keytec and Platform.sh

Picture this: The world wide web in the late 90s – not too far off from the wild west, right?

Websites were still tediously set up by tools like Dreamweaver and Fireworks. ASP or PHP were the only available options to create dynamic content, and a “Deployment” consisted of uploading files manually via FTP. The main goal was to make the website in Netscape look somehow, as it did on Internet Explorer.

That’s how our journey began – full of adventures and ... well, a bit chaotic.

The first steps: ContentCube and the search for stability

Then we launched our first CMS: The ContentCube. A mixture between ASP and compiled Visual Basic-Libraries, hosted on Microsoft IIS, with a SQL- Database by Microsoft working in the background.

Code-Versioning wasn’t even a considerable option; The whole thing was as stable as a house of cards. Being hacked and malfunctions were part of our daily routine, and our level of security ... Don’t even get me started on that.

Finally, a solution came in the form of Linux! For the first time, we had a sense of stability in hosting, and with the launch of Git- Deployments we felt like real pros.

But what we couldn't have known, was that the next problem was already awaiting us: Every project had its own machine, a new setup, and Docker or similar tools, were nowhere to be found. Even just switching PHP or MySQL versions felt like running the gauntlet.

The big shift: Choosing Drupal and the search for the right hosting partner

In 2008 we decided to stop the CMS-crafting and instead opted for working with Drupal. In hindsight, it was one of our best decisions – at last, because we've ultimately been able to part ways with Windows Hosting!

Although we were eager to say goodbye to Self-Hosting, finding the right Hosting-partner was a real challenge. Of course, Managed Hosting would have been an option, but the € 20,000 offers we've received were rather fitting for the Enterprise-sector and didn’t provide the flexibility that we needed.

Scalability, stability, and cost-efficient options for small, as well as large projects? A dead end.

Platform.sh: The solution that met all our needs

And then, finally: Platform.sh – the solution, which perfectly met all our requirements. With Platform.sh we’ve come to have everything we need in one platform.

Here you have our personal ranking list of the features provided:

• Performance and stability, for a good night’s sleep, even with high traffic.
• Data protection and security following the latest standards
• Flexibility, cost-efficient plans, which even allows us to host smaller events comfortably.
• A Git-based Deployment: We commit, encourage and let Platform.sh do its magic.
• Service-Integration for every demand: MySQL, MariaDB, Solr Search, and many others – all of them out-of-the-box.
• Multisite-Support, with which we're able to consolidate all our projects.

How Platform.sh empowers us to focus on innovation

Now workflow is consistent, stability is granted, and the support of Platform.sh manages everything that doesn't directly have to do with our applications- even on weekends. The result? We’re finally able to focus on what we're passionate about: Developing innovative and reliable web solutions for our clients.

Final thoughts: Why Platform.sh could be the right choice for your project

If you're curious and want to learn more about this topic and other features of Platform.sh, feel free to take a look at their website. No matter if it's a large or small project – you are guaranteed to find your most suitable Hosting!