Archive for the ‘Technology’ Category

GreenNuture interviews FireHost CEO, Chris Drake, about Sustainable, Green Web Hosting Practices

by FireHost Evangelist on February 15th, 2010

When powered by virtualization, our secure website hosting techniques do more than just help keep the “bad guys” out of your website and web-based applications. In fact, we affectionately regard virtualization as the “socially responsible” hosting technology.

Our virtualized servers provide secure, scalable hosting solutions to small and medium sized businesses around the globe. Thru the use of new, green hosting technologies, we’re helping reduce e-waste: energy consumption, CO2 emissions, hardware waste, and more.

Click Here to learn more about how FireHost leverages virtualization to save a few IT dollars while helping save the planet.

Our Love Affair with Cloud Hosting

by FireHost Evangelist on February 12th, 2010

Ahh February… Love is in the air. Our servers are in the cloud. But do we love our servers in the cloud?

Cloud computing and cloud hosting practices have been around for some time, probably longer than you think. Long enough, in fact, to gain significant awareness and pique the interest of anyone starting, or growing a business. “I must have everything ‘in the cloud’” these entrepreneurs say!  While the definition and clear-cut use case for cloud hosting remains elusive, the promise of cost savings, “fair” usage based billing, and unlimited scalability has startups love struck.

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Cloud Computing Gains Critical Mass Despite Uncertainty About Its Definition

by FireHost Evangelist on August 28th, 2009

cloudCriticalmassThis summer, F5 Networks surveyed 250 companies’ senior IT Personnel about Cloud Computing, and one thing is consistent – the definition of Cloud Computing continues to elude IT managers. In fact, the survey presented six industry-accepted meanings of cloud computing and found that the participants could not pinpoint any of them as being “just right”. The two most popular responses were:

  • Cloud computing is on-demand access to virtualized IT resources that are housed outside of your own data center, shared by others, simple to use, paid for via subscription and accessed over the Web.
  • Cloud computing is a style of computing in which dynamically scalable and often virtualized resources are provided as a service over the Internet. Users need not have knowledge of, expertise in, or control over the technology infrastructure in the “cloud.”

Despite any confusion about the role cloud computing should play within IT organizations and how the solution will be carried out, it continues to gain momentum. In fact, 99% of the respondents to F5’s survey are actively discussing or implementing a cloud solution within their organization and more than half (66%) of the participants have budgets set aside for cloud solutions.

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WordPress 2.8.2 Upgrade Addresses XSS Vulnerability

by FireHost Evangelist on July 29th, 2009

wp_securityThe latest upgrade for WordPress addresses an important XSS vulnerability in the open source application, so don’t delay installing it. Upgrading to WordPress 2.8.2 is easy.

WordPress users can get the latest version (which was released about a week ago) three ways:

  1. Download it here to manually upgrade.
  2. Initiate the upgrade automatically by clicking the Upgrade link under the Tools menu in your blog’s admin. (v 2.7 or later)
  3. Host your website with FireHost, and let us take care of the upgrade for you.

We’re glad to see WordPress take action to help prevent hackers from compromising websites built on the their great platform. Kudos to the WordPress team for helping keep everyone safe.

Feature: The WordPress Super Cache

by FireHost Evangelist on May 22nd, 2009

super-cache-pluginWhen it comes to hosting a blog on your website, WordPress is the platform of choice for many individuals, organizations, and businesses. The reasons for the popularity of this solution include breezy usability, pleasing aesthetics, and superior extensibility, just to name a few of the platform’s many highlights.

Extensibility through plugins is an important feature in WordPress. This tool allows users to build upon the original application and customize it according to their own needs, similar to add-ons in the popular Firefox web browser. Currently, there are thousands of WordPress plugins, but there’s one in particular enabling your blog to easily serve millions of visitors at once: The WordPress Super Cache.

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FireHost Brings the Power of Google to Your Website

by FireHost Evangelist on April 24th, 2009

Google Search AppliancesIt’s becoming difficult to imagine modern life without the internet. In less than a decade it has become ingrained in our culture, with millions of people shopping, communicating, learning, working, and even loving, on the internet.

While a matter of personal preference for many, Google is at the core of our internet-driven culture. Need a recipe? Google it. Need directions? Google it. Need an email account? Google it. Need a picture? Google it. 

The examples of Google’s ability to facilitate your web browsing needs are virtually limitless. You can find nearly anything you need using Google, which is why it’s become the leading search engine on the internet.

 In fact, there’s a good chance most of your visitors discover your website through Google.

Realizing the business value of accurate, relevant search results, Google has developed a cutting-edge hardware, the Google Search Appliance. The Google Search Appliance gives businesses the opportunity to add a powerful search feature to their website, using Google’s own search engine technology.

Your visitors are empowered to find what they need on your website, complete with the familiar layout of a Google search results page which can be customized for your website look and feel as well as content. You even have the option to schedule daily web-crawling and updating of your site’s content with Google directly. When you provide your visitors with Google-powered, relevant search results, they will be more likely to find what they’re looking for, purchase your goods or services, and return to your website later.

FireHost brings the power of Google Search to your website as part of our robust line up of secure web hosting product and services. We can integrate the Google Search Appliance into your website now. If you’re ready to Google-power your website, contact a FireHost professional today.

FireHost Secures National Breast Cancer Foundation’s Telligent Support Community

by FireHost Evangelist on April 17th, 2009

nbcf community secured by FireHostInspiring the courage needed to win the battle with breast cancer, the National Breast Cancer Foundation provides funding for free mammograms and supports mammography programs in medical facilities across the country.

NBCF accomplishes their mission through initiatives such as the National Mammography Program, their educational video Beyond the Shock, and the MyNBCF online community. Providing NBCF with industry-leading secure managed hosting, FireHost epowers breast cancer survivors and supporters to share their stories and offer encouragement to women and families of patients and survivors via online forums, news groups, video galleries, and blogs.

“With Telligent Community Server, I know what’s going on in the MyNBCF community as it happens, and that’s a beautiful thing.”

- Kevin Williams, NBCF

The MyNBCF online community accomplishes this great work using Community Server by Telligent, an enterprise-level social network platform hosted by thousands of companies, including Dell, Intel, Electronic Arts, and Microsoft.

Since implementing Community Server hosting thru FireHost, NBCF has experienced a significant increase in MyNBCF registrations as well as a notable increase in online donations.

Community Server hosting helps propel these results by offering:

  • Organic Traffic Growth
    Social networking provides exponential traffic growth as users become active participants in the community, invite their friends, and those friends invite new friends.
  • Ease of Use
    Similar to using Microsoft Word, publishing content with Community Server is simple. All you need to do is type.
  • Immediate ROI
    Increased customer satisfaction, a network of community experts, and reduced support costs are just a few of the high-impact financial benefits of Community Server hosting.

FireHost can make Telligent Community Server hosting part of your online community. Contact us today to put Community Server to work on your website.

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