Category: Articles

Informative Articles on Web Hosting

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Netcetera ranked as the Most Reliable Windows 2012 Hosting Company Worldwide for August 2013

We are very proud to announce that Netcetera is the Most Reliable Windows Hosting Company Worldwide, as ranked by Netcraft, and this month we are the only Windows based web host to reach the Top 10.

This is a fantastic achievement for Netcetera as the ranking is measured against the world’s top Hosting companies!

From a customer’s perspective, the percentage of failed requests is very important and for this reason to give a clear indication of reliability of routing, the ranking is measured by a table of fewest failed requests, rather than periods of outage.

Netcraft measures and makes available the response times of approximately forty leading Hosting providers sites. The performance measurements are calculated at fifteen minute intervals from different points around the internet, and averages are calculated over the immediately preceding 24 hour period.

Netcetera was formed in 1996 and today is one of Europe’s leading Web Hosting service providers, offering a full range of products, from a basic hosting service catering to individuals who need to host a single website, to large companies who require more complicated setups using, for example, our latest Managed Windows Cloud Server, a Cloud Server or a Dedicated Server. Whatever your Hosting requirements, our range of Managed hosting options will provide you with a solution, and our UK based Hosting packages can help create a professional backbone for your online business.

Questions? Let us help!

To speak to one of our Sales Consultants about what our services can do for you, or for any other queries, please fill out our Enquiry Form or call 0800 061 2801 or click our Live Chat

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Netcetera Successfully Achieves ISO14001 Certification

Netcetera are very proud to announce that it has achieved ISO 14001 certification, the environmental management system standard. The certification is based upon an external validation of the company’s environmental performance with regard to the design, implementation and support of their hosting solutions in its Datacentre and office operations.

The ISO14001 certification maps out a framework for setting up an effective environmental management system for organisations that want to improve resource efficiency, reduce waste and drive down costs. Certification to the standard requires companies to identify and control the environmental impacts of their activities, products and services.  ISO14001 also requires companies to continually improve their environmental performance and implement a systematic approach to setting and achieving environmental targets and objective.

We have a commitment to environmental stewardship and accountability, and we have worked very hard to achieve the ISO14001 certification. Our global client base can be assured that we are committed to help drive improvements in their environmental impact and in the technology solutions and services we recommend to them.

“We work in an industry with its own particular energy challenges and as the world increasingly turns to hosted cloud solutions to meet its computing requirements, we have a heightened responsibility to ensure our solutions are architected, built and maintained in an environmentally responsible manner from the start,” said Tim Cass, Netcetera CTO, “Achieving this standard helps to underpin our Global Sustainability Programme and focus the business on achieving our targets and objectives, not just in terms of energy but wherever we have an environmental impact.”

A continuous cycle of planning, implementing, reviewing and improving the processes and actions that are performed to meet business and environmental goals, provide Netcetera’s clients and partners the assurance that environmental impact is being measured and improved.

As a result of implementing this programme, we have developed a set of ambitious plans to lower our carbon emissions, which will be unveiled over the coming months – stay tunes!

Questions? Let us help!

To speak to one of our Sales Consultants about what our services can do for you, or for any other queries, please fill out our Enquiry Form or call 0800 061 2801 or click our Live Chat

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Netcetera Featured as ‘Host of the Month’ by Web Designer Magazine

Netcetera are proud to announce that we have been featured as ‘Host of the Month’ by Web Designer Magazine.

“Netcetera is a long-established and experienced hosting provider who has been around since 1996. It provides solutions with managed web hosting services, dedicated servers and cloud hosting services. The award-winning company boasts a 16,000 square foot ISO27001 certified Data Centre facility located in the Isle of Man. We offer a £1 Hosting trial for those who want to try before they buy. Developer packages are powered by the latest Microsoft ASP.NET 4.5 platform, and include 1GB of web space for just £2.99 a month. Ideal for newbies, designers and developers who want a quick, simple and cheap hosting solution.”

In addition to that we are now offering special prices on our Developer Package when purchasing a contract for one, two or three years.

