Managed vs. Unmanaged Services Policy

Effective Date: August 31, 2026
Last Updated: August 31, 2026

This Managed vs. Unmanaged Services Policy explains the responsibilities of HostFlow Network LLC (“HostFlow,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) and its customers when using game-server hosting, Discord bot hosting, website hosting, and related services.

This policy forms part of the HostFlow Terms of Service.

1. Default Service Type

Unless a product is specifically described as managed, HostFlow services are provided as unmanaged hosting.

Unmanaged hosting means HostFlow provides and maintains the underlying hosting infrastructure while the customer remains responsible for the applications, files, content, settings, and software operated through the service.

Purchasing a hosting service does not automatically include custom development, server administration, application management, or continuous configuration assistance.

2. HostFlow Responsibilities

For active services in good standing, HostFlow is generally responsible for:

• Physical server hardware

• Host-node operating systems

• HostFlow-controlled networking

• Power and data-center connectivity

• Resource allocation

• Service provisioning

• Core control-panel availability

• Replacing failed HostFlow-controlled hardware

• Maintaining HostFlow infrastructure

• Applying infrastructure security updates

• Investigating HostFlow network and node failures

• Billing and Client Area functions

Availability remains subject to the Service Level Agreement.

3. Customer Responsibilities

Customers are responsible for:

• Files and content uploaded to their services

• Game-server settings and configurations

• Plugins, mods, themes, and extensions

• Discord bot code and commands

• Website content and applications

• Databases and database contents

• Application-level security

• Software compatibility

• Required software licenses

• API keys, bot tokens, passwords, and credentials

• Customer-created user accounts and permissions

• Independent backups

• Resource usage

• Following third-party platform rules

Customers should have sufficient knowledge to operate the software they choose to install or obtain help from a qualified developer or administrator.

4. Game-Server Hosting

For game-server hosting, HostFlow generally provides:

• The assigned server resources

• Access to the supported control panel

• Supported game-installation options

• Network connectivity

• Core startup controls

• Reasonable help with HostFlow-controlled provisioning problems

The customer is responsible for:

• Selecting game versions

• Configuring game settings

• Installing and managing mods or plugins

• Managing players, administrators, and permissions

• Maintaining allowlists and ban lists

• Troubleshooting mod and plugin conflicts

• Following game-publisher license terms

• Protecting remote-console credentials

• Creating backups before updates or changes

HostFlow does not guarantee that every mod, plugin, map, version, or custom configuration will work.

5. Discord Bot Hosting

For Discord bot hosting, HostFlow generally provides:

• Assigned computing resources

• A supported hosting environment

• Control-panel access

• Network connectivity

• Startup and process controls

• Reasonable help with HostFlow-controlled infrastructure

The customer is responsible for:

• Creating or obtaining the bot’s code

• Installing required dependencies

• Configuring startup commands

• Protecting the Discord bot token

• Managing environment variables and API keys

• Debugging commands and application errors

• Following Discord’s terms and developer policies

• Maintaining compatible software versions

• Securing collected user information

HostFlow does not automatically develop, repair, or maintain customer bot code.

6. Website Hosting

For website hosting, HostFlow generally provides:

• Assigned hosting resources

• Supported control-panel access

• HostFlow-controlled web-serving infrastructure

• Network connectivity

• Database features included with the plan

• Reasonable assistance with HostFlow platform failures

The customer is responsible for:

• Website design and content

• Content-management systems

• Themes and plugins

• Application updates

• Website-level security

• Domain ownership and renewal

• DNS configuration unless included with the service

• Email configuration where applicable

• Database content

• Legal notices required for the customer’s website

• Protecting website administrator accounts

HostFlow does not guarantee compatibility with every website application, plugin, theme, or custom script.

7. Software Installation and Updates

HostFlow may provide installation templates, one-click installers, or available software versions as a convenience.

Unless managed service is specifically included, the customer is responsible for:

• Selecting the appropriate version

• Confirming compatibility

• Installing application-level updates

• Reviewing update instructions

• Backing up data before updating

• Correcting problems caused by updates

HostFlow may update underlying infrastructure when necessary for security, reliability, or compatibility.

