How to choose an email hosting provider for your business The Key 5 Features [2023]
June 18, 2021Guess what? Email is still important. And it is not going away anytime soon.
Email hosting is often taken for granted, but if you're running a business, it's a crucial component of your IT infrastructure. This guide gives you an easy-to-use framework to use when choosing an email hosting provider for your business.
It is still the primary channel of communication for businesses and organizations of all sizes. According to Statista, a whopping 376.4 billion emails were sent and received daily in 2025.
Email hosting is very much like web hosting services. Setting up an email account is simple – sign up with a service provider, buy a web hosting account, and set up your mailboxes. However, Getting free email services from Google or Yahoo is not the best choice for a professional business as it won’t always deliver on everyday business needs.
Finding a professional email hosting provider or a business email hosting service is relatively easier nowadays. However, because there are so many providers available online, it has become somewhat of a tough science research project to choose the right one for your business.
This article will walk you through the key 5 features you need to be looking for in any email hosting service and how to choose the right email provider for your business.
1. Uptime
We live in an always-on world. Therefore, downtime is a killer. An hour of downtime can cost your business thousands of dollars. According to a report by IDC, It was found that nearly 80% of SMEs lose $20,000 or more per hour of downtime. More than 20% reported that it costs their business at least $100,000.
Therefore, you need to find an email hosting service that keeps your email up and available at all times.
2. Security
Email content protection is considered to be a top concern for organizations looking for their next email solution. Companies that encounter hacking leaks have been in a lot of financial trouble. For instance, in 2014, a hacker group leaked a release of confidential data from Sony Pictures, including important emails. The company paid $8 million to its employees for the damage caused by the hack of the firm’s computers.
Clients and stakeholders need to have faith in the integrity of your business. This is because they are entrusting you with confidential information such as email addresses, names, and even financial information.
Small business owners should look for email hosts who offer advanced information protection tools. Specifically, integrated features such as anti-malware, anti-spam, sensitive data security, and data loss prevention capabilities should be in place.
3. Support
The best email hosting services provide you with assistance whenever you need it. Reliable customer service is a required given, this includes 24/7 support that can be received via email, call and live chat.
Support often varies depending on your email hosting plan. However, you should be on the lookout for companies that ensure that your queries and issues are handled long-term with utmost care.
The most reliable email hosting providers will not only allow you to contact them at any time but will also allow you to speak to real, live email experts from your region when an issue arises.
4. Storage
Although sometimes you might need to sort out a cluttered email inbox, there are some important email messages that you can’t delete. And so, you should look for an email hosting service that provides adequate storage for archiving important emails. Specifically, this can be an established archiving system in place.
You need to look for a hosting service that is capable of keeping all your data in one place while having the opportunity to automatically archive old data. Your host should also guarantee access to all archived files. In addition, archived data should be protected with regular backups and disaster recovery services.
5. Ease of use
When looking for email hosting services, look for companies that offer easy-to-use web-based interfaces. Simple to use interfaces provide businesses with the flexibility needed. Which enables the completion of administrative tasks promptly.
A high-performing solution combines ease of use with reliable help desk support. Explore LDC’s email hosting services or contact us now for more info.