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Web hosting options

Web hosting options

Below is a review of popular web hosting options available to most units and some faculty, staff and students at the University of Washington. This is a roundup of information, found on various UW websites, and presented as a starting point for your own research. This is not meant to be a prescriptive tool, sales pitch, or endorsement of any option. Please do your research and select the best product for your project.

Web hosting options from UMAC

University Marketing and Communications (UMAC) provides eligible units with free, centralized WordPress web hosting. UMAC’s hosting service provides units with a free of charge, branded WordPress site with a “www.washington.edu” address. They provide support and training for content authors.

Web hosting through University Marketing and Communications

University Marketing and Communications provides eligible units with centralized WordPress hosting. This hosting service will provide a unit with a branded WordPress site and a “uw.edu” address.

Important note
UMAC cannot host other content management systems, static content, content that does not fit within the intended use of our content management system, WordPress themes other than UMAC’s WordPress theme, plugins other than those already installed, domains, or subdomains
Eligibility
  • Top level units such as the President, Provost, and Regents.
  • Central administration units such as University Advancement.
  • Campaign, donor, stewardship, fundraising, or similar websites.
  • Administrative units without a parent unit, or without the means to host their website.
  • Academic units without a parent unit, or without the means to host their website.
  • Strategic initiatives and programs.
  • Independent centers, academic or administrative, affiliated with the UW, without a parent unit, without means to host themselves, and/or without grant-based requirements for co-branding.
Ineligible units

UMAC cannot provide hosting services to the following types of units:

  • Any entity not affiliated with the University of Washington.
  • Registered Student Organizations (RSO).
  • Non-academic fraternities and sororities, and associated members of the Panhellenic Association.
  • Any athletic unit.
  • Any trade union.
  • Independent centers with a written requirement to provide co-branding of another institution or funding source.
    Any unit not interested in using or able to use the UW’s templates and themes, or wanting to expand beyond the capabilities provided by those themes.
Use case
You need a marketing website, with a “www” address, and are willing to maintain a WordPress site using UMAC’s theme
Set up
UMAC can provide you with a site and/or help you get the site off the ground, depending on need
Maintenance
UMAC will take care of the hardware and software, you are responsible for the upkeep of your site content
Accessibility
UW’s WordPress theme is continually updated and UMAC partners with Accessible Technology Services on new features; you are responsible for the accessibility of the content you create within the theme
Security
The systems that run this service are monitored by UWIT and protected by UMAC
Ease of use
Low complexity; perfect for someone who knows WordPress, knows our theme, and wants a marketing website
Cost
Free
More information
For more information and to see if these services would be a good fit for your organization, please reach out to the UAMC Web Strategy team at uweb@uw.edu.

Web hosting options from UWIT

UW Information Technology (UWIT) has several different options for web hosting – almost everyone will find something to meet their needs. Options cover a wide range in complexity, accessibility, security, and cost.

Web hosting options from UWIT

Eligibility
Departments
Use case
Your unit has an IT department who can set up and manage your server(s) for you
Set up
UWIT will provide you with the server and operating system, you provide the software and everything you need to get up and running
Maintenance
UWIT will take care of the basics of the virtual machine, you are responsible for everything else
Accessibility
You are responsible for making your website accessible; we recommend using the UW’s WordPress or Drupal themes as the basis for your site
Security
UWIT will monitor your server
Ease of use
Medium to high complexity
Cost
There is an initial cost for setup, plus monthly costs based on allocation; overall low-medium cost
More information
UW IT Service Catalog entry for Standard Hosted Server

Eligibility
Departments
Use case
Your unit does not have an IT department and you are not able to manage your server
Set up
UWIT will set up everything you will be using
Maintenance
UWIT will take care of the hardware and software, you are responsible for the upkeep of your site
Accessibility
You are responsible for making your website accessible; we recommend using the UW’s WordPress or Drupal themes as the basis for your site
Security
UWIT will monitor your server
Ease of use
Low to medium complexity
Cost
There is an initial cost for setup, plus monthly costs based on allocation; overall medium-high cost
More information
UW IT Service Catalog entries for UNIX Managed Servers and Windows Managed Servers