An infrastructure update does not make HostFlow responsible for updating or repairing customer applications.

8. Security Responsibilities

HostFlow is responsible for reasonable security of its underlying infrastructure.

Customers remain responsible for application-level security, including:

• Strong passwords

• Two-factor authentication where available

• Secure permissions

• Current software

• Trusted plugins and mods

• Protected tokens and API keys

• Removing unused accounts

• Monitoring customer-controlled applications

• Responding to compromise warnings

HostFlow may suspend a compromised service when necessary to protect the customer, other customers, or the network.

Service may remain suspended until the customer removes malicious content, changes compromised credentials, updates vulnerable software, or completes other required corrective action.

9. Backups and Data

Customers must maintain independent backups according to the Backup and Data-Retention Policy.

HostFlow is not responsible for creating, testing, or downloading customer backups unless the purchased product specifically includes a managed-backup service.

HostFlow recommends creating a backup before:

• Installing an update

• Adding or removing a plugin

• Changing major configurations

• Performing a migration

• Downgrading resources

• Canceling a service

10. Performance and Resource Usage

HostFlow is responsible for providing the resources assigned to the customer’s plan, subject to infrastructure availability and applicable limits.

Customers are responsible for optimizing their software to operate within those resources.

Performance problems caused by inefficient code, excessive plugins, large databases, unsupported mods, configuration errors, or insufficient purchased resources are not necessarily HostFlow infrastructure failures.

HostFlow may recommend an upgrade, configuration change, or software optimization when customer usage exceeds the plan’s capabilities.

11. Best-Effort Assistance

HostFlow may choose to provide basic guidance with customer-managed software as a courtesy.

Best-effort assistance:

• Is not guaranteed

• Does not convert the service into managed hosting

• May be limited by staff knowledge or availability

• Does not guarantee a successful result

• May be discontinued if the issue requires custom development

• Does not make HostFlow responsible for future management

Customers remain responsible for reviewing and approving changes to their service.

12. Managed Services

A service is considered managed only when the product page, order confirmation, or separate written agreement specifically identifies it as managed.

Managed services may include selected tasks such as:

• Software installation

• Configuration assistance

• Update management

• Security hardening

• Monitoring

• Backup management

• Migration assistance

• Application troubleshooting

Only the tasks expressly listed are included. Purchasing one managed task does not make every part of the service fully managed.

Managed services may have separate pricing, limitations, response targets, and requirements.

13. Custom Technical Work

Requests outside normal support may be treated as custom technical work.

Examples include:

• Writing or repairing code

• Developing Discord bots

• Designing websites

• Creating custom server configurations

• Installing large modpacks

• Repairing corrupted databases

• Performing complex migrations

• Cleaning compromised applications

• Extended application troubleshooting

HostFlow will disclose any applicable fee before beginning paid custom work.

Completion times are estimates unless guaranteed in a separate written agreement.

14. Third-Party Software

Third-party games, plugins, mods, applications, APIs, and platforms are controlled by their respective providers.

HostFlow is not responsible for:

• Third-party bugs

• Removed features

• API restrictions

• Licensing changes

• External account suspensions

• Discontinued software

• Compatibility changes

• External platform outages

Customers must comply with all applicable third-party licenses and platform rules.

15. Support Boundaries

HostFlow support will investigate whether an issue originates from HostFlow-controlled infrastructure or customer-controlled software.

HostFlow may ask the customer to:

• Disable plugins or mods

• Test a clean installation

• Provide logs

• Restore a backup

• Update software

• Contact the software developer

• Upgrade insufficient resources

• Correct insecure configurations

Failure to provide requested information or perform reasonable testing may prevent HostFlow from continuing the investigation.

Support procedures are governed by the HostFlow Support Policy.

16. Changes to This Policy

HostFlow may update this policy to reflect changes in products, infrastructure, support coverage, or management options.

Updates will be posted with a revised “Last Updated” date. Material reductions to a purchased managed service will receive reasonable notice when appropriate.

17. Contact

Questions about managed and unmanaged services can be submitted through:

https://billing.hostflow.cloud

HostFlow Network LLC
Website: https://hostflow.cloud
Client Area: https://billing.hostflow.cloud