Annually (1 Month FREE plus FREE domain / renewal / transfer)
£32.89/pa – Equivalent to £2.74/pm

Biennially (3 Months FREE plus FREE domain / renewal / transfer)
£62.79/pa – Equivalent to £2.61/pm

Triennially (5 Months FREE plus FREE domain / renewal / transfer)
£92.69/pa – Equivalent to £2.57/pm

 

 

Questions? Let us help!

To speak to one of our Sales Consultants about what our services can do for you, or for any other queries, please fill out our Enquiry Form or call 0800 061 2801 or click our Live Chat

 

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Support for Node.js on Shared Hosting Platform

We are delighted to announce support for Node.js on our Shared hosting platform.

Node.js – or just Node as it’s commonly called – is a server-side javaScript implementation that enables developers to write client side as well as server side code in JavaScript.

To ease the development of complex JavaScript further, Node.js supports the CommonJS standard that allows for modularized development and the distribution of software in packages via the Node Package Manager.

Applications that can be written using Node.js include, but are not limited to Static file servers, Web Application frameworks, Messaging middle ware and Servers for HTML5 multi player games.

“We offered node.js support in our recent WebMatrix 2.0 beta labs sandbox and have received requests for making node.js generally available in our web hosting service,” said David Scalzo, Account Manager at Netcetera. “In keeping with our mission to empower developers, we are happy to announce node.js support in our Windows hosting environment.”

Questions? Let us help!

To speak to one of our Sales Consultants about what our services can do for you, or for any other queries, please fill out our Enquiry Form or call 0800 061 2801 or click our Live Chat

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Netcetera Voted Top 20 Most Popular Web Host for August 2012

Netcetera are proud to announce that we have been voted by the Web Host Directory in the UK as one of the Top 20 Most Popular Web Hosts, for the month of August. This month, Netcetera are proudly placed at #14.

Netcetera was formed in 1996 and today is one of Europe’s leading Web Hosting service providers, offering a full range of products. Whatever your Web Hosting requirements, Netcetera’s range of  Managed Hosting options cater to your needs. Our UK based hosting  packages can help create a professional backbone for your online business. Hosting packages start from as little as £2.99/pm and include FREE Migration from your current host and one month FREE Trial. As always everything comes with our excellent customer service 24/7!

View some of the prestigious awards we are honored to have earned so far at http://www.netcetera.co.uk/about/awards/

Please remember to visit the Web Host Directory UK Awards to vote for us. We would especially like to thank everyone who has voted for Netcetera this month.

Questions? Let us help!

To speak to one of our Sales Consultants about what our services can do for you, or for any other queries, please fill out our Enquiry Form or call 0800 061 2801 or click our Live Chat

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The advantages of Datacentre Colocation outside London

There is a belief in the UK that London forms a core of connectivity, meaning that colocation centres must be located there to take advantage of this perceived highest-speed connection. Furthermore, if an organisation chooses colocation then the decisions on who provides the service and how an organisation arranges its network can become almost immaterial.

The reality is, we have to base all of our decisions on rational probability and weigh up the pros and cons – there are always advantages and disadvantages to any location, the key is to ensure you are clued-up on the facts and examine what your business needs are.

A recent article by Telstra it has identified that the increasing rise in data centre facilities outside  London is extremely advantageous for customers. The reality is that it all comes down to one fundamental question: do I operate my IT and telecoms in London or elsewhere?  Of course there are many valid arguments for both, however, the latest Financial Services Authority (FSA) guidelines state that financial services companies must have a back-up facility over 40km from their primary facility, making towns outside of London extremely attractive as they can then be more than 40km from Docklands to meet FSA guidelines. Any large metropolitan area, and particularly London as the capital city, will always be more vulnerable to terrorist attacks than remote countryside destinations.

With ever-faster network connections, data communication to and from these centres can be measured in milliseconds, making London’s perceived increased connectivity immaterial in most cases. At the same time, with limitation on space and available power, London can only support a limited number of such centres meaning that the location can command a premium price. Unless a business is based in London, and is in an industry where near-instantaneous communication is essential- such as finance, it tends to be a more cost-effective solution to use a colocation centre outside of London.

