4 Things to Look Out for When Choosing The Right Server for Your Small Business

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November 1, 2022 Business

The server is an important part of your company’s infrastructure, regardless of whether we are talking about companies with several hundred employees or just a few people.

If you’re running a small business, it may feel particularly difficult to find the right type of server for your needs, and keeping track of the numbers and terms that denote the different servers on the market can feel overwhelming.

But it doesn’t have to be complicated. It turns out that there are a few things you as a small business owner need to consider when picking your server. Below, we look at some of the best tips for choosing the right server to meet your demands and simplify your company’s IT lifecycle.

Power

There are various servers available on the market today that offer different levels of power. Simply put, the larger your network and operations, the more power you need and if your server doesn’t have enough power to manage all the incoming requests, it can lead to slow performance and downtime.

However, as a small but growing business with a smaller number of people connected to the server and less clients sending IT requests, you won’t need that much power, and you can spare your budget by going the refurbished route. A recommendation for smaller businesses is to look at strong refurbished servers like the Dell PowerEdge R740 that can provide you with a centralized location for storing important business information. You’ll be able to better manage critical data and make it a lot easier for your employees to access, locate and share information and schedules.

As you expand, then it might be wise to invest in more power and ensure that all your requests are being met and that the operations can run seamlessly.

Scalability

Cloud-based servers provide scalability that isn’t as easy to achieve with dedicated servers. When utilizing server hardware, remember to choose the size you need. However, as businesses are expanding or downsizing to save money, you might be looking for a server that has more capacity than you currently need to make room for expansion and pay for more than you’re using. You may even have to update your server once you outgrow it. One thing to keep in mind is that servers require a significant upfront cost.

If you choose a cloud-based server, you can easily adapt it to your environment, and regardless of whether you’re upscaling or downsizing, you can alter your capacity and help your operation run smoothly and ensure that you only pay for what you truly need.

Security

Server security is vital for both small and large businesses. When you run a small business, you not only have to worry about safeguarding your operational data but you must also protect the data of employees, your business partners, and clients.

If you aren’t sure about managing security measures or if you’re still in the beginning stages of your business without a dedicated team, then using a cloud-based server is a great option for you. This way, the third party will have equal responsibility as you in keeping your data safe.

Keep in mind that cloud-based servers tend to be more vulnerable targets for cybercriminals so before committing, look at the third party’s security breach history. Regardless of which option you end up choosing, ensure that your business data is well-protected with an antivirus software solution.

Cost

The cost is, without any doubt, an important factor in choosing the right server for your small business. Every company has a different budget and its own specific needs, and server costs vary.

If you want to buy a dedicated server, you must pay an upfront cost but you’ll avoid the monthly fee. However, if you decide to upgrade, you’ll need to cover another large payment. Additionally, you must also consider the costs of paying IT staff to support and manage the server.

If you purchase a third-party run server, you’ll have to pay a regular fee to lease it. For the long haul, it may not be the most cost-effective solution but the fee will cover support from the third party in case you need it. Cloud-based servers are a more flexible and scalable solution and can be a great option for small businesses as they help reduce infrastructure costs and increase uptime.

Final Thoughts

Once you determine your resource needs and budget, you can decide what would be the best server for your small business. Choosing a small business server doesn’t have to be a difficult task but consider the above tips to find a powerful one that will be fit for purpose when your business starts growing.