Ionos

1&1 (at the time known as 1&1 Internet) was founded in Germany in 1988.{{Cite web |date=2020-08-27 |title=IONOS History: Founding, Timeline, and Milestones - Zippia |url=https://www.zippia.com/1-1-ionos-careers-13131/history/ |access-date=2024-05-31 |website=www.zippia.com |language=en-US}} The company developed data center and network architecture to enable internet access, becoming one of the first web hosting companies.{{Cite web |last=Zarokian |first=Pierre |date=2020-03-04 |title=The history of web hosting |url=https://www.dailyhostnews.com/the-history-of-web-hosting |access-date=2024-05-31 |website=Daily Host News |language=en-US}} Ten years later, in 1998, 1&1 became a shareholder of Schlund+Partner.{{Cite web |title=IONOS celebrates 25 years of innovation and growth – IONOS Newsroom (United States) |url=https://www.ionos.com/newsroom/news/ionos-celebrates-25-years-of-innovation-and-growth/ |access-date=2024-05-31 |website=www.ionos.com}}

In 2000, the company changed its name to United Internet and moved its product business to 1&1 Internet AG. In the same year, 1&1 began operating in the United Kingdom, and three years later began serving United States customers. The company's biggest North American data center is located in Lenexa, Kansas.{{cite web|url=http://www.informationweek.com/hardware/data-centers/inside-11s-giant-web-hosting-data-center/210604699|title=Inside 1&1's Giant Web Hosting Data Center|last1=Nucci|first1=Cora|date=30 September 2008|website=InformationWeek|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120819233504/http://www.informationweek.com:80/hardware/data-centers/inside-11s-giant-web-hosting-data-center/210604699 |archive-date=19 August 2012 |access-date=25 October 2019}} In 2023, the same data center became the site for hosting Ionos’ cloud products.{{Cite web |title=IONOS launches a new US location for its cloud platform in the IONOS-owned data center in Lenexa, Kansas – IONOS Newsroom (United States) |url=https://www.ionos.com/newsroom/news/ionos-launches-a-new-us-location-for-its-cloud-platform-in-the-ionos-owned-data-center-in-lenexa-kansas/ |access-date=2024-05-31 |website=www.ionos.com}}

In 2018, 1&1 merged with cloud infrastructure specialists ProfitBricks (founded by Achim Weiss) and rebranded as 1&1 Ionos. The rebrand involved a name change and a slightly redesigned website, but the service offerings and prices initially stayed the same. However, 1&1 Ionos introduced some new services the following year, including a personal consultant service for customers.{{cite web|url=https://www.ionos.co.uk/consultant|title=Your personal consultant|last=|first=|date=|publisher=IONOS|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190930235517/https://www.ionos.co.uk/consultant |archive-date=30 September 2019 |access-date=25 October 2019}} As of September 2019, 1&1 Ionos held second place in a ranking of the market share of global web hosting providers.{{cite web|url=https://www.hostadvice.com/marketshare/|title=Global Web Hosting Market Share October 2019|last=|first=|date=|website=Hostadvice|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150521021722/http://hostadvice.com:80/marketshare/ |archive-date=21 May 2015 |access-date=25 October 2019}} In August 2021, the company changed its legal name in the United States to IONOS Inc.{{Cite web|title=Division of Corporations - Filing|url=https://icis.corp.delaware.gov/eCorp/EntitySearch/NameSearch.aspx|url-status=live|access-date=2022-01-19|website=icis.corp.delaware.gov|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150921182309/https://icis.corp.delaware.gov/Ecorp/EntitySearch/NameSearch.aspx |archive-date=21 September 2015 }}

Weiss described the reasons for the rebrand, stating:

{{Blockquote | style=font-size:100% |"As this new company is more than just a hosting provider, we have opted for a new name — and IONOS fits perfectly. It is inspired by the ionosphere; the upper part of the Earth's atmosphere that contains a high concentration of ions and free electrons. It is inspiring to look at, whether viewing from down on Earth, or up in outer space and is, of course, situated in the clouds."{{cite web |last1=Spadafora |first1=Anthony |title=With a new branding, 1&1 Ionos wants to be more than just a hosting provider |url=https://www.techradar.com/news/with-a-new-branding-1and1-ionos-wants-to-be-more-than-just-a-hosting-provider |website=www.techradar.com |date=31 October 2018 |publisher=techradar |access-date=25 October 2019}}|author=Achim Weiss}}

Ionos has actively engaged in research to understand the varying levels of digitalization among small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs). This initiative involves surveying U.S. and European companies for insights into their digitization and cybersecurity efforts.{{Cite web |title=On Your Marks: New Report Shows U.S. SMBs Lag Behind Europe in the Digital Transformation Race |url=https://digitalcxo.com/article/on-your-marks-new-report-shows-u-s-smbs-lag-behind-europe-in-the-digital-transformation-race/ |access-date=2024-06-10 |website=Digital CxO |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2023-07-28 |title=Survey: American SMBs Fall Behind European in Digitalization |url=https://www.websiteplanet.com/news/ionos-smb-digitalization-survey/ |access-date=2024-06-10 |website=Website Planet |language=en}} The survey is conducted in cooperation with YouGov, an international research data and analytics group.{{Cite web |title=SME's worried about cyberattacks – Channel EYE |url=https://channeleye.co.uk/smes-worried-about-cyberattacks/ |access-date=2024-06-10 |website=channeleye.co.uk}}

