Cover these 4 Important Bases When Server Shopping

Your company's most valuable assets are that which are irreplaceable, like your computer data. Data is stored in a server, which makes your server the most important piece of equipment in your office. Given the crucial role your server plays in your business, you will want to make sure to have the perfect server unit for your organization. Here's how to shop for the best server for you!

Your Company's Computing Needs
You don't want to casually approach buying a new server, there's just too much on the line. If you get a unit that lacks the resources your business needs, then your company's productivity will take a hit. If you get a server that's more powerful than what you need, then you'll overpay with your purchase. When picking out the perfect server for your organization, the first step you will want to do is take an assessment of your company's computing needs. What tasks do you plan on accomplishing with your server?

If you plan on hosting crucial business applications and an important database, then you will need a powerful and high-end server with extra CPU. If hosting applications locally isn't your thing and you primarily use virtualization for your computing needs, then you'll want a server unit that has greater memory with reliable input/output capabilities. By having a server with extra RAM and I/O, your workstations, terminals, and devices will experience less lag by having a dependable connection with their direct-access storage device.

Additional Expenses upon Purchase and Beyond
A server unit will cost you much more money than what the price tag indicates. Paying the sticker price will give you ownership of the machine, but then you have to consider how much it costs to install, run, and maintain it. Compared to other electronics in your office, servers are energy hogs and they consume a lot of power. If you don't factor in costs like electricity, then your next utilities bill will be an unexpected punch in the gut and you'll have to scramble to adjust your operating budget. Be sure to have your operating budget in mind when you're server shopping, and consider energy-saving server units that will initially cost a little extra but end up saving you more in the long run.

Electricity is just one of the many additional expenses that come with getting a new server. You will also need to plan on dropping cash on a data backup and recovery solution, cabling, a server rack, software, software licensing, labor for installation, uninterrupted power supply, and much more. To get the full picture of what a new server unit will really cost you, you'll want to take advantage of a technology consultation meeting with an IT professional, like the knowledgeable technicians at Computerware. With professional help, you'll be able to budget for your new server appropriately and not wind up paying for more equipment than what you were expecting.

Is Your New Technology Future Proof?
It's the nature of technology to go through cycles with the new replacing the old. Server units are not exempt from this cycle. This may be why a server unit that you may be considering is priced too good to be true. You'll want to protect your business from buying soon-to-be-obsolete equipment by understanding the latest technology trends and how they will affect your industry.

When you purchase a new server, you will want to not only consider your current needs, but you'll want to cover your future needs as well. Ideally, the new server will cover at least five years of needs. Worst case scenario, you buy a server that's on sale because its technology is ageing and then you're forced to upgrade within the year. This can happen when a new mission-critical application is released that requires a more powerful chipset and processor than what came with your new server unit. Having to dump extra money into a new piece of equipment is no good and can be avoided by "future proofing." At Computerware, we stay on top of the technology trends for your business so that you don't have to.

Having a Plan for Server Maintenance
The last aspect of server ownership that you'll want to budget around is server maintenance. Maintaining a server, or any piece of computer equipment, can be difficult to budget for if you take the traditional approach of only fixing problems. It's impossible to budget like this because a computer problem will strike suddenly and without warning, which can destroy your budget.

We've found that a better way to manage technology like servers is with a remote maintenance approach. This is where Computerware manages your technology remotely and takes care of issues before they turn into costly and unforeseen budget-busting problems. In the event that there's a problem with your server requiring a visit from a Computerware technician, you won't have to worry about being hit with a big repair bill because it will be included as part of your company's monthly contract! Managed IT services will ensure that your equipment is running at optimum efficiency so that you can get the most profits out of your new server.

Do you want assistance in budgeting for, picking out, and maintaining a server that's perfect for your business? If so, then just give us a call at (703) 821-8200!