Global impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19) in sports and gambling markets

The outbreak of Coronavirus (Covid-19) continues to cause disruption to gambling markets around the world, while a host of sporting events have also been suspended in an effort to slow the spread of the disease.

The outbreak of Coronavirus (Covid-19) continues to cause disruption to gambling markets around the world, while a host of sporting events have also been suspended in an effort to slow the spread of the disease.

The English Premier League will meet today (13 March 2020) to discuss the possible suspension of matches after Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta and Chelsea player Callum Hudson-Odoi both tested positive for the disease.

Yesterday, Thursday 12th of March 2020, the Premier League had stated that all matches would go ahead as planned this weekend, but later announced it would reconsider the decision after the two cases were confirmed.

UEFA, football’s European governing body, today announced that all Champions League and Europa League matches due to be played next week have all been postponed. The draws for the next round of games in both competitions have also been postponed until further notice.

The English Football League, the organisation that manages the three divisions below the top-tier Premier League, today suspended all games until 3 April.

Italy’s top football division Serie A has suspended all games until April 3, while Spain’s La Liga has postponed at least the next two rounds of matches.

Meanwhile, ice hockey’s National Hockey League (NHL) has become the latest professional sporting competition in North America to suspend its season in response to the outbreak.

The decision, which was backed by the NHL Players’ Association, means that all major sports events in North America have now been suspended. Yesterday, the National Basketball Association (NBA) Major League Baseball and Major League Soccer all announced the postponement of games.

In the case with the NBA, the decision to suspend play came after a Utah Jazz player tested positive for the coronavirus. Several teams in the major league competitions in North America share training and player facilities.

Elsewhere, the Formula 1 has suspended its season-opening Australian Grand Prix in response to a plea from drivers and team members. McLaren had already withdrawn from the race after one of its team tested positive for the disease.

Meanwhile, the coronavirus has had an impact on regional gambling markets around the world, not least in Italy where a lockdown in the country had led to the closure of retail betting facilities.

This week, Newgioco warned that the closure of its shops in the country could have an impact on revenue, while Playtech also confirmed it had temporarily shut all of its Snaitech stores to comply with the government-ordered lockdown.

Additionally, Holland Casino has closed all of its branches across The Netherlands until at least 31 March. As of midnight last night, its 14 casinos in Amsterdam, Utrecht, Rotterdam, Scheveningen, Zandvoort, Groningen, Leeuwarden, Breda, Nijmegen, Enschede, Valkenburg, Eindhoven and Venlo are shut.


source: igamingbusiness.com

NetShop ISP commitments on the COVID-19 crisis

As the spread of COVID-9 (Coronavirus) continues on a global scale and rapidly affects people and organizations, NetShop Internet Services considers the health and safety of its Employees, Customers and Partners a top priority.

As the spread of COVID-19 (Coronavirus) continues on a global scale and rapidly affects people and organizations, NetShop Internet Services considers the health and safety of its Employees, Customers and Partners a top priority.

To guarantee and firmly secure uninterrupted business continuity, NetShop ISP has taken the following actions:

  • Travel Restrictions
    All business and non-business global travelling has been suspended, effective immediately. Adding to our previous travel restrictions to Category 1 countries (Italy, China and the Republic of Korea), Employees and Management will not be able to fulfill business obligations that require travelling within the U.S. and Europe, until further notice.
  • Events and Conferences
    Out of caution on the safety of our Employees, Customers and Partners, all organized Events, Conferences and Meetings have been restructured and will be held online via phone/Skype/Telegram/Whatsapp/Live Chat.
  • Work-from-home/ Remote work
    All employees were encouraged to work-from-home to protect themselves and limit their exposure to the virus. Although all Staff members have been tested negative for COVID-19, we will continue to closely monitor their health in the following weeks.

The continuity of your business is as important as our own and we would like to assure you that we are working tirelessly to achieve this. NetShop ISP is known for its flexibility to adjust in every scenario and therefore we have introduced new solutions for our remote work.

While all employees remain safe at home, they are also connected with you on a 24/7 basis to assist and troubleshoot any possible issues you might face. Our on-site NOC teams in all our Datacenters are available as always to assist our customers with any requests.

5 of the Best American Tech Startups of 2019

More than half of the people in the world are active on the internet. So it makes sense that entrepreneurs would want to start a tech company. Not a lot of tech startups are involved in the manufacture and sale of technology. Most of them produce a service that relies on technology.  Professional networking site […]

More than half of the people in the world are active on the internet. So it makes sense that entrepreneurs would want to start a tech company. Not a lot of tech startups are involved in the manufacture and sale of technology. Most of them produce a service that relies on technology. 

Professional networking site LinkedIn, for the third time, tracked tech startups for its annual Top Startups ranking. According to the site, it had data scientists analyze billions of LinkedIn activities from its over 645 million members in order to identify the top startups of the year. There were four criteria: employee growth, jobseeker interest, member engagement and how well the startups pulled talent from the LinkedIn Top Companies list. 

