Re: hosting website and email [THANKS]

--- Shawn Sass <shawn(at)sportsstuff.com> wrote:
> First, let me say thanks for all the suggestions and comments.  I'll do some
> more research.  Now, just so I don't look like a complete moron to you guys
> let me explain a few more things about the situation.  First off, I'm not
> really sure why they want to move it in house cause we currently have a
> great ISP that gives me everything I ever need when dealing with our
> website.  Any email forwarding, tech support, everything.  But we're
> switching to a full T-1 line with another company so I guess they're
> thinking that since that's all going to change, why not just do it
> ourselves. (I know, it's NOT that simple.)  Secondly, we have a company that
> currently sets up any new things on our network ie routers, servers, backup,
> etc.  They would be the ones setting it up and doing the security and stuff,
> my company just needs an in house person to monitor it so we don't have to
> call the outside company every time we need to do something on it.  


Ooooo, warning sign.  There is a *marked* difference in setting up a network and
configuring the morass, vs monitoring the whole thing once it's up and running. 
Will this company provide detailed and simple English documentation of *everything*
they do, including software configuration?

If all your group will do is "monitor" it after it's installed, how will you know
what you are monitoring if you are not a sys admin?  If something goes wrong, how
will you know that something *has* gone wrong -- all the blinky lights stop working?
 :)

How will you know that the company has adequately provided security according to
*your* needs/specs and not some off-the-shelf one-size-fits-all configuration? 
Adequate monitoring of the system requires someone trained in its configuration,
operation and maintenance.

It's not fair to provide more assessment without specific details, but the
installation and configuration is the somewhat easy and inexpensive end of the
operation.  The more expensive end comes from monitoring, troubleshooting and
ongoing maintenance.  If you don't have a qualified sys admin to handle it, you're
walking a rocky path in stilettos.


Dennis

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