Reflecting on 2023: A Year of Growth, Challenges, and Resilience

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Introduction

As 2023 draws to a close, it's time for introspection at Hybrid Hosting. This year has been a remarkable mix of accomplishments and trials, shaping our path and fortifying our resolve. From celebrating key milestones to overcoming complex challenges, our journey this year has been nothing short of transformative.

Celebrating Our First Anniversary

Hybrid Hosting celebrated its first anniversary on August 3, 2023. This significant milestone marks our evolution from a fledgling startup to a stable and reliable player in the hosting industry Unlike many 'summer hosts' that don't survive their first year, our journey to this point symbolizes resilience, dedication, and a steadfast commitment to providing quality service. This achievement is not just a testament to our endurance but also a declaration that we are here to stay, setting us apart as a serious, long-term industry player.

Our celebration of this landmark year was a modest yet meaningful gesture of gratitude towards our clients and staff. By releasing discount codes, we aimed to thank our loyal customers for their trust and support, and to welcome new users to experience the dependable and high-quality service we offer. This simple celebration was more than just a token of appreciation; it was a reaffirmation of our bond with our community and a recognition of their role in our success.

The journey from our inception to this anniversary has been remarkable, marked by significant client growth and service enhancements. It's a story of not just growing our client base, but also of building robust relationships, enhancing service quality, and laying a solid foundation for future growth. Our progress during this period is a clear reflection of our team's hard work and innovative approach, highlighting our commitment to customer satisfaction and excellence. As we celebrate this significant year, we look forward to continuing our journey, striving to set new benchmarks in the hosting industry.

Domain Transition, from .xyz to .co

The strategic decision to transition from a .xyz to a .co domain was a significant move for Hybrid Hosting, marking a pivotal moment in our brand's evolution. This change was driven by a desire to align more closely with the standards of professionalism expected in our industry. The .xyz domain, while unique, is often not perceived as a hallmark of professional entities. Moving to a .co domain was a deliberate step to refine our brand's image, signaling a transition from a small-scale project to a more established, professional business.

This domain shift positively impacted our brand perception and client interactions. By adopting a .co domain, we noticed an increase in client trust and credibility in our services. This transition resonated with our clientele, reassuring them of our commitment to providing professional and reliable hosting solutions. It also subtly communicated to our client base and potential customers that we were serious about our business and its growth, further establishing Hybrid Hosting as a dependable name in the hosting industry.

However, this migration was not without its challenges. A notable challenge we faced was a 13-minute downtime due to misconfigured DNS settings, affecting the connection between our panel and hosting nodes. This was a critical learning experience for us, underscoring the importance of meticulous planning and execution in such transitions. Our technical team promptly addressed and resolved the issue, minimizing the impact on our services. This swift response not only demonstrated our capability to handle unexpected challenges but also reinforced our commitment to maintaining high service standards.

Expansion and Retraction of VPS Hosting

Our brief foray into VPS hosting was a valuable learning experience, offering us deep insights into the preferences and requirements of a distinct client segment. We discovered the intricate infrastructure needs unique to VPS hosting and the specific types of clients drawn to these services. Although our venture into this area was short-lived, it was rich in lessons about client expectations and service demands.

When we decided to discontinue VPS hosting, our small scale at the time turned out to be advantageous. It allowed us to manage the transition process personally, ensuring each of our clients was smoothly migrated to other trusted VPS hosts within the industry. This experience was pivotal in teaching us about effective service discontinuation and client communication. It also sharpened our focus on marketing the best aspects of our services and deepened our understanding of what our clients truly value. These insights now guide our future ventures, ensuring we remain aligned with our clients' needs while pursuing sustainable growth.

Major Data Loss Event

Experiencing a major data loss was a critical moment for us. Recovering 50% of the data was challenging, but it spurred us to strengthen our systems. This section should focus on the immediate response to the crisis, the strategies employed for client communication and expectation management, and the comprehensive measures put in place to avert such incidents in the future.

