Why do you need a small business server?

Server in Nepal is, at its heart, data storage and access devices. They make data exchanges easier, which is the foundation of almost all information technology (IT). Even if you don't know it, your company probably already uses a server of some kind (the video to the right can help shed some light there).

5 Signs Your Business Needs a Server

#1. You’re starting to really grow

Managing the computers and IT in the early days of any company, when there are just two or three employees, is fairly easy. You can simply gather around the meeting table (kitchen table?), and make it happen when software changes are needed or you're considering moving to a different anti-virus solution. When it comes to exchanging files, the same thing applies; moving around a USB key with a modified presentation file takes just a few minutes when there is only a handful of you.

When two or three becomes five or six, or even eight to ten, a strange thing happens: These activities aren't just a little more difficult; they're a lot more difficult and time-consuming. You've probably noticed that the amount of time you spend only managing your employees' computers has risen significantly.

Many, if not all, of the activities associated with maintaining a larger fleet of computers, can be simplified with a dedicated server. It can be used to distribute software updates to all devices on your network, regardless of whether they are physically present on your premises. Better still, once the server is configured to issue the updates, no further action is required; the updates occur as users log in to the network, whether at 4 p.m. or 4 a.m.

Similarly, the days of sneakernet with USB keys, or the marginally better peer-to-peer networking, have come to an end... Your server has now become the central storage location for all shared resources. There's nothing more aggravating than learning you're operating on an out-of-date edition of a Word doc or spreadsheet, and your people would thank you for this aspect of file serving.

#2. Your people need access to secure email and company-owned storage

Working in the cloud has many benefits, but your data is not under your direct control regardless of which cloud solution provider you select. As reports of major security breaches become more common, even on massive platforms like Facebook, it's worth considering if you're really comfortable with your company's data being stored on a collection of servers you don't manage. It isn't all about safety. Your cloud costs would rise in tandem with the number of employees you have. What began as a low-cost way to provide e-mail and calendar access to a few people might quickly escalate into a monthly expense that eats into other operating costs.

Some companies work as suppliers for larger companies, and their clients have specific standards for how and where company data is stored. You can check the integrity and position of the data in question with an on-premise server.

Running an email network on a server, such as Microsoft Exchange, allows you to manage the number of email addresses, storage space, and advanced shared resource features. Your employees can still access all of your company's info, whether it's email, shared files, or a database, if your ISP's internet link goes down.

Monthly costs for the programs that a dedicated server supports are extremely low. One-time costs for hardware and software licenses can be more expensive upfront, but they can be depreciated as capital expenditures, which some companies may prefer over a monthly operating expense.

#3. You need constant, fast access to your data

A small business server is well-suited to hosting high-demand, high-bandwidth resources such as databases. An on-premise server is important if your company depends on several machines being able to access a central repository, such as a point-of-sale (POS) system. Not only will the link to the server be secure (because it's on the same network as the client machines), but you won't be charged for the size of the repository, the amount of data written or read, or the compute time – all of which are normal charges when using cloud services.

If your company uses a lot of footage, having your own server is also a no-brainer. Video files are among the most significant digital assets that a company would deal with, particularly if they were shot in 4K. Working with video files in the cloud can be time-consuming, if not difficult, due to unpredictable network link speeds. Dedicated servers can be customized to your needs, with CPU, RAM, and hard drive capacities that can easily accommodate large files. It will be ultra-fast to move them between the server and your laptops or desktops using the new gigabit Ethernet network speeds.

#4. You’re relying on your router to keep you safe

You're taking an unnecessary risk if you still rely on your ISP's Wi-Fi modem/router to keep your network safe from prying eyes and malware. These devices are intended to provide fast and dependable internet access, but they will not provide you with a customizable, enterprise-grade level of security. Indeed, according to a new study conducted by the American Consumer Institute, 83 percent of Wi-Fi routers sold in the United States are vulnerable to cyber-attack.

If you install and configure firewall software on a dedicated small business server, it can also function as your network's first line of protection. A safe gateway, a properly designed firewall monitors all incoming and outgoing traffic for signs of malicious behavior. It can also prevent events like denial of service attacks by halting any traffic it doesn't accept as trustworthy (DOS). Although your Wi-Fi router might have a built-in firewall, it's unlikely for the manufacturer to keep the software up-to-date and patched for the latest vulnerabilities after the first year or two.

#5. You don’t really have a back-up plan

You risk losing important data if your employees don't back up their computers or desktops on a regular basis. You also risk making the person sit idle while attempts are made to restore their computer or wait for a replacement. Even if you've told your employees how and when to back up to the cloud or an external hard drive, they do not always follow through. You can automate the backups of all of your machines to a central hub using a small business server, and then back up your server for extra peace of mind. Having the data on-site rather than in the cloud would drastically reduce the time and effort required to get that out-of-service system back up and running.