i2Coalition Launches Secure Hosting Alliance; Goal Is to Improve Web Hosting Experience in the Era of Cyberthreats and Consumer Mistrust

On February 10, the Internet Infrastructure Coalition (i2Coalition) officially launched the Secure Hosting Alliance (SHA), a new initiative aimed at strengthening security and trust within the web hosting and cloud industry.

Founded in 2012, i2Coalition was born out of the fight against the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and the Protect IP Act (PIPA). It united nearly 200 web hosting companies to oppose these bills, which they saw as threats to online innovation and expression. With SHA, i2Coalition is continuing its mission to promote security, transparency, and fair policies.

The SHA currently boasts 23 members, including major players like Automattic, Cloudflare, DreamHost, Patmos, Green Olive Tree, and Hostinger.

John Van Lowe, VP of Client Success at Patmos, said while the group is still in its early stages, they’re ultimately working together to tackle both obvious and overlooked challenges within the web hosting industry, including fraud prevention, abuse response, and community building.

He added: “The expectation isn’t that the alliance participation will shape the business road map but instead that it will reinforce best practices and help us learn from and share with key players globally.”

The official Secure Hosting Alliance website clearly states its mission: to foster an environment where innovation thrives, customers feel protected, and the best practices are rewarded.

In full, it reads:

• Unified Security Framework: Develop and promote a cooperative framework for fraud prevention, abuse response, law enforcement coordination, domain industry collaboration, and support to enhance trust and safety in the web hosting industry.
• Industry-Wide Standards: Surface common industry standards for web hosting and cloud service providers and those who provide services into the industry around privacy, security, transparency, and ethical advertising practices.
• Common Industry Language: Develop a unified language and taxonomy for the web hosting portion of the cloud industry, setting clear definitions and fostering better communication.
• Policy Leadership: Contribute to legislative and regulatory discussions, advocating for data protection and cybersecurity measures tailored to web hosting and cloud providers.
• Community Engagement: Engage in community-building activities, including virtual and in-person meetups at industry conferences, to facilitate collaboration and networking opportunities.

The intention behind forming the SHA also appears to be twofold.

As technology advances, cyberattacks grow more sophisticated. Studies estimate that 30,000 websites are hacked daily, with a cyberattack occurring every 39 seconds. Data breaches also surged by 72% between 2021 and 2023.

Renata Karpavičė, Fraud Prevention Manager at Hostinger, said joining the SHA is key to bettering cybersecurity protocols.

“Through this coalition, we also work to influence regulatory discussions, ensuring cybersecurity and data protection policies are tailored to the needs of the hosting sector,” said Karpavičė.

There is also an undeniable “race to the bottom,” where hosting companies compete by slashing prices to become the most affordable option. The problem arises when providers compromise on quality and security just to offer the lowest price.

“The hosting industry has become so crowded that it’s very difficult for consumers to make informed decisions,” said Jon Berry, the Founder of Green Olive Tree.

In the official press release, SHA Director David Snead also hinted at an upcoming benefit for members: a trust seal that certifies SHA-approved providers, allowing them to showcase their commitment on their websites.

Van Lowe described the trust seal as a type of scoreboard.

“The intent isn’t to have a looming audit and validation process. A governance, risk, and compliance platform is not a prerequisite — although if you have one, chances are many requirements will be met,” he said.

For now, the seal is still in the development phase, and SHA members are actively defining the details. Information will be shared on the official website as the program develops.

Yes, SHA is open to interested hosting providers.

But membership comes with responsibilities, said Berry: “This won’t be easy for all companies, so consideration should be given as to what kind of hosting company they want to be.”

Karpavičė added: “We encourage ethical hosting providers to join SHA and help shape a stronger, more resilient hosting industry — one that benefits both providers and users.”

If you’re interested in joining the SHA, visit the official site to learn more and get involved.