PrintMost Internet service providers also offer Web hosting services. But a perfectly adequate ISP might make a terrible host for your business. Web hosting requires more resources than simply providing Internet access, especially if you want to support e-commerce on your site. Among other things, a Web host must:
- Be able to keep your Web site running 24 hours a day, even during maintenance or repair activities
- Offer enough bandwidth so that visitors can download your site quickly, even during peak times
- Understand the performance and security issues necessary to run an effective online business
- Provide adequate service and support at all times
- Hire skilled programmers, systems administrators and other technical employees to maintain its servers
Most ISPs do some of these things anyway. The difference is that when your Web site is your business, there's a much smaller margin for error. If you plan to use your current ISP to host your Web site, make sure that it has the skill and the resources to do the job right.
