Hosting and SSL FAQs
Straight answers to the questions people ask most about getting a website online, securing it with HTTPS, choosing hosting, registering domains and paying invoices. Browse by topic below, or search for a domain to see whether the name you want is still available.
A short orientation for first-time website owners
Putting a website online for the first time involves a handful of new terms: domains, nameservers, DNS, control panels and certificates. None of them is difficult once you see how they connect, and you do not need to master any of them before ordering. Understanding the basic sequence simply makes the first week smoother.
The order is usually the same. Choose and register a domain, pick a hosting plan that suits the website, point the domain to the hosting through its nameservers and wait for the change to spread. Then install your website software or upload your files, and the certificate is added so that every page opens securely.
Most delays at this stage come from DNS changes that have not finished spreading, or from a domain registered elsewhere whose settings nobody can log in to change. Keeping your registrar login details safe, or registering the domain alongside your hosting, removes the most common obstacle.
The questions in the first group below cover these early steps in more detail. If your situation is unusual, such as moving an existing site while keeping email running, our team can plan the sequence with you before anything is switched over.
How certificates and security measures fit together
A certificate does two jobs. It encrypts the connection between a browser and your server, and it proves to the browser that it is talking to the genuine website for that domain. Browsers display the padlock only when both checks pass, and show warnings when either one fails or when parts of a page are loaded insecurely.
Certificates differ in how much identity checking happens before they are issued, and in how many names they cover. The encryption itself is equally strong across types. Choosing between them is therefore a business decision about verification and coverage, rather than a question of how secure the connection will be.
Encryption is only one layer of protection. A website can be fully encrypted and still be compromised through weak passwords, outdated plugins or careless file permissions. Server-side measures such as firewalls and malware scanning reduce the risk, but the website owner still has a part to play in keeping software and access under control.
The second group of questions explains common certificate terms, the reasons warnings appear and practical steps that make a website much harder to attack.
Picking the right type of hosting for your project
Hosting comes in several forms, and each suits a different stage of a project. Shared hosting is the simplest and most affordable, with the server managed for you. Virtual servers add guaranteed resources and administrator access. Dedicated servers provide an entire machine for workloads that need maximum performance or strict separation from other users.
Location matters too. Some organisations must keep data inside Pakistan, while others serve visitors spread across the world and benefit from a server placed closer to them. Data location, audience location and any contractual requirements should all be considered before choosing.
Control panels shape the day-to-day experience. cPanel on Linux and Plesk on Windows both let you manage files, databases, email and backups without using a command line, and the right choice depends mainly on the software your website runs.
The third group of questions compares these options, explains email settings that cause frequent confusion and describes what administrator access on a server really involves. If you are torn between two options, our sales team can talk through the trade-offs with you.
Understanding registration, renewal and transfers
A domain name is a renewable registration, not a one-time purchase. You hold the right to use it for the term you pay for, and it must be renewed before it expires to keep your website and email working. Each extension is governed by a registry with its own rules, prices and renewal periods.
Pakistani extensions are managed by PKNIC. Most of them are open to anyone, while academic and government extensions are restricted and require supporting documents. Registration terms for the .pk family run for two years at a time, which differs from the yearly terms common for international names.
Transfers move the management of a domain from one registrar to another. For international extensions the process relies on an authorisation code from the current registrar, and it typically extends the registration by a year. Planning a transfer well before expiry keeps it straightforward and avoids paying for a renewal you did not need.
The fourth group of questions covers these points, along with what happens when a renewal is missed and how domains and hosting relate to each other.
Paying for services and managing renewals smoothly
Every service on your account has an invoice and a due date, all visible in the client area. Shared, WordPress and local data centre hosting are billed yearly in rupees, while virtual and dedicated servers are billed monthly in US dollars. Domains follow the registration term of their extension.
Payments can be made through local banks, mobile wallets, cards, PayPal and international money transfer services. Automatic methods confirm the payment straight away, while bank transfers, wallet payments and cheque deposits are matched by our billing staff once you share the payment reference.
Renewal reminders are sent by email ahead of each due date. Paying on time keeps services running without interruption, and it is the simplest way to avoid the inconvenience of suspension or the cost of recovering an expired domain.
The final group of questions covers payment methods, our refund rules, late renewals, invoice records and changing plans. For anything specific to your account, the billing team can look up the details and explain them directly, in English or Urdu.
First steps to getting a website online
What do I need before I can launch a website?