Considered startups are those operating for seven years or less. LinkedIn identified the top 50 American startups for its list. Here are the top five startups:

  1. Snowflake Inc.

Founded in 2012, which means that this would be the last year that the company is eligible to be on the list, Snowflake Inc. is a cloud-based data-warehousing company based in San Mateo, California. For the first two years, Snowflake was on stealth mode. It was formally launched in 2014 by former Microsoft division president Bob Muglia. 

The company’s valuation as of 2018 is $3.5 billion. It currently has 1,065 employees and grew its revenue by more than 250%.

  1. Dosist

Known as the first-ever cannabis boutique, Dosist calls itself a modern wellness company that encourages people to manage their happiness in a natural way through dose-controlled cannabis-based therapy. In other words, the company has successfully put the posh in cannabis intake. 

The company was founded in 2016 and is headquartered in Los Angeles, California. Among its most popular products is the cannabis dose pen. It currently employs around 200 people. According to LinkedIn, the company successfully attracted some of the top employees of large companies like Apple and Tesla.

  1. Samsara

Headquartered in San Francisco, the world’s tech hub, Samsara calls itself a leader in industrial IoT. The company combines hardware, software and cloud in order to provide real-time visibility, analytics and artificial intelligence to operations. 

Founded only in 2015, Samsara already serves over 10,000 customers worldwide. It employs over 1,300 companies and has since expanded by opening offices in San Jose, California; Atlanta, Georgia and London in the U.K.

  1. DoorDash

This food delivery service aims to connect people with the best in their locality. So Chicagoans can have deep dish pizza delivered right at their doorstep by DoorDash. The company does not only empower local businesses, it also helps people find jobs through them. The service allows merchants to sign up with the company, and allows people to become Dashers. 

The company was founded in 2013. Its headquarters is in San Francisco, but the service is available in major cities in the U.S. It currently has over 1,780 people in its employ from different cities. According to LinkedIn, the company has doubled its number of employees every year since it started. 

  1. Brex

The company is into financial services with a product that it claims to be the smartest corporate credit card. The product is its way of helping tech startups by rebuilding B2B financial products. Brex is fairly young, having only started in 2017. Its headquarters is in San Francisco but it has since opened offices in New York City, Salt Lake City and Vancouver, British Columbia. After all, finance is a global topic. 

Brex currently has 230 employees but it is always in the lookout for new talents to join its exclusive team. 

Best time for tech startups

Now is the best time for tech startups. The competition is stiff because of the hundreds of startups being launched every year. However, competition only makes startups want to do better. They want to make better products and improve their services in order to stay ahead of the competition. Such aggressiveness could only be great for the clients.

This is also the best time for innovative individuals to take out their thinking caps. Based on the top tech startups that impressed LinkedIn, companies that have unique products and services make it to the top. 

How To Avoid Cyber Security Threats

In the UK alone, there is a survey conducted among SMEs that shows that 51% do not believe that they are susceptible to suffering from cyber-attacks. The result of the survey is alarming because cybercrimes can devastate businesses of any size and form.  Because of the prevailing cyber security threats today, every business owner should […]

In the UK alone, there is a survey conducted among SMEs that shows that 51% do not believe that they are susceptible to suffering from cyber-attacks. The result of the survey is alarming because cybercrimes can devastate businesses of any size and form. 

Because of the prevailing cyber security threats today, every business owner should see to it that their computer network and system is well protected. A strong shield is needed so that the issues on cyber security can be avoided.

How Can Cyber Security Threats Happen?

It is important to keep in mind that there are attacks by cybercriminals that are subtle to distinguish or intentionally hidden. They are truly difficult to determine. They are usually done through a system known as hijacking or malicious traffic. Then the susceptibility to cybercrimes is also possible with phishing emails and attacks on mobile devices. 

Furthermore, there are other blunt processes that can affect a business computer network. Such processes might include DDoD (Distributed Denial Service). In this system, the hackers might send you unsolicited traffic that is so massive for the purpose of destroying your computer system. DDoS was the main factor of the data breach incidents that affected Twitter, Spotify and Reddit in 2016).

Dreadful Consequences of Cybercrimes

Way back in 2017, there was a report by CSO predicting that the cost will rise up to $6 Trillion annually starting in the year 2021. This is so alarming if not taken into consideration. You have to understand that security breaches can’t actually cause monetary losses, but can trigger to an irreversible loss of business integrity and reputation.

Therefore, there must be precautionary measures and actionable plans in order to prevent cyber-attacks. The questions now is: How?

  • Precautionary measures work

In handling sensitive data and information, you should have precautionary measures. These measures are designed to manage sensitive data in a tightly secure way. Be reminded that once those sensitive information got leaked, they can cause irreversible trouble to your business. In this case, prevention is better than cure.

  • Update antivirus software and firewall

Always update the antivirus and firewall system of your computer network. Usually, antivirus software automatically diagnoses virus-related problems and deletes them right away. A firewall also functions to shield your computer and mobile devices network. They both work to block viruses from coming in and destroying your IT infrastructure.

  • Use VPN to hide from hackers

A virtual private network or VPN is able to privatize your computer network in all networks that are public. Any SME needs this tool to avoid cyber-attacks. It further works to provide a strong shield to all mobile devices, laptops, and desktops. In other words, it can make the network more secure even if you use a public Wi-Fi system.

