is*hosting joins OpenSSL Foundation’s Code Protectors program

is*hosting has joined the OpenSSL Foundation’s Code Protectors program as part of Hosting for Good, its effort to support essential infrastructure in both the physical and digital world. The move links the hosting provider’s infrastructure business to long-term funding for OpenSSL, a library central to encrypted internet communications.

Why it matters: - is*hosting is putting money behind core internet security software that many hosting providers rely on but rarely help fund directly. - The sponsorship supports the long-term sustainability of OpenSSL, which underpins encrypted communications across much of the internet. - The move also signals that infrastructure companies can support the open source projects they depend on, not just consume them.

What happened: - ishosting joined the OpenSSL Foundation’s Code Protectors program. - The sponsorship is part of Hosting for Good, ishosting’s initiative for critical physical and digital infrastructure. - is*hosting has operated since 2005 and runs infrastructure in more than 40 locations worldwide. - OpenSSL Foundation Executive Director Matt Caswell welcomed the support and said he hopes other infrastructure companies will contribute to the open source software they depend on.

The details: - Hosting for Good launched in April 2025. - The program began with physical infrastructure work in Kenya, where ishosting funded four solar-powered water wells serving more than 1,500 people. - The initiative also helped fund a doctor’s trip to the Democratic Republic of Congo, including transport for prescription medicines and medical equipment. - Misha Malikin, Brand & Partnerships Manager at ishosting, said the company expanded the program into digital infrastructure in March 2026. - Hosting for Good now has two tracks: support for physical infrastructure in Africa and support for open source software, nonprofits, projects, and independent media organizations through financial assistance and infrastructure resources. - OpenSSL Foundation supports the OpenSSL Library through community engagement, corporate sponsorship, and technical grant funding. - The Foundation’s Code Protectors and Premier Supporters programs fund engineering work that helps keep OpenSSL secure and reliable. - Code Protectors sponsors include AWS, GitHub, Mercedes-Benz, NetApp, and SAP. - Premier Supporters include Cisco, Nominet, OpenSSL Corporation, and Sovereign Tech Agency. - is*hosting manages more than 100,000 servers for over 50,000 customers. - The company also sponsors curl through GitHub Sponsors. - More information about the OpenSSL Foundation is available here. - More information about Hosting for Good is available here.

Between the lines: - The announcement ties ishosting’s philanthropy to the infrastructure layer of the internet, not just to social-impact projects on the ground. - The Heartbleed vulnerability in 2014 exposed how dependent the internet was on underfunded open source security projects. - OpenSSL now has a stronger funding base than it did at the time of Heartbleed, but many organizations that rely on it still do not invest directly in its sustainability. - ishosting’s scale makes the sponsorship more than symbolic, because vulnerabilities in widely used security software can affect large amounts of customer traffic. - Malikin said he was surprised that relatively few hosting providers participate in similar support programs.

What’s next: - ishosting said Hosting for Good will continue its physical infrastructure work in Africa while expanding support for open source software and related organizations. - The company’s sponsorship adds to the OpenSSL Foundation’s existing supporter base and could encourage more hosting and infrastructure firms to join similar programs. - ishosting plans to keep supporting foundational projects it depends on, including through direct and platform-based contributions.

The bottom line: - is*hosting is using its sponsorship dollars to back the internet’s plumbing, not just its own business operations.