Green Web Hosting is starting to become popular in the Internet world. It is something that more hosting companies are looking to move into. The very nature of web hosting means that it has an inevitable affect on the environment; computers need to be powered and servers are never switched off.
The internet has become an important part of many people’s lives and now contributes towards the employment of many millions of people worldwide. With green issues being taken more seriously by the majority of people alternative ways of many different parts of our lives are being explored. This is no different with web hosting, with people searching for alternatives that are less harmful to the environment. More and more people are thinking of ways to reduce their carbon footprint.
Because of the increase in awareness of green issues, green web hosting is something many people are looking at. Green issues are now in the public consciousness like never before, and many would prefer greener hosting where possible. The environmental affects of hosting cannot be completely prevented but green hosting can help. There are initiatives that can be explored that will help. With people looking to more environmentally friendly options green hosting is a potential money maker for hosts. In many ways being environmentally friendly is a marketing opportunity, and this is something that could encourage hosts to become greener.
There are several ways in which web hosts can do this. The most obvious is that they can use more sustainable forms of energy such as solar power and wind power. If a host can produce all of their own energy using solar power for example, then this would make a significant difference. With sustainable energy being researched more all the time, the number of ways of doing this, and number of hosts doing it, is likely to increase. Carbon offsetting is an area that many hosts are starting to be involved in. This constitutes making up for the energy they are using by doing something to neutralise the affect on the environment. Planting trees is the best known of these. More simple green methods can also be used. Not wasting energy by using less where possible is a step that most hosting companies, as well as other businesses, can take. Laptops use less power than desktop computers, so this is an area that can be taken advantage of as well.
As far as the future is concerned, more advanced green hosting techniques are likely to occur, and hosting in general will likely become greener as environmental issues are taken more seriously. There is a question of whether all websites need to be up all of the time. If a website’s visitors are all from the same country (or even the same continent) then is it necessary for the website to be up during the night? If not then energy could be saved. But then there is a question of whether people will accept an inferior service. Another thing that could be possible in the future is for green initiatives to be enforced by governments. This could be the case across many areas and web hosting may be no different. Web Hosting will always have some affect on the environment, but there are certainly ways that this affect can be less than it currently is.
Andrew Marshall ©
Colocation Hosting
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Friday, September 25, 2009
Gold Investment – An Overview
Gold is the most precious gold on earth, and it is becoming an increasingly popular investment. In many ways it is the worldwide currency. Unlike other currencies, though, it appeals to people everywhere.
Historically gold was used as a trading currency, with people using it trade with other items before currencies existed. It has always been seen as valuable and still is to this day. Between 1946 and 1971 the price of gold was fixed at $35 an ounce. It was therefore a way of storing wealth, as it would not lose (but not gain either) its wealth. After 1971 the price rose dramatically surpassing $550 an ounce in 1980; more than fifteen times its previous value. It then dropped again and was as low as $351 in 1991, but this was still significantly higher than its $35 previous value. The rise in value soon started again as was a record high of $840 an ounce in early 2009. Over the past few months it has fluctuated.
Production of gold is low and this adds to its value as it is not easily obtainable. A large proportion is held by central banks such as the Bank of England and the Swiss National Bank.
People often seek gold in times of war as they are in fear of their currency being devalued. It is considered safer than cash as it will still hold value no matter what happens to their currency. Currency is valued worldwide so is not susceptible to the ups and downs in a particular country’s economy.
In the current economic times many have looked to gold as a way of safe guarding their saving. It is seen as a safe haven and due to potential currency devaluation this had made gold a more popular investment. This has especially been the case in the United States and the United Kingdom. It is being seen as an insurance in case a currency crashes. The problem for many though, is that it can no longer be used to purchase items, and many cannot afford to buy significant quantities of gold just for it to be stored and not used.
Gold is mostly seen as a way of saving, but it can also be used as an investment opportunity as they go up and down. Judging the gold price well will mean that a significant profit could be made. There are always likely to be times when the price is high and this is why people use it to save. But if gold is purchased when the price is low and then sold when high it will offer good returns.
Unlike other currencies, gold is not susceptible to inflation. If you save money now inflation will mean that it will be worth less in the future in real terms. This is not the case with gold. It is therefore a better way of saving for the future.
Andrew Marshall ©
Investment Trusts
Historically gold was used as a trading currency, with people using it trade with other items before currencies existed. It has always been seen as valuable and still is to this day. Between 1946 and 1971 the price of gold was fixed at $35 an ounce. It was therefore a way of storing wealth, as it would not lose (but not gain either) its wealth. After 1971 the price rose dramatically surpassing $550 an ounce in 1980; more than fifteen times its previous value. It then dropped again and was as low as $351 in 1991, but this was still significantly higher than its $35 previous value. The rise in value soon started again as was a record high of $840 an ounce in early 2009. Over the past few months it has fluctuated.
Production of gold is low and this adds to its value as it is not easily obtainable. A large proportion is held by central banks such as the Bank of England and the Swiss National Bank.
People often seek gold in times of war as they are in fear of their currency being devalued. It is considered safer than cash as it will still hold value no matter what happens to their currency. Currency is valued worldwide so is not susceptible to the ups and downs in a particular country’s economy.
In the current economic times many have looked to gold as a way of safe guarding their saving. It is seen as a safe haven and due to potential currency devaluation this had made gold a more popular investment. This has especially been the case in the United States and the United Kingdom. It is being seen as an insurance in case a currency crashes. The problem for many though, is that it can no longer be used to purchase items, and many cannot afford to buy significant quantities of gold just for it to be stored and not used.
Gold is mostly seen as a way of saving, but it can also be used as an investment opportunity as they go up and down. Judging the gold price well will mean that a significant profit could be made. There are always likely to be times when the price is high and this is why people use it to save. But if gold is purchased when the price is low and then sold when high it will offer good returns.
Unlike other currencies, gold is not susceptible to inflation. If you save money now inflation will mean that it will be worth less in the future in real terms. This is not the case with gold. It is therefore a better way of saving for the future.
Andrew Marshall ©
Investment Trusts
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Divorce Law in the United States
The United States have among the highest divorce rates in the world. Much of this has been blamed on the fact that it is relatively simple to acquire a divorce and that it is too much of an easy option once a relationship runs into problems.
There are many different types of divorce in America, with different laws for each of them. Family Law varies from state to state, so not all sections of divorce law apply to the whole of the country.
The type of divorce that has been blamed most for the high divorce statistics are No Fault Divorces. This means that neither partner is to blame for the breakup of the relationship and that there is no specific given reason for the divorce. If the couple have simply drifted apart or fallen out of love then this is the part of divorce law they will proceed with. Critics have said that a No Fault Divorce is too easy and means that couples do not attempt to work through their problem, therefore contributing to the high divorce rates. The advantage of this type of divorce as far as the couple is concerned is that it is less expensive and speeds up the process, thus making it less stressful and meaning they can get on with the rest of their lives more easily. In some states they only have to fill out some simple forms for a divorce to be granted.
Before No Fault Divorce’s were brought in one member of a couple had to be at fault for the marriage breakdown and there had to be a specific reason given for the divorce. These could be, amongst others, adultery, physical or mental cruelty, desertion, confinement in prison, or insanity.
