Starting in December 2008, Dallas-based web host FireHost began offering hacker protection. According to the company’s president, Chris Drake, there was a definite need to create a stronger defense system. On FireHost’s blog, it points to a video by security vendor, Sophos, who also claims that 16,000 new websites get attacked each day. With those staggering numbers, the security service FireHost provides seems to differentiate itself from all other competitors.

In fact, I couldn’t find any other managed host provider with this level of dedicated security available to small or medium sized businesses. FireHost considers security an integral part of hosting for all its customers. All packages feature beefed up security, including a heavy-duty firewall by Imperva. Now partnered with McAfee, FireHost unveiled its hacker-protection plan. This security scanning application works undercover on your site as a daily preventative service. If your site is a victim of hacking attacks, you’ll receive a notification.

But do you really need it? FireHost thinks so. This managed host provider is currently offering complimentary hacker reports of your small to medium sized business website. Simply go to their site, and input your information to see where or if your site is vulnerable to nasty attacks like SQL injection, DOS, Cross Site Scripting, Session Hijacking, Cookie Tampering, or Probes.

Sounds great, right? Not exactly. Let’s not forget Geeks.com which, while proudly carrying the McAfee Secure logo, was still hacked last January, by a Cross Site Scripting attack. Hackers had access to sensitive information, like credit cards. Hopefully, within the last year, McAfee has worked on this vulnerability, but the saying goes to not put all your eggs in one basket. Although FireHost may be offering great ideas, it’s a good idea to diversify your security, instead of relying on one host to provide all your security needs.