The shift toward mobile usage has made it critical for businesses to adopt web development strategies that cater to users on all devices. Two leading approaches dominate the conversation: responsive design and mobile-first design. Both have their merits, but understanding their differences can help you choose the best path for your site’s goals.
Responsive design ensures that a website adapts to any screen size. Whether it’s viewed on a desktop, tablet, or smartphone, the site dynamically adjusts its layout to provide a seamless experience.
Mobile-first design prioritises the mobile user experience. Development begins with the smallest screen and scales up to larger devices.
Pros:
Cons:
Pros:
Cons:
Your choice depends on your audience, goals, and resources:
Both responsive design and mobile-first strategies have their place in modern web development. The key is to evaluate your website’s needs and prioritise the approach that offers the best experience for your users while aligning with your business objectives.
Need help deciding? At IDS Hosting, we specialise in building websites tailored to your audience and goals. Visit idshosting.co.za for expert advice and solutions.
In today’s mobile-driven world, designing for mobile isn’t just about making a website look good on smaller screens—it’s about creating an experience that’s intuitive, functional, and fast. Yet, many businesses fall into common pitfalls that can harm user engagement and conversions. Whether you’re a developer or a business owner, this guide highlights five mistakes to avoid and how to do it right.
Why It’s a Problem:
Mobile users expect fast-loading websites. A delay of just a few seconds can lead to higher bounce rates.
How to Fix It:
Why It’s a Problem:
Complex menus and small buttons make it hard for users to find what they need, frustrating mobile visitors.
How to Fix It:
Why It’s a Problem:
Relying on one device or screen size during testing can leave issues undetected, impacting usability on other devices.
How to Fix It:
Why It’s a Problem:
Mobile users don’t want to scroll endlessly or sift through cluttered information.
How to Fix It:
Why It’s a Problem:
Google’s mobile-first indexing prioritizes mobile-friendly websites. A poorly optimized site can hurt your rankings.
How to Fix It:
Avoiding these common mobile design mistakes ensures your website is ready to meet the needs of today’s mobile-first audience. Whether it’s improving speed, simplifying navigation, or optimizing for search engines, small changes can lead to big results.
Want to learn more about optimizing your website for mobile success?
Visit idshosting.co.za to discover how we help businesses stay ahead in a mobile-first world.
In today’s fast-paced digital world, mobile-first web design is not just a trend—it’s a necessity. With over 60% of web traffic coming from mobile devices, businesses must prioritize their mobile users. If your website isn’t designed with mobile in mind, you risk alienating a massive audience. In this guide, we’ll explore what mobile-first design is, why it matters, and how to implement it effectively for your business.
Mobile-first web design is an approach where the design process starts with the smallest screen and scales up. Instead of retrofitting a desktop design for mobile, it ensures the mobile experience is seamless and intuitive.
Businesses that adopt mobile-first practices often see:
Mobile-first web design isn’t just about following a trend; it’s about meeting the needs of a mobile-centric audience while staying competitive in search rankings. By adopting these principles, your website will be positioned to deliver exceptional value to all users—on any device.
At IDS Hosting, we specialize in creating mobile-friendly solutions to help your business thrive. Get in touch today or visit idshosting.co.za to learn more!
In today's fast-paced digital landscape, having a mobile-optimized website is no longer optional—it’s a necessity. With mobile devices accounting for over half of global web traffic, your website must cater to this audience to stay competitive. But what does a mobile-optimized website mean for your business results? Let’s explore how adapting to mobile-first design can transform your online presence and your bottom line.
Mobile usage has skyrocketed, with users browsing, shopping, and interacting on the go. A mobile-optimized website ensures potential customers can find you and engage seamlessly, whether they’re on a smartphone or tablet.
Business Impact: Improved accessibility means more visitors and potential leads.
Search engines like Google prioritize mobile-friendly websites. Through its mobile-first indexing, Google evaluates your site’s mobile version before ranking it.