In areas of divorce other than No Fault Divorce, a court must find that one of the following is true: -
• The relationship is no longer viable
• There are irreconcilable differences between the couple
• There is a conflict of personality that has destroyed the relationship
• The marriage have irretrievable broken down
Litigated Divorce is the type of divorce that comes to mind when most people think of divorce. Here a Family Solicitor on behalf of each person will try to work out an agreement, which will include settlements of finances, property and children amongst other things. These situations are the most complex and often end up in court, meaning that a good Divorce Lawyer will be an advantage. This is the most common type of divorce used in the United States where the couple have children together.
Mediated Divorce is where each member of the couple will try to work together to come up with an agreement. Neutral professionals (not working for either of the couple) may be involved to help come to an arrangement that is good for all concerned. If the situation cannot be resolved in this way it can turn into a Litigated Divorce.
Another type of divorce in the United States is an annulment. This dissolves a marriage and ends up being like there was no marriage in the first place. The vast majority of annulments will take place after a marriage is in its very early stages. An annulment will have to be granted by a judge. The most common reasons for an annulment are fraud (emotional fraud, having lied to the other person), concealment or a misunderstanding over a serious issue.
Andrew Marshall ©
Family Solicitor London
Divorce Lawyer London
There are many different types of divorce in America, with different laws for each of them. Family Law varies from state to state, so not all sections of divorce law apply to the whole of the country.
The type of divorce that has been blamed most for the high divorce statistics are No Fault Divorces. This means that neither partner is to blame for the breakup of the relationship and that there is no specific given reason for the divorce. If the couple have simply drifted apart or fallen out of love then this is the part of divorce law they will proceed with. Critics have said that a No Fault Divorce is too easy and means that couples do not attempt to work through their problem, therefore contributing to the high divorce rates. The advantage of this type of divorce as far as the couple is concerned is that it is less expensive and speeds up the process, thus making it less stressful and meaning they can get on with the rest of their lives more easily. In some states they only have to fill out some simple forms for a divorce to be granted.
Before No Fault Divorce’s were brought in one member of a couple had to be at fault for the marriage breakdown and there had to be a specific reason given for the divorce. These could be, amongst others, adultery, physical or mental cruelty, desertion, confinement in prison, or insanity.
In areas of divorce other than No Fault Divorce, a court must find that one of the following is true: -
• The relationship is no longer viable
• There are irreconcilable differences between the couple
• There is a conflict of personality that has destroyed the relationship
• The marriage have irretrievable broken down
Litigated Divorce is the type of divorce that comes to mind when most people think of divorce. Here a Family Solicitor on behalf of each person will try to work out an agreement, which will include settlements of finances, property and children amongst other things. These situations are the most complex and often end up in court, meaning that a good Divorce Lawyer will be an advantage. This is the most common type of divorce used in the United States where the couple have children together.
Mediated Divorce is where each member of the couple will try to work together to come up with an agreement. Neutral professionals (not working for either of the couple) may be involved to help come to an arrangement that is good for all concerned. If the situation cannot be resolved in this way it can turn into a Litigated Divorce.
Another type of divorce in the United States is an annulment. This dissolves a marriage and ends up being like there was no marriage in the first place. The vast majority of annulments will take place after a marriage is in its very early stages. An annulment will have to be granted by a judge. The most common reasons for an annulment are fraud (emotional fraud, having lied to the other person), concealment or a misunderstanding over a serious issue.
Andrew Marshall ©
Family Solicitor London
Divorce Lawyer London
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Portable Appliance Testing – Should there be clearer rules in with testing regularity?
There are currently no specific rules as to how often portable appliances should be tested. PAT testing needs to be done “regularly” but there are only guidelines as to how often so no specific regulations.
According to the portable appliance testing experts, London PAT Testing, regular testing “is generally interpreted as a requirement for annual testing”. Testing on an annual basis will be enough in most cases, but this is currently not enforced. This means some appliances go much longer periods without being tested, something that could potentially be dangerous.
This brings into question if the current guidelines are good enough. Should there be more specific rules as to how often portable appliance testing should take place? There are many different factors that contribute. The type of appliance in question is the most obvious one. The age of equipment is also significant; the older an appliance is, the more dangerous it could potentially be, and therefore it should, in theory, be tested more often. Use and usage are also factors. Something used once a year is likely to be a lot safer than something that is used several times a week. Whether or not something is used properly will also have an impact. Where equipment is used is another issue.
There are many ways in which PAT testing regulations could be improved. One of these would be for specific guidelines to be set out for different types of appliances. There could be different categories for different types of equipment. In some ways this would simplify things for business and landlords alike, as they would be able to check which category each appliance they are in charge of would fall into. There would be problems too with this though. There couldn’t be different categories for every single appliance, so it would depend on how they could be categorised.
Another potential improvement could be that a maximum period would be given for appliances to be tested. This means people would know that they have to test them every two years for example. This would prevent PAT testing from being neglected too much, something that is possible with the current regulations.
A car MOT is a model that could be followed. With an MOT a new car has to be tested after three years, and then every year thereafter. This, or something along the same lines, could be adopted in the world of PAT testing.
There are undoubtedly problems with the current regulations. People do not always know how often appliances should be tested, and therefore testing may not be carried out as often as safety requires, even if the regulations are being followed. It may well be beneficial to those responsible for appliances as well as those using them if the regulations where altered.
Andrew Marshall ©
According to the portable appliance testing experts, London PAT Testing, regular testing “is generally interpreted as a requirement for annual testing”. Testing on an annual basis will be enough in most cases, but this is currently not enforced. This means some appliances go much longer periods without being tested, something that could potentially be dangerous.
This brings into question if the current guidelines are good enough. Should there be more specific rules as to how often portable appliance testing should take place? There are many different factors that contribute. The type of appliance in question is the most obvious one. The age of equipment is also significant; the older an appliance is, the more dangerous it could potentially be, and therefore it should, in theory, be tested more often. Use and usage are also factors. Something used once a year is likely to be a lot safer than something that is used several times a week. Whether or not something is used properly will also have an impact. Where equipment is used is another issue.
There are many ways in which PAT testing regulations could be improved. One of these would be for specific guidelines to be set out for different types of appliances. There could be different categories for different types of equipment. In some ways this would simplify things for business and landlords alike, as they would be able to check which category each appliance they are in charge of would fall into. There would be problems too with this though. There couldn’t be different categories for every single appliance, so it would depend on how they could be categorised.
Another potential improvement could be that a maximum period would be given for appliances to be tested. This means people would know that they have to test them every two years for example. This would prevent PAT testing from being neglected too much, something that is possible with the current regulations.
A car MOT is a model that could be followed. With an MOT a new car has to be tested after three years, and then every year thereafter. This, or something along the same lines, could be adopted in the world of PAT testing.
There are undoubtedly problems with the current regulations. People do not always know how often appliances should be tested, and therefore testing may not be carried out as often as safety requires, even if the regulations are being followed. It may well be beneficial to those responsible for appliances as well as those using them if the regulations where altered.
