#cloud data transfer

[cloudsfer]

In today’s data-driven world, migrating files between cloud platforms is more than just a technical task; it’s a strategic move toward better scalability, cost efficiency, and data control. Every time businesses outgrow outdated cloud storage technology or increase their IT infrastructure, file migration from Dropbox to Amazon S3 has been a necessity for most businesses that look to utilize their digital infrastructure to the fullest.

[jcmarchi]

Kamatera Review – The Best Scalable Cloud Host Yet?

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Kamatera Review – The Best Scalable Cloud Host Yet?

This Kamatera review will help you decide whether the web host is the best option for you! 

Being able to scale your resource demand effortlessly as your website grows… paying only for the resources you use… no-single-point-of-failure security guarantee… what’s not to love about cloud hosting?

As a web hosting consultant I have helped hundreds of my clients choose the best web hosts to migrate their websites to – and many times, they were also upgrading from a shared or VPS plan to cloud hosting. Kamatera has always been high up in the list of options when we were considering cloud hosts, so I decided to check out their service and take you along.

In the rest of this Kamatera review, I’ll discuss all the web host’s plans, features you can expect to enjoy, how much you should budget, real-time performance figures, their dedication to customer support, and other important factors you should look out for.

Kamatera Review

Founded in 1995, Kamatera is no new kid on the block. They offer generic cloud hosting and every other cloud hosting hybrid you can think of – from managed and unmanaged cloud servers to virtual private cloud (VPC) services and cloud VPS hosting. They also offer reseller hosting for mini hosting companies and web professionals who want to cross-sell this with their core services.

I get it. The differences between their virtual private cloud hosting and cloud VPS hosting can be subtle but don’t worry we’ll discuss them in detail.

Kamatera’s cloud hosting plans are incredibly affordable too. I also like that on all their core plans, you can choose between ready-made packages or customize your plan yourself by setting the number of CPUs, memory (RAM), traffic, storage, and bandwidth. Kamatera also allows you to choose where you want your servers to be located.

Kamatera has been reviewed by 200 users on TrustPilot and users give them a rather decent 3.2 stars. Their positive reviews are from users praising how easy it to set up a server, transparent pricing, and uncommon level of support. 

Kamatera Ratings – My Personal Take

It’s been a tradition for me to always give my personal ratings of each host I recommend – and Kamatera will be no different. there’s really no guarantee you can trust the reviews that many web hosts publish on their websites. Plus many businesses doctor reviews on popular platforms like TrustPilot.

The best approach to know exactly how great a web host’s services are? A non-biased overall rating of the web host through expert eyes.

Considering Kamatera’s key features and their real-life performance, here’s how I’d rate the web host on a scale of 1-5. Note that these scores are not static and only reflect their offerings at the time of this writing:

Quality My rating Why I gave this score Features and specs 5.0 Exceptional scalability, a cloud firewall, load balancing tech, and their specialized disaster recovery service makes Kamatera one of the most reliable cloud hosts on the market. They get a resounding 5.0 stars here. Pricing 4.9 Starting at $4/month for their cloud servers, Kamatera’s services are also undoubtedly some of the cheapest on the market. Many VPS plans from other hosting providers even cost more. Performance stats  4.7 My personal tests of Kamatera’s servers recorded a response time of 270 ms. That’s really decent and up there, even though a good number of hosts still perform better so they get a 4.7 in this category. Ease of use 4.0 One of the chief complaints users filed about Kamatera was how it logged you out repeatedly with an IP error message and I experienced this first-hand. Asides that, Kamatera makes it easy to manage your website backend using cPanel, Plesk, Vesta, and CyberPanel. I give them a 4.0 here Customer support guarantee 4.5 Several call lines for their different support portals, email addresses,  ticketing, and a knowledgebase are how Kamatera caters to its users’ inquiries. However, I’d have loved to see a live chat option for real-time support. I give them a 4.5 here.

Kamatera Hosting Plans and Prices – 2024

Kamatera offers cloud servers, managed cloud services, virtual private cloud hosting, cloud VPS hosting, and reseller hosting. One small caveat you need to know about Kamatera’s plans is they don’t have a money back guarantee and even if you cancel your plans within the first month, they still charge you the full month’s fee.

You can pay for any Kamatera hosting plan you’ve decided on using your credit card or via Paypal.

Kamatera cloud servers

Kamatera ‘Simple’ cloud hosting plans come in three tiers and allow you to choose your server location and server specs – Windows, Linux, or SSD-optimized. 

These plans start at $4/month and you get between 1-2 vCPUs, 1-2 GB RAM of memory, 20-30 GB SSD storage, and 5TB of data transfer on all plans. I love just how much server flexibility you get with Kamatera’s hosting. 

Custom cloud servers on Kamatera

What’s more? Kamatera also allows you to configure your hosting plan – you can choose the number of processors you want, where you want your data centers to be located, the amount of memory you need, amount of storage, your OS, amount of traffic, and number of IPs. You also get to decide whether you want to pay for their services per month or per hour. Amazing!

Who this is for:

Kamatera’s cloud servers are for businesses that need to be able to add or remove hosting resources when necessary. With these plans, you can manage your spending exceptionally and don’t have to pay for infrastructure you may not use. Monthly payment drives home your control over what you spend even further.

Kamatera’s managed cloud hosting

Pro Managed

Features – OS monitoring, firewall & networking management, DNS setup, server resources performance metrics, apps installation and configuration, 24/7 NOC support, dedicated account manager on plans with 10+ servers.