Business Impact: A better search ranking equals increased visibility and higher traffic.
Nothing frustrates users more than struggling with tiny text, misaligned buttons, or slow-loading pages. A mobile-optimized site provides an intuitive and enjoyable experience, keeping users engaged.
Business Impact: Happy visitors are more likely to stay, explore, and convert.
A streamlined mobile experience helps users navigate easily and take action—be it signing up for a service, making a purchase, or contacting your business.
Business Impact: Higher conversions directly boost revenue.
If your competitors offer a seamless mobile experience and you don’t, customers are likely to choose them. Mobile optimization gives you a competitive edge in your industry.
Business Impact: Staying relevant ensures you capture and retain market share.
Your digital marketing efforts—social media ads, email campaigns, or search ads—often lead users to your website. A mobile-friendly landing page ensures those clicks turn into meaningful interactions.
Business Impact: Maximizing ROI from your marketing campaigns.
A professional, responsive website sends a clear message: your business values its customers’ time and experience. This builds trust and strengthens your brand image.
Business Impact: Increased customer loyalty and positive word-of-mouth.
Today’s users expect websites to load quickly and function flawlessly on mobile devices. Meeting these expectations shows you’re in tune with their needs.
Business Impact: Satisfied customers who are more likely to return.
If you sell products or services online, mobile commerce is your future. Optimizing your site for mobile ensures customers can browse, shop, and checkout effortlessly.
Business Impact: Boost in online sales and revenue.
Mobile usage is only growing. A mobile-optimized website isn’t just for now—it’s an investment in your business’s longevity.
Business Impact: Staying relevant as digital behaviors evolve.
A mobile-optimized website drives better business results by increasing reach, improving engagement, and boosting conversions. In 2025 and beyond, embracing mobile-first design isn’t just a trend—it’s a business imperative. Start optimizing today to unlock your website’s full potential and see the results for yourself.
In today’s mobile-driven world, having a mobile-friendly website is non-negotiable. Here are 10 key reasons why optimizing for mobile is essential—and how it benefits your business.
More info: https://idshosting.co.za/
Master Your SEO Journey: How to Track Progress and Continuously Improve
SEO is not a one-time task; it’s a dynamic, ongoing process that evolves with search engine algorithms, market trends, and your business goals. In this final post of our SEO series, we’ll guide you on how to monitor your efforts effectively and make meaningful adjustments to maintain and improve your results.
Before tracking anything, ensure your goals are well-defined. Some common SEO objectives include:
Key performance indicators (KPIs) should align with these goals, such as bounce rate, time on site, or the number of pages visited per session.
Tracking SEO performance requires reliable tools. Here are some essentials:
Regularly review your metrics to gauge the effectiveness of your strategy. Focus on:
SEO audits help identify areas for improvement. Check for:
SEO is constantly evolving. Keep learning about algorithm updates, new ranking factors, and industry shifts. Subscribe to reputable SEO blogs or forums to stay informed.
Don’t be afraid to test new strategies. Whether it’s A/B testing meta descriptions or experimenting with content formats, small tweaks can lead to significant improvements.
Track and celebrate small wins along the way. Did your blog post hit page one? Did you achieve a 10% traffic boost? Acknowledging progress keeps you motivated for the long haul.
SEO is a marathon, not a sprint. By continuously tracking your progress and refining your approach, you can stay ahead of competitors and ensure your website delivers value for years to come.
In the world of Search Engine Optimization (SEO), backlinks are one of the most important tools to boost your website’s visibility and ranking on search engines like Google. But what are backlinks, why are they so valuable, and how can you build them effectively? Let’s break it down in simple terms.
Backlinks, also known as inbound or incoming links, are links from one website to another. Think of them as votes of confidence. When a reputable website links to yours, it signals to search engines that your content is valuable and trustworthy.
For example, if a popular travel blog links to your article about the "Best Hiking Trails in South Africa," it tells search engines that your content is worth checking out.