There are many positives when looking into a DataCentre outside London, but perhaps cost can be considered as rather important since choosing a data centre outside of London  will have an impact on the price you pay, particularly if you need a lot of electrical power and cooling.  Of course also one could consider it will be a lower risk as housing your equipment outside London is also thought by many to be a lower risk option in terms of terrorist attacks as well as the fact that many newer Data Centres in remote locations are purpose-built rather than conversions of existing buildings.

Netcetera attributes much of its success to the fact that its state-of-the-art Data Centre is based in the Isle of Man – away from the disadvantages that many of its competitors and their clients have faced. The company’s strategic location is a powerful draw for businesses when considering outsourcing their data.  Every company will have its own requirements when it comes to selecting the location of its data centre but some needs are common for almost all users. Reliability, security and support that enables them to focus on their core business, are all key elements that feature highly on the list of priorities for any company but in today, the cost of attached to the data centre location will also grow in importance. This isn’t about a price war however, rather, a consideration of high-end cloud-based services that put Netcetera at an advantage.

For more information about how Netcetera can help you, contact our friendly Sales Team

 

 

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Why Choose a VPS?

If you are looking for a hosting package and want the control of a Dedicated Server, but with the affordability of Shared Hosting, then VPS may be the answer. VPS stands for Virtual Private Server, and has become the preferred hosting solution for small to medium sized businesses.

It effectively provides a solution which successfully balances the limitations of shared hosting and the flexibility of dedicated server hosting. The reason it has become so popular is that it provides control which is at a similar level to a dedicated server, but at a price which is far more affordable and similar to that of shared hosting.

VPS Compared to a Dedicated Server

  • It is burstable and therefore you only take the available resources you need, as and when you require them
  • It has the functionality of a Dedicated Server at a far lower cost.
  • Backup is made easy as you can simply manage your own backups via your control Panel
  • Managing your VPS is made easy by allowing you to access your user friendly control panel for simple and easy upgrade of your VPS at any time.
  • You have the flexibility to increase your service plan as and when you require more resources when you grow.

VPS Compared to Shared Hosting

  • Security is provided in that your file system is not accessible or viewable by any other customer, therefore providing you with the assurance that all your files and information are private and secure.
  • You have control over the Server, as with either administrative or root access, you can modify server configuration files, install applications or modify system software.
  • As you are fully isolated from other users and actions on the server, no other customer can slow down or affect the service that you receive.
  • The performance of your resources will be guaranteed based on your plan, nothing else on the server will affect the performance of your VPS.

Netcetera offers a wide range of Virtual Servers which start from as little as £14.99/pm and include FREE setup.  To find out more about how Netcetera’s wide range of solutions can help you, contact our Sales Team today.

 

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What is Shared Hosting?

Shared Hosting has emerged as the much preferred choice for millions of individuals and small businesses wanting to successfully host their website with minimum hassle.

Shared Web Hosting is a great way to start as it allows you to keep the costs very low and is ideal for personal use, hobbies or small businesses. In the case of Shared Hosting your server space and other resources are shared with other users. To do this, the hosting company gives each user a partition of the hard drive.

The provider is generally responsible for managing servers, installing server software, security updates, technical support, and other aspects of the service. Your site will usually be on a server with hundreds of other web sites. That may sound like a lot, but it works out extremely well because most sites don’t generate enough traffic or use enough resources for it to become a problem.

Shared hosting will allow you to host multiple websites, depending on the plan you purchase. This will be done simply by adding secondary domains through your hosting control panel.

Netcetera Shared HostingNow that you know what Shared Hosting is, how do you choose who to host with?  There are a number of factors that should be considered when making your decision.

Price – It is important to consider if the hosting company offers a good price or a discount for annual payments. Netcetera hosting solutions start from as a little as £2.99/pm and for annual payments, there is one month FREE.

Multiple hosting packages – Shared Hosting service providers should offer a number of packages with different features to choose from. Netcetera offers three different hosting packages, Developer, One, and Reseller.

