WestHost

Infobox_Company
company_name = WestHost
company_
company_type = Private company
foundation = 1998
location = Providence, Utah, USA
key_people = Chris Russell, Brian Chambers
industry = Web hosting service, Web design, Domain registration
products = Web services
employees = 40
company_slogan = When you expect more from your Web host
homepage = http://www.westhost.com

WestHost provides Web hosting, domain registration and Web site design services to individuals, organizations and businesses. Founded in Providence, Utah in 1998 by Chris Russell, the company currently hosts over 65,000 Web sites.

MountainWest Capital Network identified WestHost as one of the top 100 fastest growing Utah companies in 2004 [ [http://www.mwcn.org/utah100/2004_utah100.php The Utah 100 recognizes WestHost for its significant contribution to the state and its expanding economy.] ] .

Hosting infrastructure

*SAS 70 Type II certified world-class data center infrastructure
*Tier 1 connection to the Internet backbone through multiple Gigabyte Ethernet connections and multiple OC-3 lines with scalability to OC-48 and beyond
*Uninterruptible power supply from battery bank (15 minutes) and 750 Kilovolt diesel generators (3–5 days)
*Fire suppression via INERGEN people-safe oxygen removal system
*Virtual Private Server technology for shared, semi-dedicated and dedicated servers
*Proprietary control panel also provides client access to a diverse selection of Web site applications and development tools
*WestHost continually ranks in the Netcraft top 10 list of most reliable Web hosting providers, including several top 10 rankings throughout 2006, 2007, and 2008.

Homeland Security controversy

In June 2005 various news media outlets carried a story concerning an Iraq insurgency fundraising site established by an Italian group, Campo Antiimperialista [ [http://www.usnews.com/usnews/news/articles/050623/23euroleft.htm National Security Watch: Eurolefties fund Iraq insurgency] ] . The story generated widespread condemnation of the site, along with a flood of complaints to WestHost, the site’s unwitting hosting provider. Unknown to the public and media, WestHost had operated for over a year under a secret court order to provide all antiimperialista.org logs and files to The Department of Homeland Security, along with an active tracking system that reported a site visitor’s Internet protocol address to DHS.

After enduring days of denouncements that WestHost supported terrorist organizations, DHS finally allowed WestHost to shut down the site as it failed to obtain cooperation with foreign authorities to further the investigation. Nevertheless, Italian police later raided the home of a Campo Antiimperialista member and seized a computer and files used to create and maintain the site [ [http://www.usnews.com/usnews/news/articles/050727/27natsec.htm National Security Watch: Eurolefties fund Iraq insurgency–Part II] ] .

References

External links

* [http://www.westhost.com WestHost official site]
* [http://www.westhost.com/contactus.html Contact information]
* [http://forums.westhost.com Discussion forums]
* [http://blog.westhost.com WestHost blog]
* [http://www.alexa.com/data/details/main?q=&url=www.westhost.com Alexa ranking for westhost.com]