Price – $50/month

Premium Managed

Features – Everything in Pro Managed plus custom and application monitoring, database high availability setup, application/service updates, quicker customer agent response times, and dedicated account managers on all plans.

Price – $150/month

Who this is for:

Kamatera’s managed cloud hosting plans take the hassle of managing the technical aspect of your cloud servers out of your hands. From monitoring and setup, to technical support, reporting, and application management, the host does these critical processes for you. What’s more? Kamatera also dedicates a particular human support agent to you who’ll be in charge of your account and you can count on to respond to any inquiries you might have.

Don’t know much about the server-side of websites? Kamatera’s managed cloud hosting plans might just be for you.

Kamatera’s virtual private cloud hosting

Kamatera’s virtual private cloud (VPC) packages are exactly identical to their cloud server plans on both the ‘Simple’ and ‘Customized’ fronts. They are also priced similarly and give you the same features.

Kamatera’s reseller hosting plans

Want to create your own web hosting business or are you a web dev, IT guy, or marketing professional looking to sell web hosting with your core services as a comprehensive package to your clients? Kamatera’s reseller hosting plans are just for you.

Here are some of the benefits you get to enjoy:

Managed setup

With Kamatera’s reseller hosting, their agents support you through setting up your servers and handling client requests. 

Outsourced support

You have access to Kamatera’s support team to service your clients whenever they have inquiries. 

Less as you grow

The more customers you get, the more discounts you get and the less you have to pay, meaning more profitability for your business.

Ready to get started with Kamatera’s reseller hosting? You’ll need to contact their sales department by creating a support ticket:

Who this is for:

Selling web hosting is one of the best ways to scale your business as a web dev, marketer, or IT professional. You can offer these as part of a comprehensive package and your clients are more likely to buy from you since they already buy your core services from you.

And for web-hosting-only businesses, you can rest assured that you have a business that’s evergreen. Websites will always need website hosting to stay online and it’s an excellent recurring revenue model.

Kamatera Features

Here’s an overview of some of Kamatera’s main features:

SSD storage

Custom hosting plans

Superior load balancing technology

High-performance block storage

Cloud firewall

Transparent pricing

Kamatera, as a cloud-only host, provides premium features that emphasize superior performance and security with its packages. 

But some of its more unique features are the load balancers that instantly distribute workloads across a network of servers, ensuring high speeds and quick response times.

Kamatera’s block storage technology emulates a virtual private disk for your cloud plans and ensures there’s no single point of failure. It also ensures extremely low latency (or very quick response times and data transfer) further improving the performance of your website.

Kamatera Performance Tests

Your web host’s servers are your website home and how they perform are exactly how your website will perform. Some important factors to consider when choosing a hosting provider like Kamatera are the server response speeds and uptime.

The web host’s server speed is a measure of how quickly their servers respond and send back your website data to a visitor. On the other hand, the uptime measures the availability of their servers – i.e how much of the time their servers are online to serve up your website’s content to visitors.

The quicker the server speeds are, the less time it will take for your website to load. And the higher the uptime, the more reliable your website will be and you won’t risk losing traffic just because your website was down.

To measure Kamatera’s speed and uptime, I tested a website hosted on their platform and these were the results I got:

Kamatera’s servers started sending the first byte of data back in 276 ms. Quite impressive, even though I still expected better as some high performers respond in sub 100ms. 

For the uptime, the website I tested has been available 100% of the time over the last 30 days:

This confirms their 99.9% uptime guarantee!

Kamatera’s Customer Support

It’s easy for web hosts to promise heaven and earth but once many of them take your money, it’s cricket-y silence. Kamatera does well though in terms of customer support. You can reach out to their agents via:

Phone

Kamatera has phone lines for its sales and account managers, technical support, and billing departments.

Email

You can also reach out to Kamatera via email at [email protected], [email protected], and [email protected]. 

I tried reaching out to their technical support agents via email and got a response in a few hours – quite decent!

Support ticket

Create a support ticket to talk with an agent, fill in your details and phone, and write down your inquiry. Kamatera will reach out to you via email.

Knowledgebase

Simple and straight-to-the-point, Kamatera’s knowledgebase is just how I like it. The built-in search engine also makes it easy to find answers to questions around server setup and security.

Blog

And finally, Kamatera has an up-to-date blog with relevant posts on latest industry information for website and business owners.

Kamatera Security Features

If there’s one thing I like about Kamatera, it’s their security guarantee. First, is their native Cloud Firewall designed to protect your website from attacks while monitoring your servers in real time.

Kamatera’s Cloud Firewall allows you to set rules and filter data packets, exclusively authorizing the entry of certified and approved data packets to your servers. What’s more? The firewall can also function as a VPN giving you even more functionality!

Another core part of Kamatera’s security is the disaster recovery portal. Unforeseen events can impact your website severely. Kamatera’s disaster recovery provides backups, recovery, and failover systems to minimize service disruptions.

Your website’s database is archived at restore points for immediate recovery. And finally, Kamatera’s backup machines are automatically triggered in the event of a system failure to ensure your user experience is not affected.

Kamatera’s hosting plans also allow you to install a free Lets Encrypt SSL certificate, giving your website the padlock seal of trust in the eyes of search engines.

