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What's This Server Thing I Keep Hearing
About?
A server is a dedicated computer
which fulfils requests from other computers.
Once you add a server your network is
transformed from a basic peer-to-peer
network into a client/server network.
A
server provides a computer-related service
when asked. Servers can "serve" many
different kinds of services. Large networks
can have many servers all over the world.
Usually a server has a primary
responsibility. Those that provide
file-sharing are called file servers. Those
that server Web pages are called Web
servers, and so on. However, in smaller
networks, a single server can perform all
these duties.
Servers need special operating systems which
are optimized for providing services as
opposed to serving a single user; so you
can't let an employee use it as their
workstation. The special operating systems
are much more difficult to install and
configure than installing Windows on a
desktop.
Any
server can performs several duties at the
same time. Some of the most common
are:
-
Log On
Authentication
-
Internet
security
-
Running
business databases
-
Hosting a
Web server
-
Hosting of
an e-mail server
-
File
sharing services
-
Anti-virus
management
So, What Are the Benefits of That
Techno-Babble?
Small businesses solve nearly
many of their problems by taking one simple
action: installing a server. Yet 40% of the
3.2 million companies still don’t have a
server.
-
Centralized
data management. Everything goes on the
server. Everyone makes their changes on
the server. No more worrying about
who’s got which file.
-
Handle
network access in one place. Servers
manage the Internet all from one
location, cutting connection costs and
making users’ Internet accounts
secure.
-
You get
easy automatic backups. Avoid disaster
recovery nightmares. Since the data is
in one place, backing it all up is
simple. Servers include routines to run
backups at any time you want. Set them
once and you’ll never have to think,
“Is today a backup day?â€
-
Reinforce
your network security. Server software
makes it easy to lock down your data and
your network. It also provides an
additional layer of protection, for
itself and for the network. Control
exactly which computers can connect to
your data.
-
Lower
support and maintenance costs. Servers
can handle updates for all their PCs
automatically, eliminating the time
you’d otherwise have to put in to do
each one.
-
One
server-based software license is more
cost-effective than multiple individual
licenses. This is always true with
anti-virus software. Trend Micro sells a
server-based ten (10) computer
anti-virus software for $400.
[i]
With all the problems it solves, it’s easy
to see the value of having a server for your
small business. As certified professionals,
R-Squared Computing engineers have installed
numerous small business servers. We’ve
learned firsthand how they reduce downtime
and dramatically improve your employee's
productivity.
So, What Are Some Dangers A Server Helps Me
Avoid?
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Sometimes,
companies install a basic router
(without configuring it) to share an
internet connection. If it isn't
configured properly you open yourself to
hackers. Plus, if the router’s
wireless, there’s a 64% chance it’s
unsecured.
[ii]
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File/data
transfer is often done through private
email accounts (AOL, Google, Yahoo, MSN,
etc.) or physically moving files from PC
to PC on CDs or USB flash drives.
There’s no management when it comes to
private email or physical file transfer.
And no security.
-
Speaking of
security, about all that’s done to
keep unwanted attention out is
installing software firewalls on each
PC, like ZoneAlarm or the Windows XP
firewall. This is an okay security
measure – certainly better than
nothing. But without proper
configuration and backups, it’s not
going to withstand a serious attack.
-
And
backups? Maybe one or two PCs – “the
important ones†– get backed up to
CD or a second hard drive once in a
while. When the user remembers to do it.
More than 60% of small businesses
don’t backup at all.
-
In a
decentralized setup like this, each PC
has to have individual licensing for its
software. Software licensing is the
largest expense for small business IT
budgets. Windows, Office, Adobe, any
specialized programs…those costs add
up fast.
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Finally,
hardware is hard to share. If you want
to print on Kathy’s printer, you need
to email or walk your file over to her
system and ask her to print it for you.
Conclusion
If you're not running a server
for your small business and you have six or
more (6+) employees, you should consider a
server solution. The information provided
here only touches the surface of what a
proper network can do for you. Options like
free remote access, e-mail services and
dynamic business reporting systems will also
be available to you once you implement a
server.
[ii]
This statistic has
been gathered from R-Squared
internal records. (back)
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