Andrew Marshall ©
Monday, September 21, 2009
China to overtake USA as world’s biggest manufacturer
China is soon likely to overtake the United States as the world’s dominant manufacture. The USA has been the biggest manufacturing nation for several decades. As of 2007 it still had a significant share with 20% of the world’s total, with China producing 12%.
The gap between the two nations is narrowing rapidly though, and China looks set to overtake the US within the next few years. Manufacturing in China has increased massively in recent times, an increased that is accelerating all the time. In 1990 only 3% of manufacturing took place on China – so in just seventeen years (1990-2007) it increased by 300%. Even in 2005 it wasn’t one of the top three manufacturers, with the United States (20.6%), Japan (13.3%) and Germany (8.2%) having the strongest industries at the time. Now though, it is on the cusp of being top of the pile. As China’s manufacturing industry has grown so dramatically, the US has remain static in terms of its percentage of the globes total (based on 2007 figures).
When exactly China will overtake the US is the subject of much debate. There are many different opinions, making it difficult to judge when exactly this will happen. The Financial Times has claimed it could be as soon as 2010, with a report saying, “China will account for 17% of the world’s manufacturing output next year [2010] versus the United States 16%”. There are few who would argue that China will soon overtake the US; it’s just of matter of when. Another sign of China’s current growth is that its manufacturing industry grew by 10% in the three months from April to June 2008. Predictions as to when China will overtake the United States generally vary from 2014 to 2020.
The affect of the recession in America could accelerate China’s takeover. China hasn’t been hit but the global recession as much as the likes of the United States and Japan. It has still been affected but seems to be recovering quicker, and has been aided by a 4 trillion Yuan ($0.6 trillion) input from the Chinese government.
So it seems that China is certain to become the world’s most prominent manufacturer. It should come as no surprise as they do have the biggest population on earth, with around 1.3 billion people. It will be interesting to see how much their manufacturing industry, as well as their economy in general, will continue to grow over the coming decades. China’s population is almost a fifth of the earth’s total (approximately 19%) so it is possible their manufacturing output could mirror this. America’s total percentage will fall as a consequence, although that doesn’t necessarily mean the output amount will fall, although this is possible.
Andrew Marshall ©
Wholesale Manufacturers China
The gap between the two nations is narrowing rapidly though, and China looks set to overtake the US within the next few years. Manufacturing in China has increased massively in recent times, an increased that is accelerating all the time. In 1990 only 3% of manufacturing took place on China – so in just seventeen years (1990-2007) it increased by 300%. Even in 2005 it wasn’t one of the top three manufacturers, with the United States (20.6%), Japan (13.3%) and Germany (8.2%) having the strongest industries at the time. Now though, it is on the cusp of being top of the pile. As China’s manufacturing industry has grown so dramatically, the US has remain static in terms of its percentage of the globes total (based on 2007 figures).
When exactly China will overtake the US is the subject of much debate. There are many different opinions, making it difficult to judge when exactly this will happen. The Financial Times has claimed it could be as soon as 2010, with a report saying, “China will account for 17% of the world’s manufacturing output next year [2010] versus the United States 16%”. There are few who would argue that China will soon overtake the US; it’s just of matter of when. Another sign of China’s current growth is that its manufacturing industry grew by 10% in the three months from April to June 2008. Predictions as to when China will overtake the United States generally vary from 2014 to 2020.
The affect of the recession in America could accelerate China’s takeover. China hasn’t been hit but the global recession as much as the likes of the United States and Japan. It has still been affected but seems to be recovering quicker, and has been aided by a 4 trillion Yuan ($0.6 trillion) input from the Chinese government.
So it seems that China is certain to become the world’s most prominent manufacturer. It should come as no surprise as they do have the biggest population on earth, with around 1.3 billion people. It will be interesting to see how much their manufacturing industry, as well as their economy in general, will continue to grow over the coming decades. China’s population is almost a fifth of the earth’s total (approximately 19%) so it is possible their manufacturing output could mirror this. America’s total percentage will fall as a consequence, although that doesn’t necessarily mean the output amount will fall, although this is possible.
Andrew Marshall ©
Wholesale Manufacturers China
Friday, September 18, 2009
The Child Trust Fund after seven years
Recently the first batch of children to receive their Child Trust Fund were given their second instalments. Since September 2002 all parents of new born babies in the UK have been given a £250 Child Trust Fund voucher to invest on behalf of their child. They get another £250 sum when they child turns seven, something that the first to receive this are now getting. 700,000 children will be receiving this second instalment in 2009, meaning the government will be paying out around £460 million as part of the scheme, twice what it has been paying out in previous years. There are now 4 million children entitled to the Chid Trust Fund, with £2 billion having been paid into accounts; an average of £500 per child.
The merits and success of the Child Trust Fund have been much debated. A large number of parents have failed to take up the option of a child trust fund. According to the Observer on 23rd August 2009, approximately a quarter of parents did not invest their CTF voucher within a year of their child’s birth, meaning it was automatically invested in a stakeholders account. This would suggest that it has not been that successful. There are other statistics to say that those who have invested the voucher are embracing the scheme though. TISA says that 23.3% of those who have taken up the scheme are making regular direct debit payment into their child’s account, with a further 6% paying an annual lump sum. Therefore it is hard to judge how successful it has been.
Many would argue that the government could do without having to payout an extra £230 million this year (and every year from now on) with the current economical situation. Some are suggesting that the scheme could be scrapped in future. The Liberal Democrats have stated that they would like the scheme to be discontinued as the money could be better spent in other ways, such as education. The Conservative Party, though, currently have no such plans and say that their policy on the Child Trust Fund is the same as that of Labour, who came up with the policy.
How successful the Child Trust Fund will be when it comes to the amount a child will receive upon turning 18 depends on the amount of investment by parents and other family and friends apart from the two £250 instalments from the government. Based on no extra money being paid into the account, the Daily Mail’s Barry Collins claimed that once inflation is taken into account the total amount will not be enough to buy a mountain bike. He says that the original £250 will turn into approximately (depending on interest) £410, although this doesn’t include the second £250 instalment.
With regular payments though, the story could be much different. According to a report on the Channel 4 website, Nationwide calculate that with the maximum £1,200 invested by parents a year the accumulated amount would be around £24,000, certainly enough to get an 18 year old on his or her way in life. If parent are able to invest the child benefit they receive (£20 for the first child) this would go a significant way towards this.
Judging the overall success of the Child Trust Fund is not easy. If taken advantage of by parents the money can accumulate significantly, although some would argue that they could invest themselves anyways, and the £500 from the government would not make that much difference. The main problem is that there are still many parents not taking up the scheme, although this has increased over the last couple of years.
Andrew Marshall ©
Child Trust Fund
The merits and success of the Child Trust Fund have been much debated. A large number of parents have failed to take up the option of a child trust fund. According to the Observer on 23rd August 2009, approximately a quarter of parents did not invest their CTF voucher within a year of their child’s birth, meaning it was automatically invested in a stakeholders account. This would suggest that it has not been that successful. There are other statistics to say that those who have invested the voucher are embracing the scheme though. TISA says that 23.3% of those who have taken up the scheme are making regular direct debit payment into their child’s account, with a further 6% paying an annual lump sum. Therefore it is hard to judge how successful it has been.