Kamatera User Friendliness – Ease of Use

How to register an account on Kamatera

Setting up an account on Kamatera is super easy. Simply select the plan you want and click on ‘Create server’. You’ll be redirected to the sign up page:

Fill in your email and choose a password you can remember easily – your password should contain at least one lowercase letter, one uppercase letter, a number, and should be at least 8 characters long. Click on ‘Create Free Account’

You’ll receive a confirmation link in your email. Click on it and your account should be ready to go!

How to create a server on Kamatera

To create a new server on Kamatera, from your account dashboard, navigate to “My Cloud” on the left and under the dropdown options, select “Create New Server”

Next, select your preferred data center location and then the operating system you want on the server.

Once that’s done, choose the number of CPUs and specify your server specs – RAM and SSD storage amount.

And finally, configure the fine print – backup, select whether you want a dedicated account manager, set a password, and select your billing schedule. Click on ‘Create server’ and it should be done in a few minutes.

Kamatera control panel

Kamatera doesn’t come with a custom control panel like some other high performing hosts – SiteGround, Hostinger, and A2Hosting – however, Kamatera gives you access to cPanel, Plesk, Vesta, and CyberPanel. 

How to install WordPress on Kamatera

The swiftest way to deploy WordPress on Kamatera is via your control panel. Using cPanel as an example, we’ll use the Softaculous installer:

In your cPanel account, navigate to ‘Tools’ and click on ‘Softaculous Apps Installer’.

In the search engine, type in ‘WordPress’. Click ‘Install’ and then ‘Choose protocol’.

Next, choose the domain name you want WordPress installed on and configure the directory. If you’re not sure, just choose the default values and proceed.

Configure your ‘Site Name’ and ‘Site description’. Whatever you put here will be shown in the title bar of a website visitor’s browser.

Next, configure your ‘Admin Username’, ‘Admin password’, and ‘Admin Email’. These are the login details you will use to access your WordPress dashboard once it is installed.

Select the auto update boxes for WordPress, plugins, and themes. 

Now configure where you want your website backups to be stored and check the ‘Automated backups’ so Softaculous makes backups of your website at specified intervals.

Review all the installation options and click ‘Install’. Voila!

Kamatera Server Footprint

If Kamatera had just one thing going for them, it’d be their continent-wide server footprint. Their servers are spread across dozens of data centers in Europe, the Americas, and Asia and several countries in between.

This guarantees exceptional website performance for businesses targeting audiences spread across the globe.

Conclusion – Should You Choose Kamatera?

Kamatera is a very decent dedicated cloud host and their performance and built-in features are no joke. I recommend Kamatera if you’re looking for affordable packages and have outgrown your shared/VPS plans.

Their block storage, load balancers, cloud firewall, and disaster recovery ensure your website performs exceptionally and is protected from bad actors.

My only fault with Kamatera would be their account creation process. Their IP address protocol system glitches often and may log you out for no reason at all.

Visit Kamatera →

FAQs

What is Kamatera?

Kamatera is a cloud hosting company that provides web hosting infrastructure mainly to eCommerce businesses and other enterprises that require exceptionally scalable resources.

What is cloud server monitoring?

Cloud server monitoring is one of the services offered by Kamatera to customers. The host constantly monitors your website servers to prevent malware and minimize service disruptions.  

What payment methods does Kamatera accept?

Kamatera accepts payments for their hosting plans via credit cards and standing order. They also accept Paypal payments.

[caluski]

Guys be honest with me is it scary a lot to reinstall your personal computer. Does it hurt a lot

[shonatanwer98]

Seamless & Secure Data Migration Services in Singapore | Applify!

Migrate, Modernize, and Optimize Your Data With Zero Downtime. Data Migration Services in Singapore help organizations seamlessly and securely transition their data between legacy systems, cloud platforms, databases, or storage solutions while ensuring compliance with local regulations such as PDPA (Personal Data Protection Act).

[midnightwind]

perhaps unreasonably annoyed that I need save data in World to get the stupid palico armor in Wilds that I won't even be using, but what am I gonna do, not get the free stuff?

[techdriveplay]

Understanding the Difference Between 4G and 5G Networks

As our reliance on mobile connectivity grows, so does the need for faster, more efficient networks. Understanding the difference between 4G and 5G networks is crucial as 5G technology becomes more widely available, promising to revolutionise how we interact with the digital world. From browsing the web to powering autonomous vehicles and smart cities, 5G is set to offer significant advancements…

[mobio-solutions]

Hey everyone! 👋 Just wanted to share something cool. Imagine a journey where every step is perfectly tailored for you. That's what we're talking about with 'Data Detour: Your Tailored Path to Cloud Supremacy.' This is where precision meets innovation, guiding you to smarter decisions and unparalleled efficiency in the cloud. Join us in mastering the cloud your way.

[cloudsfer]

In today’s digital world businesses are always evolving, adapting and moving to cloud based systems. Amongst all this change one term that resonates with every IT professional and business strategist is cloud transfer. Whether you’re moving to a new storage provider, backing up critical data or merging cloud accounts after a business acquisition, efficient cloud transfers have gone from being nice to have to must have.

[intuitionsoftechau]

Empowering Connectivity: The Future of Cloud Computing and Data Transfer

Dive into the future of data transfer and cloud computing with this striking 3D rendering. Witness the synergy between laptops and cutting-edge technology, symbolizing seamless data flow. Experience the essence of modern connectivity in a snapshot, where efficiency meets innovation. Embrace the evolving landscape of information exchange in this captivating image.

