web hosting

Intermedia.NET Unleashes New Exchange Solutions

Intermedia.NET has just launched a suite of new solutions designed to enable Microsoft Exchange deployments that provide higher availability and tighter security for its customers.  Although Exchanging hosting has become increasingly popular in recent times, many businesses still choose to maintain their server operations in-house.  Those who lack internal resources are vulnerable to numerous instances that pose a direct threat to critical business functions.

Intermedia CEO Serguei Sofinski explained that the company’s new offerings will help customers address two of the biggest problems faced by small to medium sized businesses today: excessive downtime and security issues.  Sofinski says the new solutions will allow its customers to effectively harvest the true value from their assets without the risk of loss productivity.

Here is a rundown on Intermedia’s new solutions:

Business Continuity

The Intermedia Business Continuity solution has been tailored to provide high availability by permitting customers with on-premise Exchange servers to use its servers to access their messages when the in-house servers go down.  Unlike standard dial-tone solutions, this offering is Exchange-based and allows complete access to user mailboxes.  This means that customers can enjoy 14 days of message history, contacts, calender appointments and more even if their server should fail.

ContentSync

A proprietary application developed by Intermedia, ContentSync is a software tool that synchronizes its Business Continuity Exchange servers with on-premise Exchange servers, providing customers with real-time access to their data in the event of a failure.  This solution doesn’t call for any software or hardware installations, configuration or management, making it possible for business customers to have the high availability that would normally be cost prohibitive at a more affordable price.

SpamStopper

SpamStopper is the second part of Intermedia’s Exchange solution.  This hosted service puts an emphasis on security with spam filtering, anti-virus and anti-phishing tools for small businesses with their own on-premise Exchange server.  Intermedia says that SpamStopper is able detect potentially harmful mail with an accuracy rating of greater than 99%.  The solution is also integrated with a feature called Zero-Hour Virus Outbreak Detection to protect networks from newly released strains of malware.  Thanks to SpamStopper, Intermedia customers can stay one step ahead of the unscrupulous coders writing infectious virus, worm and Trojan programs.

Price and Availability

Both of Intermedia’s new solutions have been made immediately available and can be easily incorporated into customers’ existing on-premise Exchange servers.  Business Continuity starts from $5 a month per user while the SpamStopper solution is available for $50.  The latter is a one-time fee for the first 50 users and an extra 50 cents a month for each additional user.

About Intermedia.NET

Intermedia.NET is a Microsoft Gold Certified partner that has been specializing in the hosting business for more than 10 years.  Its solutions are geared towards small to medium sized businesses looking for enterprise-class technology attached with low monthly fees, no up-front investment and industry-leading technical support.  Aside from Microsoft Exchange hosting, Intermedia provides a variety of traditional web hosting services designed for small and mid-sized companies.

Protect Your Site From Maliciously Activities

Thousands of vulnerable websites are exploited everyday.  In many cases, your site can be victimized without you having the slightest clue.  Unfortunately, there are also instances in which your site can be used in malicious ploys without being directly compromised   In the best interests of both you and your visitors, it is imperative that you take the appropriate measures to ensure that your site is a safe place to visit.  In this article we will talk some of the more unusual ways hackers and malware writers plant their harmful seeds.

Malicious Banner Ads

Although most attacks involve taking advantage of vulnerable web applications, attackers have several other weapons that can be used to maliciously exploit your site.  One popular method is through the use of banner ads.  The person you think you’re networking with could be using your site as a medium to propagate their malicious code.  As soon one of your visitors clicks on the compromised banner, they are redirected to a malware hosted site or directly infected depending on the nature of the code.  If you insert third-party advertisements on your website, it is imperative to make sure they do not put you or your visitors in danger.  The best way to do this is knowing how to properly access obfuscated banner code for signs of malicious values.  You could also do some checking to find out if the advertiser you’re working with has a reputation for participating in such activities.

Sneaky Uploads and Downloads

Most website attacks focus on HTML code but it is also possible for malicious items to be uploaded to an improperly secured site.  If you allow users to upload content to your site, they can easily sneak in executables such as Javascript, .exe, .bat and. cmd files.  Attackers have also been known to bundle their harmful programs with applications given away as free downloads.  You will become unpopular if every time someone downloads your free software, they end up with a nasty infection on their PC.  You can learn if your site or applications are being used to distribute malware by downloading the source code from the live site onto a virtual machine and scanning it with a reliable anti-malware tool.

