For many businesses, the question of managing IT infrastructure has traditionally involved setting up and maintaining in-house servers. These servers have served as the backbone for storing files, running applications, hosting websites, and managing email. But with the rapid evolution of cloud computing, particularly platforms like Microsoft Azure, an increasing number of businesses are asking: Is it time to ditch the server?
The answer isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer. We’ll consider the cloud shortly but let’s first look at some of the reasons why you might want to retain your own server:
- data control and compliance – having your own server gives you complete control over where your data is stored and in certain industries, like medical, legal or finance, it may be easier to comply with regulations when third parties are not involved.
- custom or legacy applications – perhaps your business depends on old, custom-built software that doesn’t play nicely in the cloud
- performance – if your team works with large files, like graphic design, video editing or engineering projects, accessing files over a local network may be faster than downloading from the cloud (but if speed is an issue for you, do talk to us about dedicated fibre optic connections)
But there are drawbacks.
Maintaining your own server means that you’re responsible for everything – updates, backups, security, hardware repairs, and making sure it doesn’t overheat or die unexpectedly. That’s a lot to manage and it can distract from you from focusing on your customers.
That’s where Wessex IT comes in. Think of us as your outsourced IT team. We can:
- help you choose the right hardware and configure your server. We’ll handle updates and optimize performance, fixing issues before they arise.
- ensure that your data is protected from hackers, viruses and accidents, and regularly backed-up
- remotely monitor and manage your server, quietly sorting problems in the background
- provide strategic technology advice to ensure that you have the right IT to give your business an edge
If having your own server is the right choice for you, Wessex IT can take care of all the technical stuff so that you can concentrate on running your business.
But many companies are ditching their servers and in the next article we will explore what’s behind the shift to the cloud and what your cloud options are. We will also demystify some of the jargon, like IaaS and PaaS.
