https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/rss.xml Recent content in RSS Feed on Hostpoint Hugo -- gohugo.io https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/what-are-passkeys/ Thu, 23 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/what-are-passkeys/ If you’ve ever created an account for an online service, you’ll already be familiar with the frustrations of dealing with passwords: they need to be long and secure, unique wherever possible and ideally come with a second factor as well. In everyday life, this can quickly mean juggling password managers, reset emails and authenticator apps. An increasingly common response to this scenario is using a passkey instead of a password. The advantages are clear – you no longer have to remember, type or enter a password on a login page. https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/wordpress-7/ Fri, 10 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/wordpress-7/ WordPress 7.0 is a long-awaited major release, launching in the next weeks. The update brings palpable improvements to the editor in terms of collaborative work and to the admin area. Many of the new features are a direct continuation of what WordPress introduced with version 6.9. The focus is on collaboration, which means that multiple people can jointly create, review, and share content without constantly switching back and forth between WordPress, e-mail and chat. https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/what-is-a-domain/ Fri, 27 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/what-is-a-domain/ Anyone planning a website will have to think about the “domain” sooner or later. The term appears everywhere and can seem more abstract than it is. Essentially, it comes down to a simple question: What name should your project be accessible under on the internet? To help you get to grips with the topic, this article explains the basics and provides tips for choosing the right domain name. That way, you can find an address that fits your project and works in the long term. https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/how-to-scale-up-hosting/ Fri, 23 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/how-to-scale-up-hosting/ When running a website, you usually think first about the design, content and initial visitors. If your project proves successful, sooner or later you have to ask yourself if your current web hosting will be sufficient to meet your needs. From that point on, the focus shifts to scalability – the ability of a web server system to adapt to changing requirements. A flexible technical basis is essential for your website to continue growing smoothly and to prevent costly adjustments. https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/what-makes-for-good-customer-support/ Wed, 26 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/what-makes-for-good-customer-support/ Mr. Blöchlinger, how long have you been a Hostpoint customer and how did you first hear about us? I’ve been a Hostpoint customer since I started working for myself – which was in around 2012, so more than ten years ago. I first became aware of Hostpoint through advertisements, such as on posters and the radio. I can even remember the slogan: “Hostpoint – the data residence.” I come from the region myself and I like to support local businesses, so Hostpoint was naturally the only option for me when it came to finding a hosting provider. https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/keeping-your-website-visible-in-ai-searches/ Fri, 24 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/keeping-your-website-visible-in-ai-searches/ With the advent of artificial intelligence, a small revolution has been brewing in the search engine business. Instead of just displaying links, AI systems are increasingly delivering the right answer immediately. This is changing the face of the search engine. Increasingly, Google is displaying AI Overviews (AIO) for search queries – AI-generated summaries that appear directly above the search results and contain links to several sources. Many of us are already familiar with these new boxes, which provide comprehensible information and guidance right at the top of the results page. https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/cloud-office-in-the-new-design/ Thu, 25 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/cloud-office-in-the-new-design/ E-mail, calendar, contacts and documents: for many Hostpoint customers, Cloud Office is the central office solution for digital collaboration and organization. With the latest update, the application received a comprehensive visual refresh and all the latest features. Particular highlights include the new user interface with four selectable designs, dark mode – available in two variants for the first time – and the option of using Cloud Office as a progressive web app (PWA). https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/bens-apprenticeship-as-an-it-specialist/ Thu, 14 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/bens-apprenticeship-as-an-it-specialist/ Ben, what actually sparked your interest in ICT? Even before I decided on an apprenticeship in ICT, I was able to help my family with technical problems regularly, particularly my grandparents. I would often set something up for them on their cell phone or laptop, like an e-mail account or a printer. Once they had a persistent problem with the Internet. The provider’s support team couldn’t provide further assistance, but I was able to solve the problem by resetting the router. https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/website-structure-domain-and-subdomain/ Thu, 24 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/website-structure-domain-and-subdomain/ Websites and online presences are becoming increasingly diverse. Whether visiting a company’s growing webshop, an external blog or a customer support portal, people expect an intuitive design, fast loading times and useful information. This is precisely where domains and subdomains come in. These are more than just web addresses – they help to structure content and keep it well organized. In this article, we offer important tips for website structure, showing how domains and subdomains differ and what role they play in maintenance and search engine optimization. https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/swiss-email-and-office-alternatives-now-in-demand/ Thu, 10 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/swiss-email-and-office-alternatives-now-in-demand/ The current geo-political and trade situation, characterized by protectionist measures from the US government, is causing uncertainty in Switzerland and throughout Europe – including with regard to digital infrastructure. At the same time, many people around the world are using e-mail and Office services operated by a few American tech giants, bringing data protection, control and long-term availability increasingly into the spotlight. More and more people are therefore wondering how they can become more independent digitally from overseas big-tech companies. https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/code-of-conduct-hosting-2025/ Thu, 26 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/code-of-conduct-hosting-2025/ Hosting providers like Hostpoint provide the technical infrastructure on which digital content is published. But what happens when reports of problematic content are received concerning, for example, violations of personality rights, copyright or potentially illegal content? Swico has revised parts of the Code of Conduct Hosting (CCH) this year with a view to aligning it with the EU Digital Services Act (DSA) and adding more specific examples and structural clarifications to the existing procedures. https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/a-domain-portfolio-for-your-web-project/ Fri, 06 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/a-domain-portfolio-for-your-web-project/ A domain is like the digital gateway to a brand, project or idea. In addition to the actual name, the choice of extension (top-level domain, or TLD) also plays an important role. The .ch and .swiss TLDs relate specifically to Switzerland, while .com can express an international presence. But TLDs do more than just shape people’s perception, they also play a strategic role. Is it enough to secure only the most important domain extension? https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/legal-notice-requirement-for-websites/ Thu, 22 May 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/legal-notice-requirement-for-websites/ Anyone who offers goods or services on the internet or other electronic business channels is required to “provide clear and complete information regarding their identity and contact address including their e-mail address”. This is the provision that governs the legal notice requirement for websites and which has been defined in the Swiss Federal Act on Unfair Competition (UCA) for over a decade (Art. 3(1) s(1) UCA). It provides transparency concerning who is behind a website and gives users easy access to the operator’s contact information. https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/apprentices-at-hostpoint-computer-scientist-platform-development/ Tue, 06 May 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/apprentices-at-hostpoint-computer-scientist-platform-development/ Céline, what does a computer scientist do in platform development? Platform development means providing and maintaining the technical foundation for operating applications and websites. In practical terms, it means designing and managing servers, networks and infrastructures to make them stable, secure and powerful. In my day-to-day work, I make sure that the servers run smoothly, that there are no outages and that our platform stays stable, even with many simultaneous users. https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/create-your-own-wordpress-website/ Thu, 10 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/create-your-own-wordpress-website/ WordPress is the most popular content management system (CMS) in the world. It’s not only highly versatile, but also extremely easy to use. Whether it’s your own blog or a website for a company or organization, with WordPress you can get your web presence up and running without needing to know how to code. In this article, we present the most important elements that your new website should include, from the ideal WordPress hosting infrastructure to the right theme and useful extensions. https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/two-factor-authentification/ Tue, 25 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/two-factor-authentification/ Most of us probably have a substantial number of different accounts with various platforms and services. Whether it’s for online banking, e-mail or streaming services, you won’t get far without accounts these days. Generally speaking, only a password protects these kinds of accounts, including your data, from unauthorized access. Unfortunately, a password alone often does not offer sufficient protection, not least because hackers’ attacks are becoming increasingly sophisticated in the age of artificial intelligence. https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/secure-e-mail-onboarding-made-easy/ Thu, 13 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/secure-e-mail-onboarding-made-easy/ Every company or organization adds new staff or members. This requires them to issue new e-mail addresses and give the new team members various access rights and login details. To deal with this situation, Hostpoint has revised its e-mail onboarding procedure to help you conduct the process in a simple and secure way. The challenge: insecure password sharing Even today, passwords are all too often communicated via insecure channels – in the worst case, saved as plain text or even handed out on a piece of paper. https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/web-hosting-in-Switzerland/ Thu, 27 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/web-hosting-in-Switzerland/ Operating a website requires more than just stable infrastructure and fast load times. For many website operators and webmasters, factors like support and high legal data protection standards are equally important. But what is it exactly that makes hosting in Switzerland so attractive? And what distinguishes Hostpoint from alternative options from other countries? A glance at the most important benefits shows why opting for a Swiss provider can pay off in the long run. https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/nis2-domain-owners-switzerland/ Thu, 30 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/nis2-domain-owners-switzerland/ The fact that cyberattacks on companies, institutions and critical infrastructure have increased in recent years is not lost on the European Union. With the NIS 2 Directive (“Network and Information Security 2”) the EU is pursuing the objective of raising the minimum cybersecurity requirements of all EU states and strengthening the resistance of network and information systems as well as international cooperation. Most EU member states will presumably implement the NIS 2 Directive in national law within the course of this year. https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/php-update-8-4-the-most-important-new-functions/ Thu, 12 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/php-update-8-4-the-most-important-new-functions/ From optimized execution times and new syntax options to improved type safety, the new PHP version 8.4 offers modern tools that simplify developers’ work while simultaneously improving the quality of the code. The following presents the most exciting functions and their practical advantages for developers’ everyday work. Hostpoint customers who want to update their PHP version to 8.4 can do this very easily on their own via the Hostpoint Control Panel. https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/en/efficient-collaboration-with-autoresponder/ Thu, 28 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/en/efficient-collaboration-with-autoresponder/ The working world is evolving rapidly. More flexible working models and the ability to work from anywhere have long been a reality for many companies. These