Many would argue that the government could do without having to payout an extra £230 million this year (and every year from now on) with the current economical situation. Some are suggesting that the scheme could be scrapped in future. The Liberal Democrats have stated that they would like the scheme to be discontinued as the money could be better spent in other ways, such as education. The Conservative Party, though, currently have no such plans and say that their policy on the Child Trust Fund is the same as that of Labour, who came up with the policy.
How successful the Child Trust Fund will be when it comes to the amount a child will receive upon turning 18 depends on the amount of investment by parents and other family and friends apart from the two £250 instalments from the government. Based on no extra money being paid into the account, the Daily Mail’s Barry Collins claimed that once inflation is taken into account the total amount will not be enough to buy a mountain bike. He says that the original £250 will turn into approximately (depending on interest) £410, although this doesn’t include the second £250 instalment.
With regular payments though, the story could be much different. According to a report on the Channel 4 website, Nationwide calculate that with the maximum £1,200 invested by parents a year the accumulated amount would be around £24,000, certainly enough to get an 18 year old on his or her way in life. If parent are able to invest the child benefit they receive (£20 for the first child) this would go a significant way towards this.
Judging the overall success of the Child Trust Fund is not easy. If taken advantage of by parents the money can accumulate significantly, although some would argue that they could invest themselves anyways, and the £500 from the government would not make that much difference. The main problem is that there are still many parents not taking up the scheme, although this has increased over the last couple of years.
Andrew Marshall ©
Child Trust Fund
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Prince2 – An Overview
Prince2 is a worldwide project management methodology. It stands for “PRojects IN Controlled Environment”. The “2” comes from the earlier methodology, Prompt2. Prince2 started off in the UK, but has now grown to become a worldwide standard.
This training methodology first came about as it was decided that the standard of project management in the public sector in the UK was poor. Once established it became the standard for all government information systems projects, and all project managers working in the public sectors were given Prince2 training. Although originally instigated for the public sector, due to its success it soon started to be used in many areas across business. Project managers working in a variety of different areas within both the public and private sectors now receive Prince2 training, something that is offered by many different training companies around the UK and the rest of the world.
Prince2 covers many different areas of project management. It covers a framework for project management, looking at different processes that managers can go through during the running a particular project. It is essentially the best practice for project management. It helps managers plan, organise and run and project and the project team towards the eventual goals. It focuses more on the delivery of a project rather than the actual process. Therefore it can be used as a guideline for any type of project. With Prince2 organisation is key. One of its main aims is to provide managers with the knowledge and training to be able to deliver a project on time and on budget.
Prince2 breaks project management into various different stages; something that makes the process easier to control. It means that managers can use each stage to simplify all of the tasks that need to be completed. It highlights the importance of proper execution of projects so it can stay on course so it is completed as the original objectives require. Communication is a key component of Prince2. For a project to be completed successfully communications between all relevant team members is crucial. The importance of the control of resource is something that is covered as for a project to be successful all resources, such as finance and the expertise of the team, need to be utilised to the best possible effect. Management of risks and any possible issues is another area that is focused upon. Also of importance are regular reviews of the project. This allows managers, clients, team members, and anyone else involved, to be able to see where the project is at and which areas have to be altered to continue successfully.
According to Parity Training, who are a training company who provide Prince2 training, “Prince2 is the de facto standard project management method”. It is used as a standard of thinking, planning and running a project from the original preparation through to its completion.
Andrew Marshall ©
Prince2 Training
This training methodology first came about as it was decided that the standard of project management in the public sector in the UK was poor. Once established it became the standard for all government information systems projects, and all project managers working in the public sectors were given Prince2 training. Although originally instigated for the public sector, due to its success it soon started to be used in many areas across business. Project managers working in a variety of different areas within both the public and private sectors now receive Prince2 training, something that is offered by many different training companies around the UK and the rest of the world.
Prince2 covers many different areas of project management. It covers a framework for project management, looking at different processes that managers can go through during the running a particular project. It is essentially the best practice for project management. It helps managers plan, organise and run and project and the project team towards the eventual goals. It focuses more on the delivery of a project rather than the actual process. Therefore it can be used as a guideline for any type of project. With Prince2 organisation is key. One of its main aims is to provide managers with the knowledge and training to be able to deliver a project on time and on budget.
Prince2 breaks project management into various different stages; something that makes the process easier to control. It means that managers can use each stage to simplify all of the tasks that need to be completed. It highlights the importance of proper execution of projects so it can stay on course so it is completed as the original objectives require. Communication is a key component of Prince2. For a project to be completed successfully communications between all relevant team members is crucial. The importance of the control of resource is something that is covered as for a project to be successful all resources, such as finance and the expertise of the team, need to be utilised to the best possible effect. Management of risks and any possible issues is another area that is focused upon. Also of importance are regular reviews of the project. This allows managers, clients, team members, and anyone else involved, to be able to see where the project is at and which areas have to be altered to continue successfully.
According to Parity Training, who are a training company who provide Prince2 training, “Prince2 is the de facto standard project management method”. It is used as a standard of thinking, planning and running a project from the original preparation through to its completion.
Andrew Marshall ©
Prince2 Training
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
How Family Culture has changed in China
Family culture in China has changed significantly over the last few decades. Over time many parts of Chinese culture has become much more similar to the western world and this is certainly the case within families.
Traditionally families compromised of large family units sometimes with over one hundred family member living together in one settlement, although these extremes were much more common in rural areas. Families were ruled by the oldest male with the torch passed down when he died to his first born son. It was very much a hierarchal system. All members of a family worked within the family business, and when people got married the wife would move in with her husband’s family, sometimes never seeing her own family again. This type of family set up was more common in wealthy families but was still commonplace elsewhere.
As far as family law was considered, divorce was very rare and usually not considered no matter how unhappy a marriage became. An exception may have been if a woman did not give birth to a son, as husbands could divorce their wives on these grounds. Boys were valued significantly more than girls, and sometimes even killed as they were considered useless. They were unable to continue the family name, so were not deemed as being as important. Men made all the decisions and women marrying into a new family had no real say.
Marriages compromised of very formal relationships with each person expected to keep to their position within the family. Children were especially expected to know their place within society. Family honour was deemed extremely important with children expected to give their family and good name and reputation. Father’s were even allowed to kill disobeying children. Marriages were almost always arranged by parents in traditional China. These decisions were usually made when children were very young, and most did not know their future husband or wife until the wedding.
Many areas of family life have changed since, although family values are still considered important. Family units are much small often with only parents and children, much like western cultures. Grandparents living with families are still fairly common though when compared with the west. Both men and women now work, whereas it used to be exclusively men. Quite a common family dynamic is for grandparents to look after children during the daytime while their parents are at work.
Whereas boys used to be considered much more useful and important, girls are now treated as being equals. Jobs around the home are done by everyone – not just women. Parents are still relatively strict though, although not in comparison with the past. Some arranged marriage do still occur but these are now the exception rather than the rule.
The one-child rule that came in in 1979 making it illegal for many families to have more than one child has had an impact on the family. The obvious difference is that it means that families are smaller; in the 1970’s the average woman gave birth to five children. Worldwide travel has also had an impact. It was previously illegal for Chinese people to travel but since this ban was lifted families have often been further part. Young people often travel or even move abroad, meaning the family unit is further fragmented.