Eligibility
Students, instructors, departments, staff
Use case
You want to set up a website for your department using either HTML or a web application such as WordPress or Drupal and can maintain the site yourself
Set up
Turn on shared hosting for your NetID and then you set up what you want to
Maintenance
UWIT will take care of the hardware and software on the server, you are responsible for the upkeep of your site and the software (WordPress, Drupal, etc.) that supports it
Accessibility
You are responsible for making your website accessible; we recommend using the UW’s WordPress or Drupal themes as the basis for your site
Security
UWIT will monitor these servers
Ease of use
Medium to high complexity
Cost
Free
More information
UW IT Service Catalog entry for Shared Web Hosting

Eligibility
Departments, students, instructors, staff
Use case
You want an easy to set up hosted WordPress website that is branded, has tons of features and plugins, and provides NetID integration
Set up
A basic site is created for you when you sign up
Maintenance
UWIT will take care of the hardware and software, you are responsible for the upkeep of your site
Accessibility
You are responsible for making your website accessible; we recommend using the UW’s WordPress theme as the basis for your site
Security
The vendor will protect and monitor these servers
Ease of use
Low complexity
Cost
Free
More information
UW IT Service Catalog entry for UW Sites

Eligibility
UW units
Use case
You want a scalable, secure Drupal or WordPress website, with multiple environments, but you do not have an IT team to help manage the infrastructure
Set up
Once signed up, self-service setup is offered
Maintenance
Pantheon will take care of the hardware; you are responsible for maintaining the software and the upkeep of your site
Accessibility
You are responsible for making your website accessible; we recommend using the UW’s WordPress or Drupal themes as the basis for your site
Security
Pantheon provides an excellent level of protection against threats
Ease of use
Medium complexity
Cost
Medium to high cost, depending on traffic
More information
UW IT Service Catalog entry for Pantheon

Eligibility
Departments
Use case
You want the ultimate in flexibility to build your infrastructure to meet your needs and you have a team that can help you do this
Set up
Depends on the product
Maintenance
From hardware to software, you do it all
Accessibility
You are responsible for making your website accessible; we recommend using the UW’s WordPress or Drupal themes as the basis for your site
Security
You are responsible for the security of your server and website
Ease of use
Depends on the product; generally complex
Cost
Depends on the product and usage of the product; generally high
More information
UW IT Service Catalog entry for Amazon Web Services

Eligibility
Departments
Use case
You want the ultimate in flexibility to build your infrastructure to meet your needs and you have a team that can help you do this
Set up
Depends on the product
Maintenance
From hardware to software, you do it all
Accessibility
You are responsible for making your website accessible; we recommend using the UW’s WordPress or Drupal themes as the basis for your site
Security
You are responsible for the security of your server and website
Ease of use
Depends on the product; generally complex
Cost
Depends on the product and usage of the product; generally high
More information
UW IT Service Catalog entry for Microsoft Azure

Non-UW web hosting options

While it is recommended to take advantage of either UWIT or UMAC hosting, there are many choices for web hosting. You are responsible for validating the security, accessibility, and overall reliability of the vendor you choose. This is not to say that all hosts are bad, but some are better than others!

Non-UW web hosting options

Eligibility
Anyone
Use case
You want an easy to set up, self-hosted, WordPress environment
Set up
Once signed up, self-service setup is offered
Maintenance
WP Engine will take care of the hardware; you are responsible for maintaining the software and the upkeep of your site
Accessibility
You are responsible for making your website accessible; we recommend using the UW’s WordPress or Drupal themes as the basis for your site
Security
WP Engine provides an excellent level of protection against threats
Ease of use
Low to medium
Cost
Low to medium
More information
wpengine.com

Eligibility
Anyone
Use case
You want the ultimate in flexibility to build your infrastructure to meet your needs and you have a team that can help you do this
Set up
Depends on the product
Maintenance
From hardware to software, you do it all
Accessibility
You are responsible for making your website accessible; we recommend using the UW’s WordPress or Drupal themes as the basis for your site
Security
You are responsible for the security of your server and website
Ease of use
Depends on the product; generally complex
Cost
Depends on the product and usage of the product; generally high
More information
cloud.google.com

These tools, and ones like them, may not be fully accessible and/or meet the UW’s security and privacy rules. You are strongly encouraged to use one of the previously listed options. If you must use one these services, be sure to discuss with the Information Security Office, Accessible Technology Services, and other offices within UWIT to make sure these offerings will be accessible and secure.