  • Enable a two-factor authentication

A two-factor authentication can work to protect your business from possible impacts of cybercrimes. That’s why the workers of any company must apply this two-factor authentication process. It basically works when accessing a business account, wherein the user should have to verify his identity to the system. If he is not a legit user then he will be blocked from using the system. 

  • Audit regularly the system

It is effective if you’re always monitoring your business system, most especially the computer network. Otherwise, your cybersecurity is compromised. By doing a regular audit, you can minimize all possible risks because you will be able to determine the loopholes and weaknesses.

  • Trust a cybersecurity insurance provider

There are providers of a cybersecurity insurance in the world. If you will get one, the cyber-related liabilities will be covered. So, your business will then become more secure and protected. Remember that cybersecurity incidents can cause you millions of dollars if not handled properly. By getting an insurance provider, they will handle the fees when time comes that any unwanted circumstance happens. The insurance policy will have to cover the costs of data breaches.

  • Be knowledgeable about the possible risks

You can’t address cyber security issues if you are not knowledgeable about the risks associated with them. If you know the risks, you can have effective measures and you can apply them effectively. So after every audit, you should be able to craft procedures that can be used to defend your business integrity and reputation in a sustainable manner.

For more questions about cyber security, contact NetShop ISP today.

Why Choose Magento Hosting for Business

Choosing the most suitable ecommerce website hosting is the biggest concern of every business owner. It is due to the fact that it is not easy to start an ecommerce business. The website hosting service to be chosen should be scalable to boost the performance of the business website without any difficulty.  But with the […]

Choosing the most suitable ecommerce website hosting is the biggest concern of every business owner. It is due to the fact that it is not easy to start an ecommerce business. The website hosting service to be chosen should be scalable to boost the performance of the business website without any difficulty. 

But with the right hosting package, it can be easy for business to grow its online customer base. In this blog, you will learn the reasons why you have to consider using managed Magento hosting. For some business owners who already have tried Magento, it is one of the best when it comes to ecommerce site hosting.

Explaining the Benefits of Magento Hosting

There are a lot of benefits when you choose managed Magento hosting. First and foremost, it can make a particular ecommerce website more scalable and faster. With the managed hosting, you can have a dedicated server to run all the Magento applications. The dedicated server is a great web service that supports managed hosting 24/7 coupled by security measures to ensure that your ecommerce website operation is well protected. 

Then, there is another good thing with this package. Even a non-techy person can manage the website with ease. You can have easy steps to do in order to enjoy the benefits of the managed website hosting through Magento.

The first process you have to do is to create a Magento account. Creating an account is easy. And you can also ask the technical support to create one for you if you’re not familiar, or you’re not sure with the process. 

Adding the server is the next step you can do. You have to go to the dashboard where you can select a particular server to be launched. Choosing Magento dedicated server is an awesome way to do. You will then be required to name your own application together with the server. 

Selecting a project is the next step after creating the application name. And to have a smooth performance, you can have the option to choose a cloud infrastructure. With this option, the hosting service can come in a faster speed. Don’t forget to choose the size of the server because it is a vital requisite for the business website to be operated seamlessly.

You can then press a button to finally lunch the dedicated server and with a single click, your ecommerce website is running smoothly. By following the steps, your business is up and live and you can enjoy the scalable and fast performance of your website. 

More Features to Know

After knowing the process, you still have to learn more things relevant to Magento website hosting. 

  1. Server Management

The server management is great. If you choose the dedicated server, you can have the full access credentials. With the access, you can monitor the performance of your website anytime you want. Plus, you can have tons of security options as part of the service management attributes. 

  1. Full Access 

As mentioned, there is a full access to the master credentials. It is one of the most important things you should look for when it comes to website management. With full access, you can boost the performance of your ecommerce website as you’re given with all the communication tools. It can bring convenience to you as a user of the website.

  1. Performance Monitoring

It is an important feature that you should have when choosing a Magento dedicated server. You should be able to monitor the application performance of your website. This feature is essential because you will be able to determine the other aspects of the server like CPU, RAM, Disk Space Capacity, and Overall Bandwidth Size.

  1. Overall Services Management

One last thing you must remember is the determination of other important components. The optimization strategies for Magento website should be a priority, otherwise the optimization aspect that reflects on the speed, performance and relevance of the site content will be compromised. Having a Magento-run web store is a great option but you have to make sure that that the vital elements are taken into consideration.

If you have more questions about Magento hosting, contact NetShop ISP today!

Differences Between WordPress and Joomla Hosting Revealed

Are you confused which of the two most popular website platforms, WordPress and Joomla, is better? Answering this question can be tricky but this blog will try to expound the details so that you can decide which one can best suit your next website project. WordPress is not the only CMS that people are using. […]

Are you confused which of the two most popular website platforms, WordPress and Joomla, is better? Answering this question can be tricky but this blog will try to expound the details so that you can decide which one can best suit your next website project. WordPress is not the only CMS that people are using. There are other available options, like Drupal and Joomla. But this article will focus on the comparative details between WordPress website hosting and Joomla hosting.

To let you understand the concise yet comprehensive details between the two, you should determine first their distinction in terms of content management system.

Comparative Details: WordPress and Joomla Hosting

As a content management system, WordPress originated as a blog-inclined website platform. On the other hand, Joomla began its journey to serve portal websites. But this reality was evident in the past. Presently, both of them can be used in any type of websites: blog, ecommerce, and so on.

It is important for you to understand that either of the two is not a standalone website platform. Meaning, a WordPress-run or Joomla-focused website can’t be accessed without a web server. They are both dependent on a website server which is connected to the Internet. And you have to find a compatible hosting service provider, like NetShop which operates in Cyprus, Malta and the United Kingdom.

Building a website can require you some technical aspects. If you want your website to be more advanced, you have to be knowledgeable in configuring a web software. You should know how to work with web service providers. 

In the past, Joomla had been considered as more complex because creating a website using this platform requires you to be brave in working with onshore or offshore servers. WordPress, on the other hand, was friendlier; that’s why it’d been used by blog beginners. 

In terms of search engine optimization, both platforms are SEO-friendly. But Joomla websites can have a little edge because the website admins can create meta titles and meta descriptions with the use of relevant and converting keywords for content publications. 

Talking about website security, WordPress is more prone to suffer from security-related setbacks. Why? It is more popular than Joomla. That is why more cyber-criminals are attacking websites that are run by WordPress. But there is nothing to worry because these days, there are available plugins that can help protect your website from any security vulnerabilities. 

If your issue is about the customization potentiality, WordPress has an edge over Joomla. Why? There are more plugins and other add-ons available for WordPress-run websites. But it does not mean that Joomla hosted websites are not having enough plugins. They also have but numerically, WordPress wins.

The potential of their individual content management should also be given an utmost consideration. Both of them have complex CMS. But if you want a much simpler option, you can go with WordPress because it is friendlier until today. You can easily craft and publish landing pages for your blog by using this platform. Joomla is considered as more complex but its complexity might be good when it comes to documentation. The only issue is that if you don’t have any experience relevant to website management, you can possibly have initial problems on how to manage a Joomla-run website. 

Conclusion

Choosing the right CMS and hosting your next website project can be a daunting task to accomplish. You really have to understand the pros and cons of each of the stated content management systems. If you want a simple blog website, WordPress can be your choice. But if you want a complex portal-like website, you can opt Joomla. 

Both platforms can presently be utilized for any type of website you want to run: may it be for personal or business use. Eventually, you should consider the following aspects when you’re decided to have your next business website realized.

  • Create your own website domain name.
  • Choose the right web host for your website.
  • Learn how to use the Dashboard and c-Panel.
  • Configure your site and boost it with applicable tools, plugins and a relevant theme.
  • Apply generally effective search engine optimization strategies for website ranking.

If you have more questions about WordPress and Joomla hosting, contact NetShop ISP today.

Magento Hosting: Why Is It The Best E-Commerce Web Host

Magento is one of the available website platforms that is an open-source and free. Many online sellers are using this platform for their ecommerce websites. And the main requirement to have the best performing Magento website is to look for the most compatible Magento hosting plan.  An ideal Magento hosting is the one with a […]

Magento is one of the available website platforms that is an open-source and free. Many online sellers are using this platform for their ecommerce websites. And the main requirement to have the best performing Magento website is to look for the most compatible Magento hosting plan. 

An ideal Magento hosting is the one with a fastest server. There are different types that you can try such as VPS, shared, dedicated, and managed hosting. All of them have features related to scalable website performance and cyber security. And of course, you should not forget that the web host should have SSL certificate, dedicated IP address, as well as CDN.

How to Choose the Best Magento Hosting? 

This is a cool question that has to be answered clearly. A host should offer 1-click Magento installation process together with features on security and SSL. Other aspects should be present like ensuring continuous uptime, fast speed, and technical support. 

Before deciding which host you’re going to choose, you really need to understand well about Magento as an ecommerce platform. Then, you should know the pros and cons. By doing these things, you will be able find the best web hosting for your Magento ecommerce site. Needless to say, you should determine the possible pitfalls that you have to evade so that your website operation won’t be compromised. 

As a popular e-commerce site platform, you need to make sure that the website host is providing easy-to-install plugins, software and tools. As well, you need to make sure that the system is highly flexible. Otherwise, your Magento website won’t be able to serve the intended purpose. The common goal is to have more leads and to have higher conversions. 

Magento Website Is Good for E-Commerce

If you want to sell digital products, this platform is best for you. As well, if you want to create a dropshipping website because you want to sell some of the trending products on the market today, this platform is good to use. Magento is fit to work to help you achieve your goals. Whatever your business type and model, so long as the website is for online selling, Magento tools and software are suitable for you.

The Key Features of Magento

It is an open source platform that is fit for any ecommerce website. Magento has important features that you should know before you’re going to decide which web host plan you’re going to pay. 