The company is currently researching the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) by businesses. A survey conducted in 2024 within the U.S. market found that 55% of American SMBs are using or would consider using AI, a 5% increase compared to last year and a higher adoption compared to European SMBs.{{Cite web |title=Digitalize or die: IONOS survey reveals challenges SMBs are facing in 2024 – IONOS Newsroom (United States) |url=https://www.ionos.com/newsroom/news/ionos-survey-reveals-challenges-smbs-are-facing-in-2024/ |access-date=2024-06-10 |website=www.ionos.com}}

In addition to shared hosting solutions, the company also offers dedicated, virtual and cloud servers as well as various email solutions. Ionos also acts as a domain registrar, with the actual allocation managed by its sister company InterNetX and its US subsidiary PSI-USA Inc.{{Cite web |title=InterNetX |url=https://www.ionos-group.com/brands/internetx.html |access-date=2024-06-12 |website=IONOS Group SE |language=en-US}}

In line with the company’s AI initiative, Ionos has also begun integrating AI support into its tools, such as the AI website builder.{{Cite web |last=Carmichael |first=Charlie |date=2018-01-18 |title=IONOS Review {{!}} Is It The Best Business Website Builder? |url=https://www.websitebuilderexpert.com/website-builders/1and1-ionos-review/ |access-date=2024-06-12 |website=Website Builder Expert |language=en-US}}

Ionos uses sustainable methods to reduce carbon emissions, including using 100% renewable energy in data centers and administrative buildings in the UK and Germany. The carbon is offset in other locations worldwide with green certificates or by using local renewable sources.{{cite web|url=https://www.united-internet.de/uploads/tx_unitedinternetpublication/United_Internet_AG_Sustainability_Report_2018.pdf|title=Sustainability Report 2018|last=|first=|date=|publisher=United Internet|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191025095423/https://www.united-internet.de/uploads/tx_unitedinternetpublication/United_Internet_AG_Sustainability_Report_2018.pdf |archive-date=25 October 2019 |access-date=25 October 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://www.techwhiff.com/1-and-1-webmail/|title=General Information About 1&1 Ionos}}

The company’s 2030 climate strategy outlines plans to reduce data center carbon emissions by switching to biofuel-powered generators and continuing to source renewable energy. The strategy also involves encouraging technology suppliers to set their own climate goals.{{Cite web |title=IONOS announces Climate Strategy 2030 |url=https://www.intelligentdatacentres.com/2023/09/15/ionos-announces-climate-strategy-2030/ |access-date=2024-06-04 |website=Intelligent Data Centres |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |last=Renouard |first=Jacqueline |date=2023-08-31 |title=IONOS Announces Climate Strategy for 2023 - 2030 |url=https://www.websitebuilderexpert.com/news/ionos-announces-its-climate-strategy-2023/ |access-date=2024-06-04 |website=Website Builder Expert |language=en-US}}

In April 2019, customers in the United Kingdom complained of lengthy server outages due to a malfunctioning uninterruptible power supply (UPS), which resulted in websites being offline. Call center staff could also not answer customer questions due to support tools not functioning properly. Ionos eventually fixed and addressed the issue, stating: "For when such cases occur, we have UPS systems and emergency power generators that ensure power supply is uninterrupted during an emergency. One of the five UPS systems in the affected data center suffered a technical malfunction, which meant several servers suffered a temporary loss of power and had to be restarted. As file systems had to be repaired after the power failure, some servers were not immediately available again. We're continuing to look into the cause of the error of the affected UPS system, however, all UPS systems are working properly again."{{cite web|url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2019/04/18/web_host_ionos_server_outage/|title=Server at web host 1&1 Ionos decides to take unscheduled day off, sinks a bunch of sites|last1=Oates|first1=John|date=18 April 2019|website=The Register|publisher=|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190418102858/https://www.theregister.co.uk/2019/04/18/web_host_ionos_server_outage/ |archive-date=18 April 2019 |access-date=25 October 2019}}

In October 2022, Ionos opened a new data center in Worcester, UK to enhance data center reliability. Equipped with photovoltaic panels on the roof, these supply up to 10% of the site’s energy use. In 2023, the data center received tier IV certification.{{Cite web |date=2023-04-13 |title=IONOS & Fasthosts achieve Tier IV certification in Worcester - Data Centre Review |url=https://datacentrereview.com/2023/04/ionos-fasthosts-achieve-tier-iv-certification-in-worcester/ |access-date=2024-06-10 |language=en-US}}

IONOS recommends an SPF record for its email hosting customers, such as v=spf1 include:_spf-eu.ionos.com ~all, to improve deliverability.{{Cite web |title=Using IONOS SPF to Improve Email Delivery |url=https://www.ionos.co.uk/help/domains/configuring-mail-servers-and-other-related-records/using-ionos-spf-to-improve-email-delivery/ |access-date=2025-03-13 |website=IONOS Help}} However, _spf-eu.ionos.com resolves to a record ending in ?all (neutral), which some experts argue weakens security by not failing unauthorised senders.{{Cite web |date=2025-03-12 |title=IONOS SPF Security issues - IT Support |url=https://blacksheepsupport.co.uk/ionos-spf-security-issues/ |access-date=2025-03-13 |language=en-GB}} Notably, IONOS-owned _spf.perfora.net and _spf.kundenserver.de cover similar IP ranges with -all, aligning with best practices when paired with DKIM and DMARC.{{Cite web |title=Why Mailhardener recommends SPF softfail over fail - Mailhardener blog |url=https://www.mailhardener.com/blog/why-mailhardener-recommends-spf-softfail-over-fail |access-date=2025-03-13 |website=www.mailhardener.com |language=en}}

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