These are the starting priorities for AIHSP. While we recognize that this is an ambitious list - and certainly no easy feat - we see these items as critical to the industry. The 14 items listed are what we heard most loudly in our exploratory research, and we are excited to make these our first project goals.
Many hosts face challenges in their role as employers because they are unable to access traditional employment benefits at reasonable rates. AIHSP intends to use the collective buying power of its members to secure medical, dental, vision, disability and retirement benefits at competitive rates.
With the input of its members, AIHSP will craft a code of ethics, to which members will be held accountable. Peer regulation and accountability establishes public credibility for all members and the industry as a whole. AIHSP's Ethics Review Board, appointed and staffed by association members, will manage concerns involving hosting practices, B2B and B2C issues. AIHSP will also offer mediation services to handle consumer and member relations and disputes.
There are currently few uniform standards or certifications for our industry, making it difficult for the consumer to determine whether they are dealing with a qualified company or individual. Certification enhances legitimacy of members and the businesses employing them. AIHSP intends to develop standardized, relevant certification for practitioners, managers and firms.
AIHSP will serve as a powerful industry representative and will act as a liaison between the aggregate industry and the public. As the hosting industry continues to grow, it will become increasingly important to communicate with a focused, unified message on the issues facing our industry. Members will also have access to public relations services for their individual firms at favorable rates.
AIHSP will use its buying power to provide its members with favorable legal rates for arbitration services, litigation, contracts, TOS, AUP and other legal needs. Members can make use of legal resources when forming partnerships and alliances, and will have ready access to lawyers who specialize in Internet-related law.
By leveraging the funds of the collective membership, AIHSP will initiate a valuable collection of studies and research projects focusing on the hosting industry and its consumers. Important questions can be answered-everything from consumer behavior and crisis management techniques to attack mitigation. Research will be indexed, searchable, current and historically valid.
AIHSP will support lobbying efforts at national and international levels, allowing the industry to have a unified voice in shaping Internet policy and regulation.
During our research, we learned that many providers have trouble communicating with each other effectively, especially in times of crisis. When a datacenter, large network backbone, software vendor, etc. is compromised, AIHSP will have a one-click alert system that allows hosts and vendors to alert specific people within the crisis network to an issue. Fast responses create more happy customers, and in turn, a stronger industry.
AIHSP will provide its members with favorable rates for qualified accountants with knowledge of the industry, so firms can manage their finances responsibly.
The combination of certification and AIHSP's directory serves to bring employers and qualified applicants together with unprecedented ease and precision. Companies can screen applicants with confidence, and potential employees can market themselves with authority, having been certified through AIHSP.
AIHSP will leverage its buying power to secure competitive insurance rates, including rates for commercial property, as well as liability-based insurance for members who require it as stewards of their customers' intellectual property. Other types of insurance will also be explored.
Although there are several directories that provide limited contact information for hosts and vendors, the industry has no comprehensive directory on which firms can rely. By bringing hosts and vendors together, AIHSP's membership directory will become a valuable business asset. In addition to company contact information, this innovative directory will contain the information firms need most-individual contact details by function, specific abuse procedures for providers, and other key business details. It will allow firms to interact with a level of efficiency not previously available.
Fraudulent customers are an issue every host faces at some point. Identifying and taking action against fraudsters is time consuming and ultimately expensive. A comprehensive, screened and qualified database of fraudulent customers and order patterns will reduce costs associated with consumer fraud.
AIHSP will facilitate networking and trade events at regional levels, and will afford members increased online networking opportunities.