In an exclusive executive interview, Christian Dawson, Executive Director and founder of the Internet Infrastructure Coalition (i2Coalition), announced the launch of a trust seal initiative aimed at setting a new industry benchmark for responsible hosting. Spearheaded by the newly formed Secure Hosting Alliance, the project unites major cloud and web hosting providers to create a set of shared standards that will certify providers as trusted and accountable.
Unveiled during CloudFest 2025 in Germany, the Secure Hosting Alliance brings together leading hosting and infrastructure providers in a collaborative effort to define and enforce responsible hosting standards. “We’ve just launched the Secure Hosting Alliance,” Christian Dawson confirmed. “We hosted a kickoff event at CloudFest and connected with dozens of hosting providers who are eager to join this journey.”
“The trust seal is the ultimate goal,” added Mr. Dawson. “It will represent a promise from hosting providers to uphold a clear set of responsible practices that customers can rely on.”
Developed through collaboration among industry leaders including GoDaddy, DreamHost, Cloudflare, Automattic, WebPros, SiteGround, Tucows, and Newfold Digital, the trust seal will take approximately a year to finalize. Once complete, qualifying providers will be able to display the seal on their websites, linking to a transparent set of standards crafted and agreed upon by Alliance members.
Abuse Prevention, Transparency, and Trust
The Secure Hosting Alliance, facilitated by i2Coalition, aims to create meaningful, community-driven change in how web hosting is regulated and perceived. As Dawson explains, “The seal won’t just be a symbol – it will be backed by real commitments around abuse prevention, operational transparency, and customer protection.”
i2Coalition, a strategic content partner of HostingJournalist.com, brings together an influential network of members including AWS, Google, Automattic, Blackwall, Bluehost, Cloudflare, cPanel, DigitalOcean, DreamHost, GoDaddy, HostGator, Namecheap, Newfold Digital, OVHcloud, SiteGround, Tucows, Veeam Software, and others. This coalition plays a vital role in shaping the direction of the internet infrastructure industry.
For many providers, participation in the Secure Hosting Alliance would offer dual benefits. “There’s a marketing and operational upside,” Dawson said. “It helps providers distinguish themselves in a competitive market while contributing to a healthier ecosystem. They’re not just helping customers – they’re helping the industry.”
With growing interest from service providers and industry stakeholders, Dawson emphasized that the Secure Hosting Alliance is about more than reputation – it’s about leadership and shared responsibility. “This is about solving real problems through collective action. It’s about strengthening the backbone of the Internet by making hosting better, safer, and more trustworthy for everyone.”
As the Alliance moves forward, the upcoming launch of this Trust Seal would promise to become a hallmark of integrity in the cloud and hosting space – signaling a new era of cooperation, accountability, and customer-focused innovation.
