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With the variety of services used on the Internet, it's a good idea to determine which ones the ISP can help you with. For example, does the provider's base service cover e-mail accounts? What about e-mail gateways? Will the provider support client-side e-mail applications using Internet Mail Access Protocol (IMAP) or Post Office Protocol (POP)? What about USENET news? Running a full-feed USENET news server on-site is a significant investment right now, with a full news feed at around 1.3 GB daily.

Another issue to consider is Domain Name Service (DNS). Most providers package DNS as part of the deal; others see it as an additional service. DNS is a required service for mail transfer and other Internet-based services. If your organization doesn't want to deal with DNS administration, make sure the provider will do it to your satisfaction.

Two f inal services that should be considered when connecting to the Internet and choosing an ISP are security and usage monitoring. Reports of an organization's bandwidth utilization come in handy when it's time to get management's approval for an upgrade.

Regarding security, many IS departments simply don't have the expertise that the IP world demands. Security is often ignored when it should be considered vitally important. Bandwidth limitations will be the least of your worries if someone takes out your Web site or starts hacking at your LAN.

Look at your organization's internal resources, then decide which areas should be outsourced. Many providers offer firewall services, security audits and various monitoring mechanisms; others leave monitoring and security in your hands. A provider can install packet-level filters on the router for low-level firewalling and many organizations choose to utilize these filters as a base, and then implement IPX-to-IP gateways or application-based proxy servers for addit ional protection.

Know Thy Pipes Why is it that Joe's Dog Food, Liquor and Internet Service can sell me a T1 connection for $995 a month, yet Larger-Than-Life Telephone Co. charges $2,200? A T1 is a T1, right?

The Internet is composed primarily of a series of backbones. Along the various backbones are corporations, organizations, universities and other ISPs. The majority of Internet traffic exchange takes place at several network access points (NAPs) or at the growing number of private exchange points among backbone providers.

Nationwide backbone providers have the resources for both the expensive routers required for NAP connectivity, and the ability to establish peering agreements for private exchange points. Most local ISPs are attached to a single backbone provider, while others are attached to multiple providers.

However, in the business of Internet connectivity, going to the distributor (backbone provider) will cost you more money. Local ISPs can offer discounted rates based on the fact that they are reselling their connection several times over (see "Domestic Internet Service Providers: Adapt or Perish," June 1, 1996, page 100; or see it on Network Computing Online at techweb.cmp.com/nc/709/709rev1.html).

A T1 from a backbone p rovider is not the same as one from a local ISP. A connection to a backbone provider will, in almost 99 percent of the cases, be closer to your destinations. Keep in mind, however, that if you have a DS3 directly attached to a NAP and you're trying to connect to a Web server in a country that uses homing pigeons for packet delivery, it's still going to be slow.

It should also be noted that many local ISPs are conscientious about overall bandwidth utilization and will open more connections to their backbone provider if the need arises. Others, however, will overcommit the backbone bandwidth to the point where connections crawl. If you're looking at local ISPs, ask about utilization levels and expansion plans. Avoid any local-area ISP that won't di vulge where it gets its service from.