Category: Hosting, cPanel & Site Administration
Audience: Clients of Thomas McKee Website Design & SEO Solutions using managed WordPress or business hosting.
Goal: Explain what web hosting is, how your server environment works, and how to use it confidently and safely.
Every modern website relies on a web-hosting environment — the digital space where your files, emails, and databases live.
At Thomas McKee Website Design & SEO Solutions, your hosting is managed on high-performance LiteSpeed Enterprise servers with advanced security and daily backups.
This article explains what hosting does, how our system is structured, and what you can (and shouldn’t) change in your cPanel account. Understanding these basics will help you keep your site secure, fast, and reliable.
Server: A powerful computer that stores your website data.
Operating System: AlmaLinux 9 — optimized for stability and compatibility.
Web Server Software: LiteSpeed Enterprise for speed and scalability.
Database Server: MariaDB/MySQL to store dynamic content.
PHP Processor: Handles WordPress and plugin functionality.
Your website shares a server with others, keeping costs low while maintaining speed through LiteSpeed caching. Ideal for most small businesses.
Multiple cPanel accounts under one master account. Perfect for agencies or multi-brand owners.
Virtual Private Servers and Dedicated Servers provide isolated resources for larger businesses or e-commerce sites. We handle setup and management for these environments.
We’ve engineered our hosting for security, reliability, and performance.
| Layer | Technology | Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Web Server | LiteSpeed Enterprise | Faster than Apache or NGINX |
| Operating System | AlmaLinux 9 | Stable, enterprise-grade |
| Security | Imunify360 + CSF Firewall | Malware protection, brute-force prevention |
| Caching | LiteSpeed Cache + Redis | Speeds up WordPress by storing pre-built pages |
| Backups | JetBackup (daily, off-server) | Instant restoration when needed |
| CDN | Cloudflare Integration | Global delivery, DDoS protection |
| SSL | Let’s Encrypt Auto-Renew | Secure HTTPS connections |
These systems work together automatically; no manual action is required from you.
Enter the username and password provided in your welcome email.
Click Log In.
If you host with us, you can access cPanel directly through the Client Portal Dashboard — one click, no extra login needed.
Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) inside cPanel under Security → Two-Factor Authentication. This adds an extra layer of protection against unauthorized access.
Your cPanel dashboard shows:
CPU Usage
Memory (RAM)
Entry Processes
Disk Space
Bandwidth
These metrics indicate how much of your allocated resources your site is currently using.
Occasional spikes are normal (e.g., during updates).
If limits are exceeded regularly, contact our support team — we can adjust allocations or optimize your configuration.
Used if your hosting plan supports multiple sites.
Go to Domains → Add on Domains.
Enter the domain name and assign a directory (e.g., /public_html/addon).
Subdomains create sections of your main site, such as blog.yourdomain.com.
Navigate to Domains → Subdomains to create one.
Set redirects in Domains → Redirects for SEO-friendly URL changes.
SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) encrypts communication between your website and visitors.
All sites we host receive free Let’s Encrypt SSL certificates that renew automatically.
Visit your site using https://.
Look for the padlock icon in the browser address bar.
If a warning appears, contact us — it may be a mixed-content or propagation issue.
Your entire site (files + databases + emails) is backed up nightly and stored securely for 14 days.
You can create your own backups under cPanel → Backup Wizard.
If your site experiences an issue, contact our team — we can restore it within minutes from the latest backup.
Real-time malware detection
Automatic file quarantine
Brute-force protection
Blocks malicious IPs and common attack patterns.
We configure:
Login attempt limits
XML-RPC protection
Automatic core and plugin updates (for maintenance clients)
Integrated at the server level — no extra plugin setup needed (we configure it for you).
Accelerates database queries for WordPress and WooCommerce.
Distributes your content across global data centers for faster access worldwide.
We continuously monitor:
Server uptime (target > 99.9%)
Response time
Disk usage and errors
Clients on maintenance plans receive monthly reports with uptime, speed scores, and optimization recommendations.
| Task | Client Can Do | Our Team Handles |
|---|---|---|
| Create email accounts | ✅ | ✅ |
| Manage files via File Manager | ✅ | ✅ |
| Adjust PHP versions or limits | ⚠️ Request only | ✅ |
| Restore from backup | ⚠️ With guidance | ✅ |
| Install SSL | Auto | ✅ |
| Server config or firewall | 🚫 | ✅ |
This ensures clients have control over daily operations while we maintain stability and compliance.
✅ Do
Keep your passwords strong and unique.
Log out of cPanel after each session.
Check disk usage monthly.
Contact us before changing PHP settings or .htaccess rules.
❌ Don’t
Delete files in /public_html unless instructed.
Upload scripts from unverified sources.
Install multiple caching plugins.
Share your cPanel credentials via email.
Q: Can I host multiple websites on my plan?
Yes, if your package allows add-on domains. Ask us to confirm your limits.
Q: What happens if my site uses too many resources?
We’ll notify you and help optimize or upgrade before it affects performance.
Q: Is email storage included in my hosting?
Yes — email accounts share your total disk quota.
Q: Do I need to renew my SSL certificate manually?
No, Let’s Encrypt SSLs auto-renew every 90 days.
Q: How do I access my backups?
Log into cPanel → JetBackup → Choose “Restore Files” or “Restore Database.”
✅ Know your cPanel login and 2FA setup.
✅ Confirm your SSL padlock is active.
✅ Review resource usage quarterly.
✅ Keep local backups of important files.
✅ Contact support for anything uncertain.
Reach out immediately if you notice:
Your website is offline or loading slowly.
SSL certificate errors or browser warnings.
Emails not sending or receiving.
“Disk Quota Exceeded” messages.
Any unfamiliar files or malware warnings.
Our team is available to handle all server-level tasks and security concerns.
A reliable hosting environment is the backbone of your online presence.
At Thomas McKee Website Design & SEO Solutions, we’ve built a fast, secure, and fully managed system so you can focus on your business — not server settings.
Understanding how your hosting works helps you make confident, informed decisions.
And whenever you need assistance, we’re here to keep your website performing at its best — safely, securely, and professionally.