FRAMINGHAM (02/07/2000) - Analysts warn that companies should look closely at a service provider before they sign on the dotted line. They suggest that you get answers to the following questions first:
Licensing: Who pays for per-user and per-server licensing?
Upgrades: Who decides when to upgrade? Who pays for it?
Customization: How much do you need? Can the service provider handle it?
Security: What kind of security does the service provider offer? Would it meet your internal IT standards?
Scalability: Can the service provider's software, infrastructure and support staff handle your growth?