Family Law is now much more in line with the western world. Divorce is now common place and increasing rapidly – by approximately 50% every year.
The family dynamic has changed a lot in China, as the whole country has become more westernised. The changes are more noticeable in the major City’s than rural areas, where traditional values are more similar to the past. Families have gone from being large units ruled by the oldest male, to smaller families where all people are valued equally.
Andrew Marshall ©
Family Law London
Family Law Solicitors London
Traditionally families compromised of large family units sometimes with over one hundred family member living together in one settlement, although these extremes were much more common in rural areas. Families were ruled by the oldest male with the torch passed down when he died to his first born son. It was very much a hierarchal system. All members of a family worked within the family business, and when people got married the wife would move in with her husband’s family, sometimes never seeing her own family again. This type of family set up was more common in wealthy families but was still commonplace elsewhere.
As far as family law was considered, divorce was very rare and usually not considered no matter how unhappy a marriage became. An exception may have been if a woman did not give birth to a son, as husbands could divorce their wives on these grounds. Boys were valued significantly more than girls, and sometimes even killed as they were considered useless. They were unable to continue the family name, so were not deemed as being as important. Men made all the decisions and women marrying into a new family had no real say.
Marriages compromised of very formal relationships with each person expected to keep to their position within the family. Children were especially expected to know their place within society. Family honour was deemed extremely important with children expected to give their family and good name and reputation. Father’s were even allowed to kill disobeying children. Marriages were almost always arranged by parents in traditional China. These decisions were usually made when children were very young, and most did not know their future husband or wife until the wedding.
Many areas of family life have changed since, although family values are still considered important. Family units are much small often with only parents and children, much like western cultures. Grandparents living with families are still fairly common though when compared with the west. Both men and women now work, whereas it used to be exclusively men. Quite a common family dynamic is for grandparents to look after children during the daytime while their parents are at work.
Whereas boys used to be considered much more useful and important, girls are now treated as being equals. Jobs around the home are done by everyone – not just women. Parents are still relatively strict though, although not in comparison with the past. Some arranged marriage do still occur but these are now the exception rather than the rule.
The one-child rule that came in in 1979 making it illegal for many families to have more than one child has had an impact on the family. The obvious difference is that it means that families are smaller; in the 1970’s the average woman gave birth to five children. Worldwide travel has also had an impact. It was previously illegal for Chinese people to travel but since this ban was lifted families have often been further part. Young people often travel or even move abroad, meaning the family unit is further fragmented.
Family Law is now much more in line with the western world. Divorce is now common place and increasing rapidly – by approximately 50% every year.
The family dynamic has changed a lot in China, as the whole country has become more westernised. The changes are more noticeable in the major City’s than rural areas, where traditional values are more similar to the past. Families have gone from being large units ruled by the oldest male, to smaller families where all people are valued equally.
Andrew Marshall ©
Family Law London
Family Law Solicitors London
Friday, September 11, 2009
Advantages and Disadvantages of Managed and Unmanaged Colocation
There are two types of Colocation available; Managed Colocation and Unmanaged Colocation. Colocation is a type of web hosting, where someone rents rack space from a data centre, where they store their server. This prevents them from having to have their own server.
With managed colocation you only have to rent the rack space, provide the server and other hardware and pay the web host. The rest is done by the employees of the data centre. All you may have to do is purchase upgrades for software when necessary. Problem solving and maintenance are sorted out by the hosting company.
The major advantage of managed colocation is that you are employing experts to control your hosting needs. You can live safe in the knowledge that everything is under control and people who know what they are doing are overseeing your hosting. This leaves you free to concentrate on your core business.
There are two main disadvantages of managed colocation; the cost and the lack of control. It is significantly more expensive than unmanaged colocation. It is like employing anyone else within your business – you are paying for someone to do a job for you. And it will be no surprise that experts cost. You are not in complete control of your hosting with managed colocation as you are employing someone else to deal with it. This is something that some would see as a benefit, but others would see as a negative. If you want to be in charge of your hosting then managed colocation is not for you.
With Unmanaged Colocation you only rent the rack space from the hosting company, while the rest is up to you. You will be in control of your server and therefore hosting knowledge is necessary.
The disadvantages of managed colocation do not exist here. You will pay a lot less as the service you receive is less extensive. And unlike managed colocation you do have full control of your hosting. It is therefore much more flexible, allowing you to do exactly what you want. There are still some limits as you will have to operate within the parameters set out by the data centre. Overall though, the amount of control you have is much more significant.
Unmanaged Colocation is not for novices. It requires some expertise so if you don’t have any experience of web hosting then you are better off with managed colocation. Any updates will have to be carried out by you and you will be responsible for solving any problems that will inevitable occur. This means that unexpected extra costs may arise.
There are advantages and disadvantages of both managed and unmanaged colocation. Which is best for you depends on a mixture of your budget, the amount of control you want and your expertise level.
Andrew Marshall ©
Colocation
With managed colocation you only have to rent the rack space, provide the server and other hardware and pay the web host. The rest is done by the employees of the data centre. All you may have to do is purchase upgrades for software when necessary. Problem solving and maintenance are sorted out by the hosting company.
The major advantage of managed colocation is that you are employing experts to control your hosting needs. You can live safe in the knowledge that everything is under control and people who know what they are doing are overseeing your hosting. This leaves you free to concentrate on your core business.
There are two main disadvantages of managed colocation; the cost and the lack of control. It is significantly more expensive than unmanaged colocation. It is like employing anyone else within your business – you are paying for someone to do a job for you. And it will be no surprise that experts cost. You are not in complete control of your hosting with managed colocation as you are employing someone else to deal with it. This is something that some would see as a benefit, but others would see as a negative. If you want to be in charge of your hosting then managed colocation is not for you.
With Unmanaged Colocation you only rent the rack space from the hosting company, while the rest is up to you. You will be in control of your server and therefore hosting knowledge is necessary.
The disadvantages of managed colocation do not exist here. You will pay a lot less as the service you receive is less extensive. And unlike managed colocation you do have full control of your hosting. It is therefore much more flexible, allowing you to do exactly what you want. There are still some limits as you will have to operate within the parameters set out by the data centre. Overall though, the amount of control you have is much more significant.
Unmanaged Colocation is not for novices. It requires some expertise so if you don’t have any experience of web hosting then you are better off with managed colocation. Any updates will have to be carried out by you and you will be responsible for solving any problems that will inevitable occur. This means that unexpected extra costs may arise.
There are advantages and disadvantages of both managed and unmanaged colocation. Which is best for you depends on a mixture of your budget, the amount of control you want and your expertise level.
Andrew Marshall ©
Colocation
How VoIP can be beneficial in a recession
VoIP, or Voice over Internet Protocol, is an alternative to the telephone that has the potential to save businesses and individual’s money in the current recession. With times difficult for many, it is a way that significant savings can be made. Many people have already made the switch, and the recession is another incentive to change to this cheaper service. Research has shown that VoIP can save a business up to 45% per month when compared to traditional telephones.
