SELECTING AN INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDER (ISP)

For a home web site, selection of an ISP is not of great importance, other than speed. However, selection of an ISP for business purposes, is not so simple. Selecting an ISP takes time and a little detective work. There are a number of relatively well known issues; such as assured UPTIME; speed of transmission; and security of the ISP's servers from downline worms and viruses. Less well known are issues including security from upline worms and viruses (i.e. those that are let loose by another client of the ISP, already in the server); assurance of updated technology; speed of repair if server goes down and whether the ISP has a redundant system ready to take over, should the primary fail. What e-mail screening is in place and what restrictions are placed on sending bulk e-mail by the ISP. All of the issues should be clarified and any promises made by the ISP during the investigation or negotiation should be placed in the ISP agreement.