concepts help to meet employees’ expectations of employers today. At the same time, this flexibility brings with it new challenges, particularly in terms of availability and collaboration. This is where Hostpoint comes in, with a new feature in E-mail & Cloud Office: the autoresponder for automatic and recurring out-of-office notifications. https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/apprentices-at-hostpoint-ict-specialist-efz/ Wed, 13 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/apprentices-at-hostpoint-ict-specialist-efz/ Slobodan, what does an ICT specialist do? It’s a really broad field, so there are lots of different things you might end up taking on in this role. We install hardware and software, modify device configurations, train users and provide ICT support. I’m part of the Customer Care Tech team at Hostpoint, so I mainly help our customers who have technical and specialist questions. But I also monitor servers and carry out maintenance on test environments for web CMS as part of my remit. https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/e-mail-security-with-dkim-and-dmarc/ Thu, 24 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/e-mail-security-with-dkim-and-dmarc/ E-mail security is a key issue for companies as billions of e-mails – often with sensitive content – are sent and received every day. Attacks like phishing and spoofing not only pose data protection risks, but also threaten the perceived trustworthiness of the sender domain. This is where e-mail security protocols like DKIM and DMARC come in: They ensure that e-mails are authenticated, the senders are verified and the e-mail traffic itself is protected against manipulation. https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/how-to-keep-control-of-your-data/ Thu, 19 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/how-to-keep-control-of-your-data/ Developments like working from home and other remote work models have made access to data from different devices and locations indis­pensable. Whether it’s e mails, photos on the cloud, or work on shared documents, the synchronization of these data makes our everyday lives much easier. However, as soon as access credentials and data are transferred to third-party servers, there is an often underestimated risk of losing control of sensitive information. https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/free-migration-service-to-hostpoint/ Thu, 25 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/free-migration-service-to-hostpoint/ The migration of web hosting, domains and e-mail can present numerous technical challenges. Some customers worry that the process will be complicated and involve a lot of effort or, in the worst case, may lead to downtime and the loss of important data. With our new, free migration service, we take away these concerns and guide you through all the necessary steps. If you wish, we can combine up to three service areas: migration of websites and their hosting, domain transfer and automated e-mail migration, including all sent and received messages. https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/optimize-website-performance/ Thu, 13 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/optimize-website-performance/ None of us want to wait longer than absolutely necessary. This is es­pecially true when visiting a website, perhaps of a product we’re interested in. It’s frequently forgotten that website loading speed is a decisive factor for success in more than one respect. Slow or poorly designed websites not only have high bounce rates, but are also ranked negatively by Google due to the poor user experience (UX) and appear lower in search results. https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/remote-work-at-hostpoint/ Thu, 16 May 2024 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/remote-work-at-hostpoint/ Remote work, i.e. decentralized working (usually from home), has become popular for many companies since the pandemic. Working in the office remains the norm in Switzerland, but a survey by the Federal Statistical Office (FSO) has shown that the proportion of remote working exceeds the previous level despite the protective measures being dropped. In 2022, 37.1 percent of employees took the option to work from home, where this was offered. In very few Swiss companies, however, did the time spent working from home exceed half the total working hours. https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/from-zero-to-digital-what-startups-need-for-a-digital-launch/ Thu, 21 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/from-zero-to-digital-what-startups-need-for-a-digital-launch/ A total of 51,637 new businesses were registered in Switzerland in 2023 – an average of more than 141 companies founded per day. With that much competition, it’s difficult to make a name for yourself on the market from day one. The decision to found a new company demands courage, resolve and a clear vision. Above all, however, it needs a company name that not only reflects the identity of the company and is remembered by potential customers, but is still available in the digital space. https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/phishing-in-the-age-of-artificial-intelligence/ Thu, 29 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/phishing-in-the-age-of-artificial-intelligence/ Machine learning, Large Language Models (LLMs) and generative artificial intelligence (gen AI) are currently changing our lives in a variety of different fields. These new technologies are enabling surprising leaps in productivity by creating text and images that previously would have required considerably more time and effort with just a few simple prompts. Rudimentary tasks in particular will soon be able to be done entirely by artificial intelligence. Unfortunately, these revolutionary programs can also be used for fraudulent purposes. https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/domain-extension-swiss-coming-soon-for-private-individuals/ Wed, 07 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/domain-extension-swiss-coming-soon-for-private-individuals/ According to nic.swiss (a division of OFCOM), approximately 27,000 .swiss domain names have been registered since the introduction of .swiss domains for corporate customers in 2015 (as of December 2023). With the imminent launch for private customers, the Swiss domain market is now seeing some movement. At the same time, exciting new opportunities are emerging for Swiss domain customers. Even if a desired e-mail address with the customary .ch ending has already been taken, private individuals now have the unique chance to obtain a domain connected to Switzerland with their own first or last name. https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/how-to-migrate-your-website-to-hostpoint/ Wed, 10 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/how-to-migrate-your-website-to-hostpoint/ There are many reasons why you may decide to change your web host. The most common factors include poor or non-existent support, inadequate security, slow server speeds, server or data location not being in Switzerland or expiry or