufficient speed to have a positive impact on SEO — you don't just «manage content», you have a foundation on which it works effectively.

Myth №10. «Registered hosting will stay with me forever».

Previously, hosting was suitable when the website was simple. But as the project grows, new requirements may arise (more traffic, new features, integrations), and the tariff may become a limitation. In such cases, it is worth having the option of a painless transition to a larger tariff or another platform.

It is better to make sure that:

• The provider allows you to easily scale the tariff.
• There is the possibility of migration without significant losses or downtime.
• Support helps with the transition (e.g., transferring databases, files, settings).

When choosing plans at Maxnet, you get the opportunity to grow — when the site has «grown», you can switch to a more productive plan without having to rebuild everything from scratch.

Myth №11. «If the website is working, then everything is fine with the hosting, so there is no need to check it».

Without regular monitoring, testing, and backups, even a website that appears to be working at first glance may encounter problems (for example, something may break after a plugin update, the server may experience downtime, or the backups may not work). Stability is not a static ‘set it and forget it’ process, but rather an ongoing one.

What to do:

• Set up simple page load tests.
• Check the server response time.
• Make sure that the backups are working and that the website can be restored — run a test.

Maxnet's hosting service includes support and monitoring, which means you have backup and are not left alone with technical issues.

Myth №12. «A large hosting provider automatically means better quality».

In reality, scale does not always mean quality. A large provider may have many subscribers, high loads, long support queues, and standard rates that are not always tailored to your needs. On the contrary, a local or specialised provider can offer a more personalised approach, quick response times, and customised service.

When choosing a hosting company, it is worth paying attention to:

• Real customer reviews of hosting providers.
• How quickly support responds.
• Whether the provider offers solutions tailored to the local market (language, payment, etc.).

Maxnet is focused on the Ukrainian and European markets, with support in Ukrainian and local infrastructure — this can be an advantage for many customers compared to international giants.

Instead of believing images with attractive rates or marketing slogans, approach choosing the best hosting provider as you would choosing a place to live: you don't need a fancy palace when a comfortable flat will suffice, but you shouldn't settle for a basement if you plan to grow. Choose a quality provider that offers its own infrastructure, support, and growth opportunities.

And if you need a reliable hosting partner, Maxnet offers rates that are suitable for start-ups, business websites and other projects. You will get not only a «place on the internet», but also support, scalability, local infrastructure — everything you need to be online without any hassle.