We still to this day do not know the cause for this data loss, we assume it was with out upstream provider. At this time we were still located in NYC and renting space on a "Per U Basis". That morning, we received numerous messages from clients informing us that their servers were offline and their files were missing. We tried logging into our nodes and none of them would respond. Using IPMI, we accessed a remote console and discovered that there was no OS installed. We arranged for technicians to replace the drives and send us the old ones. Upon receipt, we attempted multiple recovery methods, but they were unrecoverable. Even our S.M.A.R.T report failed, showing a Reallocated Sectors Count of over four million. It is quite supprising that all of the drives failed and servers restarted at the same time. We assume it was a power surge or some instance like this that caused it. When we tried restoring our services to the hardrives it appeared to us that our backup system had failed and not backed up any of our node backups in upwards of four months. We restored this backup and then with the clients that used the "Backups" feature in Hyperpanel these backups still worked and there data was restored.

The Actions we take to prevent something like this happening again are:

Backup Reformation - We restructed our backup system to store, 3 Onsite backups Taken at 3AM every day, 36 Daily full node backups are stored offsite, and we store the last 8 weeks of weekly full node backups.

Routiene checks - As the owner of Hybrid Hosting I am personally commited to checking through our backup systems and testing them on a regular every other day basis. I run multiple tests and do S.M.A.R.T tests on all of ours drives weekly to make sure there are no failing drives.

Payment Gateway Transition: From PayPal to Stripe

The abrupt termination of our PayPal account presented a significant financial challenge. This necessitated a swift and effective transition to Stripe. This section needs to delve into the reasons behind the PayPal account termination, the steps taken to ensure uninterrupted service during the transition, and the risk mitigation strategies adopted to prevent similar situations in the future.

The reason for this abrupt termination of our PayPal account was never given to us, we tried contacting PayPal support to be told "yYour account will never be reinstated, and there is no one to whom I can transfer you who can reverse this decision.", we don't take no for an answer as we were loosing sagnficant amounts of money, We threatened legal action, contacted the BBB, and even reached out to members of PayPal's Chief Executive team. After some back and fourth between several people within PayPal we finally got our account back. We support legacy payments on paypal for aprx 3 more months, but with how PayPal has treated us through this entire situation we have decided the best course of option is to not work with PayPal any longer.

Relocating to Chicago: A Strategic Move for Enhanced Service and Growth

The decision to relocate Hybrid Hosting to Chicago was a critical strategic move, driven by a combination of necessity and foresight. The journey began with our departure from New York City, spurred by the financial struggles of our upstream network and rack space provider. Initially approached for a buyout, we encountered management issues and realized that their financial demands were untenable. This revelation led us to reassess our position and ultimately, to the decision of moving out.

The process of leaving NYC was not without challenges. Our former provider, unhappy about our decision, exhibited unprofessional behavior, complicating our efforts to retrieve our hardware. During this transitional period, we had to rely on temporary servers to maintain service for our clients. Despite these obstacles, we successfully moved our operations to Chicago, a decision influenced significantly by the city's advantageous location.

Why Chicago?

The primary factors driving our choice of Chicago were its optimal ping times for intercontinental transit and relatively low latency connections to the EU and Asia. These technical advantages promised to enhance our service reliability and reach, making it an ideal location for our operational base.

Impact on Service Quality and Client Satisfaction

Since the move, our clients have experienced a notable improvement in service reliability and a reduction in downtime. This enhancement in service quality has directly translated to increased client satisfaction, validating our decision to choose Chicago as our new hub.

Long-Term Strategic Benefits

Chicago is not just a temporary solution but a strategic choice for long-term growth. Our plan is to master our operations in this central location, perfecting our service offerings and client support. This mastery in Chicago sets a solid foundation for future expansion, potentially branching out to other strategic locations in Asia or the EU. Being in the US, and with our staff and management, including myself, based here, Chicago provides the perfect launchpad for this expansion. This move is more than a change in location; it's a step towards broader horizons and a testament to our commitment to growth, innovation, and unparalleled service.