Backlinks are crucial because they:
Not all backlinks are created equal. Here’s a quick breakdown:
Focus on getting fewer, high-quality backlinks rather than hundreds of low-quality ones.
Here are beginner-friendly strategies to start building backlinks:
Consider using tools to simplify backlink research and outreach:
Building backlinks takes time, but it’s one of the best ways to improve your SEO and grow your online presence. Focus on creating valuable content and building genuine relationships in your industry to attract quality backlinks naturally.
By following these tips, you’ll be well on your way to boosting your website’s authority and ranking higher in search results.
In the fast-paced digital world, every second counts. If your website takes too long to load, visitors are likely to leave before they even see your content. For non-technical website owners, understanding the importance of site speed can be a game-changer for SEO and user satisfaction.
Here’s why prioritizing site speed is essential:
You don’t need to be a tech expert to improve your website's loading time. Here are some actionable steps:
When your website loads quickly:
For non-technical website owners, site speed might seem like a daunting task, but small changes can make a big impact. By prioritizing performance, you can improve your SEO, attract more visitors, and keep them coming back.
Need help optimizing your site speed? Contact us today for expert guidance tailored to your hosting needs!
In today’s digital world, mobile devices dominate how people browse the internet. More than half of all website traffic comes from smartphones and tablets, making it essential for your website to provide a seamless experience on these devices. If your website isn't mobile-friendly, you could be losing potential visitors and customers.
But what does “mobile-friendly” really mean? It means your site should look good, load quickly, and function effortlessly on screens of all sizes. This includes easy navigation, readable text, and images that adjust properly without distorting.
Not sure if your website meets the mark? Try these simple tools:
A mobile-friendly website isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s a necessity. By making these changes, you’ll create a better experience for your visitors, improve your SEO, and set your business up for long-term success.
Take the first step today by evaluating your site and implementing these simple tips. Your mobile users—and your bottom line—will thank you!
Let me know if you'd like to adjust the tone, length, or focus of this blog!
Titles and meta descriptions are more than snippets of text; they are your first impression in search results. Optimizing these elements can significantly boost your click-through rates and improve SEO performance. Here's how you can craft effective titles and meta descriptions to enhance your website's visibility.
At IDS Hosting, we understand that SEO is vital for online success. By optimizing titles and meta descriptions, we help clients maximize their website’s potential. Whether you’re a blogger, small business, or e-commerce store, our hosting solutions are designed to support your growth.
Conclusion
Optimized titles and meta descriptions are a small investment with significant returns. By focusing on relevance, clarity, and engagement, you can improve your site’s rankings and drive more traffic. At IDS Hosting, we’re here to guide you through every step of your SEO journey.
Ready to optimize your website? Let’s start today with IDS Hosting!
Let me know if you'd like to refine or add anything!
When it comes to growing your online presence, one thing is crystal clear: content is king. Search engines are constantly evolving to serve their users better, and the one thing they consistently reward is high-quality content. But what does "high-quality content" really mean, and how can it boost your website’s SEO? Let’s dive into it.
High-quality content is more than just well-written words or polished graphics. It’s content that:
Search engines, like Google, prioritize content that users find helpful and engaging. When your content meets those criteria, it:
Creating high-quality content isn’t just a box to tick for SEO; it’s about building trust, engagement, and loyalty with your audience. When your content provides real value, search engines take notice, and so does your audience.
At IDS Hosting, we believe that a well-optimized website paired with high-quality content is the perfect recipe for online success. Ready to take your content game to the next level? Let’s make it happen!
💡 Pro Tip: Combine your high-quality content with reliable hosting for optimal website performance. Visit idshosting.co.za to learn more.
If you’re new to SEO, understanding keywords is the first step in getting your website noticed by search engines and potential customers. Keywords are the words or phrases people type into search engines when looking for information, products, or services. For example, if you run a coffee shop, keywords might include "best coffee in Cape Town" or "coffee shop near me."
