A server is a computer hardware and software program that runs 24/7 to facilitate the storage of data and running of applications. This computer is connected to a network where client computers communicate with it to gain access to documents and programs running on it. A server is configurable to fit a certain need and perform a specific type of task. This can include; a web server, email server, or application server that only handles that particular job type.
There are two ways a business can access server storage; a dedicated offline server that is kept in-house and a cloud-hosted server that is accessed over the internet. Regardless of whichever server hosting type you choose for your business, you will need an operating system to help your server run. Windows Dedicated Server is a type of server that can effectively control all windows-based applications.
This article will provide the pros and cons of servers and compare the two main types of servers in the market.
Advantages of a server
● Encourages collaboration
Keeping your business data in a centralized server can help employees of your venture collaborate on projects, helping grow a teamwork spirit in them. Since all data is stored in one or more servers, your employees can easily retrieve, view, and update this information. This can help improve the work output and improve creativity in your staff, increasing your business income down the line.
● Servers are reliable
Any data stored in a server can be accessed 24/7 every day of the year, making it reliable for every business operation. A website hosted on your business server will always be online, helping keep your brand alive on the web. Since the server is the brains of any business system, including the security measures. This feature ensures that all attacks to the system are detected beforehand.
● Servers are scalable
A small business getting servers for their operations can grow with the most basic server, and when it gains traction and becomes big, it can upgrade the server to one that serves them better. This ensures that the business information backed up can be stored for even longer because of the increased storage. Cloud-hosted servers are the most scalable type of servers as the provider would only boost up different components of the server to the highest performing one.
Disadvantages of a server
● High energy costs
Servers get powered 24/7 for a whole year, making them consume excess power. This power is used to operate the server and also covers the cooling cost to ensure the servers do not overheat. A large organization would need high-powered servers to run their applications, websites, and the database, therefore, affecting your organization’s revenue.
● Expensive to buy and maintain
Servers are a significant investment to your company, having a considerable impact on your financials initially. The maintenance cost to keep the server running is also substantial, and depending on the size of your organization, this can become a huge regular expense to your business. A dedicated server requires technical support from an IT professional to ensure it performs as needed. Cloud-hosted servers require minimal maintenance from the clients’ side.
Differences between on-site server and cloud server
On-site servers provide the business with administrative control over your backup. This prevents the need for third-party from accessing your sensitive data. On the other hand, cloud servers require minimal control from the client, and even when needed, it is guided by tutorials.
On-site servers require upfront payment for both hardware and software to set it up and run it successfully. Cloud servers, on the contrary, do not require you to buy hardware or software, making it budget-friendly even for small businesses that promise quicker growth.
On-site servers lack the flexibility of usage as they are accessible from the office environment giving employees less location freedom. Cloud servers, however, can be accessed from anywhere and on any device, making it easy to initiate backups from even a phone.
Cloud servers rely solely on the internet to operate. This makes it unreliable in case the internet is down or either your ISP’s side or yours. Therefore, preventing you from accessing your information. In contrast, on-site servers are connected to the business’ network and do not need the internet to access or retrieve data.
On-site servers hardware might fail to be compatible with IT infrastructure making it an expensive and time-consuming affair. A cloud server does not require compatible hardware, and it is highly unlikely to see incompatible software in the server with the rest of the IT resources.
A server is the brain of your business network that controls the sending of requests, viewing documents, and delivering the needed resources back to the client. We’ve seen the merits and demerits as well as the comparison between on-site and cloud servers.