[virtualizationhowto]

Best Open Source Log Management Tools in 2023

Best Open Source Log Management Tools in 2023 #homelab #OpenSourceLogManagement2023 #TopLogAnalysisTools #CentralizedLoggingSystems #LogstashVsSyslogng #BestLogCollectors #FluentDAndCloudServices #ManageLargeVolumesOfLogData #GrafanaRealtimeMonitoring

When monitoring, troubleshooting, and auditing in today’s IT infrastructure, logs provide the low-level messaging needed to trace down events happening in the environment. They can be an invaluable source of insights into performance, security events, and errors that may be occurring across on-premises, cloud, and hybrid systems. You don’t have to buy into a commercial solution to get started…

[wandascrush]

Traitor

Warnings: angstttt, betrayal, arguments, romantic tension, very stressful situations, lying, toxic Nat ngl, allusions to sex

Pairings: Natasha Romanoff x f!reader, Wanda Maximoff x f!reader, Avengers x f!reader

A/N: Part 6 of my DIWK series! Summary: The truth always has a way of coming out- and todays the day

Fast forward four months 

   The wind blew fiercely against your window as you awoke, sensing an unusual tension in the air—a buzz, as if nature itself was angry. You fluffed your shaggy h/c hair and swung your tired legs out of the warm bed, extricating yourself from the comfortable embrace of a woman’s arm wrapped around your waist. Not just any woman, but Natasha Romanoff—the world’s greatest assassin, a highly skilled martial artist, and your girlfriend. Well, kind of. She didn’t want to label it, and you’d gotten used to that. Things with Wanda had fizzled out, and she was now one of your closest friends. Stability was slowly but surely creeping back into your life.

Just then, your phone buzzed on the nightstand, pulling you from your morning trance. An encrypted message from Agent Hill: another file to drop off at the HYDRA data server and report back. No pleasantries, no reassurances. The anxiety that once clouded your mind about this operation had dissipated over the months. You had grown confident in your skills, so close to the finish line now. You just needed one more piece of information about a new serum they were developing—something about a super-soldier project. Deliver that, and you would be officially done with HYDRA, Samantha, and all the vile people who worked there. A free agent—literally.

You pulled the file from its folder, reviewing the intel they provided this time. Not bad, surprisingly.

You dressed slowly, your legs sore from prior activities with your “girlfriend.” Natasha’s sleeping form rustled in the sheets before settling, a gentle huff of breath escaping her lips.

At the base, you navigated the winding corridors, each step echoing louder than the last. The data server room was buried at the heart of the building, and each doorway you passed felt like a checkpoint in a prison. Fluorescent overhead lights buzzed, casting a stark, sterile glow that complemented the coldness of the place. Reaching the server room, you slid your ID across the panel, entering as the heavy door hissed shut behind you.

The space was mostly empty, save for the hum of servers and the dull glow of screens casting eerie shadows. A lone technician glanced up at you, nodding in acknowledgment. You were well-known by now—both for your envied operation and proximity to HYDRA’s high command.

You approached one of the terminals, connected your encrypted drive, and waited as it loaded the contents onto their system. But as you watched the file transfer, doubt crept in. How many more lies before they caught up with you? Were they already catching up, and maybe you didn’t know it?

The file finished transferring. You removed your drive, pocketing it quickly. Turning to leave, you caught the technician watching you from the corner of your eye, his gaze lingering a moment too long. You met his eyes and offered a quick nod, concealing the flicker of alarm you felt as he turned back to his work.

Returning to the compound that afternoon felt like a relief. As you stepped into your hall, orange shadows of the sun creeping in through the glass walls, the quiet was broken by a familiar voice.

“Back so soon?”

Natasha’s slid into your view like silk. She was leaning against the wall in the corridor, arms crossed, her expression unreadable—as per usual.

You tried to keep your face neutral, but her sharp gaze seemed to peel back every layer you’d carefully constructed. “Mission ended earlier than expected,” you replied.

She arched an eyebrow, gaze narrowing slightly. “Right. Just strange. Fury usually sends the rest of us a notice when someone’s out. And you leave me a note. Or text.”

“It was classified,” you shrugged, trying to deflect, hoping she wouldn’t probe further.

Natasha’s smirk softened, but her gaze didn’t waver. She stepped closer, her presence intense. “You’ve been slipping away a lot lately, honey,” she murmured, her tone low. “Everyone’s noticed.” Her beautiful green eyes bore into you, calculating your every expression.

There was no accusation in her words, only an edge of curiosity. But the weight of the lies began to press down, your chest tightening with the guilt you’d tried so hard to ignore. “It’s not like that, Nat,” you said, your voice barely above a whisper.

She reached out, her fingers grazing your arm—a touch that felt like both an anchor and a pull. “Then what’s it like?”

For a heartbeat, you wanted to tell her. Instead, you swallowed the words, your throat tightening. “You know how this job is, Tasha. It’s complicated.”

A flicker of something—hurt, maybe—crossed her face before she masked it, letting her hand fall away. She stepped back, crossing her arms again. “Don’t you trust me?”

“Of course I do.”

She scoffed, “Doesn’t seem that way.”

“That’s not fair, and you know it.” You squeezed past her, accidentally bumping her shoulder as you did.

Her hand caught yours. “You know I can help, right? Whatever it is.”

You forced a half-smile, “Not this time, honey.”

Natasha held your gaze for a moment longer before nodding, though the air between you felt strained, taut with the things left unsaid. She turned and walked away, leaving you alone in the dim corridor, the weight of her words lingering.

