Server, Internet, Help Pls

parse27 · Post by **parse27** » Fri Feb 28, 2003 11:47 pm

hi guys,

here's the problem. i have to set up a site for a company. thing is i don't know which way to go. should i... 1) make the company establish an IT dept to create, maintain, and host their site, or should i, 2) have it out-sourced instead and host it somewhere else.

the site shall contain an information system of and for the company, and shall have the capacity to handle and process orders online.

i need your views badly. please tell me what option you'd suggest and why. i need figures and backgrounds on servers, their prices, the internet connection needed if the company is to establish it's own IT dept. and if possible, a comparison of the two options from an economic and technical point of view.

your help will be very much valued.

thanks in advance,
parse27

CiscoKid · Post by **CiscoKid** » Sat Mar 01, 2003 1:49 am

I would get them to do the hosting in house as well as hire a full admin for the server. Something ALWAYS needs patching, so I would say if they can afford it, get them their own server...

twwabw · Post by **twwabw** » Sat Mar 01, 2003 4:44 am

My opinion is, if they're not large enough to justify an IT Dept. other than for the website, I would outsource it. Lots of reasons for it. If this is an order processing site, you're kind of putting all your eggs in one basket- It should be more than one server- they should have redundancy if this is revenue generating. If it's retail, they stand to lose $$$ when it's dopwn for maintenance, and if it is something their clients / customers need reliable access to, then you also stand losing them.

ROI would be hard to calculate doing it in house, and not as directly expensible as having a provider. Plus, chances are that as long as you choose a large, reputable hosting co., they already have a full time staff that is experienced in dealing with the problems that can come up. It sounds like maybe they're cutting their teeth on this new site, which is even more reason to not add an entire new infrastucture in house as well.

I would suggest host it elsewhere for 12-18 months, and see how the website functions, and how the revenue it generates is going. That gives you a long perios of time to then caluculate the cost of an in-house solution, and weigh it against the fixed cost of hosting.

My 2 cents.

parse27 · Post by **parse27** » Sun Mar 02, 2003 7:47 am

thanks guys! very good points. i'l be taking them into consideration..

thanks again!

parse27