Small-to-medium-sized businesses may think they don’t need a computer network. But it all depends on the kind of business you run and its computing needs. Between a video production company and an online seller, however, the former has more reasons to operate a server. But both of them will need to store data securely. The level of security required will dictate the necessary business infrastructure and the best practices to follow.
Does your business need a server?
Not all small businesses may need a server, but there are factors that indicate otherwise.
Compliance requirements
If your company deals with sensitive information, such as credit card data or health records, there are security standards you need to adhere to. Your own network will allow you to meet those regulations and update them according to industry changes. The server can be set up to run the necessary tools and ensure the system is cyber secure.
Business growth
Access and distribution of company data are manageable if you only have five to 10 employees. But once those numbers double or triple, you’re going to need a centralised system that will handle data management faster and more efficiently. It’s a waste of resources to run security updates one computer at a time, for example. It’s more cost-effective to set up a server, complete with server racks and cabinets, and roll out updates to multiple workstations at one time.
Data backups
Losing data without a recovery plan is the worst thing that can happen to any company, regardless of the size. It’s important to implement a backup and recovery plan right from the beginning. Data can be backed up to the cloud or an off-site server. But how comfortable are you in giving out confidential information? If you’re not, it’s best to save and back up data in-house.
Risk of data breach
Unauthorised access and theft of sensitive data can happen for many reasons—cyberattacks, using a weak password, or sending an email to the wrong person. The worst cause? Insider threat. You can’t control what your employees think and do, and some of them may be malicious enough to hack into the system or give an outsider access to it. Others may cause a breach unintentionally. With a server equipped with custom security solutions, there’s a higher chance of protecting against cybercrimes and other online risks. Most off-site networks follow security protocols that are applicable to the majority of their clients. Your business’ unique needs require an equally unique security solution.
File and application sharing
Depending on business operations, some files and applications are used by many employees. They’ll need to access them frequently and fast. You’ll also need to control permissions to prevent indiscriminate access that may result in a breach or errors. Imagine the impact if one of the staff accidentally removes a vital file or causes the entire system to crash. Business downtime translates to business loss. Managing all data and permissions is easier with an in-house server that you can access and control at any time.
Based on the above, you can easily identify if your company needs its own network server. If there’s one thing to consider, it should be data security.
Network setup needs
So your company needs a dedicated server. The next step is to determine how many servers will be considered adequate. It may be possible for a small business to set up one, but what if it failed? It’s recommended to have at least two servers to operate optimally and for contingency. To get a more accurate number:
- Evaluate the entire company’s activities and transactions.
- Identify the hardware and software needs for the system to run efficiently.
- Allow for system redundancy and calculate the extras for the best disaster recovery plan.
Once you have all the numbers, study them thoroughly and compare them against your budget. You can get a high-performance system without putting a strain on your finances. Consult the knowledgeable staff at 4Cabling for professional advice.
