How to Know When Your Small Business is Ready for a Server

Here are signs that your business is ready for a server:

• You store important data and files that should be protected from unauthorized access, loss, or corruption in two or more computers.
• Accounting programs and customer relationship management software are needed to communicate with vendors and customers.
• Managing several versions of a single file is necessary for business operations.
• More than one computer needs to share internet access, fax machines and other office equipment and resources.
• A central communication system is needed to share information with clients, staff and vendors and organize group meetings.
• You want to access your computer files from anywhere without any problem, backup important files on several computers or restore previous versions of files or files that were accidentally deleted.
• Employees need to share software tools.
• Control access of employees to files and data

If there are times when you cannot access your files or shared resources, you have trouble finding information quickly, you want to protect your files from malware and viruses or there’s not enough storage space, you should consider installing a server.

How a Server Will Change your Business Operations

Improved Performance
A server allows you to share and access information and resources anytime and anywhere with no effect on performance. It can serve as the main storage space for the latest file versions. You can configure it to arrange and manage network resources. Anyone can get the required resources whenever they need it.

Secure
Servers can help you control your staff’s access to data. You can control who has access to what, keeping private information from unauthorized personnel. A server can manage and secure computers on the network from one location, so you can have peace of mind.
It also allows you to create a backup of your files from a central location, allowing you to resume normal business activities if a disaster such as a storm hits your area.

Centralized Updates
A server can update every computer on the network at the same time. You do not need to open each computer and install the updates one by one. With a server, you save time and money in the long run. You can configure the server to guarantee safe, remote access to software applications and files.  This allows you and your employees to work anytime and from anywhere.

A properly installed and maintained server will improve your productivity and keep your company safe and help you succeed.
 

About the Author: Erik Day

Erik Day has been at Dell for over 20 years. Erik has held multiple sales, merchandising and marketing leadership roles in his tenure at Dell which has taken him to 25+ countries over 5 continents and is now the SVP of Global SB Sales.