Web servers
Web servers are computers for hosting internet websites and the programs that run in such computers. E-businesses utilize websites for contacting, advertising, and carrying out consumer transactions. E-commerce entails web hosting platforms that serve businesses with services such as processing payment services, security, shopping cart programs, SSL, etc. Web servers can be made available for e-businesses in various way, including hardware servers that which are physical computers that store web data and avail it to visitors when requested by clicks on the internet. They can also be made available through online software servers that operate in the computer’s background with the assistance of Microsoft or Linux OS’. These programs can then be available through the internet by web hosting service providers such as Apache Web Server, IIS, Nginx, and LiteSpeed. Securing web servers from hackers and unauthorized hands involve installing a firewall to protect the server from intrusions and unwarranted communication. The server can also be made secure by segregating and monitoring server logs through regular security check-up. Unusual logs can reveal data on attempts and attacks aimed at the server, informing an individual how to patch it up (Kohout and Pevný, 2015). Also, there should be frequent software updates with the latest software updates that give cybercriminals no time to learn and device a method of intrusion into the network. Also, business owners and the IT department should set privileges and permission, limiting the number of people accessing the server and hence preventing compromise, manipulation, and making audit possible. It is also critical to remove unnecessary services from the server to avoid leaving ports open for exploiters.
Currently, the best web servers for e-commerce are A2 hosting and Site Ground. A2 Hosting offers e-business hosting to everyone using its platform. Some of the web servers like HostGator and Dream Host offer support and help to clients and are easy to use. These web servers are also easily found on the internet and cheap to buy.
A2 Hosting boasts a Turbo server that allows pages to load faster and has SSD storage with unmetered disc space that enables users to have a quick experience. It also has full-time customer service and free security measures such as the SSL certificate in every plan. Its only weakness is its poor uptime guarantee (Farhaoui, 2016). The other reliable web server is Site Ground’s that has plans including free carts, free e-shop transfers, and an optimized server. Its merits include free backups, automatic updates, and full-time support. Its demerits include a low storage plan and a lack of an automated website set up.
Optimization of networks’ availability and security is one of the fundamental ways of making web servers efficient. Some of the ways of doing this is using advanced edge cache capacities which reduce network distances between users and content, applying real-time routing of IP to make use of the best paths between users and the site, optimization of the TCP layers, and applying distributed DNS mechanisms to protect the servers from direct contact with the end-user. Two-factor authentication can be added to the infrastructure to increase security and compliment automatic software and OS updates (Kohout and Pevný, 2015). This way, optimization, and security can improve.