When you start thinking about hosting your IBM i (iSeries/AS400) applications, it is only normal to pay a lot of attention to cost, functionality, and support.
Check Out The Hosting Agreement To Be Safe
In addition, I believe the hosting agreement is a critical element in the evaluation.
Let’s consider key elements in the hosting agreement.
What Trial Period Can You Expect …And Is It Really Long Enough For Adequate Testing.
It always seems to take longer to get your hosted system up, running and tested to satisfaction before the client goes live.
How do you know your applications will be running satisfactorily before you start paying for hosting?
What assistance does the host provider offer to help you confirm your application software is functioning correctly?
We offer a 60 day free trial before our client schedules to go live.
More commonly, other hosting companies charge hosting and engineering fees at the time you load your applications…or have short test periods (a month or less) for you to validate your application.
In other cases, I have seen hosting providers offer a trial period before the hosting agreement takes full effect…and this trial period is billable. (The small print of the agreement says so…it is real easy to miss.)
Your Term … How Flexible Is It?
Is the hosting term flexible for your needs?
I find that most of the hosting providers want a 3-year term as standard. If you push some the will reduce the term to a shorter period.
Our clients generally want a 1 year term that is renewable as they need it. Some request terms as short as 3 months. Even as short as 1 month.
Here’s the point. You want the terms to be very flexible to satisfy your needs.
Termination. Is It Easy? Or, Can You Expect Limited Transition Support And Massive Penalties?
You may be dissatisfied with your hosting experience. Your circumstances may change unexpectedly (that’s IT, right?). So, what is involved to terminate the hosting agreement?
Does the termination timetable fit your needs or the host provider’s needs?
Do you have to wait for the end of term or do you have an option to terminate earlier?
If you have to terminate early, what kind of cooperation and transition support will you experience? Talk to references to find out.
If you have to terminate early, is the termination reasonable or will you have to pay massive penalties to get out?
If you have to pay penalties, how are they calculated and were you made aware of these penalties at the time of contract signing?
Who Owns Your System?
Be sure the agreement clearly specifies the data and the system is yours and that you do not have to pay any fees whatsoever for the return of not only your application software but also your data.
What Does Your Hosting Service Include?
What is included in your hosting service?
Do you have to pay for IBM software, software support and hardware support?
Do you pay extra for bandwidth? Backups? Disaster Recovery? Managed Services?
If the hosting provider delivers disaster recovery and business continuity services, how were they defined, how can you test the services and what is needed from your team to utilize these services?
What Service Levels Can You Expect?
How does your provider explain their Service Level Agreements (SLA)?
What happens if the SLA’s are not met?
If the SLA’s are not met, how can you terminate the service without incurring any cancellation fees?
What Are Your Options If The Hosting Provider Changes?
If the hosting provider is faced with going out of business, selling their business, merging their business or other significant changes in their business environment that could be unfavorable to you, what are your options?
How do you cancel the service and move to a new hosting provider?
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