Aaron
Member
Registered: 9th Aug 04
Location: Cottingham, East Riding
User status: Offline
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Yo!
I'm writing an assignment about the advantages and disadvantages of hosting a web site both internally and externally for an SME (Small to Medium size Enterprise)
For internally i've got
Advantages
Easy access for maintanance
Not tied into a support/hosting contract
Specific web server hardware and software can be specified
Web site can be connectedto an existing system (or legacy system) within the company.
Disadvantages
High setup costs (hardware, software and bandwidth)
Big responsibility on in-house support staff
Any stupidly obvious ones i've missed off?
[Edited on 04-12-2009 by Aaron]
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Neo
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Registered: 20th Feb 07
Location: Essex
User status: Offline
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Off the top of my head so may or may not be useful to you
Benefits would be:
Backups (Meaning redunancy in case of server failure)
Reliability (I would assume that you'd have a redundant line for the network with a different ISP therefore if one fell over you'd have another)
Known levels of Security
Expansion (As some hosts don't have the ability to offer certain services such as PERL, Apache etc)
[Edited on 04-12-2009 by Neo]
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Aaron
Member
Registered: 9th Aug 04
Location: Cottingham, East Riding
User status: Offline
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I think maybe i've been too generic in what i've put so far...being more specific will be better.
Thanks
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Dom
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Registered: 13th Sep 03
User status: Offline
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Backups could be a disadvantage due to extra cost having an offsite backup incase of fire/complete server fail. Likewise it's an extra cost having a redundant ISP 'pipe', although you could possible load balance with your main 'pipe' during busy periods. Power redundancy is another issue, need to purchase huge UPS' or generators (extreme) which is a big cost.
Like you say though, the company has a huge setup cost for the infrastructure + continous costs (line rentals, employement of professionals to manage the network/servers, hardware/repair costs, leccy bills).
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Ian
Site Administrator
Registered: 28th Aug 99
Location: Liverpool
User status: Offline
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Main advantage is connection to existing systems. Hardware and software can be specified if you go for a co-lo type arrangement same as CS has. We bought the server and installed in on their rack.
Disadvantages of hosting in-house are vast, namely the responsibility it brings, the fact every bit of infrastructure needs to be redundant - network, power, HVAC.
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