Web hosting is a service that stores your website’s files on a server that is always connected to the internet. When someone types your domain name, their browser connects to that server, loads your files and shows your website on their screen.

Yes. A domain name is just the address, like yourbusiness.co.za. Hosting is the actual space on a server where your website and email accounts live. You need both: the domain points visitors to your hosting so they can see your site.

Shared Hosting is great for smaller sites with light traffic, such as brochure sites, portfolios and simple blogs.
Business Hosting is better for busier sites, online shops and heavier WordPress setups. It includes more resources and handles traffic spikes and plugins more comfortably.

Yes. We host in South Africa on modern servers with SSD storage and tuned web server settings. That means your pages load from a local data centre instead of overseas, which gives visitors a noticeably faster experience, especially on mobile.

cPanel is the control panel you use to manage your hosting. From one dashboard you can create email addresses, manage files, set up databases, change PHP versions, adjust DNS and run backups. It’s designed so you don’t need deep technical skills to look after your site.

No. Most day-to-day tasks are point-and-click in cPanel or WordPress. When something is more technical, we step in and help with plain-English explanations and, where needed, we make the changes for you on the server side.

Think about three things:

1.How many visitors you expect,
2.Whether you run a simple site or a   busy store,
3.How many email accounts you’ll use.
If you’re unsure, start on a sensible shared or business plan and send us your current site link. We’ll confirm if the plan is a good fit or suggest a better option.

Yes. You can upgrade at any time. We do the upgrade on the server, keep your site online during the process, and your content and email accounts stay exactly as they are – you just get more resources behind the scenes.

Yes. We handle full migrations from most hosting companies. We copy your files and database, set up your email accounts, adjust DNS and let you test the new setup privately. Once you’re happy, we switch the live traffic over so your visitors see the new server.

Normally, no. Your site and email stay active on the old host while we prepare everything on IDS Hosting. When DNS is updated, traffic gradually moves over to the new server. Most users don’t notice any interruption at all.

A domain name is the address people type to reach your website, such as yourbusiness.co.za. It points visitors to the server where your website is hosted. Without a domain, people can’t easily find your site.

A domain name is the address people type to reach your website, such as yourbusiness.co.za. It points visitors to the server where your website is hosted. Without a domain, people can’t easily find your site.

No. A domain transfer does not move your website or email. It only moves the registration over to IDS Hosting. As long as DNS settings stay the same, your site and email continue working normally.

DNS (Domain Name System) is like the internet’s “address book”. It tells browsers and email servers where your website files are hosted and where your email should be delivered. DNS is essential for your site, email and services to work correctly.

Most DNS changes update within 30 minutes to 2 hours. Full global propagation can take up to 24 hours, depending on internet providers. We assist with this if you’re unsure what needs updating.

Yes. If you prefer, we handle DNS updates on your behalf. We ensure your website, email, subdomains and any third-party services (Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, Shopify, etc.) are correctly configured.

Incorrect DNS can cause issues like:
– Website not loading
– Email not delivering
– SSL not issuing
– Subdomains failing
If something breaks, we can check your DNS records and fix or restore them.

Yes. All domains registered or hosted through IDS Hosting include DNS hosting at no extra cost, and you can update records directly in your control panel.

An A record points your domain to the server’s IP address. This is what connects your domain name to your website hosting. If this record is wrong, your site won’t load.

MX (Mail Exchange) records tell the internet where your email should be delivered. If you host your email with IDS Hosting, your MX records point to our servers. If you use external email services (e.g., OX Mail, Google Workspace, Microsoft 365), they must point there instead.

Yes. All IDS Hosting plans include standard email hosting at no extra cost. You can create multiple mailboxes, set up forwarding, create autoresponders and manage everything through cPanel.

Standard hosting email uses traditional cPanel mailboxes.
IDS OX Mail and OX Suite offer a modern, cloud-based platform with better reliability, improved spam filtering, faster sync, shared calendars, contacts, tasks and a clean webmail interface. It’s ideal for business use.

