The industrial society has been replaced by a post-industrial one, or, as it is also called, an information society. The modern world is impossible without high-speed information transfer, pigeon mail has sunk into oblivion, replaced by postal operators, which are already being replaced by e-mail today. The Internet is especially important today, fifteen years ago it was a luxury, and now it is an indispensable part of life.
Many businesses are starting to do business online finding partners or clients through it, the ability to quickly communicate and access information databases is no longer an advantage, but a necessity. More and more companies are creating their websites, and all the databases for the company’s work need to be stored somewhere. It is simply unprofitable to acquire your own server and keep a staff of stern masters of the IT-sphere – programmers; the server and its attendants need a place and a constant investment. However, it is very difficult to work without an established communication network, in addition to accessing the worldwide network, employees must also be able to communicate with each other in real-time without leaving their workplaces, which forces the company owner to organize an information system with the help of third-party organizations. All this complex of work is undertaken by the hosting company.
But it should be noted that the services of a hosting company are of interest not only to commercial organizations. Hosting is the provision of space on the server, a personal data warehouse, which is connected to the World Wide Web 24 hours 7 days a week. Since the server is a rather bulky thing, difficult to maintain, consuming a relatively large amount of electricity and, at the same time, also expensive, even many medium-sized companies cannot afford to buy it, not to mention small firms and, moreover, ordinary citizens who want to have their own website. The hosting company offers to use the space on its server for a fee, where you can place any kind of information. But within the law, of course, because information security is the responsibility of the hosting company,
In order not to get confused in concepts, you need to know that the server in this case is hardware (“hardware”, a real unit), and hosting is a service for providing information space on the server. Typically, a hosting company may offer the following:
- location. A service for placing the physical equipment of a client or its provider on its territory – in a data center.
- Dedicated server, including virtual. That is, one physical machine is allocated to the user, in the case of a virtual dedicated server, this process is emulated by computer technology.
- Shared hosting is the exact opposite of the previous point, since here the websites are located on the same web server, but are processed by the same software. The most economical type of service.
- Software as a Service (SaaS) is the development of software that is sold to the client on the rights of use via the Internet. At the same time, the client is deprived of the need to install software at home, all work in the application also takes place via the Internet.
- Data warehousing and the emerging “cloud storage”. As the name implies, a dedicated area for storing client information to which he has access. The second type of service can still process information.
- Registration of domain names. Basically, this is an additional type of service, but most hosting companies deal with this issue for the client, who is comfortable solving the problem of creating a website through one company.
A hoster is also often approached for the possibility of hosting a game or mail server. Yes, and you will have to cooperate not only with legal entities, but also with individuals, who probably won’t need a lot of space. But you need to understand the difference between a hoster and a provider, the latter provides access to the network, and the former only hosts information. Often Internet providers are also engaged in hosting, but for them it will be an additional type of service.
In general, the services of a hosting company can be performed in several formats, and the simplest of them is reselling. It involves the sale of seats on someone else’s server, that is, the entrepreneur here acts as an intermediary, while often acting under his own name and brand, but in fact without equipment, but only contracts with hosting providers. Reseller activity is a search for a client, a kind of sales agency activity, the reseller sets the price for his services himself (but part of the cost, of course, is given to the real hoster), negotiates with clients, but is limited in opportunities, since he cannot manage the capacities, and they will not let him change the configuration of the equipment. Many entrepreneurs started with this form of business,
Another form is a full server rental, the places on which are then sold, here the businessman is already forced to pay monthly for the rented car, but has the right to independently establish the terms of cooperation with clients, while also providing him with technical support. That is, it will be distinguished from a full-fledged hoster only by the absence of its own devices, but rented machines are configured as needed by the entrepreneur, and not by the landlord. However, it is worth considering the business of a full-fledged hosting company in more detail.
To begin with, as always, you need to register the form of a business entity, there are no restrictions on it in this area of business. Activity code (OKPD 2) 63.1 Data processing, accommodation and related services; portals in the information and communication network Internet; depending on the way of work, they can specify on (OKPD 2) 63.11 Services for data processing, accommodation and related services or (OKPD 2) 63.12 Content of portals in the Internet information and communication network. Registration of an individual entrepreneur is, as a rule, much cheaper and rarely exceeds 5 thousand rubles, a legal entity will require more documents and, possibly, slightly larger amounts for its registration. Considering all sorts of little things and expenses,
When this stage is passed, it is worth paying attention to the fact that such activities require licensing. There is no concept of “hosting” in the law, but a license is required for the transmission of messages and for providing access to information using information and telecommunication technologies. Hosting services fully fall under this definition. There were cases when hosters rented or even located their own servers in other countries to bypass this law, after which they even successfully existed for some time, but even any minor problem (the client posted prohibited information, for example) will attract the attention of the relevant authorities. If it turns out that the hoster is engaged in unlicensed activities, then the least that threatens him is a decent fine. But the consequences could be much worse. Therefore, obtaining a license is an important stage that is worth going through, since it takes more than a year in time, and it will not require large funds, only if this issue is not resolved through intermediaries. You need to contact the local department of the Federal Service for Supervision of Communications, Information Technology and Mass Media – Roskomnadzor. An application is submitted there with a request to provide a license and a receipt for payment of the fee (6 thousand rubles). After that, the licensee will need the following documents: information technologies and mass communications – Roskomnadzor. An application is submitted there with a request to provide a license and a receipt for payment of the fee (6 thousand rubles). After that, the licensee will need the following documents: information technologies and mass communications – Roskomnadzor. An application is submitted there with a request to provide a license and a receipt for payment of the fee (6 thousand rubles). After that, the licensee will need the following documents:
- All papers related to the registration of an individual or legal entity, contact details.
