Additional Questions about Web Hosting

[markw10]

I am looking at moving my current E-Commerce website to a new hosting service.

1. I have heard of VPN hosting. I think it means Virtual Private Network but my question is how important is this? I have a previous website with a host that uses VPN but honestly I am not happy with their service and am looking at two other hosting services now, Bluehost and Host Gator, but they don't offer VPN. My current host, Westhost, does.

2. PCI Compliance. I know PCI Compliance is important. I have checked with the two above hosts and have only received a response from one but their response is they are PCI Compliant but only Levels A and B and not levels C and D. Is this a problem for credit card transactions?

3. Dedicated IP-I have already purchased a SSL through RapidSSL so won't be using Shared SSL. To use my own SSL that I purchased do I need a dedicated IP? Both of the above offer it but for an extra cost.

I appreciate help with the above questions.

[robkiernan]

Some experts will tell you the only way to go is to get is a dedicated server. But I looked at it and it's way too expensive. I'd love to be able to afford $300 a month but until I'm earning a decent income - forget it.

I remember Jerry West (he is a top expert on SEO, definitely someone to listen to) saying somewhere that if you are on VPN, get off it now. It's bad! But I can't remember why. Sorry. Perhaps someone else may know.

I am with Hostgator with a reseller account at $24.95 a month. If I want a dedicated IP for any of my accounts, I think I just pay an extra $2 a month per account. So that's what I do. Until I hit the big time???