A server is a central component of your infrastructure, and choosing one can be daunting. If your workload tends to be seasonal or varied or if you have some applications that have migrated to the cloud, your the choice is even more complex.
There are some considerations that can help streamline your decision-making process and lead you to a server choice that works for your company now, but also in the future:
Your company’s future IT goals: You need a server to answer your current needs, but you should also be familiar with the upcoming goals of your organization. The server you select should be cost-efficient and manage your data, files, and applications as they are now, but also be flexible and agile enough to adapt as your company grows.
Initial versus ongoing costs: If you have a small- to mid-size business and your company’s technology infrastructure is not overly complex, you may be able to purchase a simple, relatively inexpensive server.
Be sure to include all costs in your analysis, from the initial purchase price to the full cost of configuration and integration with your broader IT infrastructure. The initial cost of the server is an important consideration, but be sure to include the cost of maintenance and support throughout its lifetime.
Determine the accessibility you need: Not only should your server be accessible for employees working in the office, but it should also meet the needs of remote team members or those working in the field. Is the server able to support mobile access?
Ownership versus leasing: It may be more cost-effective to lease your server rather than purchasing it outright. You may want to evaluate billing options to see which align well with your finance department’s philosophy.
Your in-house IT resources: For some smaller companies, it makes good sense to outsource server needs to a cloud vendor that can supply not only the type of server required, but also the maintenance and management that is needed.
A hybrid solution: Consider whether you might benefit from hosting some of your applications in the cloud. This can alleviate some of the requirements of your on-site server and provide a higher level of performance and agility.
Want to talk more about servers, but aren’t sure where to start? Make an appointment with EmconIT, your source for economical server solutions. We have options to fit your server needs, and we can partner with you to make an informed decision about your server investment.