When is it time for a Server?

November 3, 2010 Written by Eladio Medina

If you are a small business owner with multiple computers, it’s time to consider investing in a server. Servers are used to secure data and organize it more efficiently and professionally. Servers can be used to manage email, internet connectivity, internal Web sites, remote access, file and printer sharing, backup and restore, and much more. In short, it can make your small business more efficient. The real question is: When are you ready?

1. • There are two or more computers being used in your business. By sorting and organizing your data in a core location, you will be able to access and share files easily available thus managing business information more efficiently.


2. • The business has a mobile workforce. Businesses that have employees who work from home or travel a lot can be more effective if they have remote access to a server where the business’s information and resources is available to them.


3. • Employees share documents between multiple computers. Sharing files among multiple systems risk losing important files and having multiple versions. A server eliminates this by centrally organizing important documents, assuring constant access to what the employee’s need, when they need it.


4. • Valuable files and data are better protected. A server can protect files from loss and corruption. Since files are centralized, they can be backed up more effectively. Servers tend to also have redundancy built in to minimize failures that would otherwise not be available on workstations.

1. • Allow employees the ability to share files, applications, and databases locally and remotely. As the business grows, management of additional computers and software is more efficient. Control access to certain information that employees and devices have.


2. • Restrict access to sensitive information, such as personnel or financial records. This also allows better management of firewalls and virus protection, especially if the business uses a mobile workforce.


3. • A server is designed for applications like customer relationship management (CRM) software or accounting programs. It can help schedule group meetings, share information and manage clients and vendors. Customer contacts along with emails can be managed and store in a central location. Employees can send group emails more effectively.

Servers can be surprisingly affordable, user-friendly and small. A server-based network helps a business to reap the benefits of a data center without a dedicated IT staff. By gaining control of computing power, securing data, and making the office more efficient, the business can be more effective and have a competative advantage over it's competition.