518210 Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services

Official definition

This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in providing computing infrastructure, data processing services, Web hosting services (except software publishing), and related services, including streaming support services (except streaming distribution services). Data processing establishments provide complete processing and specialized reports from data supplied by clients or provide automated data processing and data entry services.

Examples Census gives

• Application hosting
• Cloud storage services
• Computer data storage services
• Computing platform infrastructure provision
• Infrastructure as a service (IaaS)
• Optical scanning services
• Platform as a service (PaaS)
• Video and audio technical streaming support services
• Web hosting

Source: US Census Bureau, 2022 NAICS descriptions.

When to use a different code

Census classifies these close-sounding activities somewhere else. Businesses mainly engaged in:

• Providing video and audio streaming distribution services are classified in Industry 516210, Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers.
• Providing audiovisual postproduction services, including film/tape transfers and digitization (except digitization as a technical streaming support service) are classified in U.S. Industry 512191, Teleproduction and Other Postproduction Services.
• Providing text processing and related document preparation activities are classified in Industry 561410, Document Preparation Services.
• Software design, development, and publishing, or software publishing only are classified in Industry 513210, Software Publishers.
• Developing custom software to meet the needs of a particular customer, without providing infrastructure or hosting services are classified in U.S. Industry 541511, Custom Computer Programming Services.
• Providing computer hardware, software, and communication technologies integration services, with or without product sales are classified in U.S. Industry 541512, Computer Systems Design Services.
• Selling computer hardware, packaged software, and communications equipment without providing systems integration services are classified in Sector 42, Wholesale Trade, or Sector 44-45, Retail Trade.
• Providing on-site management and operation of a client's data processing facilities are classified in U.S. Industry 541513, Computer Facilities Management Services.
• Providing wired broadband Internet access services using own operated telecommunications infrastructure, in combination with Web hosting are classified in U.S. Industry 517111, Wired Telecommunications Carriers.
• Providing Internet access via client-supplied telecommunications connections in combination with Web hosting are classified in Industry 517810, All Other Telecommunications.
• Operating Web search portals are classified in Industry 519290, Web Search Portals and All Other Information Services.
• Providing access to computers and office equipment, as well as other office support services are classified in Industry 56143, Business Service Centers.
• Processing financial transactions are classified in Industry 522320, Financial Transactions Processing, Reserve, and Clearinghouse Activities.
• Providing payroll processing services are classified in U.S. Industry 541214, Payroll Services.

Source: US Census Bureau, 2022 NAICS cross-references.

Activities listed under 518210

The Census index assigns these 32 activities to this code. If your business matches one, this is your code.

• Application hosting (excluding software publishing)
• Automated data processing services
• Cloud computing services (except software publishing and computer systems design)
• Cloud storage services
• Colocation services (i.e., rental of server and networking space in data centers)
• Computer data storage services
• Computer input preparation services
• Computer time leasing
• Computer time rental
• Computer time sharing services
• Computing infrastructure provision
• Computing platform infrastructure provision
• Data capture imaging services
• Data entry services
• Data processing computer services
• Data processing services (except payroll services, financial transaction processing services)
• Disk and diskette conversion services
• Disk and diskette recertification services
• Electronic data processing services
• Game server hosting providers
• Infrastructure as a service (IaaS)
• Media streaming data storage services
• Media streaming technical support services
• Microfiche recording and imaging services
• Microfilm recording and imaging services
• Optical scanning services
• Platform as a service (PaaS)
• Scanning services, optical
• Video and audio technical streaming support services
• Video tape and film stock technical streaming support services
• Virtual currency (cryptocurrency) mining
• Web hosting (excluding software publishing)

Source: US Census Bureau, 2022 NAICS index file.

SBA size standard for 518210

To count as a small business for SBA loans and federal contracts under NAICS 518210, your business (including affiliates) must not exceed $40 million in average annual receipts. Check your business.

Source: SBA table of size standards, effective March 17, 2023.

Closest UK SIC 2007 codes

There is no official one-to-one link between NAICS and UK SIC. These codes share the same international class (ISIC Rev. 4: 6311, 7420), so treat them as a starting point and check the definition.

• 63110Data processing, hosting and related activitiesUK SIC
• 74201Portrait photographic activitiesUK SIC
• 74202Other specialist photographyUK SIC
• 74203Film processingUK SIC
• 74209Photographic activities not elsewhere classifiedUK SIC

Built from Census concordances 2022→2017 NAICS and 2017 NAICS→ISIC Rev. 4.