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NowHosted

Website migration with zero downtime and a reviewed handover

Website migration from NowHosted is a free white-glove service on every plan, with zero downtime. We review the existing site, arrange secure access, copy it to staging, and ask you to check it before DNS cutover with low TTL. We check the site after the move, and your old host stays untouched until you cancel it.

Audit my site

Migration tracker

studio.example.com

Staging review
  1. 01Site auditComplete
  2. 02Secure accessComplete
  3. 03Staging copyComplete
  4. 04Your reviewIn progress
  5. 05DNS cutoverScheduled
  6. 06Live checksPending
  7. 07Old hostUnchanged

Cutover details

DNS TTL
Lowered · 300 s
Staging URL
staging.studio.example.com
Go-live time
14:00 UTC
Approval
Pending your review

01

Let us handle the move while you review the site

You do not need to move the site yourself to change hosts. We handle the migration work and use staging to give you a review point before the live destination changes. Your role is to provide the required access and confirm that the copied site behaves as the business expects.

This process applies across the WordPress hosting plans. The migration service is included, so there is no separate migration charge. If you manage client sites, the same approach helps keep the review with the person who owns the site's content and business behavior. Our agency hosting page covers the wider account tools for that work.

02

Follow the move from audit to live checks

  1. Audit the current site.

    Start with its URL and the type of site you run. The one-time hosting audit reads the public site and reports measurements such as TTFB, DNS and TLS time, certificate expiry, cache detection, and security headers. It does not change the site or require a card. We use the current setup as the starting point for reviewing the move.

  2. Arrange secure access handover.

    Identify the person who can provide hosting and DNS access, then arrange a secure handover with the migration team. Use temporary credentials limited to the work the move requires. Keep access ownership clear so that temporary credentials can be revoked after the migration. The initial discussion can identify the access needed without including passwords in the email.

  3. Copy the site to staging.

    We create a staging copy so the site can be reviewed before its live destination changes. The existing host continues to serve the current site during this work. Identify the application parts that matter to the business, including custom code and integrations, so the staging review covers more than the appearance of the home page.

  4. Review the copied site.

    You check the staging copy and confirm that the important pages and business tasks work as expected. Include the people who know the content, forms, checkout, or custom application behavior. This is the approval point for the copy. If something needs attention, the review stays open while that issue is addressed before cutover.

  5. Switch DNS with low TTL.

    After your review, we carry out the DNS cutover with low TTL. This directs traffic to the reviewed site on NowHosted as part of the zero downtime migration. Keep the person responsible for DNS involved so the domain changes have a clear owner. The old hosting account remains in place during the handover.

  6. Check the site after the move.

    We perform post-move checks on the live site. You also review the business tasks that depend on it, using the live domain. Checking the live result closes the gap between approving a staging copy and confirming the moved site. Keep the reviewers available so any question about site behavior reaches the person who understands it.

  7. Cancel the old host when you choose.

    Your old host stays untouched until you cancel it. NowHosted does not cancel that account for you. Once you have reviewed the moved site, you decide when to end the old subscription. Revoke temporary migration credentials when the work is complete and keep your own record of the access handover.

03

Bring the access and review owners together

The move works best when the people responsible for hosting access, DNS, and site behavior are identified at the start. You do not need to give access to unrelated accounts. The migration team works with you to identify what the site needs for its move and to arrange the secure handover.

  • The URL of the site you want to move.
  • The site type and any custom code or connected services to review.
  • Temporary access to the current hosting needed for the copy.
  • Access to DNS changes through the person who controls the domain.
  • Your preferred server region.
  • A reviewer who can approve the staging copy and check the live site.

Choose North America, Europe, or Asia-Pacific for the site's server region. Our cloud hosting page explains region choice. If the site is part of a larger application setup, identify those dependencies during the handover so the review reflects how the site is actually used.

04

Check the tasks the business depends on

Reviewing a copy is more useful when you follow the tasks people perform on the site. Open important pages, submit the forms you rely on, and review the behavior of custom features. For a store, include the shopping journey in the review. Your team knows what a correct result looks like for its own business.

The WordPress hosting platform provides staging and other tools for ongoing changes after migration. The move introduces that review habit before the live DNS change, then the same tools support future site work. Hosting management and application approval stay connected without making the migration team the owner of your business rules.

Staging review

staging.studio.example.com

  • Important pagesChecked
  • FormsChecked
  • CheckoutIn review
  • Custom featuresIn review
Reviewer
Site owner
Approval
Pending
Live DNS
Unchanged

Keep the site managed after the move

Once the move is complete, NowHosted runs the site with the features included in your plan. Those include daily off-site backups, one-click restore, SSL, uptime checks every minute, and the platform's development tools. Read about managed hosting to see how ongoing operation differs from the migration itself.

You can export a full backup and cancel at any time. Access continues until the end of the paid period. If you want to inspect the current public site before choosing a plan, start with the hosting audit, then use its findings as context for the move.

Audit my site

FAQ

  • Yes. Free white-glove migration is included on Business, Agency, and Scale. We handle the copy, staging review process, DNS cutover, and post-move checks.

  • Migration has zero downtime. We copy the site to staging, ask you to review it, and carry out DNS cutover with low TTL while the existing host stays in place.

  • We arrange secure handover of the hosting and DNS access needed for the move. Use temporary credentials limited to the migration work and revoke them when that work is complete.

  • Your old host stays untouched until you cancel it. You decide when to end that subscription after reviewing the site on NowHosted.