Yes. Email works on desktops, laptops, tablets and phones. For the best experience, use IMAP so your email stays synced across all devices. IDS OX Mail and OX Suite sync instantly across all platforms.

Email setup details are always visible in your IDS Hosting client area.
You’ll see:
– Server name
– Incoming & outgoing ports
– Encryption settings
– Username/password
We can also assist remotely if needed.

Spam comes from automated bots and compromised networks worldwide. IDS Hosting filters most of it, but no system can block 100% without risking legitimate mail. Upgrading to IDS OX Mail gives you much stronger filtering and more accurate spam detection.

This can happen if:
– Your IP was rate-limited
– Your device is sending too many connections
– There’s a DNS or MX issue
– Your mailbox is misconfigured
If this happens, we’ll trace the delivery logs, fix the cause and help prevent it in future.

Yes. We can move your emails, folders, contacts and structure across to IDS Hosting or to OX Mail / OX Suite. We handle the process for you and ensure nothing is lost.

Standard hosting email uses your hosting storage allocation.
OX Mail and OX Suite include their own dedicated cloud storage per mailbox, so your website files and email files don’t compete for space.

Yes. You can host your website with IDS Hosting and run email externally through Gmail, Google Workspace or Microsoft 365. We’ll configure your DNS and MX records so everything works smoothly.

The most common causes are:
– Wrong password saved on the device
– The email app using POP instead of IMAP
– Incorrect ports or encryption
– ISP caching issues
Most sync problems are quick to resolve — contact us and we’ll help identify the cause and apply the fix.

Yes. All IDS Hosting plans include standard email hosting at no extra cost. You can create multiple mailboxes, set up forwarding, create autoresponders and manage everything through cPanel.

Standard hosting email uses traditional cPanel mailboxes.
IDS OX Mail and OX Suite offer a modern, cloud-based platform with better reliability, improved spam filtering, faster sync, shared calendars, contacts, tasks and a clean webmail interface. It’s ideal for business use.

Yes. Email works on desktops, laptops, tablets and phones. For the best experience, use IMAP so your email stays synced across all devices. IDS OX Mail and OX Suite sync instantly across all platforms.

Email setup details are always visible in your IDS Hosting client area.
You’ll see:
– Server name
– Incoming & outgoing ports
– Encryption settings
– Username/password
We can also assist remotely if needed.

Spam comes from automated bots and compromised networks worldwide. IDS Hosting filters most of it, but no system can block 100% without risking legitimate mail. Upgrading to IDS OX Mail gives you much stronger filtering and more accurate spam detection.

This can happen if:
– Your IP was rate-limited
– Your device is sending too many connections
– There’s a DNS or MX issue
– Your mailbox is misconfigured
If this happens, we’ll trace the delivery logs, fix the cause and help prevent it in future.

Yes. We can move your emails, folders, contacts and structure across to IDS Hosting or to OX Mail / OX Suite. We handle the process for you and ensure nothing is lost.

Standard hosting email uses your hosting storage allocation.
OX Mail and OX Suite include their own dedicated cloud storage per mailbox, so your website files and email files don’t compete for space.

Yes. You can host your website with IDS Hosting and run email externally through Gmail, Google Workspace or Microsoft 365. We’ll configure your DNS and MX records so everything works smoothly.

The most common causes are:
– Wrong password saved on the device
– The email app using POP instead of IMAP
– Incorrect ports or encryption
– ISP caching issues
Most sync problems are quick to resolve — contact us and we’ll help identify the cause and apply the fix.

Yes. We can install WordPress for you, set up your admin login and make sure everything is running correctly. You can also install it yourself from cPanel with a one-click installer.

Yes. Our server environment is optimised for WordPress. It handles themes, plugins, page builders and normal update cycles without any issues. We also assist if you run into plugin conflicts or speed concerns.