  • Magento allows you to show related items on your product pages.
  • You can easily offer promotions and the so-called “cross-promotions”.
  • If you want to have volume discounts and a configured tiered pricing, you can do it.
  • The website can have categorized landing pages.
  • You can offer bundled and packaged products.
  • The user can show the recently and most viewed products to respective customers.
  • New item promotions are easily created with the platform.
  • You can have a number of shipping options that can include free shipping.
  • You can create polls and surveys and can display them in your website. 
  • Managing email newsletters is part of the features provided.
  • You can create a simple checkout process for your customers’ transactions.
  • You can set up a customers’ wishlist.

Magento and Search Engine Optimization

Ranking on the different search engines is an important element of success. So make sure that your website ranks on Google, Yahoo, and Bing. Your website should be well-optimized so that the products can easily be accessible in the search engine results. Magento offers some SEO-related features that are quite significant. 

  • XML site map
  • Optimized URLs with controlled settings
  • HTML title and metadata
  • Pages for relevant search terms
  • Content API for Google
  • Simplified website management

Furthermore, it can be time-consuming and it requires a complex process to manage the administrative functions of a Magento website. But this platform has these built-in tools:

  • Administration login setting
  • Customizable permissions
  • Customizable themes and templates
  • Currency support tools
  • Web Services API used to integrate third-party plugins and software
  • Import and export of data by batch based on orders, products, and customers
  • Easy-to-use CMS for product and content pages
  • Anti-spam tools like the use of CAPTCHA

Therefore, if you want to make sure that your ecommerce website can be successful, you should try Magento web hosting. For more details, contact NetShop ISP today.

Why Use Joomla Hosting?

If you’re looking for the best website hosting service provider, you might consider a highly trusted option – Joomla website hosting. But of course, you have to make sure that you can get the best Joomla server and Joomla hosting. Your investment can be worth it when you have the perfect option. As well, you […]

If you’re looking for the best website hosting service provider, you might consider a highly trusted option – Joomla website hosting. But of course, you have to make sure that you can get the best Joomla server and Joomla hosting. Your investment can be worth it when you have the perfect option. As well, you need to understand the technical hosting requirements to ensure that you can really grow your business.

Defining Joomla Hosting First

Joomla is a trusted CMS and hosting choice. It is considered as one of the most popular software solutions available for website owners. It can help in the aspects of building, organising, managing and publishing website content. That is why the small-scale business can trust this software option. And if your website is run by a Joomla CMS, of course, it is fit for you to use a Joomla site hosting. Aside from small-scale businesses, the websites of large organizations and governmental institutions globally are also trusting Joomla. As a matter of fact, Joomla has these figures:

  • 2 million active websites, more or less
  • 9% of them are known business websites
  • 6% of the global CMS Market
  • 3% of the entire web market

Because of these numbers, we can surmise that Joomla is a wonderful opportunity that you should try. Growing your business through a website and software applications can be a hard thing to achieve, but with the right CMS and website hosting package, your goal can be grasped. 

Joomla is an open-source software solution. There is a large global community that can provide the necessary codes. These are important to make sure that the speed is fast, consistent and reliable.

What are you looking for? Do you want to create a website or an application? Do you want to develop extensions or templates? Joomla has a tested framework and offers endless possibilities.

Choose the Best Joomla Website Hosting

Don’t forget to choose a good Joomla site hosting package. When we say a “good hosting”, it can be the ultimate way for your business to succeed. Usually, the website hosting providers on the planet offer disc space with a cheaper cost. Why are they doing this? This is to make sure that they can get a lot of customers. And the truth of the matter is that most customers are ignited to try a website hosting that is so cheap. 

One clear setback is that the memory capacity can be too low. It can result to a slow website performance because of the CPU time limits. When your website is slow in terms of performance, it can lead to the possible loss of customers. 

Another possible adverse impact if you’re going to choose a cheap website hosting is de-indexing. Your search engine position can possibly be compromised because Google, Yahoo, and Bing might consider your business website as unreliable and untrusted.

However, if you try Joomla hosting, you can have 24/7 support service. All your technical issues and problems can immediately be remedied. Despite the fact that this website hosting package can be a little bit expensive, but the overall service can give you what you need. The only thing you should do is to make sure that you can get the right company that provides Joomla website hosting.

Joomla Server Also Matters

Joomla website hosting is not only the main requisite if you want to succeed your business operation. You also have to ensure that you get the right Joomla server that suits your needs. With the right server, possible problems can be avoided. You can protect your investment and at the same time you can save time. There can be many options you can try but choose only the one that provides the most suitable service. 

In choosing the server, one general rule is you have to see to it that the package is right for you. Even if the server is located far from your country, which is also known as a colocation website hosting service provider, the most important thing to consider is that the provider meets the technical requirements. To achieve success, you have to make sure that your choice is what you’re really looking for.

For more details about Joomla hosting, you can contact NetShop ISP today.

Why Online Gaming Is Popular These Days

Yearly, millions of people are addicted to online-based gaming. The online gamers comprise of almost 50% of the entire online users worldwide. With this trend, it can be inferred that online gaming is so popular these days. There are clear factors why it’s been happening.  There is a perception that online games are able to […]

Yearly, millions of people are addicted to online-based gaming. The online gamers comprise of almost 50% of the entire online users worldwide. With this trend, it can be inferred that online gaming is so popular these days. There are clear factors why it’s been happening. 

