Does your business have more than 5 employees? If your answer is "Yes", then your business should be using a server network. Read on to better understand the benefits of server technology.

While implementing a network is not a trivial or cheap undertaking, the benefits you gain by adding a server to your computing environment far outweigh any shortcomings. Small businesses make mistakes. It is surprising that the majority of companies do not consider implementing a client/server based network. Instead they continue to add workstations to their old peer-to-peer network. Peer-to-peer networks don't offer you much in the way of security and resource sharing. Therefore, it is not surprising that they often experience problems accessing workstations, data loss due to viruses or spyware, or problems with the Internet.

Peer-to-peer networked computers are sufficient when you only have a few users on the network, but once you have more than 5 or 6 users on your network, then you really need to consider investing in a network server. Still, convincing a small business owner to make this type of investment can be difficult. Unlike large companies, small businesses do not have the advantage of an IT department and/or the necessary resources to maintain a complex IT infrastructure.

However, web servers don't have to be overly expensive or complicated to take advantage of. What exactly is a server? Many people have the misconception that a server is no different than a standard desktop computer. This couldn't be further from the truth. While almost any computer meets the minimum hardware requirements and can run the server operating system, that does not make it a true server. A desktop system is optimized to run a user-friendly operating system, desktop applications, and facilitate other desktop-oriented tasks. Even if the desktop had similar processor speeds, memory and storage capacity, it still doesn't replace a real server.

Technologies are designed for different purposes. At Sine bit we have designed a server system to manage, store, send and process data, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 356 days a year. For these reasons, servers must be much more reliable than their computer counterparts. To achieve this, servers offer a variety of features not typically found on a desktop computer.

Servers include:

- Powerful processors with the possibility of power expansion

- Durable hard drives or power supplies

- Hot plug spare parts

- It is scalable to cover current as well as future needs

- They can process data faster and more efficiently

- They provide the possibility of remote access and diagnosis of both hardware and software problems

 

Server benefits

 

Now that you know what a server is, what can a server do for you? Some of the most important are:

File and network security

Increased reliability

Central data storage and shared resources

Virus management

Central backup

 

#1 File and network security

The most important role of a file server is the network security it provides. By creating individual user and group accounts, permissions can be assigned to data stored on the network, preventing unauthorized users from accessing material they should not see. For example, the sales team does not need access to personal employee files that should only be accessible by IT.

 

#2 Increased reliability, reduced workflow disruption

Many servers are equipped with two power supplies. With a secondary power supply operating in parallel, the loss of one of the power supplies does not affect normal system operations. The same goes for a server's storage system. Unlike an average desktop computer that uses one hard drive, a server will typically use multiple hard drives operating in a RAID configuration to prevent data loss or workflow disruption. In addition, many servers are also equipped with removable hard drives and power supplies. These interchangeable parts allow you to replace faulty hardware without disrupting the entire office. Additionally, since all employee data is stored on the network, if a user's workstation fails in the middle of the workday, employees can access the same files from another workstation.

 

# 3 Central data storage and shared resources

With a network server, all network users can make use of various network resources directly from their offices, increasing efficiency. Some of these resources include the following:

- Central data storage (RAID Array)

- Network Attached Storage (NAS) devices

- CD / DVD towers

- Printers and fax servers

 

#4 Virus management

One of the biggest threats to your network is the possibility of infection by viruses, spyware and spam. Therefore, it is essential to have good, up-to-date, anti-virus software installed on your systems. In an office of 10 people or less, systems can be maintained separately. However, anything more than that can become a real burden. Under these circumstances, an antivirus package that combines workstation and server antivirus protection in a single solution makes sense.

 

#5 Central backup

All businesses should back up their data on a regular basis. By keeping all your company and employee data in one location, backups can be performed reliably and quickly. So you'll never have to worry about data being stored on a workstation like you do on a peer-to-peer network. Today, almost any type of media can be used for backup purposes. Media selection will depend on your specific backup requirements. Depending on your budget and data retention needs, either would be an acceptable solution. Make sure you have at least one scheduled weekly backup, although a daily backup would be better.

 

Find the right server

A real server operating system makes all of this possible, and you should invest in a good one to get the most out of your new hardware. When it comes to choosing an operating system for your server, there really aren't many options - Windows or Linux. A Linux-based operating system does a good job. It is reliable and has moderate hardware requirements. No matter what you choose, you'll need a qualified technician to install and configure them properly.

Choosing the right server: Servers are the unsung heroes of the corporate computing environment, working behind the scenes to help get the most out of the personal computers people use every day. Before investing in server hardware, you need to consider applications, storage, processor and more to help you choose wisely.

Congratulations! Now you understand the benefits that a server can bring to your business!