In February 2025, my colleague Chris wrote about how we at O’Brien Media deliver fully managed website hosting “without the price tag”. Since then, a lot has changed in the hosting industry — but one thing hasn’t: the fact that you should never have to compromise between performance, security and value. As we head into 2026, this follow‑up looks at:
- How the hosting market has evolved
- What emerging trends you should know as a business
- Key stats for performance, security and user expectations
- How O’Brien Media’s hosting approach stacks up (and why it remains a smart choice for UK businesses)
- What you should look for when evaluating a managed‑hosting partner
1. The Hosting Market in 2026: Bigger, Faster, More Complex
The global website hosting industry continues to grow at a strong pace. According to recent data:
- Global web hosting market size in 2025 is projected at around £101.90 billion, with forecasts reaching around £289.27 billion by 2029.
- Shared hosting remains a large segment, expected to hit £57.40 billion by 2026.
- There are more than 330,000 hosting companies operating worldwide as of mid‑2025.
- Over 78% of UK SMEs have a website.
With such growth, it’s important to look beyond generic options and choose a partner that truly understands your business needs.
2. What the Data Says: Performance, Security & User Behaviour
- Speed matters: 47% of users expect a site to load in 2 seconds or less. One second delay can reduce conversions by 7%.
- Downtime costs: Businesses lose 5+ hours/month due to hosting-related downtime, with 1 in 5 losing over £2,030/month.
- Security gaps: 55% of popular websites fail basic security checks like HTTP security headers.
- WordPress dominance: Over 62.9% of all websites use WordPress, meaning hosting must cater to its specific needs.
3. Emerging Hosting Trends to Watch in 2026
- AI & ML: Hosting providers now use AI for smart scaling, threat detection and issue resolution.
- Edge computing: Hosting infrastructure is moving closer to users to improve performance.
- Sustainability: Green hosting is becoming a differentiator with more demand for eco-conscious solutions.
- Dedicated server resurgence: Businesses are shifting back to tailored, high-performance hosting.
- Zero-trust security: Hosting now forms part of business-critical infrastructure with stricter compliance expectations.
4. How O’Brien Media’s Managed Hosting Approach Stacks Up
We continue to deliver on our promise of affordable, premium hosting with:
- Fully managed service: You never worry about updates or patching — we handle it.
- Security included: SSL certificates, daily backups, monitoring and proactive support are standard.
- Optimised performance: Hosting environments tailored to your website’s platform.
- Transparent pricing: Hosting starts at £45/month with no hidden charges.
- UK-based support: Our team is here in Swindon to help you directly — no call centres.
5. Why This Matters for UK Businesses (Especially SMEs)
With 78% of UK SMEs now online, expectations are higher than ever:
- Customers expect fast, mobile-friendly websites.
- Downtime or security issues can damage your business and cost money.
- Transparent and managed hosting gives peace of mind and room for growth.
- Search engines reward faster, secure sites — so hosting directly affects your SEO.
6. What to Look for When Choosing a Hosting Partner in 2026
- Are updates and backups included as standard?
- Are performance metrics (e.g., speed) clearly stated?
- Is robust security built-in?
- Is support local, responsive and expert?
- Are pricing and scalability transparent?
- Is the host future-proof with new tech and sustainability in mind?
7. Our Hosting Offering in 2026: What’s New
We’ve made some key improvements over the last 12 months:
- Infrastructure optimised for UK/European audiences
- More robust security and monitoring, with built-in compliance measures
- Continued transparent pricing (starting at £45/month)
- Personal, responsive UK-based support
8. Switching Hosting: When and How
It might be time to switch if:
- Your website is slow or unreliable
- Support is lacking or unresponsive
- Your needs have outgrown your current hosting plan
- You’re concerned about compliance or downtime risks
We handle migration for you — with minimal disruption — and configure your hosting to work best for your site and business needs.
9. Why “Premium” Doesn’t Have to Mean “Expensive”
- Low-cost hosting can hide high risks: security, speed, downtime.
- Our pricing is competitive — but we don’t cut corners on what matters.
- You’re not just paying for hosting space — you’re investing in your brand, performance, and growth potential.
10. Final Thoughts: Building for the Future
In 2026, hosting isn’t just a cost — it’s a critical part of your digital strategy. As a business, make sure your website is fast, secure and reliable with hosting that supports you every step of the way.
Our team is ready to help. If you’d like a no-obligation chat or a review of your current hosting setup, drop us a message at hello@obrienmedia.co.uk or give us a call on 01793 239239.
Here’s to a faster, safer, more successful online presence in 2026!