An Application Service Provider (ASP) is a company which allow businesses to outsource their externally hosted back-end applications, which saves a lot of money in operating costs. ASPs remove the need for high-salaried extra staff, and expensive application or equipment purchases. They take on the responsibility for building, developing and distributing custom applications and databases for their clients.

There are a number of differences between ASPs and ordinary web hosts. ASPs are in some ways an "elite" class of web hosts, and are often publicly traded; they have a lot of cash behind them. They will have a highly professional staff and will deal with cutting-edge software and equipment on a daily basis. They will also offer the broadest bandwidth and a highly reliable service. This comes at a considerable cost, though: many potential customers will be put off by the £5,000+ price tag, but it’s well worth it for large businesses who can leave the ASP to deal with any potential problems as they arise.

An ASP, if you can afford it, will provide you with every feature you could possibly need: shopping card options, e-commerce services, databases, email, search engines, FTP applications, calendars, and custom programs. Also, ASPs usually provide multiple servers, power backup, 24/7 support and 4-way replication, offering you the most comprehensive list of services available.

If you are a large online business, it may well be wise for you to consider an ASP, if you’re not put off by the expense. They can be particularly useful if you run several sites, as ASPs can provide "data warehousing" services, whereby your graphics and text are stored in a database. This can make continuous site updates faster and more efficient.

If you do think an ASP would be a worthwhile investment, shop around and make sure you’re getting the best deal. You will be paying for peace of mind and an impeccable service, so it could well be worth it.

Author: Natalie Catchpole

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