There is a perception that online games are able to reduce the stress level that is related to work. It is a de-stressing process that is also called as “escapism.” But the question now is: Why are more people addicted to web gaming instead of watching television programs or movies to escape from problems? 

Gaming has a social aspect, so to speak. Try to think of those times when you call some of your friends to come to your house so that you can play card games or any form of games together. But this personal gaming encounter was evident in the past. Nowadays, the medium has transformed as there is no need to have a personal encounter. Gaming these days can be done using the Internet. And this is the advent of online gaming where two or more players can play any type of game.

Reasons Why Online Gaming Is Popular

There are 5 reasons why gaming through the use of the Internet has become so popular these days.

  1. Internet connectivity

It is the most obvious factor. Without the Internet, there is no gaming on the web. When the Internet has become a necessity, the overall experience of the gamers has also shifted and transformed. And the continuous technology advancement has opened the opportunity for online gamers to explore more and deeper things. When there is fast internet connectivity, it can be great for online players as they can fully engage into various online games. 

  1. A Matter of Choice

Playing games online is a matter of choice. You can remember the old days when the racing or console games were popular. There were also some fighting games in the past which people were addicted to. Remember the popularity of Super Mario and Nintendo back then? Today, you can still play them but there is another twist with the system those games were played back then. It’s a matter of choice now as the choices are numerous due to the abundance of games as provided by the different gaming providers on the Internet. You can surely have the unlimited access to a number of games in different levels, graphics, and genres. And today, you just have to download the app of your favorite web-based games.

  1. Wider Accessibility

Back then, weekly bingo was popular. This kind of game can be considered as one of the predecessors of the present-day bingo gaming through online. The players of the weekly bingo should travel from one place to another in order to participate in some pre-arranged tournaments. But the past bingo was superseded by the modern online bingo. The principles might be the same as before but due to wider accessibility, more and more people have been attracted to play bingo through the use of their personal computers or smartphones. There is no need to go to a physical place just to play bingo. Stay at home or wherever you are, whether you’re in a workplace or in a vacation area, you can enjoy bingo the usual way but through the Internet.

  1. Social Relationship Building

With the advent of playing games on the web, you can have the chance to build a strong social relationship with other people. You can know a lot of people, to say the least. And because there is a wider access to the Internet nowadays, the venue for virtual interaction is wider too. Unlike before when you just need to call some of your friends to come to your house to play cards with you, or to play another form of social gaming, these days you can just use your laptop or Android phone to play games with your friends. 

  1. Multi-Player Capabilities

It can be an intriguing matter to consider a game where certain players are able to compete in a game together with a number of other players. But today, you can simply do it. A lot of players can engage in a single game wherein a group of players can set a plan to complete the goals and mission of one particular online game. The games allowed for multiple players are highly sociable and interactive. 

But there are still some precautionary measures that you have to impose to yourself or to some of your loved ones who are addicted to online gaming. There are research findings that point out the responsibility of parents to take care of their young ones when it comes to gaming online. Safety and security remain the two of the most essential things that have to be prioritized. Online gaming’s popularity can’t be stopped but their adverse impact to the players, particularly to the teenagers and young adults, should be mitigated.

Contact NetShop ISP today for more related details about online gaming.

Choose Dedicated WordPress Web Hosting To Avoid These Problems

It is easy to look at the front-end aspects of your website, like the overall design and the shared content. Because of this, you might overlook one of the most essential elements of a website – the hosting. In this blog, you will know why you need to choose a dedicated WordPress hosting. There are […]

It is easy to look at the front-end aspects of your website, like the overall design and the shared content. Because of this, you might overlook one of the most essential elements of a website – the hosting. In this blog, you will know why you need to choose a dedicated WordPress hosting. There are clear reasons why you have to try this hosting option. And this is the focus of this blog – for you to know the things you can avoid when choosing a WordPress hosting that has a dedicated server.

These days there are a lot of service providers of dedicated WordPress web hosting plans. As promoted, this type of a web host can assure that your website can run fast all the time. Plus, it has been known that through this hosting option, your website can have effective security measures and a streamlined process for website maintenance. 

What Is WordPress Web Hosting?

WordPress website hosting is a vital component of every WordPress website. Without it, a site is not available or not accessible online.

The different types of a WordPress web hosting are:

  • Shared Hosting – A shared hosting provider hosts a website using a single server that also serves other WordPress websites. This type of hosting is typically used by beginners.
  • Virtual Private Server – It is also known as VPS hosting. Compared to the shared hosting, VPS has an isolated virtual space in a single server.
  • Dedicated Hosting – This type of hosting a website is different from shared or VPS hosting. It offers a separate server that is intended only for a specific website.
  • Cloud Hosting – This kind of web hosting is functioning based on a cloud computing infrastructure. It has been known as effective in managing large traffic of visitors. 
  • Managed Hosting – This is the focus of this blog. Managed web hosting is intended only for WordPress users. It is responsible in handling the setup and maintenance aspects of a particular website.

