{{short description|British domain registrar and web hosting company}} {{Use British English|date=January 2022}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2022}} {{Infobox website | name = 123 Reg | logo = File:123 Reg logo 2025.svg | founded = 2000 | location = Hayes, England | MD = | industry = {{ubl|Domain Registrar|Web hosting|SSL certificates|small businesses}} | parent = GoDaddy | employees = 51–200 (February 2020)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.linkedin.com/company/123-reg-co-uk/about/|title=123-reg: About |website=LinkedIn|access-date=2020-02-11}}</ref> | url = {{Official URL}} }}
'''123 Reg''' is a British domain registrar and web hosting company, founded in Britain in 2000 and now under the ultimate ownership of GoDaddy. The company claims to be the UK's largest<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=123 Reg |url=https://www.123-reg.co.uk/best-uk-domain-registrar/ |website=123-reg.co.uk |date= |access-date=8 January 2022 |archive-date=8 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220108115608/https://www.123-reg.co.uk/best-uk-domain-registrar/ |url-status=live }}</ref> accredited<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nominet.uk/registrar-list/|title=Registrar List - Nominet|website=Nominet|language=en-GB|access-date=2016-03-22|archive-date=23 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160323014737/http://www.nominet.uk/registrar-list/|url-status=live}}</ref> domain registrar and provides Internet services to small- and medium-sized business. From 2003 to 2017, 123 Reg was part of Host Europe Group (HEG). In April 2017, American hosting company GoDaddy acquired HEG for 1.69 billion euros ($1.82 billion).<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-host-europe-loans-idUSKBN13V194|title=GoDaddy to buy Host Europe for $1.82 billion|date=2016-12-06|work=Reuters|access-date=2020-02-11|language=en|archive-date=2 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170502083401/http://www.reuters.com/article/us-host-europe-loans-idUSKBN13V194|url-status=live}}</ref>
==History== 123 Reg was founded in Britain in 2000 by Jonathan and Tim Beresford-Brealey,<ref name=":2" /> who prior to this had also set up Webfusion Internet Solutions Ltd in 1997.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.mondaq.com/x/8750/Ecommerce/Notts+Internet+Company+Acquired+By+Plc|title=Notts Internet Company Acquired By Plc. - Information Technology and Telecoms - UK|website=www.mondaq.com|access-date=2016-03-22}}</ref> In 2003, 123 Reg and Webfusion were acquired by Host Europe Group (HEG).<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=22 August 2011 |title=Host Europe swoops for Heart Internet |url=https://www.insidermedia.com/news/midlands/57741-host-europe-swoops-heart-internet |access-date=2020-02-11 |website=Insider Media Ltd |language=en |archive-date=10 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230310223505/https://www.insidermedia.com/news/midlands/57741-host-europe-swoops-heart-internet |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2004, Host Europe Group was bought by Pipex Communications for £31.2m<ref>{{Cite web |last=Richardson |first=Tim |title=Pipex acquires Host Europe for £31m |url=https://www.theregister.com/2004/04/02/pipex_acquires_host_europe/ |access-date=2023-05-12 |website=www.theregister.com |language=en |archive-date=26 January 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250126140951/https://www.theregister.com/2004/04/02/pipex_acquires_host_europe/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and 123 Reg became the UK's largest domain registrar, according to the company's parent.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.heg.com/|title=Welcome to HEG|last=|first=|date=|website=HEG|language=en-GB|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190928214745/https://www.heg.com/|archive-date=2019-09-28|access-date=2016-03-22}}</ref>
In 2009, Host Europe Group organised its UK operations under the Webfusion Ltd group but kept both brands.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/05306504|title=123-REG LIMITED - Overview (free company information from Companies House)|last=|first=|date=|website=beta.companieshouse.gov.uk|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200211023155/https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/05306504|archive-date=2020-02-11|access-date=2020-02-11}}</ref> The same year, Webfusion became the first UK web host to offer Windows Server 2008 web hosting,<ref name=":1" /> and the company opened a £2.5 million data centre in Leeds.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.domaininformer.com/news/press/090220123reg.html|title=DomainInformer : Webfusion opens new £2.5m UK data centre|website=www.domaininformer.com|access-date=2017-06-08|archive-date=21 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170921095114/https://www.domaininformer.com/news/press/090220123reg.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Also in 2009, 123 Reg became the first UK domain registrar to have 2 million domain names on register.<ref name=":1" /> In 2010, Webfusion Ltd was included on ''The Sunday Times's'' list of Britain's fastest-growing private-equity backed companies, the Deloitte Buyout Track 100, and was the only hosting company on the list.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.webfusion.co.uk/company/awards/|title=Awards {{!}} Find out more About Webfusion UK|last=Ltd|first=Webfusion|date=|website=www.webfusion.co.uk|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130709215405/https://www.webfusion.co.uk/company/awards/|archive-date=2013-07-09|access-date=2017-06-08}}</ref> In 2012, it became the first UK domain registrar to have 3 million domain names on register.<ref name=":1" />
On 16 April 2016, 123 Reg admitted a major deletion of a large number of virtual private servers (VPSs) caused by an error during what should have been routine maintenance.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-36072240|title=Web host 123-reg deletes sites in clean-up error|last=reporter|first=Chris Foxx Technology|website=BBC News|date=18 April 2016|access-date=2016-04-24|archive-date=19 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180919104810/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-36072240|url-status=live}}</ref> The event deleted hundreds of websites, with users losing sites and access to data on their VPS service. By 24 April, the situation was still ongoing. During this period, 123 Reg had a further data breach, with customers being able to see the support tickets of other account holders.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cloudpro.co.uk/leadership/risks/5953/exclusive-123-reg-suffered-serious-security-lapse-while-deleting-67-servers|title=Exclusive: 123-reg suffered serious security lapse while deleting 67 servers|website=Cloud Pro|date=21 April 2016 |access-date=2016-04-24}}</ref>
In April 2017, American hosting company GoDaddy acquired 123 Reg's parent company, HEG, for 1.69 billion euros ($1.82 billion).<ref name=":0" />
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{Official website}}
Category:Companies based in the London Borough of Hillingdon Category:Cryptography Category:Domain name registrars Category:Web hosting Category:Internet properties established in 2000