Servers are specifically designed to provide
file storage, file sharing, resource sharing
(like printers) and other services, to multiple
computers. They can also help you:
·
better find and manage
business-critical information in one
consolidated location;
·
store large chunks of information,
enabling individual PCs to perform better;
·
access up-to-date customer
information quickly;
·
share email and calendaring details
between your team;
·
protect your information by making
back-ups easier;
·
provide secure access to email &
calendars, other files or to your entire
office PC, from another internet-connected
computer;
·
better manage security features and
monitor threats to your computer systems.
Does that all sound like it’s going to be
expensive? Well, servers are no longer confined
to dedicated rooms, serving large corporations
with large I.T. departments. Many of the major
manufacturers promote ‘Small Business Server’
bundles, with the hardware and software needed
for a business with as little as 5 staff.
Here are some factors that indicate your
business may be ready for a server:
·
You need to consolidate & arrange
your files (you can't always find what you
need when you need it).
·
You are worried about whether all of
your important files are secure and are
being backed up.
·
You need to share hardware such as
printers and fax machines for two or more
PCs.
·
You have employees who travel,
frequently telecommute, or work off-site,
and would benefit from accessing what’s back
in the office.
·
You keep adding more files onto your
PCs and running out of disk space.
·
You'd like to run accounting software
or other line-of-business applications on
more than one PC.
·
Your business is growing and plans to
add new computers and employees or even a
second location.
As with any technology purchasing decision, you
need to discuss your business needs and plans
with your trusted I.T. advisor to see if it’s
the right time for a server. You may be looking
for aggressive growth, stability or even expense
reduction this year, so you’ll want to focus
first on the server features that will support
your goals. You also need to ensure that you’re
not expecting technology to solve a problem that
could be resolved with a change in your business
processes.
Talk to your local
Computer Troubleshooter about whether now is the
time to make the move and experience the benefits of
a server computer in your business.