Domain, hosting and SSL in plain language

When you order a website, three terms always come up: domain, hosting and SSL. A simple comparison helps: the domain is your address, hosting is the house itself, SSL is the lock on the door.

Domain — the website's address

The domain is the name people type into the browser, such as yourcompany.az or yourcompany.com. It is registered for a yearly fee.

The most important rule: the domain must be registered in your name. Otherwise you can lose your address if the relationship with a contractor ends. With SBT Web, the domain is always registered in the customer's name and stays theirs.

Hosting — where the website lives

Hosting is the server that stores the website's files and runs 24 hours a day. On cheap hosting a site loads slowly or goes down from time to time — a bad signal for both customers and Google.

What to check: site speed (under 2–3 seconds), daily backups, and who is responsible when something breaks.

SSL — a secure connection

An SSL certificate encrypts data between the browser and the website. Without it, browsers show a "not secure" warning and Google ranks the site lower. If the address starts with https:// and shows a padlock, SSL is working.

SSL certificates expire and must be renewed. A forgotten renewal is the most common reason a site suddenly looks "unsafe".

All in one place

Buying these three separately, tracking renewal dates and knowing whom to call is an extra burden for a small business. An SBT Web subscription includes the domain (free for the first year), hosting, SSL and daily backups — you focus on your business.