A Few Security Tips

It’s a jungle out there in cyberspace, filled with more hazardous creepy crawlers than you could imagine.  Following these simple tips should help make your website a much safe place to hang out.

Transfer Data Securely – If you allow users to upload to your site or require root access, be sure to utilize SSH and SFTP rather than Telnet or FTP.  These protocols have both been considered insecure because of their tendency to transmit data in plain text.  When using FTP or Telnet, sensitive information such as user names and passwords can be easily read by anyone eavesdropping on the network.  SSH and SFTP are encryption-based protocols that scramble data so it appears in the form of unreadable characters.

Scan Your Website – There are a number of scanning technologies that will comb your site for vulnerabilities.  A good one will not only help you detect insecure applications, but also software packages that require immediate patches.

Secure Hosting - You can take all the preventive measures you want, but if the server you’re hosting on isn’t secure, all those efforts will prove futile.  Make sure your web host is taking the necessary steps to keep you protected behind the scenes.  If they are not making use of features such as firewalls, anti-malware and DDoS protective software, you need pack up your website files and head elsewhere.

The Vulnerability of AJAX Applications

When it comes to emerging web technologies, AJAX is leading the charge as one of the most dynamic tool sets on the development market.  Short for Asynchronous Javascript and XML, AJAX is attracting the attention of developers and businesses around the world.  Unknown to some, AJAX isn’t a programming technology like HTML or PHP, yet a collection of technologies that provide a robust facility for developing powerful web-based applications.  The power of AJAX is seen in many applications today including Google Maps and Yahoo!  mail.

What Makes AJAX So Different?

The purpose AJAX is to enhance speed, interactivity and usability.  The combination of technologies provide a more feature-rich, user-friendly experience.  Instead of loading the requested page at the start of the session, an AJAX engine scripted in Javascript is loaded.  This engine acts a middlemen between the user and the web page, enabling communication between the client and server.  The end result of this interaction is noticed almost instantly.  When making a request to an AJAX page, you may see individual elements of the page update before your eyes (asynchronously) rather than waiting for the page to load completely.

The AJAX Disadvantage

AJAX is a very powerful weapon but one must be aware of the security vulnerabilities that exist.  Some developers have the misconception that AJAX applications offer tighter security because it is believed that the server-side script can’t be accessed without the rendered user interface, which is simply the AJAX-based page.  Unfortunately, this couldn’t be further from the truth.  The mere factor of increased interactivity within the application results in increased text, XML and HMTL network traffic.  This in turn, could lead to the exposure of back-end applications that may have not vulnerable otherwise.  Without adequate server-side protection, it could also give unauthenticated users the ability to manipulate privilege configurations.

Another AJAX vulnerability is associated with the process it utilizes to formulate server requests.  Its engine uses Javascript to capture user commands and convert them into function calls.  These function calls are transmitted to the server in plaintext, making them visible to savvy eavesdroppers.  This could allow an intruder to easily access database fields that contain user login credentials and other critical variables that can be manipulated for malicious gain.  With this information, a hacker can victimize AJAX functions all without directly creating specific HTTP requests to the server.  Coupled with the known vulnerabilities of Javascript, AJAX applications are susceptible to attacks like cross site scripting and similar threats that plague scripts created by other development technologies.

While the evolution of web technologies has enabled applications to enjoy more responsive, interactive, efficient functionality, they also increase the vulnerabilities developers and businesses face on a daily basis.  The growing prevalence of AJAX applications has considerably broadened the threat window, essentially giving hackers a greater opportunity to compromise sensitive data and thieve invaluable assets.  For this reason, developers must stop living under a false sense of security and take every measure possible to ensure that their AJAX applications are completely secure.

Introducing Cold Fusion Hosting

Now an Adobe product, Cold Fusion is one of the most powerful programming languages available.  As a server-side scripting technology, it is used to create dynamic web pages and applications, quite similar to languages such as ASP, Perl and PHP.  Cold Fusion gives developers the ability to create and deploy interactive features that power self-service applications, content management systems, e-commerce sites and much more.  As a tag-based language, it is said to be one of the most comprehensive programming tools to use in the world.  In order to enjoy all Cold Fusion has to offer, you need a web hosting provider that supports it.

