Outsourced
web hosting offers some significant advantages:
- savings on equipment, software, and network access expenses;
- secure networks and servers;
- scaleable hosting plans to accommodate changing needs;
- faster time to market;
- technical expertise and professional appearance;
- professional proactive site maintenance and management.
On the flip side, in-house web hosting offers tighter control
over content, maintenance schedules, and appearance. The creation of
a dedicated department specifically for web maintenance may well be
a justifiable expense for a larger company aiming at a complex,
full-service e-commerce or database site. Fast response times and
high-end customer service on the part of a web hosting company can
help mitigate the questions of control and scheduling, but
ultimately, the client will be engaging in a relationship closely
akin to that with a public relations firm. Experience with the host
is the only real measure of the quality of service.
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