Here’s how non-technical website owners can harness the power of keywords:
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1. Research Made Simple
You don’t need fancy tools to discover useful keywords. Start by typing a term related to your business into Google and see what autocomplete suggests. This provides insight into what people commonly search for. Tools like Ubersuggest or AnswerThePublic can also help uncover related searches.
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2. Match Your Content to User Needs
Keywords guide you on what to write about. If people are searching for "quick breakfast ideas," and you own a bakery, you could write a blog post titled "5 Quick Breakfast Ideas with Freshly Baked Bread." By addressing search intent, you connect directly with your audience.
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3. Use Keywords Naturally
Avoid “stuffing” keywords into your content—it should flow naturally. Use them in key areas such as:
- Page titles
- Headings
- The first 100 words of your content
- Meta descriptions
For example, instead of forcing the term "best hosting company," write: "Looking for the best hosting company? Here’s what you need to know."
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4. Think Locally
If your business serves a specific area, use local keywords. Instead of targeting "bakery," use "Cape Town bakery" or "artisan bread in Johannesburg."
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5. Evaluate Your Results
Once your keywords are in place, track your website’s performance using free tools like Google Search Console. These tools show which keywords are driving traffic to your site and how to refine your strategy.
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Mastering keywords is an ongoing process, but starting with these basics will help your website attract more visitors over time. Stay tuned for future blogs that dive deeper into advanced keyword strategies!
Building a website is only the first step—getting it noticed by search engines is where the magic happens. For non-technical users, this guide explains how to improve your website’s visibility with straightforward, actionable steps. These strategies are beginner-friendly but powerful enough to make a difference.
1. Understand Keywords: The Foundation of SEO
Start with the words people type into search engines to find businesses like yours. Use free tools like Google Autocomplete, Ubersuggest, or AnswerThePublic to find terms your audience is searching for.
Example: A local florist might find “affordable flower delivery” or “wedding bouquets in [city].” Use these terms naturally in your website's text, headlines, and page titles.
2. Create High-Quality Content
Search engines prioritise helpful, engaging content. Write blog posts, FAQs, or pages that solve common problems or answer questions for your customers.
Example: If you’re a plumber, a blog titled *“5 Easy Fixes for a Leaky Tap”* could attract people who need your services.
3. Optimise Titles and Meta Descriptions
Your page title and description appear in search results—make them count. Keep them clear, compelling, and keyword-focused.
Example:
4. Ensure a Mobile-Friendly Website
Most users browse on mobile devices, and search engines prioritise sites that work seamlessly on them. Use a responsive design and check your site’s mobile compatibility with tools like Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test.
5. Prioritise Site Speed
Slow websites frustrate users and rank lower. Compress images, minimise code, and use reliable hosting to improve your site’s speed. Tools like Google PageSpeed Insights can provide specific recommendations.
6. Build Backlinks
Search engines see links to your site from other reputable websites as a vote of confidence. Reach out to partners, customers, or local businesses to link to your site.
Example: A bakery collaborating with a local coffee shop can share each other’s links on their websites.
7. Track Progress and Improve
SEO is a marathon, not a sprint. Monitor your site with tools like Google Search Console to see which pages perform well and which need tweaking.
Example: If a blog post about “DIY wedding flowers” drives traffic, expand on the topic with a follow-up post or video tutorial.
By following these steps, anyone—even those without technical skills—can enhance their website’s visibility and attract more customers online.
In a fast-paced digital world, seamless online operations are essential for businesses. IDS Hosting has introduced a specialised hosting model that separates website, email, and DNS hosting, each on independent platforms, to enhance security, stability, and performance.
A New Approach to Hosting
Traditional hosting often bundles services together, exposing businesses to risks and limitations. IDS Hosting’s approach keeps website hosting, email hosting, and DNS hosting on separate platforms, managed by experts, which allows for enhanced reliability and control.
