Raising the Bar for Secure and Responsible Hosting

The Secure Hosting Alliance (SHA) launched the Trust Seal Program to set a higher standard for accountability, transparency, and resilience across the hosting industry. Built on a member-driven three-year strategic plan, this certification framework empowers web hosts to demonstrate responsible practices, while giving customers and partners confidence that their infrastructure is in good hands.

More than just a badge, the Trust Seal signals verified ongoing commitment to security, lawful compliance, and reliable service. It helps ensure that hosting companies are not just protecting their own networks, but actively contributing to the safety and stability of the broader Internet.

Why the SHA Trust Seal Matters for Hosting Providers

Earning the Trust Seal strengthens operations and reputation. Certification requirements are structured around four key pillars that directly improve how providers run and safeguard their services:

• Transparency: Clear, public-facing policies and agreements that define expectations for customers and partners.

• Infrastructure Misuse Protocols: Documented contacts and response procedures, with prioritized handling of confirmed reports.

• Network Resource Reliability: Proactive monitoring, recovery planning, and capacity alignment to ensure uptime and resilience.

• Government Request Handling: Procedures that ensure all law enforcement data requests are handled lawfully, fairly, and with due process.

These operational pillars are more than compliance, they provide a framework for day-to-day resilience that keeps providers ahead of threats and aligned with global best practices.

Why the SHA Trust Seal Matters to Customers

For businesses and organizations choosing a hosting provider, trust is everything. The SHA Trust Seal gives customers confidence that their provider is:

• Transparent about rules and expectations.

• Responsive and accountable in handling abuse.

• Committed to strong uptime and service reliability.

• Respectful of privacy and lawful process in data handling.

When they see the SHA Trust Seal, customers know they are working with a responsible partner who values reliability, security, and ethical practices.

How This Program Strengthens the Industry

The certification program isn’t just about individual companies, it’s about improving the Internet ecosystem as a whole. Here’s how:

• Promotes Industry Accountability: Clear expectations and enforceable standards prevent misuse of hosting infrastructure.

• Strengthens Trust in Hosting Services: Public transparency builds credibility with customers, regulators, and peers.

• Improves Abuse Response and Mitigation: SLA-based protocols ensure timely and effective threat response.

• Encourages Compliance with Legal and Ethical Standards: Reinforces lawful, rights-respecting practices.

• Enhances Network Resilience and Reliability: Monitoring and recovery plans improve uptime and service quality.

• Fosters a Community of Responsible Providers: Certification cultivates a peer network grounded in trust and cooperation.

• Incentivizes Continuous Improvement: Ongoing oversight ensures standards evolve with threats.

• Aligns with Global Best Practices : Compatibility with international norms builds confidence across borders.

• Mitigates Reputational and Legal Risk: Reduces exposure to malicious activity and legal vulnerabilities.

• Demonstrates Leadership in Self-Regulation: Shows that the hosting industry is capable of governing itself responsibly.

An International Signal of Trust

With the SHA Trust Seal, hosting providers can demonstrate leadership, customers gain confidence, and the Internet as a whole benefits from a stronger, safer infrastructure.

If your company works with web hosting and wants to contribute to the development of these standards, contact Hilary Osborne at  [email protected].