You can normally log in by going to:
yourdomain.co.za/wp-admin
If a security plugin changes the login URL, we can help you find or reset it.

If you can’t log in, we can help reset your password, locate the correct login URL, disable a problematic plugin or restore a backup. Lockouts are usually quick to fix.

Some plugins do, especially page builders, analytics tools or heavy security plugins. The key is to use only what you need. We can audit your plugin list and recommend what to remove or replace for faster performance.

Ideally weekly. Updates keep your site fast, compatible and secure. Outdated themes or plugins are a common cause of malware infections. If you’re unsure, we can manage updates for you.

Yes — we can assist with the initial investigation. We check your logs, identify common issues such as plugin conflicts, theme problems, PHP errors or corrupted files, and we can disable problematic plugins or restore a recent backup.

However, we are not a dedicated WordPress development agency. If the issue requires deeper development work, custom code repair or a full rebuild, we may recommend involving a WordPress specialist.

Our goal is to get your site stable and accessible, and if the damage is too extensive, we’ll help restore the best available backup and advise on the next steps.

Usually it improves performance, but old plugins/themes might not be compatible. If needed, we’ll switch versions safely and test to make sure your site continues to run correctly.

Yes. We migrate your full WordPress installation, including themes, plugins, database, images and email accounts. Once moved, we test everything before updating DNS.

Yes. All major page builders run smoothly on IDS Hosting. If you use a heavy builder, we can recommend the best hosting plan to ensure it performs well under traffic.

Slow performance is usually caused by one of the following:
– Large images that are not optimised
– Too many heavy plugins (builders, sliders, analytics)
– Outdated WordPress or PHP versions
– External scripts slowing down the page (fonts, ads, embeds)
If you’re unsure, we can scan your website, identify the bottleneck and recommend the best fix.

Yes, but the limits are generous and designed to keep websites stable.
Most normal WordPress sites never reach these limits. If your site grows or gets more traffic, you can upgrade instantly to a plan with more resources.

A sudden spike in visitors can slow down some hosting plans.
Business Hosting includes more power for busy websites, and we’ll recommend the best plan based on your traffic patterns.

Yes. Newer PHP versions are significantly faster and more secure.
If your plugins/themes support it, we update you to the latest stable version to improve performance.

You can:
– Compress and resize images
– Remove unused plugins
– Update WordPress regularly
– Use a lightweight theme
– Limit external scripts
If you need help, we can review your site and give you practical recommendations.

Caching stores a “ready-made” version of your page so it loads much quicker.
Yes — caching is fully supported, and most popular WordPress caching plugins work well on our platform.

Your website will continue running, but you may notice slower performance.
We’ll contact you with suggestions, or you can upgrade to a plan that gives you more CPU/RAM if needed.

No. All plans include unmetered bandwidth.
Your website can receive as many visitors as it needs without any extra charges.

Yes. Some plugins run background tasks, load external scripts or consume too many resources.
If your site starts feeling sluggish after installing something, we can help identify which plugin is causing it.

Your cPanel includes a simple Resource Usage panel showing:
– CPU
– RAM
– Disk space
– Email usage
– Errors or limits hit
If something looks unusual, send us a screenshot and we’ll analyse it for you.

All invoices are available in your IDS Hosting client portal. You can download them, pay online, or request updates if anything needs correcting.

We accept secure online card payments and EFT.
If you prefer EFT, just send us the proof of payment so we can mark your invoice as paid quickly.

Your hosting remains active for a grace period. If no payment is received after that, the system may temporarily suspend the account. Once payment is made, everything comes back online automatically.

Yes. Upgrades happen immediately and don’t interrupt your site.
Downgrades can also be done, as long as the plan fits your current usage (disk space, email accounts, etc.). We can review your needs and advise the best fit.

You can update your details directly in the IDS Hosting client portal under “Account Details”. If your main login email changes, we recommend updating it immediately so you continue receiving important notices.

