TBA BERLIN

TBA recommendations for German web hosting providers

The task of “web hosting” is the online provision of website, Internet software(content management systems, web stores, forums) and e-mail mailboxes via a specialized computer (web server) permanently connected to the Internet. This also includes the reservation and management of domains (web addresses).

The TBA-Berlin offers our customers various own web hosting packages. Sometimes, however, it can make sense to use your own self-sufficient web server, for example, because your in-house IT still wants to share the server for their own projects.

Attached are some suggestions about alternative hosting providers:

Technical requirements

We assume a medium-complex CMS website without e-commerce/webshop with a basic framework of editing and security plug-in. Only one (not multiple) website is hosted

In order to be able to better compare providers with each other – and with our offer – we base the TBA-Berlin on a catalog of requirements:

Provider

  • The provider is at least known to us and has a good reputation, at best we have already had real experience of our own there.
  • Competent, helpful support at least by e-mail, responses take no longer than 1 working day.
  • The provider should have its registered office in the EU if the GDPR is to be observed.

Location

  • The servers are well connected to a central Internet node.
  • The server should be located in the EU if the GDPR is to be observed.
  • The server location should also ideally be in the country where your company is based, or at least in a neighboring country.

Server equipment

  • Current hardware
  • The memory per script should be at least 512 MB RAM.
  • The runtime of a script should be at least 60 seconds, ideally 300 seconds.
  • At least 2 processor cores are available.
  • Modern SSD storage is used (no hard drives).
  • Convincing security concepts when shielding other customers assigned to the same server (quota).
  • Server accessibility also via SSH protocol.
  • The server offers modern administration panels(Plesk or equivalent).

System mailbox

In most cases, we need system e-mails to be sent smoothly:

  • an SMTP relay mailbox with the following access data: server URL/port/login name/password, encryption type (SMTP or Start-TLS).
  • A suitable “SPF record” should be stored in the name server of the domain for the mailbox.

Booth: 30. August 2022

Recommended Web Hosting Provider

(Alphabetical order)

DF.eu (DomainFactory)

Packages offered:


  • ManagedHosting
     (server sharing with other customers),
    Minimum tariff: “ManagedHosting 64 PREMIUM
  • WordPressHosting
    Generally not recommended by us
  • ManagedServer (own real server, preconfigured)
    All packages suitable

  • CloudHosting
     (own virtual server)
    Minimum tariff: “CloudLevel 2”.

Advantages of DF.eu:

  • Good support (their “VIP” support add-on is recommended)
  • If you should need the administrative assistance of the TBA-Berlin: We are very familiar with the administration interface at DF.eu and therefore offer consulting/configuration of the server at a reduced price.

Disadvantages:

  • Somewhat expensive, no cheap “Let’s Encrypt” certificates, but “only”
    High-end encryption.

Scoring:

Finding good packages there is not easy, e.g. we find their “WordPress Hosting” offers problematic for GDPR reasons (old hardware and PHP operating systems, the servers are located in the USA at the mass hoster GoDaddy). Cloud hosting, on the other hand, is quite modern.

We find their “Reseller Dedicated Server” offers for agencies excellent and almost unrivaled.

WebGo

Packages:


  • WebHosting
     (server sharing with other customers), minimum tariff:
    from their tariff“BUSINESS
  • DedicatedManagedServer (own real server, preconfigured):
    All packages are suitable

Pros:

  • Somewhat cheaper than DF.eu

Disadvantages:

  • No personal 1:1 support
  • Mostly too short script runtimes for CMS and esp. Stores. Module updates could get stuck and crash the website and it might not be possible to upload several larger files/images at the same time (hangs during upload due to script abort).
  • On the server there are not so many setting options as on DF.eu.
  • If you should need the administrative assistance of the TBA-Berlin: We have to learn the administration interface and support requests may take longer.

Scoring:

WebGo has a good reputation especially in terms of speed. Recommended if you don’t have any special requirements for the systems that need special support or special server settings.

IONOS 1+1

Packages:


  • WebHosting
     (server sharing with other customers), minimum tariff:
    from their“PREMIUM” tariff

Pros:

  • Very common. According to hearsay, good support.

Disadvantages:

  • Mostly short script runtimes for CMS and esp. Stores. Module updates could get stuck and crash the website and it might not be possible to upload several larger files/images at the same time (hangs during upload due to script abort).
  • On the server there are not so many setting options as on DF.eu.
  • If you should need the administrative assistance of the TBA-Berlin: We have to learn the administration interface and support requests may take longer.

Scoring:

IONOS is the top dog in Germany. We are bothered by the rudimentary details of the service description, especially the the script runtimes and the user interface in the admin area, which takes some getting used to.

Affiliate Disclaimer: Our recommendations are based solely on our own experience and research. We do not have any affiliate or advertising agreements with any of the providers listed above to recommend them.