How To Choose The Right Server For Your Business Needs

One of the key components of any successful business’s IT infrastructure is the server - and you need to make sure that you choose the best one to suit your requirements, or you could end up buying lots of technology and IT equipment that won’t get the job done, as well as investing in servers that are too powerful for what you need… all of which will ultimately mean you waste both time and money.

It can be particularly difficult for smaller enterprises to work out which servers would be best, as well as what other technology you need - and there’s a huge amount of choice out there, which can feel overwhelming.

Here’s a quick guide to help you cut through the noise and find the best server systems for you and your business. And, as ever, if you need any further help or advice, get in touch with the Evrytek team today.

1. Work out your requirements

Servers power your business in the 21st century so they have to be fit for purpose. Tasks include file storage and sharing, hosting emails, databases, websites and applications, providing remote connections, performing data backups and lots more.

Think about what tasks you’ll need to run on the server, now and into the future, accounting for company growth and long-term goals. From there, you can decide how much storage, memory and power you’ll need.

2. Decide on location

Do you know where you’re going to put your server and how you plan to maintain it? If it’s going to be onsite, you need to make sure that you have teams readily available to provide the necessary support. Also note that servers can be noisy and pose a security risk, so make sure that you have the appropriate level of space.

3. Work out a budget

You need to know what level of IT budget your business will require. Essentially, the more complicated the tasks involved, the bigger the budget will need to be so make sure that server performance tallies with workload levels. This will help you save money.

4. Choose your server type

Servers are classified as either Rack, Blade or Tower. The latter is a standalone upright option that works well if you don’t have a designated server room. They’re also the most cost-effective choice, as you won’t need any cooling equipment or mounting software - so they’re great for smaller businesses with tighter budgets.

Rack servers, meanwhile, are installed in cabinets and will need their own server room. The cabinets can house multiple servers, so they’re good for growing businesses that need more power.

And Blade servers are a great choice for big organisations thanks to their high density and converged networking - but you will need to have cooling equipment installed to ensure optimal use.

Still not sure what’s best for you and your business? Give the Evrytek team a call today to find out more.