Key Advantages of a Decoupled Structure
1. Increased Stability
IDS Hosting’s model reduces downtime risk by isolating each service, ensuring that disruptions in one area don’t affect the others.
2. Enhanced Security
Dedicated security measures for each platform—such as firewalls for websites and encryption for emails—allow IDS Hosting to optimise protection for each service.
3. Scalability and Flexibility
Independent platforms make it easy for businesses to scale resources where they’re needed most, supporting growth without excess costs.
4. Specialised Support
IDS Hosting provides dedicated support teams for each service, delivering efficient, expert assistance tailored to each platform.
Meeting the Demand for Resilient Hosting
IDS Hosting’s model responds to the increasing demand for adaptable, secure, and scalable solutions. As businesses grow and digital threats evolve, IDS Hosting offers a future-proofed environment where each service operates optimally.
For more information on website hosting, email hosting, and DNS hosting, visit IDS Hosting at idshosting.co.za.
Introduction
WordPress is a widely used content management system, powering 43% of all websites. With its popularity comes the attention of hackers who target WordPress sites. To ensure the security of your WordPress website, it is crucial to take proactive measures and keep your site updated. In this guide, we will provide you with non-technical steps and recommendations to manage your WordPress website security effectively.
Regularly updating your WordPress core, theme, and plugins is one of the most critical steps in minimizing security risks. Outdated software can contain vulnerabilities that hackers exploit. Follow these steps to keep your site updated:
PHP is the programming language on which WordPress runs. Like any software, PHP regularly releases new versions to improve security and functionality. Upgrading your PHP version reduces the risk of exposing your site to hacks and ensures compatibility with the latest features. Here's how you can upgrade your PHP version:
Taking backups and using security plugins are essential practices to safeguard your WordPress site. Follow these steps to manage backups and enhance site security:
4. WP Toolkit: Your Essential WordPress Management Solution
Manage and Secure Your WordPress Site with Ease
If you're a WordPress user, ensuring the security and smooth operation of your website is crucial. That's where the WP Toolkit comes in. This powerful resource, available within your cPanel, offers a range of features and tools designed to simplify WordPress site management and enhance its security. Let's explore the capabilities of the WP Toolkit, empowering you to safeguard your website effectively.
WordPress Toolkit
1. Discovering Your Site with the WP Toolkit
Locate, Scan, and Monitor Your WordPress Sites with Ease
When accessing the WP Toolkit in your cPanel, you might initially wonder how to find your WordPress site(s). Here's a simple process to help you locate and monitor your sites effortlessly:
2. Empowering Tools for Enhanced Control
Efficiently Manage and Optimize Your WordPress Site
The WP Toolkit offers a range of powerful tools to help you take control of your WordPress site and optimize its performance:
3. Effortless Backup and Restoration
Protect Your Data and Restore Your Site with Ease
Ensuring a reliable backup and restoration system is essential for any WordPress site. With the WP Toolkit, you can enjoy effortless backup and restoration processes:
4. Verifying Integrity and Maintenance Mode
Ensure Site Integrity and Customize User Experience
If you suspect a compromise or want to enhance user experience during maintenance, the WP Toolkit offers essential features:
5. Video Resource: Exploring the WP Toolkit
Visual Walkthrough of Essential Features and Functionality
To help you familiarize yourself with the WP Toolkit and its various features, we've prepared a short video walkthrough. Click the link below to access the video and get a visual demonstration of how the WP Toolkit can enhance your WordPress site management:
By investing time in understanding and utilizing the WP Toolkit, you gain the knowledge and tools necessary to effectively manage and secure your WordPress site on a daily basis. Proactively using the WP Toolkit significantly reduces the risk of your site falling victim to malicious attacks, ensuring a smooth and secure online presence.
Most people I think will say an email is just an email is just an email …. however the email system/servers are quite complex, and sending an email to a recipient through the various filters and firewalls trying to remove unwanted SPAM in itself is quite a feat.
We would like to focus on what email services are available and why we recommend the service we do.