You stared at the ceiling, Natasha’s words looping in your mind. Everyone’s noticed. You wondered if that included Wanda. The thought of her finding out, of her piecing together the truth, was terrifying. She’d already uncovered your family’s past—if she found out everything else…

You didn’t want to think about it.

About twice a week, Natasha would come and sleep in your room, especially after tough training days or a bad mission. Tonight? She didn’t so much as text you. Ouch.

The cold floors at 3 a.m. felt soothing as you walked to the kitchen to grab a drink, catching sight of Wanda curled up on the couch, staring out the window.

Her expression was unreadable.

“Wanda?” you asked, the surprise clear in your voice.

“I couldn’t sleep again,” she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. Her gaze was intense, searching your face as though trying to read every unspoken thought.

You grabbed two juices from the fridge, crossing the room to sit beside her. For a moment, neither of you spoke; the silence was thick.

“It was two years yesterday that I held his,” she began, her voice hesitant. “I… I didn’t even remember.”

You glanced down, your hands twisting together as you gathered your thoughts. “I know,” you whispered. “I didn’t want to remind you, since you didn’t mention it.” Wanda adored her brother, and you adored her. You didn’t want to worsen her pain by adding a reminder. 

    Her hand reached out, covering yours, her touch warm and steady. “I visited his grave earlier,” she swallowed, “left a small baby’s breath bouquet.” “It’s always only one bouquet, but today when I visited him- there were already flowers there.”

  You didn’t know if you should also mention that you left flowers, but when you looked up, Wanda’s eyes were already staring into yours. Her gaze softened, and you felt the pull again, that magnetic connection that made your friendship feel impossible sometimes.

“Wanda…” 

She gingerly brushed a strand of hair from your eyes, tucking it behind your ear. 

“Now your hair is perfect.”

“It’s always perfect, witchy.” 

Her cheeky white smile glowed in the darkness. 

   The next few days most of your training was done with Peter, Clint, or Steve, completely ruling out the possibility of any more relationship messiness. The tension with Natasha, the fragileness you held with Wanda—it was all starting to pull at the threads of your mind once again.

You will never forget that day. That was the day your life changed forever. You often think of what might’ve been, if you hadn’t joined the avengers and all. Just stayed as a high level SHIELD agent. 

Maybe it all would’ve been fine, if not for that Thursday. That stupid fucking Thursday. And for Nick Fury. But you didn’t know all that yet. 

   You swiftly moved through the hallways on your way to meet Bruce in the lab, your mind elsewhere, when a familiar rasp called your name. 

“Y/N.”

You turned to see Natasha, her gaze sharp, expression unreadable. She nodded toward one of the empty conference rooms. “We need to talk.”

You followed her inside, the silence between you thick with unspoken words. You felt like a little kid in trouble with the principal. When the door shut, she turned to you, her arms crossed, her stance tense.

“Is there something you’re not telling me?” she asked, her tone steady but laced with frustration.

Your heart pounded, every instinct screaming to deflect, to lie. But standing there, facing Natasha’s intense gaze, the walls you’d built felt paper-thin.

“I…No.”

She took a step closer, her voice soft but firm. “Y/N, I don’t know what’s going on, but I will find out.”

The intensity in her gaze, the determination, left you breathless. She was offering you an out, a lifeline, but taking it would mean unraveling everything. You were practically at the finish line. 

Just as you opened your mouth to speak, the compound’s alarm blared, cutting through the tension. Natasha’s gaze flickered to the door, her expression shifting to frustration. 

“Of course,” she muttered, looking back to you. 

She turned and left the room, leaving you standing there, your chest tight and burning. 

    The mission had been going well until you were cornered in a tight hallway by a mercenary, his face hidden by a tactical helmet and wielding a blade that gleamed under the dim light. You threw up an arm to block his initial swing, but he was relentless, landing a hit to your side that knocked the breath from you. Blood trickled from a cut on your arm, but you pushed through, angling for a counterattack.

    Before you could make another move, a blast of red energy hit from behind, sending the attacker flying into a wall. Surprised, you turned to see Wanda, her hands crackling with energy. She stepped between you and the mercenary, red tendrils floating around his head before he fainted. 

“Thought you might need a hand,” she said, her tone light, but her eyes betrayed the worry simmering beneath.

You forced a smile, though your pride ached at her interference. “I had it under control.”

Wanda raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced, but she didn’t push it. She held your gaze a moment longer, “Sure you did, L/N.” 

Before you could answer, Natasha’s voice crackled through the comms. “Y/N, Wanda—stop messing around and regroup. Now.”

Her tone was clipped, cold, and even through the comms, you could feel the chill.

You two shared a quick, slightly guilty glance before moving back to rejoin the others. Throughout the rest of the mission, Natasha barely looked at you, and when she did, her expression was hardened, her gaze flicking quickly between you and Wanda with a disapproving edge.

Back at the compound, you found Natasha in the common area, gathering her gear with sharp, precise movements. You hovered nearby, hoping to talk, to get a hint of what was going on, but she barely acknowledged you.

“Nat,” you started, your voice soft.

“What?” Her tone was harsh, her eyes narrowing. “Something you need?”

You faltered, caught off guard by the bite in her voice. “I… I just wanted to check if you were okay.”

She scoffed, a cold smirk pulling at her lips. “That’s rich. Last I saw, you were the one who needed backup. I didn’t realize Wanda was your personal rescuer.”

