The ongoing debate surrounding all things ‘net-neutrality’ has been raging for quite some time now. Internet Service Providers became the catalyst for the arguments, with their initial attempts to capitalise more effectively on ever-increasing network speeds and bandwidth availability. Many stood up against this call for action, however it has slowly found its way into our everyday interactions with the internet.

Tarif providers for the iPhone/other smart phones have recently announced plans to remove their unlimited data plans and replace them with bandwidth usage charges. A number of ISP’s now also cap data allowances and charge/throttle back speeds once an agreed limit has been met. The argument on the providers side is that users are now too data-hungry, and are stressing conventional networks to breaking point. The riposte from internet users across the globe is an argument of net-neutrality; essentially the notion that the internet should be free from the boundaries incurred throughout many other activities in society. Of course, this comes within reason, but the basic premise is that people should have a free reign on the internet, and that all users have equal opportunities in accessing the web.

Naturally, this is not always the case. The ‘level playing field’ idea never stands true in the real world, as there are already a number of options when it comes to internet access depending on location and budgetary constraints. Yet recent discussions between a number of key players in the industry could soon push such limitations too far.

The idea drawn up between Google and Verizon is that of a two-tiered internet. This would allow ISP’s to place priorities on traffic and how it is routed to end users, thus removing any idea of a neutral and unbiased level of access to the net. Protests have been underway outside the Google offices in California, voicing the opinions of internet users as a whole.

Google have released a post on their blog with more information regarding where they officially stand on the matter – seen here.

So what does all this mean for users of the internet? Well, not much at this time. It could all be thrown out by Congress regardless of what the corporations have to say, yet the power and leverage of both Google and Verizon could prove effective in pushing this newly proposed legislation through. Yet people do need to step back and realise that a consequence of living in a free-market economy is that total net-neutrality is not possible. Access is already tiered by speed depending on your connection type and payment plan. The danger here is that a ‘pay-to-play’ plan is pushed through, and global network traffic is managed, sorted and even restricted depending on who you are and how you are accessing the internet. This could well lead to massive inequallities across the board – a backward step in anyones book.

Netwise Hosting continue to support the idea of net-neutrality, and will always maintain our networks as equally across the board as is possible.

Outsourcing is a method of business operation undertaken by many of the most successful company’s in the world today. In fact, some organisations employ a 100% outsourcing policy. Nike are one such brand – effectively meaning Nike do not actually make any shoes or clothing. All production is outsourced to factories across the globe. Even aspects of design are outsourced. Nike own the famous ‘swoosh’, and so also own the rights to any material containing their brand identity. This is a highly efficient form of operation, as Nike do not have to worry about the ownership and/or operation of any production facilities.

Of course this form of 100% outsourcing does not benefit all businesses, particularly those with a keen interest in the provision of services. McDonalds, for example, outsource much of there food production to localised farms and processing plants. However, products are manufactured to strict guidelines, with McDonalds then taking control of every further aspect of operation from logistics and preparation right through to sales.

It is highly unlikely that McDonalds would be as large and successful as they are today without reliance on farmers and farming experts to produce the livestock required to fulfill the demand created by its customers. Without outsourcing such areas of production, McDonalds would have to invest billions of dollars in its own farms, as well as the training and resources required to run said farms. It is far more efficient to outsource this aspect of their supply chain to those businesses already proving a success in the field. Even if you are not a fan of McDonalds as a brand, and/or its products, you should well appreciate how effectively they make use of outsourcing in their own success.

How does this translate to the rest of the business world? Well, its very important to look at the benefits gained from outsourcing certain operations. Although handing away total control can seem daunting, it can have enormous cost-saving prowess, as well as the ability to build a better product/service on the back of another parties expertise.

Almost every firm today utilises some form of information technology, be that a single computer right up to entire comms’ rooms full of servers. Yet the truth of the matter is that many business do not have the required knowledge to make the most of this technology. This will often lead to the formation of an IT department within the organisation, which drastically increases staff costs and can make the running of this technology spiral into an expensive financial blackhole.

Many businesses now outsource all of their IT needs, generally with a central IT firm who manage the needs of a number of businesses. This works to a certain degree, but with the technology still housed on the businesses own premised, lead times on remedies can be unacceptable. Distancing the technology from those in posession of the right knowledge regarding how it is operated can prove inefficient.

An entire IT outsourcing plan is likely the best option, especially in todays world of high-speed online connectivity. Dedicated servers and colocation services allow firms to move their business-critical technology out to experts with all the tools and knowledge required to ensure it is running smoothly 24×7. It has never been easier to make this switch, with many affordable solutions on offer here in the UK; with the ever progressing speed of the internet meaning remote access from your business is just as simple as having the machines in-house.