A good place to start would be what do you need an email for? Is this for personal use or professional use? How many emails do you send and receive? Do you keep/store your emails on the server or on your own device or both? Do you archive your emails or just hope that the emails on your email account or own device cannot be deleted or damaged?
There are many more such questions, than we realise, this process of selecting and using email accounts needs a bit more thought then we generally give them.
I would like to categorise emails into 3 groups, and briefly discuss each.
Email Categories:
Free Email accounts.
Unfortunately what is free has its limitations, the main issue here is you cannot add your own domain, for some this is not a problem, for a business email account this is not a good idea. Free email account providers also add their own filters and you as the account holder cannot modify these, as a result some emails will not be sent or received. Free email accounts are not recommended, however its good to have one, especially a Gmail account as a backup or use it when you need to register an online account.
Emails combined with hosting, the all in one solution.
This is probably the most common way of creating email accounts with your own domain and quite cost effective, but while this does the job and we offer this product and is used extensively, we do not think its the best option, and in the long run not even the cheapest. Most, all-in-one solutions can be cost effective and can be a good product but can never compete with a specialist provider. Hence our third option will be what we recommend, please read on to see why.
Independent Email providers.
We believe that this option will check all the boxes when it comes to reliable value for money email service. Having emails hosted by an email specialist service is the best way to reduce email non delivery and outage risks. IDS Hosting has sourced such an independent email service after many months of research.
We have had a lot of good results and feedback from our corporate clients who use our independent professional email service.
The email facility works through a webmail interface and can set up groups and admins as required. The interface can also be branded if required when requested.
For a full professional structure we recommend an Independent DNS, with our Professional Email Accounts and a Custom Hosting Package for a website as required.
For more information contact IDS Hosting: support@idshosting.co.za, WhatsApp: +27 72 983 6692
Why is it better to use an independent DNS?
If you are reading this article you probably know what a DNS is.
Here is a brief reminder.
One of the functions of DNS - Domain Name System is an interface between us humans' way of doing things and the machine and its way of doing things.eg humans like using words instead of numbers, machines prefer numbers. So we use a word, we call a domain, eg idshosting.co.za to point to a number which is an IP address and vice versa.
Its the place where all the data traffic linked to a domain no matter what it is, can be emails, website traffic etc all come to the DNS, where it is sent to its correct destination. This destination can all be in the same place or in various locations. Eg a website in one place, emails in another, and the DNS can also be in a separate location.
Hence the reason for this brief article to give our views, based on many years of practical experience on why it is better to have a separate Domain Name System.
Here is a typical flow of information relating to the DNS server. The DNS server is pivotal in directing data traffic to the right place/s and can be used to improve performance and improve security thus reducing risk at a number of levels.
There are a number of independent DNS server providers and each has their range of features, but the basic functionality will all be the same.
Here are some features offered by IDS Hosting DNS.
Extracts from: https://idshosting.co.za/dns/
What is an Anycast server?
These are a collection of servers spread around the world, for this product, 34 are available, that share the same IP address. When you use the premium nameservers we supply, with a 'p' in front, the best location is selected for all round best performance and most secure.
This is also used if there is a DDOS attack where the load is spread and will thus have less affect on your website, keeping it online.
DNS Hosting can thus have a 100% uptime due to the large amount of servers worldwide to catch traffic from one server and pass it on to another. Here is where your risk is reduced and uptime from a DNS point of view will be 100%. This will keep your website online and emails working 100% of the time by having no DNS failures. So keeping DNS separate from your hosting for the business that must stay online is imperative.
You do not need to have a working knowledge of DNS although its a definite advantage but only need to understand the concept. IDS Hosting support can assist in setting your DNS, and very little will need to be done on the zone again, but to relax in the knowledge that your risks of downtime are reduced with the benefit of improved online speed and security.
Additional advantages is the facility to park a domain, have statistics available, redirect a website which standard DNS facility cannot do, and more as indicated in the bullet points above.