You need three things: a domain name that people type to find you, a hosting account where the website files and email live, and the content itself, whether that is a WordPress site, a builder template or pages written by a developer. Once the domain points to your hosting, the certificate is installed and the site can be published. Many people order the domain and hosting together to keep everything in one place.
How soon can I start building after I place an order?
The hosting account is created once payment is confirmed, and you receive an email with your control panel login and nameserver details. You can begin uploading files or installing an application straight away. Visitors will only see the new site after your domain points to our servers, which can take a few hours to spread across the internet once the nameservers are updated.
What are nameservers and why do I have to change them?
Nameservers tell the internet which company holds the DNS records for your domain. Those records decide where your website and email are delivered. When you host with us, you set the domain to use our nameservers, usually in the domain control panel of your registrar. If the domain is registered with us, our team can make this change for you.
Why does my new website appear on one device but not another?
This is usually DNS propagation. When nameservers or records change, internet providers around the world refresh their stored copies at different times, so one phone may already reach the new server while a laptop on another network still sees the old one. Waiting a few hours normally fixes it. Clearing your browser cache or trying mobile data can help you check sooner.
Should I choose Linux or Windows hosting for my site?
Pick the platform your website software was built for. WordPress, Joomla, OpenCart, Laravel and most PHP applications run best on Linux with cPanel. Websites written in ASP.NET or using Microsoft SQL Server need Windows hosting with Plesk. If you are starting fresh with WordPress or a site builder, Linux is the usual choice. Your developer can confirm which one a custom project requires.
Can I start with a small plan and move up later?
Yes. Starting small is sensible for a new website, because you can see how much space and traffic it really uses before paying for more. When the site grows, you can upgrade to a larger shared plan, and the difference is charged for the remaining term. Busy websites can later move to a virtual server, with our team handling the transfer.
Certificates, HTTPS warnings and website protection
Is there a difference between SSL and TLS?
TLS is the modern successor to SSL. The original SSL protocols are outdated and no longer used by browsers, but the name stuck, so certificates and hosting are still commonly described as SSL. When we install a certificate today, your website actually negotiates a current version of TLS with each visitor. For practical purposes, the two terms refer to the same padlock and encrypted connection.
What do DV, OV and EV mean on a certificate?
They describe how much the certificate authority checks before issuing. Domain Validation confirms only that you control the domain. Organisation Validation also verifies that your company legally exists, and Extended Validation applies the most thorough checks on the business. All three provide equally strong encryption; the difference lies in the identity information attached to the certificate and the paperwork needed to obtain it.
Why does a browser still say Not secure after SSL is installed?
Common causes are visiting the plain http address because no redirect is in place, a page that loads images or scripts over http, or a certificate that covers the www version but not the bare domain, or the reverse. A cached old version of the page can also show the warning. Open a ticket with the exact address and our team will find and fix the cause.
Can I install a certificate I bought from another provider?
In most cases, yes. A certificate is tied to the domain name, not to the company that sold it, so it can be installed on our hosting if you have the certificate file, the private key generated with the original request and any intermediate certificates. Send these through a support ticket rather than plain email, and our team will install and test it.
How can I make my WordPress login harder to break into?
Use a unique, long password and enable two-factor authentication with a reputable security plugin. Avoid usernames such as admin, give each person who edits the site their own account with only the permissions they need, and remove old users. Keep WordPress, themes and plugins updated, and delete any you no longer use, because abandoned plugins are a common way in.
Does HTTPS on its own stop my website from being hacked?
No. HTTPS protects information while it travels between the visitor and the server, but it does not fix weaknesses in the website itself. An outdated plugin, a weak password or an insecure upload form can still be exploited on an encrypted site. That is why encryption is combined with server firewalls, malware scanning and backups, and why keeping your own software updated still matters.
Hosting types, control panels and email setup
What separates shared hosting, a VPS and a dedicated server?
Shared hosting places many websites on one managed server, which keeps costs low and leaves maintenance to us. A virtual private server gives you a guaranteed slice of a physical machine with root access, so you can install your own software. A dedicated server gives you an entire physical machine. Each step up offers more control and resources, along with more responsibility for configuration.
When does hosting in a Pakistan data centre make sense?
Choose local data centre hosting when your organisation needs its data stored inside Pakistan, for example because of a contract, an internal policy or the expectations of a government client. It can also suit websites whose visitors are almost entirely in the country. For sites with a mainly international audience, a server closer to those visitors may be the better option.
How many websites can I run on a single hosting plan?
