Will A Server Boost Your Bottom Line?
As your business grows and you add more PCs you need a properly set up network if you are to really optimise the value of your IT investment.
A network that is not properly planned develops dangerous vulnerabilities. Users store data in various places resulting in problems with finding files speedily. Data is not easily backed up and certain business systems cannot be implemented.
A step that is often taken in a small business is to designate one computer as the ‘file server’. Company data is stored on a shared folder in this PC which usually is also used as a staff member’s workstation.
The above scenario is known as a ‘peer to peer’ network. Although there may be one PC sharing the data there is no real ‘server’.
There are a number of advantages in migrating to a server and the exercise may not be as expensive as you think. In fact servers for small businesses have become much more affordable in recent years.
A business that has only 3 or 4 PCs may not need a server, however once 5 or more PCs are in the network a server is advisable. Even for the small business with less than 5 PCs there is a solution worth considering. The new Microsoft ‘Windows Home Server’ has some excellent features that are detailed in a separate article.