For more info: https://idshosting.co.za/dns/
Contact us: support@idshosting.co.za
WhatsApp text: +27 72 983 6692
What is Custom Hosting?
For those who already understand what hosting is, in the context of website and website development and email services, adding to the a concept of making it customisable is simple to grasp.
If you are not sure what Hosting is then you can read this article: https://idshosting.co.za/what-is-hosting/
Hosting is made up of a number of components or facilities, these facilities change from package to package and hosting companies.
One feature for example is the space allocated to a hosting package, this is a very important one if not the most important. Let's say we have 3 packages, a 1Gb, 3Gb and 5Gb. You can then decide what package you want, but each package is usually quite static, so the 1Gb package may offer 5 email accounts, 3Gb may offer 10 email accounts etc.
What if you want lots of space but only need 2 email accounts, you will buy the 5Gb package that offers say 30 email accounts, so you are really paying for features that you do not want and is costing you more.
Custom Hosting is a way around the static hosting package offering a single package that can be what you want it to be.
You decide what you want and how much of it you want.
For your convenience we have created 2 Custom Hosting packages based on space rangers:
These are the hosting features that can be ‘dialed in’ to whatever you want:
For Custom Hosting Regular:
For Custom Hosting Business:
Not only is Custom Hosting cost effective as the cost of the package is what is required, but the R/Gb cost is also much less than the standard shared hosting packages.
Once your package is operational it's just as simple to upgrade or downgrade its features by logging into the IDS client area, select the service and proceed to the upgrade/downgrade link, here you can make changes to the features listed above.
The question would be if you are reading this is do I Backup or Archive or both?
To answer the question we need to know what is an Email Backup and What is an Email Archive?
What is an Email Backup?
Email backup is designed to be a short to medium term fail safe to quickly recovery of email files that may not be available due to unexpected data loss. This loss can be as a result of: accidental deletion, ransomware attack, losing access to emails due to: theft or sabotage. With email backup, users can typically select a date in time and restore a copy of any email or a group of emails.
What is an Email Archive?
An email archive provides ongoing access to long term business information which includes: email files, attachments, calendars and tasks. For many regulated companies such as financial services, healthcare or legal services, email archiving is required by law as it provides tools for including ways to make email records tamper-proof, searchable and retrievable in the event of an audit, inquiries or litigation.
How to choose between Backup or Archive.
We have a good idea on what the difference is although still many questions need to be answered.
However even though each each method has many more features not discussed yet, there should be a good idea of what you need.
Do I need to backup to be able to easily recover emails or do I need to backup to store emails. What if you need both, then Archive. Archive includes a Backup, a Backup is not an Archive. So why even have a Backup facility if an Archive includes a Backup? A backup only is simpler and its cheaper.
What does IDS Hosting offer and why?
IDS Hosting offers 3 types of Backups and Archiving.
Personal Email Backup
So why have a Personal Email Backup and a Business Email Backup?
The Personal Backup is based on Space, you purchase a set number of Gigabytes of space and in this space you can add as mail email accounts as you wish. Is the simplest and most effective Back Facility for low volume space requirements.
Business Email Backup
The Business Email Backup is based on the user and space is unlimited. If you have 50 emails accounts for example you need 50 users or seats as its also referred to. The advantage is space is not limited but it has the added advantage that each user can be given access to there own backup on the cloud while the Personal Email Backup there is one administrator over all email accounts.
Business Email Archive
The Archive facility has all the Business Backup Features plus the advantage of the Archiving. Some of the amazing features are: eDiscovery, Saved Searches, Compliance Tags, Retention Policy, Delegated Access, Group Access and a lot more.
For more information:
Access the Websites page.
Study the Data Sheets
Contact Us
Email Archive, the new buzz word or is it?
With 3.5 million (2020) emails sent every second of every day, there must be some value in it. Emails is an extremely valuable source of information and as a result it should be stored safely, be searchable and not cost a lot of money.
