A Business Guide to Web Hosting

Most businesses these days have (and need) a Web site even if it is only there to provide contact information. However businesses are relying more and more on their web site to either attract new business, provide information to their existing customers, or even to derive a large part of the sales. Consequently that web site becomes an integral part of the business, so doesn’t it make sense to ensure the reliability and quality of the web hosting?

Unfortunately many business owners do not do this, usually relaying on the advice of the person who developed the website, who in many cases may be biased.

Here are a few questions that every business owner should ask, (and receive satisfactory answers) before they entrust their business to someone else.

Where is the web site to be hosted?

In Australia? In a proper Data Centre?

Actually a surprising number of Australian companies host their web sites elsewhere in the world. Why? because the web developers can get cheap deals on hosting in some countries. Unfortunately, apart from being somewhat un-Australian, it also means your web site could be hosted in the basement of someone’s house, or in a tin shed on some Pacific Island. Think I’m joking. These are actual cases I know of.

Even if it is in Australia, many web sites are hosted on a box in the Web developers office (or Home) running off a domestic broadband connection!

And how would you (and maybe web developer) know anyway. Have you ever been to the place where your web site is hosted?

What are the backup facilities of the Data Centre?

Data Centre’s are specialised rooms built for housing servers on behalf of ISP’S and Web Developers. A good developer will want the site hosted in a proper data centre in Australia, where he/she can contact support staff when problems occur.

A proper Data Centre has suitable backup facilities such as:-

• Automatic start generators

• Battery backup power supplies (until the generator starts)

• Multiple links to the Internet

• 24 hour Fault monitoring

• Multiple Air conditioners

• Suitable Fire alarms systems

These are just the basic “Must haves”. A good Data Centre should be contactable, by phone, NOT email. When your web site is down you need to talk to a Human in your time zone. What you don’t want to happen is to have to send an email because the data centre is on the other side of the world and it is at night there. So you don’t get a reply until tomorrow (your time).

Who owns the web site?

A very good question. What happens in two years when the web developer goes on an overseas trip for a year? What happens if you have a falling out over something (money?). Who owns the web site? Can you take the web site somewhere else? Can another Web developer to make changes?

It is far better to get these questions over with now, rather than wait until the proverbial bull dust hits the rotary air blower.

In most cases the web developer will gladly confirm that you, as the customer own the web site. After all it probably contains proprietary information and logos that only your business can use, and your web site is not much value to anyone else.

However they may be portions of the web site that use software components developed by the web developer. In that case make sure you have the right to continue to use those components even if you are no longer hosting or dealing with the developer. Most developers will agree to this, provided those components are not sold or supplied to anyone else.

But get it in writing!

What is the web site built with?

There are hundreds of ways to build a web site. Many different systems, languages, components etc. And every web developer has their own favourites. This is fine, provided the web site does what you need. But make sure those components and systems are in common use. If you need to change web developers you do not want a web site that no-one knows how to maintain, because it uses obscure systems.

Get advice before committing to the design. Ask other web developers if they know the systems to be used.

If you would like details on how to create basic web pages please contact webadmin@acenet.net.au

How often is the web site backed up?

A surprising number of people don’t have a copy of their own websites. The site might be working fine after the developer finishes, and they might have the site setup on their servers. What happens if you cancel your contract? Will they scrub your website right away? Do you have a copy of the site? Will your web design withhold access to your website if you choose to go with another provider? What happens if they go out of business?

Get the developer to provide a complete copy on CDROM whenever changes are made. If the web site has a lot of changing data, such as customers orders, ask the data centre for instructions on how to backup your website.

How secure is my web site?

This is not just about the security of the web server against hackers. What about internal security. Even large organizations have security breaches, so you can only follow industry standards and pay for the security you can afford.

Most good data centre’s are strict on security, and will not allow any access for even a web developer unless accompanied by centre personnel. What you don’t want is your web site on a server in an insecure location, where anyone can access the records.

If things go wrong, and your customers contact you over say, a credit card breach, who do you contact? An unknown location overseas, where anyone can have had access to your data? Or a data centre where they can provide logs, and usually even video security logs of every access to the room. I know which I would be more comfortable with, in convincing my customer that the security breach was not our fault.

As always, take these comments as a guide only. In the case of credit card fraud we strongly recommend seeking legal advice to determine your rights and responsibility. But treat you web site with the respect that it deserves.

It IS important!