Features – You should find a number of features bundled in various packages. Some features which are included in Netcetera’s shared hosting are: Support for an array of programming languages like JAVA, PHP, PERL, Python, Multiple Email Accounts, MySQL databases,  ASP.NET, ASP.MVC, Webmatrix and much more.

Trial Period – This is a key factor because as it allows the user to “test drive” the hosting solution prior to purchasing. Netcetera offers a 30 day Trial Period!

Technical support – This is one of the most important factors when making your decision.  It is vital that there is availability of technical support from dedicated technicians, with a specialized department to handle any server issues, troubleshooting, installation issue etc. Netcetera has 24/7 Technical Support via ticket/email/chat/telephone with a one hour response time!

If you are looking at hosting your new website, please visit http://www.netcetera.co.uk/hosting/ or contact our Sales Team for any assistance or information.

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Why is it so important to renew your domain name?

What happens if you don’t renew your Domain Name on its expiry date?

  • Your customers won’t be able to find you anymore and this of course means that they will not have access to the information that you provide about your company online.
  • The brand that you have worked so hard to build up will be undermined.
  • Your search engine ranking will need to be built up again and undoubtedly this will mean losing customers.
  • You will need to change all your email addresses.  You will have no further contact with your clients, no email orders or requests and potentially could lose contact with these clients, and of course friends.
  • All your online services, like internet banking, online shopping, social networking etc, which use your email address as a log-in will need to be changed.

So as you can see, there could is a huge impact on your business if you don’t renew your domain name, however, perhaps the most important point to remember, is that if you don’t renew it, anyone else can register it , and they can do it within seconds of it being made available.  As soon as this happens, they can receive all your hard earned website traffic, search engine rankings etc that have become associated with your domain name.

Recently, a very well known children’s gaming site, Club Penguin which is owned by Disney forgot to renew their domain name.  The site was down for several days and surely caused them many headaches.   The site was launched in 2005 and bought by the Walt Disney Corporation in 2007 for $350 million.  It is an online world of mini games and chat rooms and they claim to have 12 million members.  So, as you can see, even huge corporations can forget these details, surely they won’t do it again!

Normally there is a grace period of 30 days or more in same cases, to allow the Domain Name Owner to pay for the registration, before anyone can register your domain name.

Here at Netcetera, as a reminder, we send you an email with an attached invoice 14 days before the expiry date. You will also be able to check all your domain names which are ready to expire by logging into your client area and, they can be found under the header called “Upcoming Domain Renewals”.

Your domain name will be renewed automatically if we have your payment details on file, but in case we don’t have any up to date details, the payment will be rejected and your domain won’t be renewed.

Please make sure that your payment details and email address are up to date to avoid any problems with your domain name.

Your domain name is valuable – make sure you look after it.

If you have any questions please contact our Sales Team

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Why is everyone talking about Microsoft Webmatrix?

Microsoft have recently announced their latest development in technology, called Webmatrix.  They have taken web development one step further and developed a new lightweight web development tool which integrates all their previous web development tools like Visual Studio 2010 and Visual Web Developer 2010 Express, and makes it even easier for people to get started with web development using ASP.NET.  It provides core coding and database support, as well as integrating with an open source web gallery.  It includes support to easily publish or deploy sites and applications to web hosting providers.

Netecetera and the Microsoft WebmatrixThe best news about this, is that it is FREE! It is downloadable, quick to install and is only 15MB!

WebMatrix is a task-focused tool that has been designed to make it really easy to get started with web development. It minimizes the number of concepts and skills that someone needs to learn in order to get simple things done, as well as including and integrating all the components necessary to build Web sites quickly and efficiently.

Of course, once you have created a website, it will need to be hosted! Netcetera provide the perfect hosting solution for this, with prices starting from as little as £2.99/pm, including loads of web space, databases and much more. The price also includes FREE migration from your current host.  As always with Netcetera, you will receive 24/7 unlimited email /ticket/chat/telephone support (UK BASED) and guaranteed 1 hour ticket response.

Netceteara Webmatrix

Find out more information at http://www.microsoft.com/web/webmatrix/ or feel free to contact our friendly and helpful sales team.