Qusetion:We were thinking that our company could save money by using an Internal Web Server. If we were to do this we would not have to pay a web hosting fee and we could host our website on one of our own office computers. Do you have reasons why this might or might not be a good idea?

Internal web hosting may seem free and whilst it is true to say that your website visitor is probably not concerned as to where your website files are stored but you should be aware that there are downsides to internal hosting.
 
To have a Web site on the Internet you first need to have a Web Server. Unfortunately, owning a Web server can be very costly and requires technical expertise that a lot of businesses don't have. Most home networks don't have the speed or bandwidth to host a professional website. Furthermore a typical home or small business broadband connection is designed for high volumes of information coming into the building, rather than going out. I.e. Somebody may enter into a browser www.microsoft.com (being only a few characters going out) but the result could be that the web server would then return the home page which may consist of 2 or 3 thousand characters.
 
To run a webserver you will need a connection which gives you high speed in both directions. You will need the personnel with the time and necessary skills to deal with related issues. Knowledge of how databases work, programming skills, Security, Spam Control, Viruses and Secure Server issues are also required.
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This is where Web Hosts come in. Web hosting companies provide the equipment and other technical resources that you need without the headaches that come when you have to do it yourself. Web hosts back up data on their servers. Many host packages offer backups every 24 hours or even more frequently. This is to prevent the loss of data should something happen to the server.
 
Your web hosting & Web development company should have a wide knowledge base in order to deal with any issues related to modern websites, which are all designed differently, using different programming methods, databases and shopping baskets etc
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Hosting your own website will not save you much money, and it definitely won't save you time. Your Webmaster must have the technical skill to keep your web site running smoothly. They'll need to know about your hardware and software and have the knowledge of several programming languages and have a large amount of time to allocate to dealing with related issues.
 
You will need to check with your ISP as many ISP either wont allow you to run a web server on your connection and if your website was successful you will probably incur monthly charges for the data transfer.you may incur Security problems are sometimes found in server software, and these can be exploited to gain access to or damage your files. Your computer must be kept absolutely up to date in order to deal with these issues.
 
A Web Server is required. A typical Web server will have a good processor, lots of memory and a large hard disk and most importantly must be up and running 24 hours a day every day of the year. The web server will need configuring and you will of course need to make sure that you have access or are allowed enough bandwidth available to serve your expected website visitors.
 
It's also important to remember that the computer you use must be dedicated for this task.  It is not recommended you use your personal computer to double as a web host because it could interrupt your website's performance levels.
 
A web hosting service will normally provide you with email services . You will of course need a high speed broadband connection. Read more about our Email services.........
 
Database websites
If your web site uses a database to store information, you will need to know how to support the database. You will need to have knowledge of which database is being used. Databases can be difficult to configure properly. You will need to support whichever database you are using.
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Programming Languages - CGI Scripting - SSL - Shopping Online Websites
Many different programming skills are often required as your website may use several different programming languages. Many dynamic websites use CGI scripting facilities along with databases and also of course if your website has a shopping cart or "basket" then you will need to provide SSL (Secure Server Licence) facilities.
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Virus and Spam Control
You will also need to be fully in control of the issues to be considered in connection with Spam Control and Virus Checking.
Read more about Spam Control Read more about Spam Control for your emails.....................
 
Companies that continue to host their own sites internally will gain little competitive advantage and spend more money on staffing and technology than those that outsource these functions. Surveys haave shown that the costs for the in house staff hours that are required to manage the internal hosting project will generally amount to more than three times the cost of outsourcing to a reliable web hosting company.

To summarise - there are few advantages in hosting your website internally and the costs and time spent may well not be make this hosting method a worthwhile choice for your company.
 
Why not choose GCW Managed Dedicated Servers instead for your Company's Web hosting requirements?
 
Dedicated Servers - Managed Dedicated Servers
Our Dedicated servers offer you sole access, allowing complete control over content, security, and usage. With a managed dedicated server for your web hosting from GCWWeb Services you can count on excellent web hosting service, professional maintenance and of course ongoing support 24/7
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Because different businesses have different kinds of web hosting needs and require different web hosting solutions we offer a hassle free web hosting solutions for you.