- Information documents on the territory where communication services will be provided (location of the data center in the case of hosting), the category of the communication network, the planned period for the provision of services.
- Description of means of communication.
- Plan and economic justification for the installation and development of the network.
- Scheme of building a communication network.
The response time is 30 days. It turns out that at this stage you already need to have your own equipment, an organized data center and even employees, because an ignorant person (and an entrepreneur may well be far from computer technology) is unlikely to competently draw up technical documents for submission to Roskomnadzor, and this will need to be entrusted the most qualified workers. At the same time, it is mandatory to obtain a permit for the commissioned communication center, certify the service accounting system and obtain certificates for equipment that are issued by the Ministry of Communications. If it is intended to provide services for the placement of someone else’s equipment, then in addition it will be necessary to obtain a license for communication services for data transmission. This, of course, will require an investment of time, effort and finances, but it will make it possible to work, without worrying every day about the appearance of peppy men from law enforcement on the doorstep. The specifics of the work can even attract the attention of the FSB, so it is better to reduce the risks in this aspect to a minimum. To obtain a package of permits, it may take from 20 thousand rubles, of which more than half will go to a third-party company. Theoretically, you can get a license on your own for the above 6 thousand.
From the point of view of the work performed and its quality, it is impossible to save on either equipment or employees – this is all the key to success. Poor quality hosting will scare away all customers, regardless of the level of marketing and prices offered. Of course, the consumer is looking for ways to save money, but no one will use the services of a hosting provider whose server is constantly down, communication is lost and there is no information protection.
In general, consumer psychology expects that the hosting company will always and under any conditions ensure the continuity of work, without thinking about planned reboots, adjustments and settings. As practice shows, a client can leave after the first relatively long disconnection, and it can even be understood – no one wants to be left without a connection at a time when it is especially necessary. And in many companies, the availability of a workable communication network and its website must always be ensured, without interruptions. On the other hand, the client is sympathetic if he is warned in advance about the proposed work and together with him choose the time when the network may be absent. The message on the fact of disconnection usually infuriates him and forces him to leave for competitors. Considering their large number, you can not only lose this client, but also lose a lot of potential clients due to word of mouth. But high-quality services will not be enough at first, consumers should turn not to competitors initially, and a good advertising campaign is needed here.
It is foolish to imagine a company operating in an online business and not having its own website, so creating your own portal on the Internet will be a top priority. Further, advertising still goes through the World Wide Web, but a hired sales manager can independently search for customers. It is better to do it yourself in order to save money. Advertising on television and radio (not word of mouth) is usually not effective in this case, like all other ATL techniques. It is easier and faster to find clients yourself.
Before buying equipment, it is better to find specialists who will not only tell you which server to choose, but also tell you what hardware and software they can work with. This especially affects the purchase of a control panel, because there are a lot of them, and a rare specialist works equally well in everyone. Depending on the expected working conditions and the services provided, employees will say what is best suited. Based on this, you can start looking for a room for the data center. It is unlikely to be more than 50 m 2 , while it will need to be divided into a server room and an office in which service equipment and customer personnel work. The cost of renting a room starts from 30 thousand rubles.
The server is handled by a system administrator (sysadmin) – the god of the computer sphere and all IT, two people help him, if there is not much equipment. It’s also better to have two people doing the field work – it’s likely that some worker in the client’s office (the main source of problems according to the programmers is the accountant, they don’t like them very much) will run the wrong program or break the wrong wire, which will leave the entire office without communication. The technical factor cannot be ruled out, the equipment can also break down and need to be adjusted periodically, and not only the hoster, but also the client can have the capacity. Of course, in most cases, the work of the office is set up offline, and the appearance of IT specialists is not provided at all, but some services suggest such a possibility.
For everything to work, you need at least one server and a control panel. But if there is only one server, then the services of a dedicated machine cannot be provided. However, here everything depends on the amount that the entrepreneur has, but it is not advisable to buy more than 5 devices at the very beginning. The control panel can also be found free, but rarely anyone works on them due to limited functionality and a poor shell. The most common is cPanel (in addition to the generally accepted Linux in beta mode, it also supports Windows, which is rare), its cost starts from $16 per month (but only for “cloud” hosting). It’s easier to take it for a year – for $425 you can get relatively good functionality. The server is selected depending on the number of first potential customers and the required computing power. The price range is from 20 to 500 thousand rubles. The optimal car can be found for 100 thousand rubles. The work of employees is paid from the following calculations:
- System administrator – from 30 thousand rubles.
- IT-specialists (2 people) – 40 thousand rubles.
- Field engineers (2 people) – 70 thousand rubles.
It is better to offer workers a not so high salary, but a good bonus depending on the quality of work. Thus, the amount of starting capital will be:
- Registration and licensing of business online – about 40 thousand rubles.
- Room rental – 30 thousand rubles.
- Equipment (3 servers), control panel and office equipment – 400 thousand rubles.
- Outsourcing, utility bills (electricity in the first place) – about 30 thousand rubles.
- Payment of employees – 140 thousand rubles.
The amount for undertaking is 640 thousand rubles, monthly payments – 200 thousand rubles. If there is less equipment, the staff is reduced, and then the costs. The cost of hosting for a client starts from 4 thousand rubles. That is, 50 clients will cover only the costs of maintaining the company, and only a larger number of them will begin to make a profit. 60 clients is already 40 thousand operating profit, 100 clients – 200 thousand. To increase their number, you can look for consumers not only in your city, but also in neighboring ones, if not all over the country at all (but you will have to take into account the fact that such clients will only receive advice by phone). For a large city, this is quite realistic, but for the first time, you still have to have a certain reserve of funds. The payback of such an online business can be several years, depending on