What is an ISP?
An ISP, or internet service provider, is a company that provides
its customers access to the internet and other web services. In
addition to maintaining a direct line to the internet, the company
usually maintains web servers. By supplying necessary software,
a password-protected user account, and a phone number to dial into
the internet connection, ISPs offer their customers the capability
to browse the web and exchange email with other people. Some ISPs
also offer additional services.
ISPs can vary in size - some are operated by one individual, while
others are large corporations. They may also vary in scope - some
only support users in a particular city, while others have regional
or national capabilities.
What services do ISPs provide?
Almost all ISPs offer email and web browsing capabilities. They
also offer varying degrees of user support, usually in the form
of an email address or customer support hotline. Most ISPs also
offer web hosting capabilities, allowing users to create and maintain
personal web pages; and some may even offer the service of developing
the pages for you. Many ISPs offer the option of high-speed access
through DSL or cable modems, while others may just rely on dial-up
connections.
As part of normal operation, most ISPs perform backups of email
and web files. If the ability to recover email and web files is
important to you, check with your ISP to see if they back up the
data; it might not be advertised as a service. Additionally, some
ISPs may implement firewalls to block some incoming traffic, although
you should consider this a supplement to your own security precautions,
not a replacement.
How do you choose an ISP?
There are thousands of ISPs, and it's often difficult to decide
which one best suits your needs. Some factors to consider include:
security - Do you feel that the ISP is concerned about security?
Does it use encryption and SSL (see Protecting Your Privacy for
more information) to protect any information you submit (e.g., user
name, password)?
privacy - Does the ISP have a published privacy policy? Are you
comfortable with who has access to your information and how it is
being handled and used?
services - Does your ISP offer the services you want? Do they meet
your requirements? Is there adequate support for the services?
cost - Are the ISP's costs affordable? Are they reasonable for the
number of services you receive, as well as the level of those services?
Are you sacrificing quality and security to get the lowest price?
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