As your business grows, it will inevitably generate and accumulate more data. You can leverage these data to improve decision-making, predict consumer behavior, and measure the effectiveness of your marketing efforts. This is why it's important to equip your business with the tools and technologies needed to manage and protect your business data.
Many microenterprises start off with just a laptop’s worth of data storage and management tools, but they usually quickly find that that isn’t enough. Growing businesses should consider migrating their data to a server to ensure secure storage and scalability in the future.
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What is a server and what are its benefits?
A server is a computer or system responsible for providing data, computing resources, and programs to other computers within a network. It collects queries or requests for information and sends them out to the computers, called “clients,” that requested them. These clients all connect to the server either via the local area network in your office or through the wide area network.
For many businesses, having servers is the most practical and secure way to store huge volumes of data. Servers are invaluable mainly because they can host tools that will allow you to customize your data management processes. They can also be used to equip your business with these key components:
Secure data storage
Leaving sensitive business information on your computer or laptop is a huge risk because these devices can easily be compromised by numerous cyberthreats, especially in case of theft or loss. Sure, you can install antivirus software, but this is not enough to combat sophisticated threats. Advanced threats will require a more robust security system that usually cannot be run on a single computer due to its processing needs. Servers are designed with 24/7 security in mind, so they are a much better option for protecting your business data in the long term.
Aside from guarding your data against cyberthreats, a server will also protect against data loss through drive failure. Storage drives can and do fail, and most personal computers are only equipped with two storage drives, with most users storing their day-to-day data in only one. This problem can be mitigated by using a server that uses a redundant array of independent disks or RAID. RAID ensures that if one disk fails, there are several more redundancies available, which will prevent your company from experiencing any downtime.
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Quick access and complete control over data
An in-house server is one that’s physically located in your office, thereby giving you the assurance that your data is close by and therefore safe. Should you need to move locations in the future, you can simply task your IT team to transport the server to your new location, hook it up to your new network, and carry on with work as usual.
Aside from housing business data, your server will also serve as a storage and hosting platform for your critical business apps. Using a server is therefore advisable because it’s expensive and inefficient to acquire multiple full software suites for every individual app and device your team uses. On a server-powered information system, you can simply store your software solutions on your server and acquire various access licenses depending on the specific needs of each client device.
Does my business need a server?
The short answer is yes. A server is necessary for you to deploy the necessary operational, administrative, and security tools. Without a server, your business will have to rely on the limited processing capability of an individual computer. What's more, having a server reduces your risk of data loss resulting from a compromised device.
It’s also critical for businesses with a growth strategy to have a server because it will give them ample storage space and processing power to scale up without disrupting operations. That’s because if you already have a server, your operations can continue as usual even while you add more computers and devices to your system.
Servers may seem intimidating and difficult to understand, but with good guidance and proper education, you can learn to use it to your advantage. For server-related issues, advice, and everything in between, our technicians at Online Computers are here to help. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.
