PHP Programming

Custom software with PHP -- The PHP programming language is one of the fastest, most efficient ways of developing almost any web-based application. Because of this, it is now the most popular server-side language in the world:

...as of April 2002, PHP ... has surpassed Microsoft’s ASP as the most popular server-side Web scripting technology on the Internet. -- Zend.com

The reasons for PHP's popularity are many. Not only is PHP efficient, but the language and the software used to run it is free! Other server-side languages can require that expensive software be installed on the server before the scripts will run. Another advantage to PHP is security – bugs in the software are usually detected and fixed more quickly than those in similar commercial products.

Database Design

Database architecture and the programming required to interact with databases is a critical part of any large application. At Metal Toad Media we provide elegant architecture that is easy to manage and scale or extend.

We have experience in database architecture and design, and connecting to a variety of different databases including:

  • MySQL
  • PostgreSQL
  • Microsoft SQL Server
  • Access
  • Oracle

This diverse skillset makes us great candidates for database migration and applications requiring database integration. And in addition to database related skills we also have extensive experience in web application development and front-end architecture.

eCommerce Solutions

Electronic commerce, commonly known as e-commerce or eCommerce, consists of the buying and selling of products or services over electronic systems such as the Internet and other computer networks. The amount of trade conducted electronically has grown dramatically since the spread of the Internet. A wide variety of commerce is conducted in this way, spurring and drawing on innovations in electronic funds transfer, supply chain management, Internet marketing, online transaction processing, electronic data interchange (EDI), inventory management systems, and automated data collection systems. Modern electronic commerce typically uses the World Wide Web at least at some point in the transaction's lifecycle, although it can encompass a wider range of technologies such as e-mail as well. e-commerce is buying things from the internet but many people are unsure about its reliabilty as there are many unreputable vendors.

We can take your company from no store to custom online store in a short period of time. We can also integrate with your payment processor, and/or help you setup new payment processors like:

  • PayPal
  • Google Checkout
  • Authorize.net
  • 2checkout.com
  • And any others as well

We can also setup an advertising campaign with Google, Yahoo, and others to drive traffic to your site based on keywords. We've found a "secret recipe" to drive very targeted traffic for the lowest Cost-per-Click (CPC) possible. With all this combined, you can be on your way to an eCommerce setup in no time and starting getting part of the estimated $260 billion of online purchases.

Tech Support

Support for you and your customers -- We can seamlessly integrate with your company and provide support for you, and even your customers if needed. No one would know your outsourcing your IT department, as we can provide seamless integration with your company. If you have a product your customers need help with, we can provide support for them as well as you.

Depending on your needs, we can provide technical support for your specific needs, whether you need 24/7 support, or just business hours support. We will work together with you to create a support program that works best, and won't include any extras you don't need. Some places want to charge for server support in a support package, even when you don't have any servers to maintain.

We don't make any one commit to long term contracts either. If you need short term assistance, we're here to help. We can do month to month, or contacts as short as 3 months. No need to worry about paying for a service your not going to use.

Web Hosting

Linux or Windows Hosting -- We can provide your data hosting needs. If you just need email, or web hosting with database support, we can handle it all. We use state of the art hardware, in a state of the art datacenter.

Our world-class multi-homed facility connects directly to Tier 1 backbones with diverse path connectivity and is supported by fully redundant environmental and power systems. A staff of certified network engineers and technicians monitors our network and server operations continually around the clock.

Connectivity at our DC2 Data Center is currently provided by:

  • 3 - Gig-E Level3 (3,000 Mbps) fiber optic lines
  • 1 - Gig-E Time Warner Telecom (1,000 Mbps) fiber optic line

We can provide secure hosting as well, with Secure Socket Layer (SSL) protocol to meet your needs. We are an all-inclusive shop, and can provide all the needs for your business.

Contact us today to find out how we can help you provide a fast and reliable online presence.

Penetration Testing

A penetration test is a method of evaluating the security of a computer system or network by simulating an attack by a malicious user. The process involves an active analysis of the system for any potential vulnerabilities that may result from poor or improper system configuration, known and/or unknown hardware or software flaws, or operational weaknesses in process or technical countermeasures. This analysis is carried out from the position of a potential attacker, and can involve active exploitation of security vulnerabilities. Any security issues that are found will be presented to the system owner together with an assessment of their impact and often with a proposal for mitigation or a technical solution. The intent of a penetration test is to determine feasibility of an attack and the amount of business impact of a successful exploit, if discovered.

Enterprises across the world are performing their business on the web, yet only a meager percentage of websites are regularly and professionally tested for vulnerabilities. This increases the chances of website attacks and eventually leads to compromise of applications.

Web Application Penetration Testing services help identify issues related to:

  • Vulnerabilities and risks in your web applications
  • Known and unknown vulnerabilities (0-day) to combat against the threat until your security vendor provides the appropriate solution.
  • Technical vulnerabilities: URL manipulation, SQL injection, cross site scripting, back-end authentication, password in memory, session hijacking, buffer overflow, web server configuration, credential management, etc.
  • Business Risks: Day-to-Day threat analysis, unauthorized logins, Personal information modification, pricelist modification, unauthorized funds transfer, breach of customer trust etc.

We can make sure you are secure in your day to day business, not only online, but with physical security as well. Physical security is the easiest way into a network. We will train your employees how to avoid the "social engineering" hack from outsiders trying to get into your companies details.

System Design

We can build an entire IT system infrastructure for you if needed. We can wire up an office for networking, build applications for your business, or lend a hand to your current IT staff in building new information systems for your company. We also provide white-box hardware, and can custom build computer systems for you, from stand alone workstations, to full racks of servers if needed.

Custom Solutions

Ask us, we can do it -- Do you have a need for something you don't see here? Simply ask us via our contact form. We can either provide a solution for you, or point you in the right direction if you don't know exactly what it is you need.

If we can't provide the service you need, we can find you a provider who will, guaranteed.