Germany company HKN has been in business since 1996. It specializes in OpenStack cloud management, cloud computing, online data storage, managed Kubernetes, email security, and business mail.
HKN has server locations in Hamburg, Berlin, and Dusseldorf (all in Germany), and its easy-to-navigate website is in German.
Features and Ease of Use
HKN doesn’t deal in traditional shared or reseller hosting, so you’ll need to look somewhere else for those services. It’s in the business of supporting enterprise customers and development shops host their cloud applications (for example in Kubernetes containers).
HKN’s OpenStack-based IaaS Cloud virtual data center gives you flexible infrastructure, full API access, no vendor lock-in, and hybrid operation with legacy apps. You can choose a stripped-back free Cloud Expert plan or a full-service Partnered plan that provides you with:
- HORIZON dashboard
- OpenStack API access
- Access to all service components
- Migration advice
- Dashboard support
- Linux Cloud configuration assistance
- Special images
- Installation support
Besides hosting applications in the cloud, HKN also offers Nextcloud cloud storage that allows you to store data securely in the cloud and access it from anywhere. It comes with the following key features:
- Synchronization with mobiles and desktops
- Collabora Online Office
- Installation of additional software for Nextcloud Apps
- LDAP connection
There are three levels: Nextcloud Business (for up to 50 users), Nextcloud Professional (for 50 to 100 users), and Nextcloud Enterprise (for larger installations).
Pricing and Support
We’re talking here about specialist cloud application hosting and enterprise-level cloud storage, so you can’t compare HKN’s prices with traditional shared hosting. The virtual data center “Cloud Expert” plan is free, whereas its full service Partnered plan has to be paid for. There are three price levels for the Nextcloud cloud storage solution.
You can’t purchase any of the services online, so you have to submit a request, and you’re encouraged to try any of the services free for 14 days.
For this sort of hosting, I wouldn’t expect the kind of contact channels and support resources that you get with self-service shared hosting. You can call the company or fill out an online contact form, and (surprisingly) you can search the tech blog that acts as a kind of knowledge base:
