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Does your
business need a Server? |
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I am sure that many of you will agree,
there’s a fine balance between making
a wise investment and wasting money
on technology.
For smaller businesses, most technology
purchases are major decisions with
the advantages and costs best thoroughly
understood before making a decision.
Benefits to consider might include
reducing costs, increasing efficiencies,
creating revenue opportunities, or
be related to the risks posed by
not having the technology.
One of the most significant steps
a small or medium sized business
can make is to introduce a network
server. In the past, the high cost
and limited functionality of servers
has made them too expensive for smaller
enterprises to consider. However,
with falling prices and increased
features, many businesses are finding
a network server an invaluable tool.
An advocate of the benefits of a
network server is Nick Hughes from
law firm Watson Cudlipp & Hughes.
“Our clients depend on us to provide
an important service, so it is vital
that our computer systems be stable
and robust. Our server helps us achieve
this, also enabling us to communicate
more freely and work away from the
office when needed.”
What does a Network Server do?
Traditional servers allow a group
of computers to run in collaboration
with one another – sharing files,
programs, storage space, and printers.
Newer servers provide additional
features and benefits relevant to
today’s business needs. In particular,
a server facilitates improved Internet
and email access, data protection,
and helps reduce the amount of paper
in your office – all of which are
important for the smooth running
of most small and medium sized businesses.
So how can your businesses benefit
from a Server?
Internet and Email Access
Access to the Internet can give your
business a real competitive advantage
– all of which is lost if time is
wasted by sharing modems and dialing
for a connection. A network server
gives you a single, constant Internet
connection that everyone can share.
This means that email can be sent
and received in “real time”, and
by everyone (not just on one designated
email computer).
This makes the Internet and email
much more convenient to use – always
online and just a mouse click away.
For instance, the easiest way to
send a colleague a phone message
is to send an email. Need a phone
number? Just look it up on the Internet.
Data Protection
A server provides you with a centralised,
secure place to store all your data.
Complete backups can be easily made,
along with controlling who has access
to the information. A server also
protects the network against viruses,
by scanning all the files that are
stored and transferred across the
network.
Paperless Office
A server reduces the amount of paperwork
in the office through internal email
and electronic faxes. Rather than
waste time with the fax machine,
staff can send and receive faxes
directly from their desktop PC’s.
Documents are all stored electronically
which can be quickly and easily accessed
for future reference.
One popular outcome of electronic
documentation is ‘the lifestyle choice’
– an ability to work from anywhere.
Simply dial into the network to check
email, read and send faxes, edit
or print documents.
Your business will benefit from a
server if you:
Have more than 4 computers
Require the Internet on more
than one computer
Require staff to have individual
email addresses
Want to regularly share printers
and files
Value your data and want a complete
backup
Require your computers to run
more reliably
Value staff productivity
Want to work away from the office
Your business will not benefit greatly
from a server if you:
Have less than 4 computers
Do not want to regularly share
files or printers
Only require Internet access
to one computer
Do not store much valuable information
Two popular choices for small business
servers are Microsoft’s Small Business
Server and Novell’s Small Business
Suite. If you feel that your business
could benefit from a network server,
professional advice is essential. |
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