9. POP3 email IDs and Aliases

An example of a POP3 ID would be name@domain.com. You should be given an ample number of POP3 email IDs - this would depend on the size of your package.

15. IP

If you have a website which would be requiring SSL Support in the future, then you need to get a dedicated IP.

1. ASP Support

The obvious reason why you would be going for a windows plan is so that you could use languages which are Microsoft-specific.

12. Web Statistics

The analysis of the visitors of your website plays a big role in your website's success. With a Statistics Application which runs on the backend of the server, you would be able to view this report of visitor statistics.

6. ASP Components

Aside from the default features, there are a lot of third-party software, so check the list of the features that are provided by the host.

14. Webmail and SMTP

Check if your host would be providing you with webmail so that you would be able to check your email messages using an interface which is web-based.

11. Backup

Majority of the web hosts use automated backups. However, users usually do not care a great deal about this when they choose their hosting plan. This would be a feature that is just as essential as the other features mentioned here.

13. Bandwidth

Make sure that you would be selecting the hosting plan which would be able to provide sufficient bandwidth.

4. Databases

All windows plans support Microsoft Access 2000 Database. This would do if you are a beginner. However, for the more advanced, MSSQL is a necessity.

10. FTP Accounts

This would be what you could use to be able to upload all of your files, as well as delete and update them.

3. CDONTS

CDONTS or Collaboration Data Objects for Windows NT Server is a Messaging Component which comes with Windows NT/2000. A hosting plan which is Windows-based without this feature is incomplete.

If you are looking for a web hosting plan and you are considering getting a Linux-based plan or a Windows-based plan, then there are a couple of things that you need to look at. Here are the features that you have to make sure are included in your Windows-based hosting package.

15 Elements of Windows Web Hosting

2. .NET Support

ASP.net would be the next generation of the Microsoft's Active Server Page or ASP, which is a feature of the Internet Information Server or IIS. A lot of web hosts provide this feature for free while there are some who charge an additional fee.

8. Control Panel

This would be your website's nucleus. In the CP or Control Panel, you would be able to do anything. From the moment that you would be signing up with a hosting plan, you have to be provided with a CP so that you would be able to easily manage your website.

7. PHP and ColdFusion

ColdFusion is a language web development tool which uses server-side scripting. This is an advanced option and is not provided by all web hosting providers.