Using Your ISP as a Web Host for Small Business Websites

A number of Internet users today are people who are self-employed, operating their businesses at the comfort of their homes. While these entrepreneurs would want to put all their marketing and advertising in their websites so as not to be forced to go out in the field, there still remains a question of how hosting their website could be managed efficiently with just a midrange computing system. A Web server would definitely be an answer to the question, but this would entail a considerable amount of expenses. Here are some disadvantages of setting up and managing a home server or a self-hosted website:

• 1. You need a top-quality hardware server that can store any type of data.
• 2. You will be required to permanently upgrade to a reliable, 24-hour High Speed Internet (HSI) connection.
• 3. You will have to shell out more money for buying server software licenses that put a cap on the number of users.
• 4. You have to install the server hardware and software yourself, supervise, maintain, monitor, change or upgrade your system as needed.

There really are a lot of tasks and expenses involved in considering a self-managed home server, but what many people overlook is the fact that it is now common for small businesses to lease a Web server from their ISP (Internet Service Provider) and give them the Web hosting they need.

Advantages of an ISP as a Host Provider

There are a number of advantages that a home entrepreneur can get from having their websites managed by their ISP. These include:
Availability of a variety of connection speeds. A lot of ISPs offer varying and upscale Internet connection speeds designed for small and large corporations. Some of the common types would be:

• VDSL (Very High Digital Subscriber Line). VDSL is a hybrid of DSL where one of the two copper telephone lines is dedicated to just sending and receiving data without tying up your telephone line. VDSL is termed as such because having a faster rate of speed can be achieved over shorter distances from your computer to the server. So, you can still do your business over the phone while replying to business email. VDSL speed can be as high as 8 Mbps.
• Cable Broadband. With this broadband technology, you will use a cable modem to connect to the Internet. What happens is a TV channel is used as a space for data transmission, whether it’s for uploading or downloading. Because of the higher bandwidth that TV channels have compared to a telephone line, the speed can go as high up to the 20Mbps mark.
• T1 and T3 Lines. This is the most common type of connection used by businesses. Here, the company leases from the ISP a dedicated phone line configured to either transmit or receive data, or as a regular phone line. A T1 connection consists of 24 individual channels that can be leased separately as a fractional T1, while a T1 connection of two or more bonded together to form twice as many channels or more to increase bandwidth is called bonded T1s. T3s consist of 672 channels with speeds of 43 to 45 Mbps, while T1s speed range from 1.5 Mbps to 3 Mbps.
• Optical Carriers. This is a connection also known as OC3 that uses fiber optic technology. A single OC3 speed is equivalent to at least a hundred of the T1s.

ISPs more than anything would carry very powerful servers as they would manage and store data as well. Such quality servers would help them balance data loads and back up those pieces of information.

People cannot underestimate an ISP being a Web host. They employ reliable people and machines to make sure that their systems are up most of the time, updates and upgrades are done to keep up with the ever-changing demands of technology, and keep these resources well-secured.

While these things may well qualify your ISP as a Web host, it is good practice to double check some factors as well before jumping into a hosting agreement with them. Here are some of the more important factors to check:

1. Technical Support. You must make sure that they offer this feature service whether it’s onsite or offsite. It must be clear that you will get round the clock assistance whenever possible in many different channels like over-the-phone, chat or email.

2. Back up. Since it would be difficult to tell when unfavorable circumstances could happen, it is a good to know if your ISP backs up valuable data for you on a regular basis. A day-to-day back up by your ISP is obviously the most preferred if you don’t want to lose data.

3. Amount of traffic. Some ISPs enforce a limit on visitor traffic to regulate and standardize their service quality. However, such a restriction may not be beneficial to you if your business takes off. If you would have to pay the ISP a much higher rate, then that must be clearly communicated to you on the lease agreement.

4. Restrictions on content. If there is a need to enhance your website or improve its relevance with files such as pictures and videos, it is important to know if your ISP will allow you to publish them.

5. Software support. You don’t want to enter into an agreement with your ISP if they would not host your website because of the software used to develop it. Some ISPs would choose not to allow some applications because of issues on compatibility and restrictions on bandwidth. This rarely happens though, because of the considerations in choosing an ISP as a Web host stated above.

6. Access to Database. For whatever reason, you may want to use information from your website’s database and that in itself is a factor why you would need to know how much access your ISP can give to you for that database.

7. Email Support Capabilities. For various reasons, you may want to know if you will be given your own Email for your business needs and will this be extended to the visitors or those who have accounts with you on your website.

Once these things have been verified and the terms have been clearly stated to you, then you found yourself a Web host for the home based business you have.