5 Common Problems to Avoid

Elaborated below are the 5 most common problems you can avoid if you’re going to use a dedicated WordPress hosting.

  • Security-related threats

This is the first possible issue that you can avoid if you’re going to rely on a dedicated web host. With shared servers, the security-related threats can be higher but with this type of web hosting, such problems are resolved. Yes, a shared web hosting is dramatically cheaper but the tendency of cyber-related problems is high. That is why a dedicated web hosting for WordPress sites is recommended.

  • Poor performance

Trusting a shared server can lead to a poor website performance. If you want your site to become competitive, you have to consider using a dedicated server. Why can a shared server deliver weak performance? The reason is simple. A shared server is handling multiple websites, thus congestion is a great possibility. However, a dedicated server can resolve this issue so it is a wise investment to consider.

  • Recovery difficulties

It is possible to experience downtimes and other related problems. During downtimes, the data of your website can possibly be lost. To avoid this from happening, you have to trust a dedicated web hosting provider. The deleted files in the database can easily be restored and recovered. So, your investment won’t go to waste with this hosting.

  • Insufficient space

Shared hosting only provides you with a limited disc space. A sufficient storage space is vital for your ultimate growth and success. As your website is growing older, the content is expanding. Thus, you need to have sufficient amount of space. 

The good news is that with a dedicated website hosting, your WordPress website can have more space for data storage. So, the increasing traffic won’t compromise your website performance. Slowing down is not a possibility because a dedicated web host can provide you with enough space for data storage.

  • Lack of support

It is a common thing to know that website errors might occur. The errors can be caused by a lot of factors, like those related to WordPress compatibility. As it occurs, you need to abruptly address such errors, otherwise they can cause major issues. Your website might slow down or might not be running on the web. Some of the pages can’t be accessed by the visitors. But if you let a dedicated WordPress web host, this lack-of-support factor can easily be addressed. They have a technical support to address errors and other issues.

In a Nutshell

Conclusively, a dedicated WordPress website hosting is great in providing you these things:

  • Prevents security threats coming from other websites
  • Boosts the website performance
  • Helps restore and recover lost data and information
  • Provides more space for data storage 
  • Have a 24/7 technical support to fix website errors and other relevant issues

If you have more questions about dedicated WordPress web hosting, contact NetShop ISP now.

Joomla Hosting: What Are Its Advantages and Disadvantages

If you want to use Joomla in your next website project, you should know its advantages and disadvantages to make sure that you can make the right decision. Joomla is one of the popular open-source CMS. It’s been trusted by millions of website users worldwide. Compared to Drupal, it is less complicated; and compared to […]

If you want to use Joomla in your next website project, you should know its advantages and disadvantages to make sure that you can make the right decision. Joomla is one of the popular open-source CMS. It’s been trusted by millions of website users worldwide. Compared to Drupal, it is less complicated; and compared to WordPress, it is a bit more complex. But regardless of its nature, it can surely help anybody build up great websites. Needless to say, this content management system is intermediate and it is offered with more features than the rival WordPress and friendlier than Drupal.

Why Choose Joomla Hosting?

Well, it is clear that Joomla hosting is the most compatible web host for Joomla CMS websites. Another good thing with it is its intermediary nature wherein you don’t need to possess an in-depth know-how regarding website coding, because like WordPress, it is a friendly website platform. 

Joomla Advantages

Now that you already understand about Joomla CMS and Joomla website hosting, it is about time that you have to know its advantages.

  • Fit for social networking and e-commerce websites

It serves as the number one factor why a lot of users have trusted this platform. Joomla has supported all websites that are focusing on social networking. Furthermore, this is suitable to online store owners. If you want an e-commerce website, this can be the best platform you have to use. Setting the site is easy. There are guidelines on the web that can teach you how to set up a website. But if you’re not tech-savvy, it is better for you to hire a web developer and designer who is expert in Joomla website creation. 

  • Provides versatility features that are good for your site

Regardless of the type and size, the website design that you want can easily be created through using it. Joomla is versatile, so to speak. Many website developers prefer this platform in web designing. Aside from e-commerce websites, you can also design your blog site using this. And for online stores, you’re free to have hundreds of pages through this platform.

  • Have a high level of flexibility when used

Do you want flexibility? Don’t worry! You’ve got covered. You are given the opportunity to design your own website but only if you have some basic HTML skills. Nothing to worry because it is not necessary that your HTML skills are super advanced. Only basic! Because it is not that complicated when used, the level of flexibility is definitely high. Website maintenance is also easy by trusting this web CMS and hosting option. Every penny you are going to invest is valuable.

  • Has excellent and working plug-ins

Of course, you will be using many plug-ins for your website to become speedier and more efficient in terms of search engine ranking. Though WordPress has so many plug-ins, Joomla on the hand is not left behind. It also has plug-ins that can be extracted from the open-source related communities on the Internet.

