VPS Hosting Acceptable Use Policy
Version 1.0. Last updated 1 August 2026.
This policy forms part of our VPS Hosting Terms of Service and applies to VPS and cloud compute services. Because you have root access and manage your own operating system, this policy is deliberately lighter touch than our Web Hosting Acceptable Use Policy: the content restrictions that apply to shared hosting do not carry over here. If your project needs more storage or CPU than shared hosting allows, that is normal, expected use of a VPS, not something we need to approve.
What matters on a VPS is that your server does not put our network, our other customers, or anyone else at risk.
1. Unlawful activity
You must not use a VPS or cloud compute service for anything unlawful, including hosting or distributing child sexual abuse material, which we report to the Internet Watch Foundation and law enforcement without notice, or for fraud, phishing, or content that infringes copyright or other intellectual property rights.
2. Network and platform abuse
You must not:
- run programs that consume disproportionate network capacity, CPU cycles or disk I/O relative to your plan, in a way that degrades the platform for other customers
- send spam, unsolicited bulk email, or operate an open mail relay
- distribute malware, ransomware, spyware or exploit kits
- operate command and control infrastructure for a botnet
- launch or participate in a denial of service attack against any target
- forge headers or otherwise misrepresent the origin of traffic
3. Security testing
You must not carry out port scanning, vulnerability scanning, penetration testing, password cracking, or any other security testing against our infrastructure, or against any system you do not own, without our prior written consent. This applies even where the testing is directed at your own server, because traffic still crosses our shared network and hardware.
4. What you can run
Subject to clauses 1 to 3, a VPS is yours to configure as you see fit. This includes, without needing our approval, running your own mail server, VPN endpoint, container platform, database server, or development and staging environments, and installing any operating system we offer as a template.
5. Your responsibility for your own server
Because we do not manage your operating system, you are responsible for:
- keeping your OS and any installed software patched
- configuring your own firewall and access controls
- securing SSH and any other exposed service, for example by disabling password authentication in favour of keys
- responding promptly if we tell you your server appears to be compromised or is causing harm to others
6. How we enforce this
| Situation | What we do |
|---|---|
| Your server is causing a technical problem for the shared network (for example, a runaway process saturating a shared link) | We contact you and ask you to fix it, normally within 48 hours |
| Your server is compromised and actively attacking others, spamming, or part of a botnet | Immediate suspension of network access to the server, then we work with you to get it clean before restoring access |
| Serious or deliberate breach of this policy | Immediate suspension, then termination under clause 6 of the VPS Hosting Terms of Service |
| CSAM, or an active attack from your server | Immediate termination, no notice, reported to the relevant authority |
Where we suspend network access rather than the whole server, your data is not affected and you can generally still access the server through our console to fix the underlying issue.
If you think we have got it wrong, email hello@hostingme.co.uk and we will review it.
7. Reporting abuse
To report abuse originating from our VPS or cloud network, email hello@hostingme.co.uk with the IP address, a description of the issue, and any supporting evidence such as log excerpts or full email headers. We aim to acknowledge within one working day.