This article will go over the factors you must consider when looking for Cold Fusion hosting.

Available Version

When it comes to Cold Fusion hosting, it is always best to choose a web hosting provider that offers the most recent version of the language.  This will allow you to benefit from the latest features to create powerful, user-friendly web pages and applications.  It also makes it much easier to integrate the language with the database system you prefer to work with.

Possible Limitations

Choosing the right Cold Fusion solution is very important as some environments prevent you from getting its full potential.  For example, there are a few shared hosting providers that will limit the use of its tags because they are often viewed as security risks.  This is mainly due to the  mere structure of a shared server.  This is very understandable as the vulnerability of your site opens potential threats to everyone else hosting on the server.  You can get around these limitations by opting for dedicated server hosting.  Though it is considerably more expensive, dedicated hosting gives you complete control over which tags can or cannot be used on the server.

Cold Fusion Features

Cold Fusion is a powerful feature in its own right but there are some minimal requirements.  Most web hosting providers will set you up with everything required to get the maximum use out of this dynamic programming language.  All that is really needed to excel with Cold Fusion is a complimenting database to provide back-end in support for your web applications.  This shouldn’t be a problem as Cold Fusion integrates seamlessly with popular databases such as MySQL, Postgre SQL and MS SQL.

Cost Factor

Lastly, you need to consider the budget you have available to put towards a Cold Fusion hosting package.  Because it is one of the oldest languages around, you can find Cold Fusion offered in many low cost hosting packages.  However, some companies charge a pretty penny for all the advanced functionality it offers, especially when bundled with compatible Microsoft products.

In the end, it is mainly the complimenting features such as bandwidth and software add-ons that will impact the cost of Cold Fusion hosting solution.

While it goes without saying, Cold Fusion hosting is something you should only seek when having a specific need for the functionality it offers.  Though it may not be as popular as ASP or PHP, the language is widely available.  As with any hosting service, the most important aspects of this niche are reliability and quality technical support.  A stable platform will give you all the ammunition you need to thrive with a Cold Fusion website.

Hosting Considerations for E-commerce

When it comes to e-commerce, one must take several factors in consideration.  Apart from deciding what market you want to tackle and thinking of ways to promote the business, you must also factor your online presence into the mix.  Your business site will require a hosting solution and there are so many too choose from.  There is shared hosting, dedicated hosting, managing hosting and a wide variety of niche variations.  You also have the option of hosting your business in-house or going with a provider that specializes in colocation.  Making a choice can be difficult, but it is much easier when matching up a solution with the specific needs of your business.

In-house vs. Colocation

Hosting your e-commerce business in-house is a do-it-yourself solution that calls for you to purchase the hardware, software applications and lease an internet application.  It also means you need an expert staff to maintain these vital components.  You need to think about server administration, network monitoring, data backups, security and much more.  This is independent method is the most costly way to run your business online.

Colocation is the perfect alternative to hosting your business in-house.  This is the kind of arrangement where you store your server hardware in the provider’s data facility.  They supply you with you an internet connection and the power necessary to run the equipment.  The major benefit to colocation in comparison to an in-house solution is cost savings.  The key is finding a provider you can rely on to keep you online.

Shared vs. Dedicated Hosting

Shared hosting is the most affordable way to get your e-commerce business going, a situation where you share a web server with other users.  With this type of hosting, you are sharing the actual hardware along with the operating system and other critical resources.  Shared hosting is often the first choice of small businesses who don’t have demanding needs.  It also quite limited in terms of control and is prone to more stability and security issues when compared to having your own server.

With dedicated hosting, you sign up for a hosting plan and have the server all to yourself.  You have your own internet connection, operating system and all the other resources that are tied up in shared hosting.  The server can be enhanced with your own software applications, programming technologies and security mechanisms.  Because performing these tasks are more complex than a shared hosting solution, managed hosting exists to aid those with limited server administration skills.

Dedicated and managed hosting services are geared towards businesses that receive a high level of traffic and require maximum stability.  The major difference between these solutions and colocation is cost as you are paying a monthly or annual fee just to lease the server opposed to owning it.

Conclusion

As you can see, there is lot more that goes into e-commerce besides opening up a store and marketing your products.  Finding the right type of service is so critical because it forms the very backbone of your online business.  Ultimately, the solution for you depends on your expertise, manpower, budget and requirements.