VoIP works through a broadband internet connection, as opposed to a telephone line. This is less expensive as far as the providers are concerned, so therefore cheaper for its customers. Most businesses these days already use the internet so a VoIP service can be run through the existing technology, although extra software will be required. It is usually unproblematic to switch from a landline service to VoIP, although this does depends on the current set-up and the service provider. Using VoIP is likely to be easier for a new business, as they won’t even need a telephone connection. If they are having a broadband connection installed anyway, the extra difficulty with adding the necessary extra’s for VoIP will be minimal, especially when compared to a landline.
Businesses that make a lot of calls are likely to make a particular large saving if they switch. The more calls they make, the bigger the savings. Call Centres, for example, could be particularly better off with VoIP. There are huge savings to be made with long distance calls. It doesn’t cost providers much extra for long distance calls compared with local calls. Therefore businesses that make regular long distance calls could also benefit significantly.
When people think of VoIP, many think of someone talking into a microphone plugged into their computer, barely able to make sense of the person on the other end through their computer speakers. This is no longer the way VoIP has to work though. It is still possible to use the service through a computer in this way, but there are now other, often better, alternatives. Special telephone like devices, or VoIP phones, have been developed. These are used just like a telephone with the only difference being the technology that is used to run it. From a users point of view it is exactly the same. It is also possible to convert an existing phone. There are adaptors that can convert it so it can be used to make VoIP calls. With this the existing telephone won’t even have to be changed.
Quality wise VoIP has significantly improved in recent years, something that is particularly important with business VoIP. If those on the other end can’t hear you properly, and you can’t hear them, then business communication will be difficult. It also won’t look professional to clients and business partners. This used to be the reality of VoIP, but with a good provider this is no longer the case. The quality depends on the broadband service. If the broadband service is of a high quality, so is the VoIP service.
More and more individuals and businesses are switching to VoIP. It is a technology that is likely to continue to expand over the coming years. The potential cost savings is the main incentive to switch, and with the overall service getting better it is a viable option for many.
Andrew Marshall ©
Business VoIP
VoIP works through a broadband internet connection, as opposed to a telephone line. This is less expensive as far as the providers are concerned, so therefore cheaper for its customers. Most businesses these days already use the internet so a VoIP service can be run through the existing technology, although extra software will be required. It is usually unproblematic to switch from a landline service to VoIP, although this does depends on the current set-up and the service provider. Using VoIP is likely to be easier for a new business, as they won’t even need a telephone connection. If they are having a broadband connection installed anyway, the extra difficulty with adding the necessary extra’s for VoIP will be minimal, especially when compared to a landline.
Businesses that make a lot of calls are likely to make a particular large saving if they switch. The more calls they make, the bigger the savings. Call Centres, for example, could be particularly better off with VoIP. There are huge savings to be made with long distance calls. It doesn’t cost providers much extra for long distance calls compared with local calls. Therefore businesses that make regular long distance calls could also benefit significantly.
When people think of VoIP, many think of someone talking into a microphone plugged into their computer, barely able to make sense of the person on the other end through their computer speakers. This is no longer the way VoIP has to work though. It is still possible to use the service through a computer in this way, but there are now other, often better, alternatives. Special telephone like devices, or VoIP phones, have been developed. These are used just like a telephone with the only difference being the technology that is used to run it. From a users point of view it is exactly the same. It is also possible to convert an existing phone. There are adaptors that can convert it so it can be used to make VoIP calls. With this the existing telephone won’t even have to be changed.
Quality wise VoIP has significantly improved in recent years, something that is particularly important with business VoIP. If those on the other end can’t hear you properly, and you can’t hear them, then business communication will be difficult. It also won’t look professional to clients and business partners. This used to be the reality of VoIP, but with a good provider this is no longer the case. The quality depends on the broadband service. If the broadband service is of a high quality, so is the VoIP service.
More and more individuals and businesses are switching to VoIP. It is a technology that is likely to continue to expand over the coming years. The potential cost savings is the main incentive to switch, and with the overall service getting better it is a viable option for many.
Andrew Marshall ©
Business VoIP
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Is there a connection between more independent women and marriage and divorce statistics?
In recent times the number of people getting married has fallen significantly, while the number of divorces have been going up. Another trend that has been happening at the same time is that women are becoming more independent. So is there a connection between these two trends.
There was a time when the typical family consisted of a man going out to work, while his wife would stay at home as a housewife and look after the children. There has been a large shift away from this over the past half a century. In the United Kingdom this started to a certain extent during and after the Second World War. With many working men fighting during the war, it was necessary for women to step in and perform jobs traditionally done by men, such as working in factories. Many women enjoyed working, and wanted to carry on after the war was finished. This lead to many more women in the work place, and this trend has continued ever since.
Women have a much more important role in the work place these days than ever before. Whereas once upon a time men were dominant within many industries, women are now equally represented in most working environment. Statistics show that girls tend to get better qualifications than boys, and this can obviously lead to them getting better jobs, and earning more money. So financially women are almost just as likely to be receiving a high salary as men. I say “almost” as likely because statistics show that there are still more men than women in the highest paid jobs in business. However, on average women earn a lot more than they ever have before. This means that women are much more likely to be able to support themselves than fifty years ago. Many can get by fine without having to get married, and if they are married and are getting divorced it may not be such a financial burden.
Part of this is connected to the whole way society has changed. Going back over history in many ways women were treated as second class citizens, but this is no longer the case. Early in the twentieth century women weren’t even allowed to vote. They were unable to vote in Britain until 1917, when women over 30 were granted this right. It wasn’t until another eleven years later, in 1928 when they were given the same voting rights as men. Women in most other countries weren’t allowed to vote until around this time either, with some countries much later.
There was a time when getting married was just what you did. It was almost automatic that everyone wanted to get married. These days many women choose not to. They do not feel forced to, and this is part of the overall independence that women feel they have these days.
Many of these trends also apply to divorce. It is not considered such as issue for women to get divorced and be single again. Divorce is not looked down upon by society like it once was. Being a divorced woman no longer has the negative tag it once did.
Andrew Marshall ©
Family Law Solicitors
Divorce Lawyers London
There was a time when the typical family consisted of a man going out to work, while his wife would stay at home as a housewife and look after the children. There has been a large shift away from this over the past half a century. In the United Kingdom this started to a certain extent during and after the Second World War. With many working men fighting during the war, it was necessary for women to step in and perform jobs traditionally done by men, such as working in factories. Many women enjoyed working, and wanted to carry on after the war was finished. This lead to many more women in the work place, and this trend has continued ever since.
Women have a much more important role in the work place these days than ever before. Whereas once upon a time men were dominant within many industries, women are now equally represented in most working environment. Statistics show that girls tend to get better qualifications than boys, and this can obviously lead to them getting better jobs, and earning more money. So financially women are almost just as likely to be receiving a high salary as men. I say “almost” as likely because statistics show that there are still more men than women in the highest paid jobs in business. However, on average women earn a lot more than they ever have before. This means that women are much more likely to be able to support themselves than fifty years ago. Many can get by fine without having to get married, and if they are married and are getting divorced it may not be such a financial burden.
Part of this is connected to the whole way society has changed. Going back over history in many ways women were treated as second class citizens, but this is no longer the case. Early in the twentieth century women weren’t even allowed to vote. They were unable to vote in Britain until 1917, when women over 30 were granted this right. It wasn’t until another eleven years later, in 1928 when they were given the same voting rights as men. Women in most other countries weren’t allowed to vote until around this time either, with some countries much later.