Transitioning to Dedicated Cores

The transition from an undedicated to a core count system was a significant change in our service offering. This move was driven by market demands and a vision of fair resource usage. This section needs to explore the reasons behind this transition, how it aligns with our company vision and market needs, and the client feedback received post-implementation.

Embracing New Technology: The Ryzen 7000 Series

Our upgrade to the Ryzen 7000 series was a testament to our commitment to staying abreast with technology. This section should cover the decision-making process behind choosing the Ryzen 7000 series, the enhancements it brought to our hosting capabilities, and the client responses to this technological advancement.

Discontinuing Website Hosting

The decision to discontinue website hosting services was a crucial strategic move. This section needs to detail the specific reasons for this decision, the steps taken to ensure a smooth transition for our clients, and the lessons learned from our experience in website hosting.

Article here that goes more in-depth: Why we Shutdown Website Hosting

Part One Conclusion

In concluding Part One of "Reflecting on 2023: A Year of Growth, Challenges, and Resilience" at Hybrid Hosting, it is evident that the year has been a defining period in the company's history. From celebrating our first anniversary to making strategic decisions such as the domain transition, expansion and subsequent retraction of VPS hosting, and relocating to Chicago, every step has contributed to our growth and learning.

As we step into 2024, the lessons learned and the strides made in 2023 will be instrumental in shaping the future of Hybrid Hosting. We look forward to leveraging our experiences to explore new horizons and continue delivering unparalleled service to our clients. The next part of our reflection will focus on the future of Hybrid Hosting in 2024, outlining our vision, goals, and strategies as we navigate the evolving landscape of the hosting industry.

Introduction to 2024

As we step into 2024, it's time to re-align Hybrid Hosting's future with our founding vision. Our commitment to providing the best, sustainable products remains unwavering. Here’s a glimpse of what we have planned.

1. Revamping 'Build a Server'

Our 'Build a Server' feature is getting a major upgrade. The upcoming interactive browser-based server builder and the launch of Ryzen Pre-Builts signify our dedication to quality and innovation. We're ensuring that these features are refined before release to meet your highest expectations.

2. Dedicated Server Overhaul

We're revamping our dedicated server offerings, aligning them with our ethos of exceptional quality. While this means an increase in prices, current clients won't see a change in their costs. Expect groundbreaking upgrades in hardware and a new, advanced network panel.

3. Elevating Colocation Services

In line with our values, we're enhancing our colocation services, which will include a price adjustment. Our focus is on providing unparalleled quality and new features, expected to roll out between Q1 and Q3.

4. A Second Attempt at VPS Hosting

With better industry understanding, we're re-launching VPS hosting around Q2-Q3. Specifics are being finalized, but rest assured, we're committed to offering a service that exceeds expectations.

5. Continuous Improvement

We're dedicated to constant improvement in every aspect, from hardware upgrades to panel enhancements. Our goal is to offer the best possible service at affordable prices.

Overall Conclusion

As we conclude our reflective journey through 2023, it becomes clear that Hybrid Hosting has not just endured a year of challenges and changes, but has also emerged stronger and more focused. The resilience and agility shown by our team in the face of numerous transformations signify a business that is not just surviving but thriving.

The story of Hybrid Hosting in 2023 is more than a series of business events; it's a narrative of resilience, innovation, and unwavering commitment to our vision. It's about a team that's adaptable yet focused, a company that's evolving yet grounded in its founding principles. As we step into the new year, we carry forward the lessons, achievements, and experiences of 2023, using them as stepping stones towards a future where Hybrid Hosting continues to set benchmarks in the hosting industry.

In conclusion, 2023 has been a defining year for Hybrid Hosting. It's been a year where we not only celebrated our achievements but also embraced our challenges, learning and growing from each. Looking forward to 2024, we remain dedicated to our mission of providing exceptional hosting services, guided by the vision that started it all. We're excited for what the future holds and are grateful for the continued support of our clients and the dedication of our team. Here's to a new year of opportunities, innovation, and continued success at Hybrid Hosting.

Signed,

Koby Pierce,

Proud CEO of Hybrid Hosting