This hosted service is widely used by a range of Local, Central Government and private sector companies for public and restricted deployment of spatial and non spatial data.

The hosting facility has been set up with the appropriate ESRI Application Service Provider (ASP) spatial software licenses. This provides NSG with the platform for the deployment of spatial data via an e-commerce solution to subscribers or special interest groups who require access to additional data and enhanced functionality.

The servers are contained in the hosted environment to achieve the desired level of response times within the deployed applications. These server functions range from Web application delivery to spatial and non spatial database storage. They are configured in an appropriate manner for the best load balance of request and are joined together by high speed connections.

All maintenance for the hosted servers is solely controlled by NSG. This includes the upkeep of all software and security updates on a regular basis to ensure optimal performance for our clients.

A major area of importance that should not be overlooked is the reliability of public or distributed Internet service. NSGI focuses heavily on this and feels it is essential to ensure a 98% up time for Internet application deployments.

Production bulk data updates are run through a staging environment at NSGI’s offices prior to deployment in the live hosted environment. Online data validation is completed via this application environment. This is performed as an essential Quality Assurance process to ensure there are no anomalies or corruptions contained in any new data supplied. By insisting on this formal approach NSG significantly minimises any server outages.
In addition to the procedures described above NSG provide the following services within the hosting charges:

• Hosting service (24 hrs a day, 7 days per week) via The NSG Groups hosted Internet Service utilising the Company’s Application Service Provider (ASP) licences for ArcIMS and ArcSDE that are installed on separate servers
• Unlimited domestic site usage
• Site monitoring and support
• Provision of monthly MapService traffic statistic reports.

NSG Group’s hosted applications and associated data are backed up on a regular basis to meet the requirements of each individual client. In addition to this back up service each site is replicated in a staging environment at NSG’s New Zealand Members, EGL offices in Wellington, New Zealand.