Navigating cPanel: Tips for Managing Your Hosting Account

If you’re a beginner at web design and hosting, the admin for a hosting account can be confusing to navigate. But far from it, cPanel hosting offers an easy-to-use interface that simplifies several technical tasks.

W3Techs reports that cPanel is used by approximately 1.9% of all websites on the Internet, and it ranks as the fourth most used web hosting technology (after Apache, nginx, and Microsoft IIS) among websites with a known web server type. This is the nature of website control panels, and cPanel is not immune to this.

This post offers valuable insights that will assist you in efficiently working with cPanel and managing your website files, emails, domains, security, and many other tasks.

File Management with Ease

The File Manager in cPanel hosting offers a fast, visual way to manage website files without needing an FTP client. It is one of the most frequently used tools by beginners and professionals.

Use these features for efficient file control:

Key Tools in File Management

• File Manager: Upload, edit, and organise your files directly through the browser.
• FTP Accounts: Create FTP access for your team or developers to securely transfer files.
• Backup and Restore: Use the Backup Wizard to download full or partial backups and restore your site easily when needed.

Setting Up and Managing Emails

Professional email addresses build brand credibility and keep communication organised. cPanel makes it easy to create and manage custom email accounts linked to your domain.

Here is how to streamline your email management:

Email Management Tools

• Email Accounts: Set up custom email addresses such as [email protected].
• Autoresponders: Send automatic replies when you are away or during high-volume periods.
• Spam Filters: Use SpamAssassin to block unwanted emails and reduce junk mail.
• Email Forwarders: Redirect incoming mail to another address without losing messages.

Domain and DNS Control

Managing multiple websites, subdomains, or redirects? The Domain section in cPanel hosting gives you complete control over your web presence.

According to Verisign, the first quarter of 2023 closed with 354.0 million domain name registrations across all top-level domains (TLDs). This shows the vast and competitive digital landscape, making efficient domain management more important than ever.

Key Tools Under Domain Management

• Addon Domains: Host multiple websites under a single hosting plan.
• Subdomains: Create microsites such as blog.yourdomain.com for better organisation.
• Redirects: Forward traffic from old URLs or landing pages to active links.
• Zone Editor: Edit DNS records to configure email servers, third-party apps, and custom name servers.

Enhancing Website Security

Every website is concerned about security. cPanel hosting offers various security tools that keep your data safe and your website trustworthy.

Key Security Tools

• SSL/TLS Manager: Easily install and manage SSL certificates to secure your website with HTTPS.
• IP Blocker: Restrict access from specific IP addresses to prevent suspicious activity.
• Hotlink Protection: Stop other websites from using your images or files without permission.
• Leech Protection: Prevent users from sharing passwords and unauthorised directory access.

Monitoring Your Hosting Resources

Knowing how your site consumes resources will ensure you do not face any downtime and keep performance steady. Monitoring Bandwidth, Disk Space, and Error Logs with cPanel. You can monitor the services on each of your accounts and view their bandwidth usage, disk space, and error logs.

Keep track of these metrics to optimise performance:

Key Monitoring Tools

• Bandwidth Usage: View traffic data and understand when your site experiences peak loads.
• Disk Usage: See what files or directories consume the most space to avoid storage issues.
• Error Logs: Identify technical problems quickly for faster troubleshooting.
• Awstats and Webaliser: Analyse visitor statistics, page views, and referrer sources to understand user behaviour.

Automating Tasks with Cron Jobs

Cron jobs are essential if your website requires scripts to run at scheduled times. cPanel hosting makes setting them up straightforward with a guided interface.

Use cron jobs to automate repetitive tasks such as:

Common Uses for Cron Jobs

• Database Backups: Schedule automatic database exports to enhance data protection.
• Email Reports: Generate and send performance reports to your inbox.
• Script Execution: Run PHP scripts for tasks like clearing caches or updating feeds.

Installing Applications with Softaculous

Softaculous is a built-in app installer in cPanel that makes deploying software like WordPress, Joomla, or Magento incredibly easy.

You can launch your website quickly using these features:

Benefits of Softaculous

• One-Click Installs: Set up blogs, eCommerce sites, and more without any coding.
• Automatic Updates: Keep your apps and plugins up to date with minimal effort.
• Script Demos: Test apps before installing to find the right fit for your site.

Conclusion

Mastering cPanel hosting can make managing your website less overwhelming and far more efficient. From emails and domains to files and security, the intuitive cPanel dashboard puts you in full control of your digital presence.

Want reliable, affordable hosting with world-class support? Get started with BigRock’s cPanel hosting today and streamline your website management with confidence.

Sign up for BigRock’s services today!