The words hit like a slap, the sting of her jealousy clear. You opened your mouth to respond, but she cut you off, grabbing her bag and shouldering it without a glance in your direction. You tried to lighten the mood, “A little jealous, Romanoff?” Although you were teasing, the joke came out so soft, genuine. You gently touched the small of her back, gazing at her with worried eyes. 

“Let’s not pretend this is anything more than a job, Y/N,” she said, voice low and unyielding- she shifted out of your touch. “That way, you won’t get distracted.”

“I think we should continue our conversation from earlier-,” you were cut off before you finished your sentence 

“And what if I don’t want to talk? Ever thought about that?” 

“Earlier you said you were here for me, that I’m not alone. I don’t understand, you know I care about you. Just talk to me-,” you hadn’t anticipated the crack in your voice at the end, catching Natasha’s attention, but of course, only for a second.

She packed her bag faster. 

“Natasha please-”

“Enough!” Her loud voice bounced off the walls. 

“So what are we then? We sleep together, we share a bed, you care about me- I know you do. So what is this?”

Natashas jaw clenched, and when her eyes looked at you, they held something you’d never seen, “It’s just sex, Y/N.  Grow up. It’s what adults do.” 

She rushed past you, shoulder bumping yours, leaving you standing there. Wounded and more confused than ever- the Romanov specialty. 

As you entered a new log into your journal that night, spilling your heart about HYDRA, Wanda, Natasha, a knock sounded on your door. For once, you just wanted to be left alone. You threw the journal under the covers, running to the bathroom.

You poked your head out of the door, “In the shower, can’t talk!” You hoped it was loud enough for whatever guest to go away. It wasn’t. 

  As the scent of vanilla and citrus soap slid down your skin, rubbing any grime away and relaxing your muscles, Wanda walked into your room. She figured she’d just wait to talk with you once you got out of the shower, plopping herself down on your bed. However, as soon as she sat, something hard and stiff was felt under her, something very uncomfortable. Wanda slightly lifted herself off of the bed, blindly moving her hand around for the stiff object- finding a small journal. It was a dark red, canvas cover. Your initials were etched into the bottom right corner. 

As you stepped out of the bathroom, the sight of Wanda sitting on the edge of your bed, her hands trembling, sent a chill down your spine. Your journal lay face down on the floor, its secrets exposed. Droplets from your wet hair trickled down your back, the cold seeping through your pajamas and onto the wooden floor. The room was thick with silence. 

Wanda’s eyes, wide and glistening, locked onto yours. Her voice, barely above a whisper, broke the tension. “How long?” The weight of her question pressed heavily upon you.

Your heart raced, each beat echoing in your ears. The walls seemed to close in, the air growing thin. You opened your mouth, searching for words, but found none.

Wanda’s gaze hardened, a mixture of hurt and betrayal evident. “All this time… ” Her voice cracked, the pain palpable.

You took a tentative step forward, hands outstretched in a plea. “Wanda, I can explain—”

But she recoiled, as if your very presence burned. “Explain? How can you possibly explain this?” She gestured towards the fallen journal, her movements sharp and erratic, “It’s you. You’re the traitor, you’re the mole,” she glared at you accusingly. The red glow in her eyes grew with each second. 

Desperation clawed at you. “I  was told to lie. Ask Fury he put me—”

“Fury? Are you serious?” she interrupted, her tone dripping with disdain. “Was any of it real? Or was I just another pawn?”

You shook your head vehemently, “No, Wanda, you have to believe me. My feelings for all of you are genuine.”

She stood abruptly, red wisps crackling from her fingers, “I don’t know what to believe anymore.” 

   Before you could utter another word, the door swung open with a resounding thud. Natasha stood in the doorway, her face a mask of cold fury. Behind her, Steve and Tony loomed, their expressions grim. Natasha’s voice was icy, each word laced with venom. “Is it true? Have you been feeding information to HYDRA?”

Your knees threatened to buckle under the weight of their collective gaze. You swallowed hard, forcing yourself to stand upright. “It’s not what it seems. I was working undercover, on Fury’s orders. I was a SHIELD agent before an Avenger, you guys know this.”

Tony scoffed, crossing his arms over his chest. “Convenient excuse. Got any proof?”

You reached into your pocket, fingers trembling, and producing your phone. “Call him! Ask him. Fury will tell you everything, promise.”

Steve stepped forward, grabbing your phone out of your hand- crushing it. His eyes, usually filled with warmth, were now cold and distant. “Your promises mean nothing to us anymore, Agent.”

Tony stepped further into the room, all of them cornering you, “Besides, Fury’s off grid with Maria. We just got the call.” He sucked his teeth, “But if  you two worked as closely as you say, you would’ve known before us.” The bite in Tony’s words wasn't missed. 

Fuck. 

As they turned to leave, you dove for your notebook on the ground, picking it up and practically shoving it toward Steve, “This! Read this!” ragged breaths left your mouth, “everything that’s been going on is in it. From the first day.”

Steve glanced at you warily, looking back at Natasha, “Can we trust this?” 

The redhead’s gaze toward you was icy, completely void of emotion. Your eyes pleaded with her. She didn’t care. 

“Absolutely not.” 

[techdriveplay]

What Should You Know About Edge Computing?

