How your website is hosted
Most of the sites we run are hosted static-first on a global content network — the approach behind some of the fastest, most resilient sites on the web. Here is what that means for you.
The short version: your pages are served as ready-made files from data centers around the world, with automatic HTTPS and next-to-nothing that can break or be hacked. Updates are published in seconds and are instantly reversible.
What “static-first” hosting means
A traditional site rebuilds every page from a database and application code on every visit. A static-first site does that work ahead of time: we author your content, then publish it as plain, finished files. Those files are what visitors receive.
Because there’s no live database or application running on the public server, there’s dramatically less to slow down, misconfigure, or attack.
Why it’s fast and secure
- Global edge delivery — your files sit in many locations at once, so pages load from a server near each visitor.
- Tiny attack surface — no live CMS or database exposed to the internet means the usual break-in routes simply aren’t there. Nothing to patch at 2 a.m.
- Automatic HTTPS — a valid SSL certificate is issued and renewed for you; the padlock just works.
- Resilience — static files absorb traffic spikes and shrug off the kinds of load that topple database-driven sites.
How updates go live
When your site needs a change, the flow is simple and safe:
Author
The content is edited in a private authoring environment — never on the live site.
Build
The site is regenerated into a fresh set of static files.
Publish
Those files are deployed to the network and go live within seconds — worldwide.
When we use a dynamic server instead
Some features genuinely need a live server at page-load time — think member logins, e-commerce checkouts, or per-visitor personalized content. For those, we host on a properly managed, patched and monitored server. Everything else stays static, because it’s faster and safer that way.
Your domain & SSL
Your domain points at the hosting through its DNS records, and HTTPS is handled automatically. If you want to understand or change how your domain connects, see Understanding your DNS.
FAQ
Can I still update the site’s content?
Yes. Content is authored in a dedicated environment and then published — just send us the changes, or use the authoring access we set up for you. The live site is never edited directly, which is what keeps it safe.
Is a static site good for SEO?
Very — search engines reward speed and reliability, and static sites are about as fast as the web gets. All the usual on-page SEO (titles, metadata, sitemaps) applies normally.
What about contact forms?
Forms still work — they’re wired to a secure handler that delivers submissions to you, without needing a database on the public server. For healthcare sites we’re careful to keep any sensitive intake off third-party processors.