When you’re setting up an office for your small business, you’ll need a server to host all your activities. Deciding on the right type can be overwhelming, especially if you’re not an IT buff. 

You’ll be pleased to know that choosing the right server doesn’t have to be complicated… 

What Your Server Does

A server is a separate computer system, or more than one, that hosts a range of applications and services to help your business function. The server can be remote or on-site, depending on your needs and preferences. 

Servers help you to:

• Share, store, and collaborate on documents 
• Host emailing
• Store info on the cloud
• Host eCommerce functions or websites
• Host applications that perform customer data management, accounts management, employee data management, and host other collaboration and planning software
• Back up essential data
• Provide a virtual workspace that staff can access in the office or remotely 

How to Pick Your Server

Choosing the right server for your needs involves research, including server processor comparison, and working out your budget. You can go through the process yourself or enlist the help of an expert. 

1. Do Research

Exploring the kinds of servers available and their costs is crucial. You’ll need to establish what hard drive, processor, and RAM (News - Alert) requirements your server should fulfil. There’re two ways to do this:

Investigate for yourself: 

• Write a list of the applications you’ll need to host.
• Contemplate how many people will use each application. 
• You can then look online for how powerful a server your applications need, the kinds of servers available, and how well they function. Reading reviews will help you a lot. 
• Be thorough in this process.

Engage an expert:

• Make your staff and application lists as before.
• Book your consult with a professional.
• Let them advise you on which server will be best for your needs and budget.

Once you have gathered some information, you’ll then know what kind of server you need to do the work required for your business. You’ll also have an idea of costs after a thorough investigation of what servers are out there.

2. Establish a Budget

You can buy or rent a server, depending on your preferences. Less expensive servers are about $500 to buy one-off and under $100 per month to rent. More powerful servers cost $1500 to $2000 to purchase and over $100 a month to rent. 

If you need a heavy-duty server, a new generation server that must be online 24/7, then you’ll have to go for a more expensive option. Keep in mind that you'll also need an expert to maintain your server.

3. Decide on Your  Server Type 

There are two main kinds of servers. These are dedicated servers or hybrid servers. 

Hybrid servers - allow for sharing among users, yet they can take less volume and are less powerful. They are an affordable option. 

Dedicated servers  - are devoted to one customer and are powerful enough to host more intensive applications. They are a more reliable option but also cost more. 

There're also many companies offering server hosting, so you’ll need to find one that's established and trustworthy. 

You’ll need to make the decision for yourself as to what server type and brand is best for you. However, speaking with a pro can help you make a more informed decision. 

4. Decide on a Server Location

There’re two options regarding server location. You can purchase a server and have the computer in your office, or opt to rent a server, which is based on the cloud. 

The second option is recommended, as you receive more support, and you don’t have to worry about managing the server computer yourself. 

Final Thoughts

As you can see, selecting a server doesn’t need to be daunting. You simply need to know your requirements and budget, do some research, then decide on the best option for your needs. Easy peasy!