  • Provided with an extensive customer support system

Because it is an open source, every time you have a problem is not actually a problem. Why? You can have support from the members of Joomla community. If you don’t know how to use any of the available plug-ins, for instance, you easily ask for someone to help you. Plus, there are available DIY tutorials on the web that serves as a solution to any sort of problem you may encounter.

Joomla Disadvantages

We’re through already with the advantages. Now is the time for you to learn about its corresponding disadvantages.

  • Not all properties are given for “free”

Joomla does not have a free website hosting, unlike WordPress. So you have to pay for the web host if you want to run a website that uses this platform. Somehow, it can add to the cost because you have to pay Joomla hosting for your website to be live.

  • Not so good in website media

Media management, according to those who already tried this platform, requires improvement. The media manager does only have a few capabilities available for you. There is a possibility that you can’t edit, crop, resize, and redesign images. 

  • Content migration might be an issue

Another problem that may possibly arise is related to content migration. The plug-ins do not have automatic updates at times. This reality can lead you to a possible predicament. And if the issue is not addressed, it can lead you to more complicated problems. 

  • Offered with customization features but limited

A Joomla script might cause problems to advanced developers because of the limited customization features. Unlike the other platforms like WordPress, Joomla does not have premium customizable plug-ins and software tools. Somehow, it is hard for the developers to deliver much more highly technical customizations.

Choosing Joomla can be a good option for you. But you have to primarily assess and weigh the factors before making a decision.

If you have questions regarding Joomla hosting, contact NetShop ISP today.

Why Use Cloud Hosting? Things You Must Know

If you want to have a website for your business, you need to start with three things: domain name, content management system, and website hosting. This blog will focus on a particular website hosting service, known as “cloud-based hosting.” Many business owners choose this web hosting type due to its features and benefits.  Cloud Hosting […]

If you want to have a website for your business, you need to start with three things: domain name, content management system, and website hosting. This blog will focus on a particular website hosting service, known as “cloud-based hosting.” Many business owners choose this web hosting type due to its features and benefits. 

Cloud Hosting Explained

Cloud hosting is technically running websites through a number of interconnected web servers. As opposed to conventional web hosting types (shared and dedicated), the data in a cloud web hosting service are managed and processed in various servers.

A cloud server is not a physical server, rather it is known as a virtual server as it is run through a cloud computing infrastructure. With the use of an Internet connection, hosting a website through the cloud is delivered. And the hosted website can be accessed remotely anywhere in the world. Cloud servers are beneficial because they have software tools that work independently as units. 

Instead of using only a single server, the providers have built a complex computing infrastructure to work efficiently for the seamless data distribution across a number of computing servers. There are service providers that are leasing their virtual servers for third-party partners to use. Those providing the application service are called the cloud hosting service providers. Cloud-based website hosting services may include shared and data hosting. They also permit the use of application tools and software.

It can be advantageous to use distributed resources working as one complex system. This system is sometimes known as the “federated storage clouds.” In terms of defects and issues, they are tolerable with the application of cloud computing servers. Hence, using the cloud computing infrastructure can reduce having multiple versions of data files. Why is it so? The use of files, data, and documents allows a shared access to the different users.

Exploring the Benefits of Cloud Website Hosting

Let’s now dissect some of the features and benefits when you use a cloud hosting service. 

  1. You have to pay the cloud hosted space that you want to use. Then, if you want to have some upgrade with your cloud computing storage space, there is nothing to worry because you can do it anytime. As you have to pay only for what you are going to utilize, the cloud hosting services are flexible. This flexibility reflects on the utilization of a complete server configuration that is managed through a web-based or API interface. Another plus factor is you can choose the operating system that you want to use, i.e. Windows or Linux. 
  2. If you think that there is a heavy cost with the use of a cloud-based website hosting, you might think it again and you have to research more relevant details because this hosting service is more cost-efficient compared to the traditional types. With the use of a cloud computing system, you don’t need to comply with some extensive requirements.
  3. You don’t have to worry those software issues and problems. Why? They are separated from your computing environment because a cloud server is stable and secure. It can be beneficial to any business organization. To explain it further, your chosen cloud server can’t be affected by the other cloud servers that are having issues. And this system works vice versa. The users of the conventional physical servers, once the servers are congested, can be affected. But in this cloud type of hosting a website, your website can still function normally even if the other cloud-interconnected servers are having a problem. 
  4. The cloud computing technologies have a faster service for every penny that you’re going to pay. It’s really worth it. There are available extensive resources that provide more effective and efficient services to all customers. A website that is hosted by a cloud hosting service provider has a faster performance.
  5. In terms of performance, there is scalability factor with the application of a cloud computing technology. As mentioned above, it is easy to upgrade anytime. The process is really quick and easy. You can add disk space for an affordable rate anytime.

In a Nutshell…

The 5 benefits given above are just a tip of the iceberg. Meaning, there are more benefits with the use of clouding hosting services. Generally, hosting an IT and website infrastructure through the cloud can deliver scalable, efficient, and seamless website performance. This is a revolutionized state-of-the-art hosting service.

If you want to know more about clouding hosting, contact NetShop ISP today. This company operates in Cyprus, Malta, and the United Kingdom.