There was a time when getting married was just what you did. It was almost automatic that everyone wanted to get married. These days many women choose not to. They do not feel forced to, and this is part of the overall independence that women feel they have these days.
Many of these trends also apply to divorce. It is not considered such as issue for women to get divorced and be single again. Divorce is not looked down upon by society like it once was. Being a divorced woman no longer has the negative tag it once did.
Andrew Marshall ©
Family Law Solicitors
Divorce Lawyers London
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
The difference in Family Law between the West and Sharia Law
Sharia Law is the body of law generally used in Islamic countries. It is the most widely used religious law on the planet. Many aspects of Sharia Law differ from the laws in western nations in Europe and North America. One of the areas where Sharia law is different is in Family Law.
There is much debate within the Islamic world, and outside of it, of which interpretations of Sharia Law are correct and which are not. It is often accused of treating women badly, but there is a school of though that it was invented to protect women. As the practice of Sharia Law varies in different cultures and countries, this article may not be accurate according to all nations the practice it. Some countries, such as Iran, Sudan and Saudi Arabia strongly go by their own interpretations of Sharia Law, while countries including India and Pakistan are more liberal.
Many of the principles within Sharia Law is based around family. Unlike western cultures, when we talk about Family Law, certain behaviours within the family is demanded by law or against the law, and failure to comply can carry punishments. There are a series of so called Hadd crimes, and these include adultery and false accusations of adultery. Sexual activity outside of a marriage and homosexuality also fall under this category. In certain cases those committing these crimes could receive sentences such as stoning or the death penalty. These are rare these days though, and in the vast majority of cases a lesser punishment is given.
When it comes to divorce, laws can be very different than in the West. In some areas divorce is solely the decision of men, whereas in others women have equal rights to a divorce. One interpretation of the law is that a man simply has to say the Islamic equivalent of “I divorce you” three times for a divorce to be official. This means that saying this in a moment of weakness could mean the end of a marriage, even if it is not what he really wanted. If he then changes his mind, his wife will have to wait three months before marrying and divorcing someone else, and then wait another three months before marrying her original husband. This is much different from a western divorce where a divorce must go through the courts before being granted and can take several months of even years.
The way that men and women are treated when it comes to divorce varies in certain interpretations of Sharia Law and western family law. In Sharia Law certain rights such as custody of children and ownership of property tend to go more to men, whereas in Europe, for example, they are more likely to go to women, although this depends on the circumstances.
Andrew Marshall ©
Family Law
There is much debate within the Islamic world, and outside of it, of which interpretations of Sharia Law are correct and which are not. It is often accused of treating women badly, but there is a school of though that it was invented to protect women. As the practice of Sharia Law varies in different cultures and countries, this article may not be accurate according to all nations the practice it. Some countries, such as Iran, Sudan and Saudi Arabia strongly go by their own interpretations of Sharia Law, while countries including India and Pakistan are more liberal.
Many of the principles within Sharia Law is based around family. Unlike western cultures, when we talk about Family Law, certain behaviours within the family is demanded by law or against the law, and failure to comply can carry punishments. There are a series of so called Hadd crimes, and these include adultery and false accusations of adultery. Sexual activity outside of a marriage and homosexuality also fall under this category. In certain cases those committing these crimes could receive sentences such as stoning or the death penalty. These are rare these days though, and in the vast majority of cases a lesser punishment is given.
When it comes to divorce, laws can be very different than in the West. In some areas divorce is solely the decision of men, whereas in others women have equal rights to a divorce. One interpretation of the law is that a man simply has to say the Islamic equivalent of “I divorce you” three times for a divorce to be official. This means that saying this in a moment of weakness could mean the end of a marriage, even if it is not what he really wanted. If he then changes his mind, his wife will have to wait three months before marrying and divorcing someone else, and then wait another three months before marrying her original husband. This is much different from a western divorce where a divorce must go through the courts before being granted and can take several months of even years.
The way that men and women are treated when it comes to divorce varies in certain interpretations of Sharia Law and western family law. In Sharia Law certain rights such as custody of children and ownership of property tend to go more to men, whereas in Europe, for example, they are more likely to go to women, although this depends on the circumstances.
Andrew Marshall ©
Family Law
Monday, September 7, 2009
Why Web Hosting is Important
Web Hosting is an extremely important part of the success of a website. It is often the last thing people think about when they are designing or having a website designed, the type of web hosting you have can have a big impact on your site. There are all sorts of web hosting available from free hosting to more advanced hosting like managed hosting and colocation.
It is important that the web hosting package that you choose is able to cope with the number of visitors you expect. If the bandwidth is not sufficient then people trying to view your website will be unable to. This is not good for business, as it will be loosing you potential customers. Remember that your visitors may increase over time so you will need extra bandwidth on top of what you expect to require immediately.
No matter which hosting company you choose there will be some downtime, for example when updates to the server are being made. This should be as minimal as possible though. Downtime means that there is a problem with the hosting resulting in visitors being unable to view your site. This looks unprofessional and may put people off. This could cause visitors to go to a competitor and never come back. If you choose a host that has many problems and a lot of downtime then you are throwing money away.
You need to make sure that your hosting package offers you enough web space for your website to be able to have all the features you require. Minimal web space will limit the data you can have on your site. For example, if you want many images and video on your website you will need to have a fair amount of web space.
It is likely that you will want to make changes to your website from time to time. This is easier with some hosts than others. You may require FTP access, which allows you to upload HTML files to your site. This doesn’t just come down to what you need in terms of your website – it also depends on your knowledge. You may need a Content Management System (CMS) that allow you to make changes to the website. This is offered by some hosting packages but not others. It is also possible that you will want your website managed for you. You may not have sufficient knowledge to manage the hosting yourself, and there are packages that include management.
Depending on the type of website you have, the right domain name (website address) could be very important to you. Most web hosts allow you to have the domain name of your choosing (assuming it isn’t taken by someone else), but some of the cheaper hosts force you to use a sub-domain of there own. This is not good if you have a business site, as you will probably want your address to be the name of the business.
Depending on the size of your website you may need your site to be hosted on its own server. This will cost more but could be beneficial for large sites. Shared Hosting will probably be enough for smaller sites. With shared hosting, you website will be sharing web space and bandwidth with other websites. This limits the amount available to you more than hosting it on its own server.
Support levels are also an important consideration. The amount of support available can vary from unlimited to nothing. If you have limited knowledge of hosting then support could be an important factor when choosing a web host. You do not want to be in a position where you are struggling and need help, but none is available.
So there are many things to think about when deciding on you web hosting, some of which could have a significant impact on the success of your website. It is often underestimated, but choosing the right web hosting based on your circumstances is crucial.
Andrew Marshall ©
Colocation
It is important that the web hosting package that you choose is able to cope with the number of visitors you expect. If the bandwidth is not sufficient then people trying to view your website will be unable to. This is not good for business, as it will be loosing you potential customers. Remember that your visitors may increase over time so you will need extra bandwidth on top of what you expect to require immediately.