Netwise Hosting offer a range of highly competitive dedicated server packages, colocation services and online backup solutions, perfect for starting your technology outsourcing strategy today. Work with a member of the Netwise Hosting team for a truely tailored solution, and enjoy complete peace of mind – concentrating your efforts on more important core activities. Contact us for a free comprehensive information pack.

With the UK still in a dire financial situation, a new emergency budget has been drafted in a view to help repair some of the damage done. This budget contains a number of key factors, all of which aim to address the problems currently facing the UK, with a number of these remedies having a direct effect on those living in Great Britain today.

Yet one factor stands above the rest in terms of its impact. Its a fairly complex situation, as it benefits the country, whilst also having the potential to cripple the spending power of UK residents. This is of course in reference to the controversial decision to raise VAT from 17.5% to 20%, after countless promises that VAT would not rise. The UK has had a yoyo-like VAT system of recent years, dropping from 17.5% to 15% in response to the recession, before rising back up to 17.5%.

It has been expected for some time now that public spending will be slashed in response to years of borrowing and overspending. However, a VAT increase has not gone down well with the public, particularly with business owners. This is fuelled in no small part by the divided opinion between supporters of the coalition’s two component parties. The Liberal Democrats promised that a VAT increase would not happen; but now support the Conservatives decision to raise it to 20%. Of course, a public spending cut will be felt along side this VAT increase, as well as a number of other measures.

Firstly it should be noted that on the whole, this is a positive step forwards for the UK in terms of paying off its national debt. The 2.5% rise will see an extra £13 billion per year in added funds. As would be the case with a private debt held by an individual, it is important to cut costs and boost income to pay it off in due course. Any business owner will be very familiar with this basic principal.

So what does this mean for businesses in the UK? Well most obviously, prices will rise to cushion the VAT increase. Essentially the government are looking to gain more from each transaction made by individuals in the UK. This is all well and good. However rising prices can cause spending rates to drop across the board. In terms of basic and fundamental economics, price rises would only come into play in a free market economy when controlling (or responding to) demand. When this is altered for the sake of an emergency budget, it can sway figures from both ends out of alignment. Business spending will also be effected by the increase in pricing, but of course with VAT offset for business expenses it will nullify itself in the long run. If businesses decide to absorb the added VAT cost themselves, they will simply be absorbing part of the UK debt, which is a counterproductive move as a business owner.

The consensus is that a VAT rise will hit the UK hard, at a time when the public really dont need it. But the fact of the matter is that what we want to be happening isnt always what is best for us in the long run. If the UK continues as it is, it may well fall into a deep depression and end up in a worse situation than ever thought possible. The new budget will help dig the country out of the mess it is in now, but requires our help as citizens to help in that process. It is a fair method, even if it is one that the people are not all too happy with at this time.

IPv4 is the current standard for internet protocol addressing across the world, and has become synonymous with internet users all over the globe. The familiar ‘xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx’ format is well known to anyone with a slight understanding of how the internet works. Domain names and domain name servers happily supply locations on the web with a handy textual reference, which means visiting a website does not require the input of a dot-decimal number (e.g. 192.168.10.10). Instead, a web address such as http://www.bbc.co.uk/ can be used, which itself finds the numerical IP address meaning the user doesn’t have to. This is all a good thing of course, and until now has worked very well.

The problem which has been expected for some time now is beginning to come to light. IPv4 is the fourth revision of the IP addressing system, allowing around 4 billion unique numerical combinations. Naturally, the overwhelming and rapid growth of the internet since the 1980’s has meant these addresses have gone quickly. It is suspected that they will have been fully exhausted by 2012.

A new addressing method was required for the continual growth of the internet. A number of alternatives have been conceived over the years, none more promising than IPv6.

IPv6 allows for a almost unquantifiable number of addresses, with the official number standing at 340,282,366,920,938,463,463,374,607,431,768,211,456, which is unlikely to ever run out. This will secure the future of the internets addressing platform.

So what does this mean for users of IT services across the globe? Firstly, home users should not worry. Internet service providers will handle the switch for you. If new equipment is required for new users, this will be provided to you by any ISP making the switch. Existing customers will likely remain on IPv4 until any major changes are required.

The circumstances are slightly different for commercial users however. It is very important to select providers who will be crossing over to the new IPv6 platform with a network architecture that supports such a change. High end top-level networking equipment must support IPv6 as a protocol for it to function. Because of this any dedicated sever platforms taken out in the very near future with a need for large IP blocks will have to ensure IPv6 compatibility to sustain growth.

Netwise Hosting only utilise fibre links from providers who already support IPv6 ready for the change. Our internal networking infrastructure will be following suit soon, with full support for both IPv4 and IPv6. If you are looking for a trouble free, growth-oriented service solution long into the future, Netwise Hosting are more than able to step upto the challenge whilst remaining the most cost-effective dedicated server provider in the UK market.