Yes. You can add additional authorised contacts to your IDS Hosting account. You choose what permissions they have (billing, support, technical, etc.).

Use the “Forgot Password” link on the login page. A reset email is sent immediately. If you don’t receive it, check spam/junk or contact us to confirm your account email is correct.

You can log a ticket in your client area or reply to any of your open tickets. For urgent issues, WhatsApp support is also available. We prioritise issues that affect website or email uptime.

We assist with hosting setup, email configuration, DNS updates, migrations, WordPress basics and general troubleshooting. For advanced development or full website rebuilding, we may recommend a specialist.

Yes. You receive renewal reminders well before your services expire. This gives you enough time to renew, upgrade or make changes without interruptions.

Yes. We handle complete migrations, including files, databases, email accounts and DNS updates. We prepare everything on the new server first so the switch happens smoothly and with minimal downtime.

To start the migration, we normally need:
– Your current hosting login or cPanel login
– WordPress admin login (if available)
– Email account details if mail must be moved
Once we have these, we take care of the rest.

No. Your site stays online on the old host while we prepare it on IDS Hosting.
When everything is ready, we update DNS. Visitors gradually shift to the new server without noticing.

Most migrations take a few hours. Larger WordPress sites or sites with many email accounts may take slightly longer, but we’ll keep you updated throughout the process.

Yes. We migrate your email accounts, folders and history. If you prefer, we can also set up fresh accounts and only copy the important mail across.

We test the site before DNS is updated, but if you notice anything unusual, let us know. We’ll check plugins, database connections, paths, images and other migration-related issues and correct them promptly.

Yes. All major page builders migrate without issues.
If the site uses a custom theme or advanced functionality, we test it carefully to ensure everything displays correctly on the new server.

We can still migrate your website manually.
This may involve downloading files via FTP, exporting databases or pulling from a WordPress admin panel. It's slightly slower, but the end result is the same.

Yes. We can install WordPress for you, set up your database, create your email accounts and help you start with a clean, secure setup. Design work is optional — you can build yourself or use your own designer.

We can still migrate it, but if the site has errors, missing files or outdated plugins, we may recommend involving a WordPress specialist after the move.
If needed, we can restore older backups or help you rebuild a clean version of the site.

Most spam issues come from incorrect DNS records (SPF, DKIM, DMARC), poor sender reputation, or using unsecured devices. We check your email setup, confirm your DNS is correct, and help you improve deliverability so your messages reach the inbox reliably.

Each hosting package includes reasonable daily and hourly limits to prevent abuse and protect server reputation. If you need higher sending volumes for newsletters or marketing, we recommend upgrading to IDS Premium Email Send or our SMTP facility.

Yes, depending on the package and your sending history. Higher limits require that your domain has correct SPF/DKIM/DMARC and a clean sending reputation.

This usually happens when SPF or DKIM is incorrect, or if the sender identity does not match the domain. We fix these issues by verifying your DNS records and confirming your email authentication is set up properly.

Delays often happen due to remote mail server throttling, greylisting, poor network connections, or filtering checks on the recipient’s side. We confirm the route, check delivery logs and ensure your domain is trusted by the receiving server.

Yes. We offer professional spam filtering through SpamExperts Incoming & Outgoing Scanning. This stops junk mail before it reaches your inbox and protects your domain from being abused by outbound spam.

DMARC tells receiving servers how to treat messages that fail SPF or DKIM. It prevents spoofing and greatly improves deliverability. We help you set up the correct DMARC record for your domain.

This is usually due to incorrect SMTP settings, ISP port blocking, authentication errors, or exceeding sending limits. We guide you through fixing the SMTP configuration and check the server logs for the exact reason.

Yes. Outgoing mail is scanned automatically. If a device is infected and sends harmful attachments, we detect it and notify you so the issue can be addressed quickly before your domain reputation is affected.