Website Hosting Key Findings:
Design agencies are masters of visual storytelling, but when it comes to infrastructure, many quickly find themselves in over their heads.
From unexpected downtime to SSL issues and mounting security requirements, the backend side of hosting can quietly become a major liability.
And yet, the opportunity is growing fast.
The global web hosting market is expected to reach $196.62 billion in revenue by 2025, according to Statista, with the United States generating the largest share: over $73 billion.
That growth signals not only rising demand, but also higher expectations around performance, security, and support.
This is where web hosting providers like GlowHost come in.
Founded in 2002 by Matt Lundstrom, GlowHost has grown into a long-standing infrastructure provider for agencies and businesses offering white-label hosting.
In my sit-down interview with Matt, he shares what most agencies get wrong about infrastructure, why bare metal is making a comeback, and how GlowHost quietly supports brands you’ve definitely heard about.
Who Is Matt Lundstrom?
Matt Lundstrom is the Founder and CEO of GlowHost.com, LLC, a web hosting company launched in 2002 to solve the very infrastructure frustrations he faced as a developer. With early experience in Linux system administration and a do-it-yourself approach to innovation, Matt grew GlowHost into a hosting partner for major brands, government agencies, and agencies looking to offer white-label solutions with confidence and control.
Know What You’re Really Signing Up For
For many web design agencies, offering hosting to a client seems like a natural next step: an added revenue stream that keeps clients close.
But what looks simple on paper can quickly spiral into a technical headache, especially without the right backend support.
What often gets overlooked is the constant upkeep:
- Managing security patches
- Responding to unexpected traffic spikes
- Replacing hardware, and
- Resolving certificate issues that can trigger browser security warnings
These are the kinds of problems that cannot wait for business hours before they’re resolved, and can seriously impact a client’s trust.
View this post on Instagram
As Matt puts it:
“Hosting is so much more than just space on a server. It’s about handling security patches at 3 AM, troubleshooting load issues under pressure, and making sure SSL certificates are renewed and properly installed so clients don’t encounter browser security warnings that can lead to panic.”
For agencies focused on design, development, or marketing, managing these backend demands can pull teams away from their core strengths.
That’s why many agencies partner with a white-label provider to offer hosting under their brand without being on call around the clock.
Build the Frontend, Let Experts Handle the Backend
Performance issues, software dependencies, and evolving security threats all require consistent attention, and many teams underestimate the time and technical expertise that takes.
“Businesses are often blindsided by the amount of time needed to manage hosting internally,” Matt says. “Getting started is easy; maintaining it all is where the real fun begins.”
That gap between expectations and reality is where things tend to break down.
Missed updates or overlooked log warnings can lead to downtime, broken features, or even security incidents, all of which can damage client trust.
View this post on Instagram
“Having a seasoned team managing your infrastructure is much better than chasing gremlins and playing whack-a-mole,” Matt says.
For agencies focused on growth and client delivery, outsourcing hosting operations allows them to offer premium service without building a support team from scratch.
Use Hosting Partnerships to Expand Capability
Every agency has its limits in bandwidth, staffing, and technical depth.
The right white-label partnership is about expanding what you can confidently offer clients, without building everything in-house.
GlowHost’s model centers on flexibility. Some clients need fully managed infrastructure. Others just want backend reinforcement for an internal IT team.
That range of service makes it easier for agencies to grow their offerings without taking on long-term operational risk.
“We host and manage custom solutions for the U.S. Department of Energy, retail, aerospace, several country and municipal districts, food service, charity, major media, and real estate brands, where we completely manage or augment their internal IT teams, network, hardware infrastructure and server software,” Matt explains.
Instead of relying on one-size-fits-all solutions, GlowHost builds custom configurations for each partner’s needs.
That might mean setting up isolated cloud environments, hybrid systems with bare-metal servers, or compliance-focused infrastructure for highly regulated industries.
As a result, agencies can pitch bigger clients or new services without scrambling to build tech capacity from scratch.
Track the Right Metrics to Protect the Client Experience
If you're offering hosting under your brand, your name is on the line.
That means it’s critical to track the right backend metrics, not just for uptime guarantees but for the end-user experience.
Yes, uptime and server speed matter.
But agencies should also be looking at more nuanced indicators: server logs, dependency health, disk performance, and support response time.
These are the small signs that something may be headed for failure, and catching them early is what separates a reliable experience from a high-risk one.
Proactive monitoring like this helps prevent small issues from becoming outages.
It also allows agencies to provide higher-value service: the kind that builds trust over time.
Choose a Hosting Partner You’d Trust With Your Own Clients
White-label hosting extends your reputation. So when agencies look for a partner, the decision should go beyond technical specs or pricing tiers.
The fundamentals matter: availability, responsiveness, and transparency. These qualities ensure that when issues arise, there’s a clear path to resolution without friction or finger-pointing.
“Providing transparency in all exchanges helps build trust, avoids ambiguity, and prevents poor decisions,” Matt explains.
He also highlights a detail many overlook: team continuity.
“Many hosting companies outsource their staff or constantly change them, which degrades quality of service,” he says.
That turnover can be a problem in long-term partnerships, especially when hosting involves custom infrastructure.
Know When Cloud Isn’t the Best Fit Anymore
For years, the cloud was seen as the obvious answer to every hosting need. But that’s starting to change.
While virtualized environments are still widely used, more businesses are reconsidering bare metal or hybrid infrastructure.
They’re looking for simplicity, more control, and better cost-efficiency, particularly as public cloud licensing and usage costs continue to rise.
“A growing trend has emerged recently where these organizations are moving back to bare metal or hybrid solutions,” Matt explains.
“This shift is driven by several key factors, including simplicity and control, costs (especially licensing), and security, just to name a few.”
This doesn’t mean cloud is going away, but it does mean agencies and tech leaders need hosting partners who can offer flexibility across the stack: cloud, hybrid, or bare metal.
Focus on Real Needs, Not Just What’s Trending
It’s tempting to chase the next big thing, but GlowHost’s approach is more measured.
Instead of betting on hype cycles, the company focuses on what its customers actually need to operate reliably.
“Predicting the future of hosting is like trying to win the lottery — a risky bet. That’s why we focus on what we do best: delivering customized, reliable, and cost-effective solutions tailored to our customers’ needs,” Matt says.
Whether it’s a government agency with strict compliance requirements or a creative agency offering white-label services to small business clients, GlowHost works backward from the problem.
The takeaway for agencies? You don’t need to become an expert in infrastructure.
You just need a partner who is, and who’s thinking five steps ahead, without losing sight of what really matters: keeping your services running smoothly.