At IDS Hosting we have been working with Emails for many years and researched the best possible ways to structure a cost effective email management and archiving system.
There are currently 5 ways to store your emails and we will run through them in the most concise way as possible. From this you can contact us with an informed approach to ask the right questions so we can set you up to what will work for your concerm.
Recommended Email storage Methods:
1.eMail Client
This method we usually do anyway, emails are downloaded from the server onto an eMail Client, like Outlook, Thunderbird, MacMail etc on our devices such as PC, Mac, Laptop, Tablet or Mobile. If the email account setup is POP3 the emails are physically downloaded on the device and from there can be copied to another location for archiving. This method is probably the most inexpensive, but very difficult to retrieve and depending on where the archived emails are kept could be the most at risk to get damaged or deleted.
2.Hosting Server
When emails are downloaded onto your own eMail client (like Outlook) on your device (PC, Laptop), the email client can be set up in a number of ways on what to do with the emails on the server. (a) eMails are left on the server, usually the default, (b) emails are deleted off the server after downloading, and (c) can be set to be left on the server for a number of days determined by yourself. Leaving emails on the server is fine as long as there is enough space on your hosting package, once this space is used up, then you could be incurring more costs, cost we call overage IDS Hosting. Overage is when you over run the space allocated in your subscribed hosting package. For example you have subscribed to a Business Package of 5Gb, you exceed 5Gb space used and overage charges are incurred, invoice month in arrears. These costs are usually quite small at R20/Gb, but can be quite substantial if left to accumulate. Archiving in the manner can be expensive with moderate risk of data loss or deletion.
3.Hosting Server Archive
Emails can be archived within your existing IDS Hosting Package, this is a cPanel function that has been activated for your convenience. Once configured emails are sent to your separate archive as per your requirements. You determine the Archived for period of time. These emails can be downloaded, viewed in your webmail and email client. Each email account can be set up individually and incoming and outgoing also separately. Space used is from the exiting hosting package although the archived file is compressed. There is a lot of documentation only to get more info on this functionality.
4.Archive Personal (space)
This email archiving method has been used by IDS Hosting clients for many years, although it does have its limitations its a good option to investigate.
The limitation here is space, you purchase archive space and the number email of accounts backed up are unlimited. There is only one administration panel and each email users does not have access to their own data. This method of arching works well when managed by at a central point.
Emails are downloaded from the hosting account daily. Emails set up on the mail client like MS Outlook, Thunderbird etc should be IMAP, this way all emails are synced back to the server for archiving. If POP is used to download emails to the email client only incoming is stored on the server for archiving.
There is a host of functionality which included:
To find out more and look at cost structures here is a link to follow:
https://idshosting.co.za/email-archiving/
5. Archive Business (user)
This is a welcome addition to our growing list of Email Archiving Solutions.
This is a user based email archiving plan. Its purchased by user but grouped under an account such as a company managed by the account holder or representation who give access to each user there their archive as required.
Email User Accounts can be managed by department with various permissions levels, from read only to full administration privileges.
Once an account is created the number of users or seats are acquired, this is flexible and can be increased or decreased.
Space occupied is unlimited and duration is also unlimited as long as the subscription remains covered.
The functionality is large which included:
For more info here is link to our webpage where you can see up to date info and costs: https://idshosting.co.za/email-archiving/
6.Archive Other
Archiving of emails does cost and thus how its archived depends on how important the data is to the end user. Legal requirements differ depending on the industry and how valuable a resource it is.
Archive other at this time is our Emails Archived via our SPAM EXPERTS which is viewed by many of our clients as significant and of extreme value.
The Archive emails in this way the emails will need to be scanned in or out or in and out. Emails are routed via SPAM EXPERTS and archived. Functionality is not as extensive as products numbers: 4 and 5 above but significant, an extremely cost effective archiving method.
For more information here is a link to our website:
https://idshosting.co.za/email-spam-solution/