This depends on the plan you choose, and the plan cards on our shared hosting page list what each one includes. When an account allows extra domains, each site gets its own folder, database and certificate, which keeps them tidy and secure. If you look after many client websites, separate hosting accounts or a reseller arrangement through our sales team is usually easier to organise and bill.
How are cPanel and Plesk different for everyday tasks?
Both are control panels that let you manage files, databases, email accounts, domains and backups through a web browser. cPanel is the standard on Linux hosting and is familiar to most PHP developers. Plesk is used for Windows hosting and handles ASP.NET applications and Microsoft SQL Server databases. Everyday jobs, such as creating a mailbox or uploading files, follow similar steps in both.
Should I set up my email with IMAP or POP3?
Choose IMAP in almost every case. It keeps messages on the server and synchronises folders, so your phone, laptop and webmail all show the same mailbox. POP3 downloads messages to one device and usually removes them from the server, which can cause email to disappear from other devices. Use the secure ports and SSL settings shown in your control panel for either method.
What does root access on a virtual server let me do?
Root access is full administrator control of the server operating system. You can install any software, change system settings, configure the firewall and run services that shared hosting does not allow. It also means you are responsible for keeping that software updated and secure. If you are not comfortable managing a server, a control panel such as cPanel or Plesk makes routine tasks easier.
Registering, renewing and transferring domain names
Why are .pk domain names registered in two-year terms?
PKNIC, the registry for Pakistan domains, registers and renews .pk names for two years at a time rather than year by year. That means both the first registration and each renewal cover a two-year period. The cost of each term is shown on our domain pages. Setting a reminder well before the expiry date avoids last-minute problems with renewal payments.
What paperwork is needed for an .edu.pk or .ac.pk name?
These academic extensions are reserved for recognised educational institutions, so PKNIC asks for documents showing that the school, college or university is recognised by the relevant authority. Government extensions require an authorisation letter from the department concerned. Our team will explain what to prepare for your case, and the registration proceeds once the registry has accepted the documents.
Is a domain name the same thing as web hosting?
No. A domain is the address, such as yourbusiness.pk, and hosting is the storage and computing power where the website files and mailboxes actually live. You need both for a working website and email. They can be bought from different companies, but keeping them together simplifies renewals and lets one team fix problems that involve both, such as DNS errors.
How do I move an international domain to you from another registrar?
Unlock the domain at your current registrar, request its authorisation code, sometimes called an EPP code, and make sure the domain is not within its first sixty days or close to expiry. Start the transfer on our domain transfer page and enter the code. A transfer usually adds a year to the registration. Your website keeps working as long as DNS records stay unchanged.
What happens if I forget to renew my domain?
Once a domain expires, the website and email connected to it stop working, because the name no longer points anywhere. Most registries then allow a recovery period during which the owner can still renew, sometimes with an extra fee. If that period passes, the name can be released and registered by someone else. Renewing early is far cheaper than recovering an expired name.
Which payment methods can I use for an invoice?
You can pay by bank transfer to Standard Chartered, Bank Alfalah or HBL, through Easypaisa, JazzCash, UBL Omni, Mobicash or U Paisa, by Visa or Mastercard, through PayPal, by Western Union or MoneyGram, or by depositing a cheque into our bank account. Card and PayPal payments are confirmed automatically. For other methods, send proof of payment with the invoice number so it can be matched.
Can I get a refund if I change my mind?
Refunds are not available once a service has been provisioned, meaning the hosting account or server has been created, the domain submitted to the registry or the certificate issued. If you contact us before an order has been set up, it can be cancelled. Duplicate payments made by mistake are returned or added to your account as credit. Our terms page explains this in full.
What happens if I pay a renewal after its due date?
Services that are not paid by their due date may be suspended, which takes the website and email offline until the invoice is settled. Domains that pass their expiry date can become harder and more expensive to recover. Paying a few days early avoids all of this. Our system sends renewal reminders by email in advance, so keep your contact address current.
How do I download invoices for my company records?
Every invoice is stored in the client area, where you can view, print or save it as a PDF at any time. Make sure the company name and address in your account profile are correct before invoices are generated, as they appear on each document. If your accounts department needs a particular format or a quotation before payment, contact our billing team.
Can I switch to a different plan before my term ends?
Upgrades can be made at any time, and you pay only the difference for the remaining part of the current term. Moving to a smaller plan is usually arranged at renewal, so you keep the resources you have already paid for until then. Contact billing before your renewal date if you would like to change plan, operating system or billing cycle.
Still looking for an answer?
If your question is not covered here, our team will answer it by phone, email or support ticket, in English or Urdu.