discontinuation of the hosting plan. So, is it time for seek new pastures? That’s no problem at all! But first, you will need to clarify what requirements should be met before making the switch. https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/optimization-made-easy-must-have-wordpress-plugins/ Thu, 21 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/optimization-made-easy-must-have-wordpress-plugins/ Since its introduction in 2003, WordPress has become one of the leading content management systems. Originally designed as a simple tool for bloggers, it is now used for all kinds of websites – from small online stores to large corporate sites. One of the key aspects that makes WordPress so powerful and user-friendly is its extensibility, thanks to more than 55,000 plugins in the WordPress directory. However, not all plugins are of the same quality. https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/make-your-online-shop-a-success-with-these-tips-and-tricks/ Wed, 06 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/make-your-online-shop-a-success-with-these-tips-and-tricks/ Every day, millions of people search for products and services online. To be successful in this highly competitive environment, your online shop must stand out from the crowd. For this exact reason, there are proven strategies and techniques that successful online shops use to outperform their competition – from technical performance to customer support. No customers without strong performance The page isn’t loading fast enough, your patience is wearing thin and only a few seconds later you’re looking for another source for the desired product. https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/ict-careers-without-gender-boundaries-the-influence-of-national-future-career-day/ Mon, 13 Nov 2023 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/ict-careers-without-gender-boundaries-the-influence-of-national-future-career-day/ Most Swiss people are probably familiar with National Future Career Day. But what exactly is the aim of this event? Information and communication technology (ICT) continues to play a central role in our modern society and has undergone an astonishing transformation at the same time. Nevertheless, one area remains where there is still some progress to be made – gender diversity. There is still considerable disparity between the proportion of women and men in the IT industry. https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/the-new-fadp-and-the-cookie-banner-confusion-what-are-the-latest-rules/ Thu, 24 Aug 2023 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/the-new-fadp-and-the-cookie-banner-confusion-what-are-the-latest-rules/ Nowadays, a banner pops up immediately on almost every website asking us to accept or refuse cookies, or simply to inform us that cookies are being used before we can browse the website. Do I need to have a cookie banner on my website? In the case of Switzerland, this question can be answered by taking a look at the Telecommunications Act (TCA). This states, in Art. 45c TCA, that “processing of data on external equipment by means of transmission using telecommunications techniques is permitted only […] if users are informed about the processing and its purpose and are informed that they may refuse to allow processing. https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/seo-for-your-website-what-you-need-to-know-about-search-engine-optimization/ Tue, 09 May 2023 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/seo-for-your-website-what-you-need-to-know-about-search-engine-optimization/ Do you hardly make it through a day without a Google search? You’re not alone. Every day, the most popular search engine processes an average of 8.5 billion queries worldwide – that’s 99,000 searches per second! To use the bulk of this traffic to your advantage, search engine optimization (SEO) is vital for your website. SEO encompasses a variety of techniques aimed at improving the ranking of a website in search results. https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/allow-us-to-introduce-you-to-the-new-e-mail-services-from-hostpoint/ Tue, 31 Jan 2023 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/allow-us-to-introduce-you-to-the-new-e-mail-services-from-hostpoint/ We send and receive e-mails every day. At work, we are used to using a personal mailbox, even if this changes when we change jobs. In our private lives, we nurture our long-standing e-mail accounts, which we – all too often – registered years or even decades ago with a (partially) free e-mail service such as GMX, Gmail or Bluewin. However, the ubiquity of daily e-mail traffic in our professional and personal lives means that many users require more than they did when setting up a free account when they were much younger. https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/the-new-data-protection-act-will-take-effect-in-2023-what-you-need-to-know/ Thu, 05 Jan 2023 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/the-new-data-protection-act-will-take-effect-in-2023-what-you-need-to-know/ Changes are ahead in the new year: The complete revision of the Federal Act on Data Protection (FADP) and the Ordinance to the Federal Act on Data Protection (DPO), which was approved by Parliament in September 2020, will enter into force on September 1, 2023. The federal government originally planned to bring the laws into force in the second half of 2022. But they wanted to accommodate companies and their data protection officers and give them adequate time to prepare. https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/third-party-cookies-to-be-phased-out-on-chrome%E2%80%93what-that-means/ Wed, 19 Oct 2022 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/third-party-cookies-to-be-phased-out-on-chrome%E2%80%93what-that-means/ It’s become a familiar sight: you visit a website and straight away you’re partially blocked from viewing the page. As a user, you must first accept the use of cookies in order to continue browsing without a restricted view. All too often, you quickly click away from these disclaimers. But what exactly do these cookies do and how does their use affect the browsing experience? Cookies refers to text files that store information about internet users’ browsing behavior on their devices. https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/looking-for-eye-catching-icons-for-your-website-find-them-here/ Wed, 28 Sep 2022 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/looking-for-eye-catching-icons-for-your-website-find-them-here/ Icons, also known as pictograms, can be found everywhere on the internet – on websites, in apps, in chat programs or on online shops. The small icons break up text and content, make navigation easier for users and often have a descriptive function. Thanks to their versatility, icons are indispensable visual communication tools. If you search the internet for suitable icons when designing your own website, you’ll soon find what you’re looking for. https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/how-to-write-a-good-privacy-policy-for-your-website/ Tue, 06 Sep 2022 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/how-to-write-a-good-privacy-policy-for-your-website/ Why do you even need a privacy policy on your website? The aim is to ensure that data subjects, or users whose personal data is collected, are informed about the scope and purpose of the data processing. The obligation to provide this information is based on the applicable data protection laws. The Swiss Federal Act on Data Protection (FADP), the revised version of which comes into force on September 1, 2023, and to some extent the European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) are particularly relevant to Swiss companies. https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/counted-and-compared-the-swiss-internet-in-figures/ Thu, 28 Jul 2022 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/counted-and-compared-the-swiss-internet-in-figures/ Life without the internet is basically unimaginable for anyone anymore. And regardless of whether you’re a digital native or retiree, practically everyone in Switzerland uses the internet. The latest figures from the Federal Statistical Office show that last year, more than 95% of the Swiss population between the ages of 15 and 88 used the internet at least once. Meanwhile, 87.7% of Swiss people connected to the internet every day in 2021, an impressive increase of 2. https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/for-an-easy-to-read-website-fonts-are-your-friend/ Thu, 07 Jul 2022 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/for-an-easy-to-read-website-fonts-are-your-friend/ Choosing the right font is crucial to the overall design of a website. After all, this strongly affects the look and readability. When designing your own website, it’s therefore important to start thinking about fonts at an early stage. Creating the most accessible possible flow should be one of the main considerations during website development. The more readable the text, the better the experience for people with impaired vision or dyslexia, for example. https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/how-does-a-domain-tranfer-work-and-what-should-be-considered/ Tue, 21 Jun 2022 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/how-does-a-domain-tranfer-work-and-what-should-be-considered/ Registering a domain with the desired name and the preferred extension is now very easy and, usually, not too expensive either. Owning a domain is also highly popular in Switzerland. More than 2.4 million domain names have already been registered using the Swiss top-level domain (TLD) .ch. Statistically speaking, the Swiss have more than 0.28 domain names per capita. This might not sound like much, but it’s near the top of worldwide rankings. https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/my-journey-from-apprenticeship-to-system-engineer-at-hostpoint/ Tue, 07 Jun 2022 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/my-journey-from-apprenticeship-to-system-engineer-at-hostpoint/ “My name is Pascal Christen and I am 25 years old, a computer scientist, working as a system engineer at Hostpoint. I’ve been with Hostpoint since 2017 and currently spend about 50% of my time working while also doing my computer science degree at the Eastern Switzerland University of Applied Sciences in Rapperswil. I completed my computer science apprenticeship with a Federal VET Diploma in systems technology at V-ZUG in the city of Zug. https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/wordpress-6-0-is-coming-soon-what-users-can-look-forward-to/ Fri, 20 May 2022 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/wordpress-6-0-is-coming-soon-what-users-can-look-forward-to/ But first, let’s take a look back: When WordPress 5.0, the last regular version of WordPress, was released in December 2018, one innovation in particular generated excitement and discussion in the community: The Gutenberg editor. The content editor, named after the inventor of modern book printing Johannes Gutenberg, was a complete revamp of the entire editing experience and promised much more flexibility in content creation and management. The “blocks” were designed to allow users to integrate text, images and files as well as a variety of widgets. https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/looking-for-images-for-your-website-here-is-what-you-need-to-know/ Thu, 12 May 2022 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/looking-for-images-for-your-website-here-is-what-you-need-to-know/ If you’ve ever designed a website, then you’ll be familiar with the problem: you’re quite happy with the design plus the text fits perfectly and has already been added to the CMS or website construction kit. Now all that’s missing is the pictures. But where can you source these? If you’re not proficient in photography or you can’t (or don’t want to) take on the expense of producing your own image material, then it can make a lot of sense to use stock photos. https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/focus-on-hacking-2-what-hackers-want-to-gain-by-attacking-my-website/ Tue, 22 Mar 2022 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/focus-on-hacking-2-what-hackers-want-to-gain-by-attacking-my-website/ In theory, anyone can be affected, from a club or association’s website to an SME’s online shop or even a large corporation’s internet presence. It’s often impossible to say just why someone’s website has become the target of a hack. Attacks are rarely personal attacks against the website operator, but rather are carried out because the targets are particularly vulnerable to an attack. Attackers scour the internet systematically and often automatically for pages with security holes or vulnerabilities. https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/focus-on-hacking-1-what-to-do-if-your-website-has-been-hacked/ Wed, 16 Mar 2022 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/focus-on-hacking-1-what-to-do-if-your-website-has-been-hacked/ If you discover that your own website has been hacked, it initially comes as a shock for many of those affected, understandably. In order to minimize the damage to you and any consequential damage to third parties, there are a number of measures that affected website operators should take as soon as possible. Here is a summary of the most important actions Hostpoint recommends taking immediately: What to do right away Certainly don’t do nothing https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/the-importance-of-the-core-web-vitals-in-google-rankings/ Thu, 24 Feb 2022 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/the-importance-of-the-core-web-vitals-in-google-rankings/ In the early days of the internet, search engines were limited to searching the World Wide Web for keywords. This often led to unsatisfactory results, and clever SEO specialists used countless tricks to outwit the search engines. Google responded with various and increasingly complex algorithms that not only looked for search terms but also checked the relevance of websites. In addition, regular refinements are made to reflect users’ reading habits more precisely: the algorithms adapted to people’s habits. https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/we-are-a-well-coordinated-and-very-collegial-team/ Thu, 10 Feb 2022 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/we-are-a-well-coordinated-and-very-collegial-team/ Full-Stack Software Developer Lukas Lätsch explains in this interview how he ended up at Hostpoint and what tasks and challenges he faces on a daily basis. Lukas, you’ve now been with Hostpoint since 2020. How did that come about? How did you end up with us? Lukas Lätsch: Originally, I completed an apprenticeship as a computer scientist in the field of application development. After basic military training and completing my federal vocational baccalaureate (BMS), I started studying computer science at the HSR in Rapperswil (now part of the Eastern Switzerland University of Applied Sciences) and gained additional work experience as a software developer on the side. https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/hostpoint-webshop-the-main-features-at-a-glance/ Thu, 27 Jan 2022 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/hostpoint-webshop-the-main-features-at-a-glance/ Online sales are booming! Especially since measures to contain the coronavirus were tightened in 2020, more and more business owners are turning to online and mail-order selling as a means of mitigating the effects. According to the statistics portal statista.com, e-commerce sales in Switzerland in 2021 amounted to around CHF 15 billion. Here, too, the much-vaunted digitalization is a factor, as almost two billion people worldwide shop online. Creating an online store is no longer a complex undertaking for beginners. https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/we-recognized-a-need-for-weekend-phone-support/ Thu, 20 Jan 2022 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/we-recognized-a-need-for-weekend-phone-support/ Many customers know the situation: you want to work on your own website or online store on the weekend and you encounter questions, problems, etc. Whereas previously you could send a written request to the support service via e-mail in situations like these, it has recently also become possible to reach Hostpoint Support by phone on the weekend during the usual times of between 8:00 am and 6:00 pm. Marco Bühler, as Head of Customer Service, you were responsible for the development and implementation of the new 7-day support service. https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/what-is-wordpress-a-short-introduction/ Thu, 16 Dec 2021 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/what-is-wordpress-a-short-introduction/ What do the New York Times, the Rolling Stones and the White House have in common? They all run their websites with WordPress. What started less than 20 years ago as a handy web editor for bloggers is now the most popular and versatile content management system (CMS) in the world. WordPress was developed by two Americans, Matt Mullenweg and Mike Little, in 2003 as a continuation of an earlier project. https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/more-than-just-ch-and-com-the-huge-variety-of-top-level-domains/ Tue, 07 Dec 2021 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/more-than-just-ch-and-com-the-huge-variety-of-top-level-domains/ According to estimates by market analysts of Netcraft, there are approximately 200 million different websites on the internet today. And each of these incredibly many pages has a unique web address. While the first part of a domain before the dot can usually be freely defined by the domain owner during registration (provided the name is not already taken), there is a limited, albeit steadily growing, choice of options for the part to the right of the dot. https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/phishing-the-nuisance-of-e-mail-scams/ Fri, 26 Nov 2021 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/phishing-the-nuisance-of-e-mail-scams/ Unfortunately, there are probably hardly any hosting customers who have not received a phishing e-mail at some point. Fortunately, most users do not fall for the fraudulent scams, but since there are always people affected, it is worth taking a closer look at the issue. Phishing is – to the chagrin of many users and companies – a very common form of cybercrime. In most cases, phishing attacks are carried out via e-mail (but often also via electronic short messages or telephone calls). https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/zurich-now-has-its-own-top-level-domain-zuerich/ Tue, 07 Sep 2021 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/zurich-now-has-its-own-top-level-domain-zuerich/ The Zurich metropolitan area is undoubtedly the most important economic region in Switzerland. According to the canton’s own statistics, more than one million people work in the Canton of Zurich. This is equivalent to one-fifth of all employees in Switzerland. There are also over 116,000 businesses in the canton, including several companies with national and international reputations, as well as numerous small and medium-sized enterprises and commercial operations. Zurich has long been more than just a major financial hub. https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/your-own-domain-precious-indispensable-and-worth-protecting/ Tue, 17 Aug 2021 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/your-own-domain-precious-indispensable-and-worth-protecting/ If you consider the role played by a domain name in a website, regardless of whether it belongs to a company or a private individual, you soon come to the conclusion that it is an indispensable asset. Changing your domain? That would be difficult or even unthinkable. Just imagine you are responsible for the domains in your company, but you take some time off and travel the world for a few months. https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/dns-anycast-improved-performance-using-a-global-network-of-name-servers/ Mon, 03 May 2021 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/dns-anycast-improved-performance-using-a-global-network-of-name-servers/ When you visit a website or an online shop, you need the IP address of the server on which it resides. But because no one can be expected to remember lengthy IP addresses, we have the Domain Name System (DNS). This is a database that ensures that when you call up a domain, such as www.hostpoint.ch, the right IP address is found and the right website accessed. A hierarchical query process called name resolution is used to do this. https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/nginx-the-web-server-designed-to-meet-high-demands/ Wed, 16 Dec 2020 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/nginx-the-web-server-designed-to-meet-high-demands/ Nowadays, many website operators have quite high performance and speed expectations. They want ever-larger volumes of data to be processed and content to be loaded in a fraction of a second. But all of this very much depends on how powerful the web server being used is. Nginx is a web server that’s specifically designed to overcome these challenges, and Hostpoint customers can now also use it with shared Smart and Business web hosting services. https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/making-the-internet-that-little-bit-more-secure-with-dnssec/ Tue, 29 Sep 2020 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/making-the-internet-that-little-bit-more-secure-with-dnssec/ Some things are hard to imagine from our present-day perspective. In the past, if you wanted to reach someone and didn’t know their phone number, often the only way of doing so was to use the directory assistance or to look in the phone book. What was for a long time the directory assistance service or the Yellow Pages in telecommunications has always been the domain name system (known as the “DNS” for short) on the internet. https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/complete-control-with-your-managed-flex-server-from-hostpoint/ Tue, 14 Jan 2020 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/complete-control-with-your-managed-flex-server-from-hostpoint/ With the new cloud-based managed server solution, Hostpoint manages the server and supports new technologies for dedicated services, allowing our customers to focus on their core business. The OpenStack-based, 100% virtualized server infrastructure of the new Managed Flex Server products offers maximum flexibility and delivers high performance and availability. When we developed our Managed Flex product, it was very important to us that we offer full integration into our proven and tested Hostpoint infrastructure, because it enables customers to manage their Managed Flex Server on their own using the Hostpoint Control Panel. https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/new-php-release-7-4-for-better-security-and-performance/ Mon, 06 Jan 2020 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/new-php-release-7-4-for-better-security-and-performance/ PHP is one of the most widely used and popular programming languages for web development. Numerous websites operated by Hostpoint customers, which are managed via content management systems like WordPress, Drupal, Joomla and TYPO3, are based on PHP, among other languages. Initially, PHP 7.4 will not directly affect users of these CMS, but an update may very well be a good idea nonetheless. Hostpoint customers who want to update their PHP version to 7. https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/google-only-wants-websites-with-https-from-now-on/ Tue, 10 Jul 2018 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/google-only-wants-websites-with-https-from-now-on/ What’s more, the provisions of the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) came into force on May 25, 2018. And it didn’t take long for the first lawyer to come up with the bright idea of claiming compensation from a website operator because their contact form didn’t transmit the inquiry via https. The SSL certificate establishes visitors’ trust and ensures compliance with the GDPR – at least on this point. It’s also a good idea for Swiss SMEs to rely on a Business EV SSL certificate from the start, as this type of SSL certificate requires a more thorough and serious multi-step validation process and means that the authenticity of the company can be checked each time the website is loaded. https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/new-eu-gdpr-website-operators-need-know/ Wed, 23 May 2018 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/new-eu-gdpr-website-operators-need-know/ As infringement can be penalized with steep fines, the GDPR has caused quite a stir in boardrooms and in the media. It is unlikely that the EU data protection authorities will rush to impose harsh fines on Swiss companies, but failure to adapt to the new requirements may well have inconvenient consequences, such as warnings or requests from authorities (e.g. for compliance with a request for erasure). Separately to the GDPR, the Swiss Data Protection Act is currently being revised, too. https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/lightning-fast-websites-http2/ Wed, 23 Nov 2016 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/lightning-fast-websites-http2/ With the launch of the much more powerful HTTP/2, our customers can now benefit from the latest version of the HTTP protocol on all of our servers. Just take a look at your own website to see the difference. Lightning-fast HTTP/2 improves the efficiency and speed of your data connection. With HTTP/1.1, the browser opened fewer than ten TCP connections for the transfer of data, HTML documents containing images, CSS files or Javascript libraries. https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/our-daily-efforts-in-pursuit-of-innovation-and-top-infrastructure/ Wed, 07 Sep 2016 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/our-daily-efforts-in-pursuit-of-innovation-and-top-infrastructure/ State-of-the-art servers – to really get things going How do we achieve high speed and high reliability? For starters, through fast, new high-speed servers with which we have replaced our entire server farm over the past few months. And because “new” doesn’t always mean “better”, we only run first-class, brand-name servers – with high-performance CPUs from Intel and plenty of RAM. But that’s not all: to ensure lag-free loading of content stored in databases, we use an all-flash storage solution for databases. https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/ransomware-extortionists-coming/ Thu, 19 May 2016 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/ransomware-extortionists-coming/ But you can’t always be certain that you will actually receive the right decryption key after making payment to these criminals. In the worst case scenario, not only will you have handed over your cash, but you still won’t be able to restore your data. In addition, giving in to the extortion attempt merely funds the development of new, more sophisticated versions of this ransomware. While ransomware is nothing new, the spread of this extortionist software has increased dramatically in recent months. https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/email-the-long-and-windy-road-to-the-recipient/ Wed, 04 May 2016 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/email-the-long-and-windy-road-to-the-recipient/ Yet how do emails actually find their way to their recipients? What at first seems simple (sending a message from point A to B) is actually a bit more complicated when you look behind the scenes. But people don’t normally catch wind of any of this. The long journey through the internet The process for sending your email starts in your email software or webmail platform. Once you’ve clicked the Send button, the message is first split into two parts. https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/tips-choosing-right-domain-name/ Thu, 14 Apr 2016 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/tips-choosing-right-domain-name/ Still, a website’s address remains one of the key factors affecting the success of the site. It would therefore be a big mistake to neglect the process for choosing the right domain name. We’ve put together a list of a few things to keep in mind when registering domains. The domain ending The first choice to make is the domain ending you will use. While domain endings are a dime a dozen, it would make sense for