No matter which hosting company you choose there will be some downtime, for example when updates to the server are being made. This should be as minimal as possible though. Downtime means that there is a problem with the hosting resulting in visitors being unable to view your site. This looks unprofessional and may put people off. This could cause visitors to go to a competitor and never come back. If you choose a host that has many problems and a lot of downtime then you are throwing money away.
You need to make sure that your hosting package offers you enough web space for your website to be able to have all the features you require. Minimal web space will limit the data you can have on your site. For example, if you want many images and video on your website you will need to have a fair amount of web space.
It is likely that you will want to make changes to your website from time to time. This is easier with some hosts than others. You may require FTP access, which allows you to upload HTML files to your site. This doesn’t just come down to what you need in terms of your website – it also depends on your knowledge. You may need a Content Management System (CMS) that allow you to make changes to the website. This is offered by some hosting packages but not others. It is also possible that you will want your website managed for you. You may not have sufficient knowledge to manage the hosting yourself, and there are packages that include management.
Depending on the type of website you have, the right domain name (website address) could be very important to you. Most web hosts allow you to have the domain name of your choosing (assuming it isn’t taken by someone else), but some of the cheaper hosts force you to use a sub-domain of there own. This is not good if you have a business site, as you will probably want your address to be the name of the business.
Depending on the size of your website you may need your site to be hosted on its own server. This will cost more but could be beneficial for large sites. Shared Hosting will probably be enough for smaller sites. With shared hosting, you website will be sharing web space and bandwidth with other websites. This limits the amount available to you more than hosting it on its own server.
Support levels are also an important consideration. The amount of support available can vary from unlimited to nothing. If you have limited knowledge of hosting then support could be an important factor when choosing a web host. You do not want to be in a position where you are struggling and need help, but none is available.
So there are many things to think about when deciding on you web hosting, some of which could have a significant impact on the success of your website. It is often underestimated, but choosing the right web hosting based on your circumstances is crucial.
Andrew Marshall ©
Colocation
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Advantages and Disadvantages of Managed Hosting
Managed Hosting is a type of web hosting. The main selling point is that it is, as the name suggests, managed for you. This means that you will not have to worry about the hosting of your website.
One of the major advantages is that this worry is taken away from you. It is the responsibility of the hosting company to make sure that your website hosting is taken care of and that any problems are quickly sorted out. You staff do not have to think about the hosting, meaning they can get on with their own jobs. This allows you to focus on your business instead of keeping an eye on your website all of the time. This sees a potential cost taken away as well. If your hosting needs a lot of attention then you will need to employ IT staff with knowledge in that area. If you choose a managed hosting package, though, your payroll costs will be reduced. Managed Hosting does costs of course, but it may be cost effective compared to employing your own staff. A hosting company specialises in hosting so will already have staff performing these tasks on many different sites, so they may be able to offer it cheaper.
With Managed Hosting you can be safe in the knowledge that your hosting is in safe hands. The hosting company’s staff will have extensive expertise in hosting, and therefore will know what they are doing. If you are performing most of the hosting tasks yourself this will not be the case. If you are a solicitors firm for example, then you may not have the expertise to sort out all your hosting needs. Having a Managed Hosting package will means you can get on with your job as a solicitor. This means you can do your own job better, as can everyone else within your organisation, and this could lead to a more successful business.
For a website to be successful there needs to be minimal downtime. Downtime means that the system is unavailable and potential visitors will be unable to view your website. Every website will have some downtime but it should be as little as possible. A good Managed Hosting company will make sure downtime is rarely a problem. They will always be keeping a check on your website so will be able to sort out any problems that result in downtime. Other problems with the hosting will also be resolved timely. As you probably do not have the time to keep checking there are no such issues, this is another advantage of this type of hosting.
As with all types of hosting, there are some disadvantages. It can be expensive. As mentioned above, you can save money if you would otherwise need to employ extra staff, but if it is only fairly basic hosting you require then it may prove to be unnecessarily expensive. It all depends on the specifics you require. The costs are significantly more than unmanaged hosting.
The other main negative is that you will not have overall control of your hosting. Some people prefer to be hand on, but with Managed Hosting you are handing this control over to the hosts.
These are the only real negatives of Managed Hosting but they can be important ones. If you do not have the needs for this advanced type of hosting, then it is completely unnecessary, and could turn out to be a waste of money. There are much cheaper options available, so it all depends on whether you would need to employ your own staff and whether you need the extra’s and support offered by Managed Hosting. If you do have the expertise and want control of your hosting but still need it to be hosted by someone else, then there are other hosting options available that would suit you better.
Whether or not Managed Hosting is for you all depends on the type of website that you have, and whether the all round package suits you and your site.
Andrew Marshall ©
Managed Hosting
One of the major advantages is that this worry is taken away from you. It is the responsibility of the hosting company to make sure that your website hosting is taken care of and that any problems are quickly sorted out. You staff do not have to think about the hosting, meaning they can get on with their own jobs. This allows you to focus on your business instead of keeping an eye on your website all of the time. This sees a potential cost taken away as well. If your hosting needs a lot of attention then you will need to employ IT staff with knowledge in that area. If you choose a managed hosting package, though, your payroll costs will be reduced. Managed Hosting does costs of course, but it may be cost effective compared to employing your own staff. A hosting company specialises in hosting so will already have staff performing these tasks on many different sites, so they may be able to offer it cheaper.
With Managed Hosting you can be safe in the knowledge that your hosting is in safe hands. The hosting company’s staff will have extensive expertise in hosting, and therefore will know what they are doing. If you are performing most of the hosting tasks yourself this will not be the case. If you are a solicitors firm for example, then you may not have the expertise to sort out all your hosting needs. Having a Managed Hosting package will means you can get on with your job as a solicitor. This means you can do your own job better, as can everyone else within your organisation, and this could lead to a more successful business.
For a website to be successful there needs to be minimal downtime. Downtime means that the system is unavailable and potential visitors will be unable to view your website. Every website will have some downtime but it should be as little as possible. A good Managed Hosting company will make sure downtime is rarely a problem. They will always be keeping a check on your website so will be able to sort out any problems that result in downtime. Other problems with the hosting will also be resolved timely. As you probably do not have the time to keep checking there are no such issues, this is another advantage of this type of hosting.
As with all types of hosting, there are some disadvantages. It can be expensive. As mentioned above, you can save money if you would otherwise need to employ extra staff, but if it is only fairly basic hosting you require then it may prove to be unnecessarily expensive. It all depends on the specifics you require. The costs are significantly more than unmanaged hosting.
The other main negative is that you will not have overall control of your hosting. Some people prefer to be hand on, but with Managed Hosting you are handing this control over to the hosts.
These are the only real negatives of Managed Hosting but they can be important ones. If you do not have the needs for this advanced type of hosting, then it is completely unnecessary, and could turn out to be a waste of money. There are much cheaper options available, so it all depends on whether you would need to employ your own staff and whether you need the extra’s and support offered by Managed Hosting. If you do have the expertise and want control of your hosting but still need it to be hosted by someone else, then there are other hosting options available that would suit you better.
Whether or not Managed Hosting is for you all depends on the type of website that you have, and whether the all round package suits you and your site.
Andrew Marshall ©
Managed Hosting
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