NoSQL databases versus Relational Database Management Systems (RDBMS)

Databases involve the collection and organisation of related data, stored or hosted in such a way that authorised users can interact freely with the data: information in a database can be deleted, updated or replaced. This post will outline the differences between NoSQL databases, which we can provide on our managed dedicated servers, and other …

What impact will Brexit have on hosting and data?

After the recent results of the referendum held in the United Kingdom regarding membership of the European Union, we have seen instability in the markets and the make-up of government itself which has led, understandably, to economic uncertainty and in some respects a degree of panic. In many areas, it is unclear how the decision …

Award Winners – Best Business Customer Service 2016

Last night we attended the 2016 ISPA awards (also known as the ‘UK internet oscars’) and we are delighted to announce we walked away with an award for Best Business Customer Service! This is the fourth year we have won a customer service award and is a massive testament to our focus on customer service …

How to beat the threat of SQL injections

As one of the UK’s leading web-hosting companies, catalyst2 puts security at the top of the list when providing any technological solution. There are currently over 286 million types of malware on the internet, so a key part of our work is to identify new dangers and quickly develop ways of preventing them. One of …

Plug-ins: make your browser work for you

When it comes to browsers, we’re no longer confined to the often unpopular Internet Explorer. Google Chrome paves the way for the future, although the plucky trailblazer that is Firefox had a big hand in how the modern world changed its browser habits. In the past, we would simply double click and visit our favourite …

catalyst2 nominated for four awards

The Internet Services Providers’ Association (ISPA UK) has announced the finalists for the 2016 annual awards, the longest running and most prestigious Internet industry awards in the UK. catalyst2, is very proud to have been nominated for four awards including Best Shared Hosting, Best Dedicated Hosting, Best Business Customer Service and Best Cloud Product. Fifty …

VPNs explained: why your organisation needs this technology

As part of our managed dedicated servers, we provide a VPN solution as standard. But what exactly is a VPN? VPN explained VPN stands for Virtual Private Network. It’s the name given to a group of computers that are linked in a network, yet can still operate across the internet. Effectively, it extends a private network or …

Choosing between Linux and Windows for web hosting

When you’re considering web hosting solutions, arguably the biggest decision you’ll have to make is choosing between Linux and Windows as your server operating system. Both are popular platforms and in order to make an informed choice, take time to consider both systems’ merits. Features of Linux It’s not by chance that Linux is one …

How a dedicated server can boost your business

Everybody likes to save money, but if you are running ecommerce as part of your business then saving it in the wrong places can have major consequences. So if you are selling products or services on your website, then you should really invest in a dedicated server as soon as you reasonably can. Shared resources …

What is a private cloud?

When a company decides to move company applications and data to a cloud system, it is important to first decide which model to use in order for it to be hosted and distributed. A private cloud is a secure type of cloud computing which can only be operated by a single company, unlike public clouds, …