As technology continues to evolve, so do the ways in which data is processed, stored, and managed. One of the most transformative innovations in this space is edge computing. But what should you know about edge computing? This technology shifts data processing closer to the source, reducing latency and improving efficiency, particularly in environments where immediate action or analysis is…

[greenglowinspooks]

(DCxDP) The obligations of a rogue versus those of a parent (Pt. 3)

—

Tw: Vivisection mention, torture mention (GiW agent receiving), me not actually knowing how telegram works

Will be crossposted to AO3 eventually.

(Pt. 1 here) (Pt. 2 here) - (Pt. 4 here)

(Masterlist/subscription post)

—

It’s an average, ordinary afternoon in Gotham, and Jason is in hell.

Specifically, Jason is in hell because he’s been researching the GiW for the last week or so, ever since a cryptic message from Scarecrow of all people.

He still hasn’t gotten anything substantial out of it that Scarecrow hadn’t already provided. Most location data had been previously scrubbed from the database, weaponry details were apparently all stored physically, and the experiment logs seemed to be only accessible from within one of the bases, whose locations Jason did not have.

Apparently Babs and Tim were having similar issues with gathering information. He had sent a copy of the files over to them in a moment of weakness, but they were having the exact same results as him.

To make things worse, the GiW was more active than they had been previously, combing through Crime Alley and the rest of Gotham tirelessly. At least they weren’t harassing him anymore, he thought, but now he had even less of a clue what they wanted.

And to top it all off, the Joker had escaped Arkham a few days prior to Jason receiving Scarecrow’s note, and he still hadn’t done anything. That could only mean that he was planning something big, which meant more grief for Jason, because the clown was obsessed with him.

So yes, Jason wasn’t having the best week.

He got up from his computer, stretched, and walked over to the window.

The sky was Gotham’s usual grey, clouded with a toxic miasma made up of traditional pollutants and the aftermath of gas attacks both, which could generously be called ‘smog.’

The streets seemed busier than usual, or maybe that was just because Jason was having a hard time keeping his eyes focused.

With blurry vision and a dull ache in the back of his head, Jason paced through his apartment, going through everything he knew.

The GiW, or Ghost Investigation Ward, were part of a secret government project having to do with ‘ecto-entities,’ which were mostly made up of ghosts.

The GiW was able to kidnap and steal away anyone who was ‘ecto-contaminated’ to be dissected, and it was completely legal.

According to the non-censored patrol reports he was given, Jason himself was considered ecto-contaminated. So were Bruce, Damian, Steph, and Cass.

There were also several rogues that were in the same boat, but their names had been redacted, presumably by Scarecrow. He wasn’t entirely sure why, but he guessed it was either for leverage or privacy. Knowing Crane, it could be both.

Anything useful about the GiW seemed to be stored physically within their compounds, or on an operating system that couldn’t be accessed outside of certain areas.

Anything useful about ghosts was conveniently removed by Scarecrow.

And, lastly, he knew from capture logs that they had numerous captive ghosts which were definitely being experimented on. One of these ghosts was named Daniel, last name redacted, and had been turned over by his parents in return for allowing them to run their own experiments on the boy.

From what he could tell, it had been around fifty two days since he had been turned in.

Fifty two days of experimentation and dissection.

Jason had to find him.

But first, he had to find the locations of the GiW bases, and plan his entrance carefully. He couldn’t let them get away because of a simple mistake.

The only location data he had been able to find was on a picture of the boy, Daniel, a picture of a vigilante in a red suit, and a quick note left about Daniel which hadn’t been transferred into the main database.

The note was…

Jason had been around crime for a very, very long time. He understood it intimately, in a way most people would never hope to achieve.

He understood hatred, too.

And yet, the words in that note were almost incomprehensible to him.

They were mockery of a child in pain. A child that was not seen as human. A child that was seen as a threat, a monster.

The man had detailed the security surrounding the child being cut back. Apparently, the kid had some sort of sonic scream. They were removing the muzzle that inhibited it because he had screamed himself hoarse, and he couldn’t make a sound anymore.

He also mentioned that the kid was cut open at least once a day, sometimes multiple times. He was opened up, played with, and sewn back shut.

The man joked that they should just put a zipper on him, so they wouldn’t keep wasting their stitches.

Jason really, really wanted to kill that guy.

The metadata on the note traced back to a newly-bought building in Gotham’s financial district, while the photos both came from Amity Park, Illinois.

Amity Park, Illinois did not exist in any official capacity.

Tim, who had taken the Batplane to check the precise location listed in the metadata, had reported that there was a town there after all, and it was on complete media lockdown from the rest of the world. He hadn’t even been able to use Bat, Justice League, or Young Justice channels to message anyone outside of the city until he left.

Jason had checked the building in the financial district firsthand, and found that the man who had submitted the note had done so while resting on a patrol of the city. He seemed to go there often to avoid his superiors, and Jason found it easy enough to get the drop on him the third time around.

His advanced interrogation techniques hadn’t been enough to get the man to name any locations. Worse, the man definitely recognized Red Hood, and would definitely tell the rest of the GiW about what had happened as soon as he left.

So, Jason did something about that. He couldn’t kill him, unfortunately, so he did the next best thing.

The GiW sent him to a public hospital within a few hours of finding him with shattered hand bones, broken arms, and a throat with near-permanent damage. The man wouldn’t be able to speak for a month at least.

He might never write again.

Jason, having read the note over and over until the words stained the backs of his eyes, thought it was the least he deserved.

