What are the key requirements for a company website?
When running a website we need:
- Security
- Availability
These 2 key requirements can be impacted in a number of different ways, but we can help mitigate some of these by starting with a good setup.
What does a website actually need?
There are several moving parts to a website:
- Domain name hosting - the service provider from whom the domain is purchased.
- Domain Name System (DNS) - the service that points the domain name to the website.
- Website hosting - the infrastructure where the website lives.
- Security certificates - the things that live alongside the website to provide some security.
We consider domain names, websites, website content, and security certificates to be very important possessions.
Should I use an AI platform or a one stop shop service provider?
These days, there is often a tendency to rely on a single platform or service provider to take care of all the moving parts, especially with the emergence of AI generated systems.
There's nothing fundamentally wrong with this, but it can create unexpected "lock in" and leave you exposed to potential security and availability risks, which might be out of your control.
We believe such platforms and services are good for simple websites, or for system prototyping.
Should I just outsource everything to an IT company?
Alternatively, it can sometimes feel more comforting to outsource everything to a technology company. This often also creates "lock in" and the handing over of control to what we believe are very important possessions.
Why not do it yourself?
It might seem scary initially, but managing things yourself, using different providers for each of the moving parts, is without doubt the best approach for systems that are a bit more complex than just a simple website.
You don't need to be a technology expert to do this. When things are setup properly they largely look after themselves.
It is still important to have some technology and cyber security strategic oversight regarding implementation and on-going maintenance.
Fear not, this is where we come in, we're here to help!