a Swiss company that markets products to Swiss customers to choose a . https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/ssl-certificates-no-chance-for-fraudulent-websites/ Tue, 22 Mar 2016 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/ssl-certificates-no-chance-for-fraudulent-websites/ The encryption of all data traffic between the web server and visitors represents a major step towards more security on the internet. But there’s a catch: with simple, domain-validated certificates such as FreeSSL and Let’s Encrypt, it remains uncertain who users are actually entrusting their data to even though data traffic is encrypted. This is one of the reasons why we at Hostpoint continue to recommend that our business customers use organization-validated (OV) certificates or, even better, SSL certificates with extended validation (EV). https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/how-to-make-your-website-secure/ Tue, 09 Feb 2016 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/how-to-make-your-website-secure/ Regularly update your software! You can’t make an omelet without breaking a few eggs. That’s why people are always discovering new security vulnerabilities which the developers of the software have to resolve with each new update. Those who fail to install software updates are therefore opening the floodgates to hackers. It is easy for cybercriminals to find vulnerable installations on the internet – the process is automatic and takes little effort to set up. https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/subpar-security-on-swiss-websites/ Fri, 22 Jan 2016 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/subpar-security-on-swiss-websites/ These modern content management systems make it possible to easily manage websites and publish new content. However, the sheer convenience they have to offer often makes people forget that software, much like a car, needs regular maintenance too. The figures published in the latest semi-annual report Reporting and Analysis Centre for Information Assurance (MELANI) shed light on this trend. A shocking fact: over 70% of all WordPress sites in Switzerland are unprotected https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/swiss-is-now-available-for-almost-everyone/ Wed, 06 Jan 2016 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/swiss-is-now-available-for-almost-everyone/ The new domain ending, .swiss, was launched last fall to represent Switzerland as a global brand even more concisely than .ch. Until now, only registered brands and companies, municipalities and other public institutions could apply for a .swiss domain with their names. And many have already done so. According to the Federal Office of Communications (OFCOM), which is responsible for the domain, 9,738 requests for .swiss domain names have been submitted, of which 7,071 applications were approved by OFCOM. https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/php-7-the-fastest-php-version-of-all-time-is-here/ Tue, 22 Dec 2015 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/php-7-the-fastest-php-version-of-all-time-is-here/ Twice as fast as PHP 5.6 However, the most remarkable change in this new release is its impressive speed. PHP 7 is twice as fast as PHP 5.6 and is actually fourteen times as fast as PHP 5.0. Under real conditions, this has a massive effect on the speed of web applications such as WordPress and Drupal, as shown in this fascinating infographic by Zend. Click to activate https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/freessl-now-everyone-can-get-ssl-encryption-for-free/ Tue, 06 Oct 2015 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/freessl-now-everyone-can-get-ssl-encryption-for-free/ So we decided to launch FreeSSL, which offers free SSL encryption for any domain registered with or hosted by Hostpoint. Customers can enable secure data transfer to their websites with just a few mouse clicks in the Control Panel – at no extra charge! And even if the domain you registered with through Hostpoint is operated by one of our competitors, you can still use a certificate signing request (CSR, received from your hosting provider) to download the appropriate SSL certificate free of charge from the Hostpoint certificate manager and then operate your website with secure data encryption. https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/swiss-online-shops-new-vat-legislation-eu/ Mon, 09 Feb 2015 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/swiss-online-shops-new-vat-legislation-eu/ Companies and individuals that engage in international trade involving electronic, telecommunications, radio and television services with the EU are subject to new, important regulations that came into effect on 1 January 2015. Based on the 2010 VAT Package (Council Directive 2008/8/EC), this has resulted in a range of changes throughout Europe and affect Swiss B2C providers in particular – when providing e-commerce services to private persons in the EU, they will now be subject to the VAT rate of the country of residence of the customer as standard. https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/free-hosting-usually-comes-strings-attached/ Thu, 21 Aug 2014 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/free-hosting-usually-comes-strings-attached/ Who does the host serve? It’s simple: the people that pay for the service. So who do free hosting services – which don’t have paying customers – serve? Probably not the customers who rely on their services, but advertisers, who pay for advertising on as many pages as possible. In other words, you and your site visitors’ annoyance with banner ads and pop-up adver-tisements that appear on, above or under your free hosted site is also a form of pay-ment. https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/migrating-e-mail-accounts-always-easy-task/ Wed, 25 Jun 2014 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/migrating-e-mail-accounts-always-easy-task/ Why would you want to ‘relocate’ an e-mail account? Maybe your current hosting service is too expensive, you want a professional address with its own domain, your current service doesn’t offer enough features, you’re receiving too many ads, or your user authorization has expired (job, school/university, etc.). Or perhaps you don’t want the NSA peeking directly into your inbox. Another reason might be that you want to locate your company’s server in an external data center or in the cloud, replace the e-mail or groupware software, change to a faster provider or allow mobile access to e-mails. https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/google-loves-backlinks/ Wed, 18 Jun 2014 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.hostpoint.ch/en/blog/google-loves-backlinks/ Just to make it clear from the outset: stay away from link farms! This expensive form of “spamdexing” will achieve nothing – except maybe relegating your site to the very bot-tom of the rankings. Don’t link for the sake of it! Let’s assume you run a car workshop. To boost your Google ranking, you’re thinking about linking the website of your local Labrador club (where you serve as Vice President) to the website of your workshop.