Jason sighed, stopping his pacing. He wasn’t getting anywhere with this. If anything, working himself up was only going to lower the chances of him magically coming to a realization about where the kid was or what in the hell was going on.

He walked into the kitchen, popped some leftovers into the microwave, and started them up.

Once they were done, he brought them out to his desk, intending to eat as he continued to work on the GiW case.

When he saw his screen, he froze.

Telegram had been opened to a new chat with someone he had never messaged before.

TooFine: who are you?

TooFine: why are you looking into the giw?

The messages were a couple of minutes old, probably sent while Jason was spiraling pacing. He just stared at the screen, dumbstruck.

Shakily, he responded.

RedDead: How the hell did you get my contact info

Whoever was on the other side of the screen paused for a second. Jason considered sending a quick text to Babs to tell her what was going on, but he decided that he could handle this by himself.

TooFine: got it from the backdoor I put into the giw system.

RedDead: Shit

TooFine: ok your turn

TooFine: why r u looking into the giw? seriously man

RedDead: I don’t have a single reason to tell you. Give me one and I might answer your questions

TooFine paused again. Clearly they both had issues trusting someone over the internet, and rightfully so. What they had both admitted to doing was incredibly illegal, and if someone turned them in, they would be in deep shit.

TooFine: ive been trying to take down the giw since it was created. I can help u if ur honest with me

RedDead: Oh yeah, because no one has ever lied to another person on the internet before

RedDead: But fine

RedDead: I’m looking into them because they’ve been shadowing me for over a month at this point, among other reasons

TooFine: other reasons?

Jason sighed. He shouldn’t have added that. He knew that the other guy would ask, but he said something anyways.

RedDead: They’ve got a kid. I don’t like it when people hurt kids

TooFine: Danny? he’s alive?

RedDead: From what I can tell

So he knew the kid. Or, at least, he was pretending to. It would make sense for him to be cagey about his intentions, and for him to be desperate enough to reach out.

TooFine: oh my god

TooFine: do you know what city? fuck

TooFine: fuck fuck fuck

TooFine: I need to find him man please

RedDead: He’s somewhere in Gotham

RedDead: I’ve been trying to find him for a week now but no dice. They keep everything important on separate servers

TooFine: listen man you’re a good hacker but you’re not as good as me. you need my help if we’re gonna find Danny

RedDead: Okay, what are you trying to get me to agree to?

TooFine: i’m coming to gotham and we’re going to meet up

RedDead: Hell no

RedDead: Stranger danger

TooFine: if I tell u who I am will you say yes

RedDead: ?? How am I supposed to verify if you’re telling the truth

TooFine then sent him what seemed to be a selfie. Jason’s jaw dropped at the kid’s sheer audacity.

RedDead: There’s something seriously wrong with you

TooFine: my name is Tucker Foley. i live in amity park. i’m in 10th grade

RedDead: ???????? WHAT THE HELL

TooFine: i can send u my address too

RedDead: PLEASE DON’T??

RedDead: WHAT’S YOUR FUCKING DAMAGE? DON’T DOXX YOURSELF TO ME

RedDead: WHAT IF I WANTED TO KILL YOU OR SOMETHING? WHAT IF I WAS A FED

TooFine: i have to take that chance.

TooFine: Danny is my best friend. they’ve had him for over a month and no one’s doing anything to help. mr. Lancer was the only one who cared and he gave up after they blackmailed him

TooFine: they’ve had him for OVER A MONTH. I THOUGHT HE WAS DEAD.

TooFine: Sam and Jazz and I are coming to gotham and we’re going to find him no matter what it takes

TooFine: you have to help us

Jason considered, for a second, the choices he’d made in his life that had led up to this moment. He also considered, if he was in this kid’s position at his age, if he would be doing the same.

He decided to throw the kid a bone.

RedDead: [4735.jpg]

TooFine: HUH

RedDead: I’m guessing you know me

TooFine: RED HOOD??????

RedDead: No I’m just a very dedicated LARPer

TooFine: am i gonna die for Danny right now

RedDead: If I were literally anyone else, probably

RedDead: But no, you’re not. I’m gonna help you find your friend

TooFine: your username is red dead and you’re. yeah ok

RedDead: Oh come on, it’s funny

TooFine: Danny would love you

RedDead: So Danny clearly has great taste in jokes

TooFine: nope. literally loves puns and wordplay

RedDead: Nevermind

They both paused for a second. Then, Jason had a thought.

RedDead: Wait you’re in the 10th grade and you’re hacking into government databases?

TooFine: please don’t tell my parents.

RedDead: And how are you supposed to explain a sudden vacation to Gotham to your parents?

TooFine: wait so you’ll help me?

RedDead: I really hate to say it but I’m not the best at hacking, and my usual help is busy trying to track down the Joker. So, yep, we’re teaming up

TooFine: LET’S GOOOOOO

RedDead: God. I’m asking a 16 year old to help me take down a government agency and save another 16 year old

RedDead: I feel like the bat

TooFine: oh my god this is awesome. Danny is gonna flip when the actual real-life Red Hood comes to save him.

RedDead: I already regret this

TooFine: too late.

TooFine: btw do u have any place for 2 teenagers and 1 adult teenager to stay in gotham? preferably without dying but yknow.

Jason groaned. He was really, really gonna regret this, and he knew it.

Still, the alternative was some overeager kid dragging two other idiots to Gotham to find their friend and getting themselves killed. At least this way he’d have help, and damn good help at that.

He really was turning into the Bat, wasn’t he?

—