What is FileMaker Database Hosting?

FileMaker database hosting means running your FileMaker Server on infrastructure managed by a hosting provider instead of maintaining your own physical servers. This gives you the reliability and performance of enterprise-grade infrastructure without the overhead of managing it yourself.

Why Choose A Hosted FileMaker Server?

Cost Savings: No need to purchase and maintain physical servers, backup systems, or redundant power supplies and internet connections. You pay a predictable monthly fee instead of large upfront capital expenses. And we upgrade the infrastructure. all you are responsible for is your licensing and your data.

Reliability: Professional hosting providers offer 99.9% annual uptime guarantees, redundant power and network connections, and continuous monitoring. Your databases stay online even when your office loses power or internet, therefore are accessible from anywhere.

Performance: Hosting providers use enterprise-grade hardware and high-speed network connections that would be prohibitively expensive for most businesses to deploy on their own.

Security: Professional data centers provide physical security, fire suppression, climate control, and network security that exceeds what most businesses can implement in-house.

What to Look For in a FileMaker Hosting Provider

Server Locations

Choose a provider with data centers near your users for the best performance. If you have a global team, look for providers with multiple worldwide locations.

Backup and Recovery

Make sure your provider offers automated daily backups and the ability to restore quickly from snapshots. Ask about their backup retention policy and recovery time objectives.

Support Quality

FileMaker hosting requires specialized knowledge. Look for providers with experienced FileMaker developers on their support team who can help with configuration and troubleshooting.

Scalability

Your needs will change over time. Choose a provider that makes it easy to upgrade your server resources as your database grows or your user count increases.

Common FileMaker Hosting Mistakes to Avoid

Choosing based on price alone: The cheapest option often means shared resources, slower performance, and limited support. Your database is critical to your business—invest in quality hosting.

Ignoring backup policies: Not all providers offer the same backup frequency or retention. Make sure you understand exactly what’s included and test your ability to restore from backups.

Overlooking network performance: A hosting provider might have great servers but poor network connectivity. Look for providers with high-bandwidth connections (10+ Gbps).

Violating Claris licensing terms: Claris licensing is strict about how shared servers since Filemaker Server 16. Make sure your hosting provider is transparent about this, because we all have to comply with their terms.

Getting Started with FileMaker Hosting

Most hosting providers can have your server running within hours. You’ll typically need to:

Choose your server location and plan
Provide your FileMaker Server license (or purchase one through the provider)
Upload your database files
Configure user access and security settings
Test connectivity from your team’s locations

Questions to Ask Before Choosing a Provider

What version of FileMaker Server do you support?
How quickly can you restore from backups?
What’s your average response time for support requests?
Can I upgrade or downgrade my plan easily?
Do you offer migration assistance from my current setup?
What’s included in your monitoring and maintenance?

Conclusion

FileMaker database hosting gives you enterprise-grade infrastructure without the complexity and cost of managing it yourself. Choose a provider with FileMaker expertise, reliable infrastructure, and responsive support to ensure your databases stay fast and available for your team.

FileMaker Database Hosting: A Complete Guide