Is Buying A Server For A Small Business A Good Decision?

If you run a small business, you may be thinking about buying a server to store backup data, run software, and perform other day-to-day business tasks. But is this a good idea? Are there other alternatives to physical servers? Find out in this article!

Start By Determining Why You Need A Server

First and foremost, you must have a reason that you need a server. Most small businesses will need a server for one of the following reasons:

To host domain-specific email
To store and backup files
To provide remote access to your network via a VPN (Virtual Private Network)
To host your website
To conduct eCommerce and sell items online
To run critical business software like customer relationship management (CRM), accounting, and human resources (HR) tools

If you need to do the above tasks, a server may be right for your small business.

Make Sure You Have An IT Team To Help You Set Up And Maintain The Server

Servers are more complicated to set up and use than laptops and desktops. Chances are, you’ll need to hire an IT team or consultant to help you set it up and use it, unless you already have extensive IT experience.

Consider Choosing A Cloud-Based Server Instead Of A Physical Server

Instead of buying a physical server that is on-premise at your office, it may be better to purchase a cloud server. Essentially, a cloud server lets you “rent” server space in a large data center. You purchase the rights to a specific amount of computing power, storage space, and network bandwidth.

This is much cheaper than an on-premises server, and you will not need an IT team to maintain or take care of the server, because your cloud provider is responsible for doing so.

However, a network outage will harm your ability to access your data, so this may not be an ideal option if you expect frequent network outages, or often need to access your server when the network is down.

Get Help From A Local IT Service Provider

Still not sure if an on-premises or cloud server is right for your small business? Consider asking a local IT service provider like West County Computers for more details! An IT provider can help you choose the right option for your company, and assist in the setup, operation and maintenance of your server.

Is Buying A Server For A Small Business A Good Decision?

West County Computers

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