Hosting and Ongoing Maintenance Requirements for Ecommerce Web Services

In order to be able to take credit card or checking information online, the following services must be managed by you and your website programmer or hosting provider.

1. Software Maintenance: Upgrades to your software as new releases are made available. ICI web development services includes these options.
2. Domain Registration: Annual renewal. To register or a renew a domain with ICI, see our domain pricing rates. For more information on this topic, read our Knowledge Base article.
3. SSL (Secured Socket Layer): are cryptographic protocols that provide security and data integrity for communications over TCP/IP networks such as the Internet. This socket layer (notice on any secure form url address becomes HTTPS) ensures that any information entered on these pages are encrypted and cannot be viewed by anyone without authorization. These pages require a static ip address as well as a certificate that certifies your web page has been secured.
• SSL certificate must be renewed annualy. ICI recommends THAWTE for SSL Certificate purchase. Upon purchase your website maintainer or server provider such as ICI must install the new certificate. For more information on this topic, read our Knowledge Base Article.
• SSL monthly hosting.*
• Static IP Hosting.*
4. Annual Hosting.*
5. PGP Software: Encryption is required for any online sales system. In order to be able to encrypt and decrypt information, you will need a desktop encryption software. Mac users, GPG is free. For a great step-by-step overview, read this article will get you started with encyrption software in no time. For the PC, please go to pgp.com.

*See ICI hosting rates.

The question that always comes up: "I am a small shop, do I really need all of this ssl and encryption stuff?" Answer: "Yes!"

Most merchants will not allow you take credit card information without these measures in place, consumers are knowledgeable about ssl certificates, and hackers could care less whether you are big or small-in fact the smaller ones are easy to pickins and any hosting provider that does not require these components is most likely selling services on a server that is already compromised.

If the rates are not covered by your sales, paypal is your best option. Paypal provides is both a merchant and a gateway that you can use for no cost.

Security

When taking sensitive information such as credit card data, security is not an afterthought. ICI web services are compliant with HIPPA, COPPA, Visa CISP, and PCI regulations.

• HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act)
• COPPA (Childrens Online Privacy Act)
• Visa CISP Compliance
• PCI Compliance (Payment Credit Card Industry)

ICI Hosting Benefits If you are ready for shopping cart services, ICI can handle all of your web administration needs that may pop up as well as make sure that you are providing the best level of service for your business and customers.

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