Intranets

6. Hosted Solutions

6.1 With a hosted solution, your entire intranet resides on a server outside your business.

• The hosting company takes care of technical issues, security, support and maintenance.
• You log in to it to add pages, content and other elements to your intranet.

6.2 Many web-hosting firms offer hosted solutions.

Choose a reputable supplier - ask for recommendations and search the internet for reviews before signing a contract.

• If a company already hosts your website, it may be best to use them for your intranet.

6.3 The main benefit of a hosted solution is that all the technical issues are dealt with by the hosting company.

• Look for a service agreement guaranteeing a fast response to technical problems.
• Remember that you may store customer details and confidential information on your intranet, so make sure the hosting firm is reliable and trustworthy.

6.4 Costs for a hosted solution are predictable and compare well with other options.

• You will probably pay a fixed monthly cost.
• Be wary of additional charges for support and data backups.
• You may be charged extra for additional users, or if usage exceeds set limits.