The other day, a host experienced a DDoS attack and was unable to ensure the availability of websites. As a result, all my projects, which were hosted on the same site, went down. In response, I decided to register a new domain, find new hosting, and transfer important data there. However, this raised the issue of finding an affordable temporary solution.



One option I considered was paying for two hosting services from different companies as a backup plan. However, this would double the cost of hosting, even if I never use the second service within a year.

Alternatively, a friend recommended trying the Amazon cloud, which can be configured as a virtual server with hourly payments based on actual usage. The only challenge is that my proficiency in English is not strong, which could potentially lead to issues when setting it up.

In summary, I am looking for an "elegant" solution to temporarily shelter my sites from hosting issues, while keeping costs low.

Finding an affordable and temporary solution to shelter your websites from hosting issues while keeping costs low can be challenging. However, there are a few possible options you can consider.

Firstly, instead of paying for two separate hosting services, you could explore the option of using a backup service or a CDN (Content Delivery Network). These services allow you to distribute your website across multiple servers, reducing the risk of downtime. They often have affordable plans that provide protection against DDoS attacks and website outages. However, be sure to research and choose a reliable provider with good reviews.

Secondly, as your friend suggested, Amazon Web Services (AWS) offers a range of services, including Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2), where you can configure virtual servers and pay hourly based on usage. While setting up AWS can be complicated, they provide detailed dоcumentation and tutorials to help you through the process. Additionally, there are user communities and forums where you can seek assistance if needed.

To overcome any language barriers, you can consider using translation tools like Google Translate or ask for help from someone with stronger English proficiency who can assist you during the setup process. Additionally, AWS offers customer support that can assist you with any technical difficulties you may encounter.

Lastly, it's crucial to regularly backup your data and keep multiple copies in different locations. This ensures that if any hosting issues arise, you have a copy of your important data that you can quickly restore onto a new hosting platform.


Here are a few more suggestions to consider for an elegant and affordable temporary hosting solution:

1. Shared Hosting: Instead of relying on a single hosting provider, you can opt for shared hosting plans that typically offer lower costs. Shared hosting means your website will be hosted on a server with other websites, which helps distribute the cost among multiple users. While shared hosting may have limitations in terms of resources and performance, it can be a cost-effective option for temporary sheltering.

2. Managed WordPress Hosting: If your websites are built on WordPress, you can explore managed WordPress hosting providers. These companies specialize in hosting WordPress sites and often provide additional security measures, automatic backups, and DDoS protection. Managed WordPress hosting can be cost-effective and convenient, especially if you are less experienced in managing hosting environments.

3. VPS Hosting: Virtual Private Server (VPS) hosting offers more control and resources compared to shared hosting but at a reasonable price. With VPS hosting, you have a dedicated portion of a server's resources, which allows for better performance and reliability. It can be a good middle ground between shared hosting and dedicated servers, providing a scalable option for temporary hosting needs.

4. Free Cloud Hosting Trials: Many cloud hosting providers offer free trial periods for their services. Companies like Google Cloud Platform, Microsoft Azure, and IBM Cloud offer credits that allow you to test their platforms for a limited time without incurring any costs. This can be a great opportunity to explore different cloud hosting options and see which one suits your needs best.

An efficient approach is to prearrange various technical details in advance. It can even involve automatic relocation to facilitate construction.

To avoid unnecessary expenses for backup, consider utilizing services that charge based on the actual load or on an hourly basis instead of monthly fees.

Some notable options include Amazon, Heroku, Google Cloud Hosting, Vscale, and Digital Ocean.

Instead of relying on your hosting service for DNS management, opt for providers with BGP support as they are less likely to be affected by DDoS attacks. One example is Zilore.

Another tactic is to register two or three servers in the DNS A-record. This way, the browser will select the first server that responds. Make sure to store these servers with different hosting providers to enhance resilience against DDoS attacks.

Notably, this approach offers benefits beyond just protection against DDoS attacks.

Recently, I implemented this strategy and discovered that 0.5% of the country's providers were unable to see me on one hosting platform. Similarly, approximately 1% of the country's providers (from different cities) encountered the same issue.

First and foremost, I would like to express my support for the majority of those who have already spoken: reconsider your current situation and view it from a more accurate perspective. Hosting for only $2 is not the standard. Hosting can cost as little as 100p and still be satisfactory, or it can cost significantly more, depending on your specific requirements. In your case, it seems that you are aiming to move from a lower league, where your website may struggle to load, to a higher level of availability, where your sites rarely experience downtime, much like Google. Achieving this level of reliability usually requires more than just $2.

Now, if you still insist on finding a cheap and budget-friendly solution, there is an option that is practically free. Develop a backup and recovery plan. For instance, create a script that automatically copies all your data (files, databases) to your home computer every day at midnight. Additionally, design a plan on how to restore all this data on a clean server. Set up a clean server, even if it's on VirtualBox at home, and verify that you can quickly and successfully restore everything from your backups according to your instructions, without any unexpected issues. Lastly, choose a couple of VPS providers that can promptly provide you with a server when needed. For example, Hetzner can deliver a server in just minutes, while OVH might take a bit longer, up to a day.

With this approach, you can live with just one server, paying for only one, while still having the peace of mind that comes with having reliable backups. Make sure to regularly test your backup and restoration process, ideally every six months, to ensure everything is functioning correctly. And if you ever need to switch to a new server within 20 minutes of payment, you can easily unpack your sites, update the DNS, and be up and running without delay!

Adapt with Alibaba Cloud's elastic compute on-demand, configuring IP failover via their DNS service. Script quick restores with rsync and cron jobs for database snapshots, integrating webhooks for instant alerts.
Costs stay minimal via resource pooling, sidestepping AWS complexity for simplicity - perfect for bridging until you solidify a permanent solution with stronger providers.