Finding a suitable storage solution can be a challenge for small businesses. This is because they will most likely be trying to balance cost, location, and other factors. And this can seem worse than trying to put a hole in a wall with your bare hands.
There are several ways businesses store their data. And while some of these options might be more expensive, others might be more effective for a smaller firm. For instance, large firms like Netflix, Pinterest, Apple, and others are moving their storage to cloud solutions due to the large amount of data they handle. However, this option might be too expensive for small businesses and start-ups that may require a cheaper solution like on-premises servers.
While servers might seem old-fashioned and traditional, they are still one of the best solutions for backing-up data, file sharing, hosting secure emails, etc. In addition, they are vital in hosting websites and e-commerce stores. However, choosing a server for your business might seem tasking due to the many available options. Nevertheless, there are a few steps that can help you.
To choose a server, you need to consider several things. For instance, you should consider servers costs, features, your purpose for wanting it, the capacity of your business, and more. We shall explain more below:
Five Steps to Choosing the Best Small Business Servers
It is one thing to buy servers and another to buy those that fit your business. For instance, a search on Google for servers shows over 4.4 billion results. So how do you choose one that is best for your small business? Below are five steps to help you:
- Understand your business needs
- Plan a flexible budget
- Research the sever specification based on your needs, budget, and other factors
- Choose a server type
- Place an order
Understand Your Business Needs
There is no better place to start than to understand why your business needs a server. So, you need to figure out why you should get one. This will help you search within a particular specification. For instance, a 512MB to 1GBps server can easily pass for web hosting, but you will require more RAM to host a web application.
Plan a Flexible Budget
A budget can help refine your search while sticking to what your business can offer. However, since cost is not a stable quantity, it is best to keep your budget flexible. You can read this article to learn more about creating a flexible budget.
We can group servers into two – cheap solutions and expensive solutions. And while the cost of each is the main difference between them, other things distinguish one from the other. For instance, cheaper solutions offer old-generation hardware, low storage, and poor execution speed, while expensive options provide better features.
So, if your business needs can manage a poor execution speed or low storage, you can get one that may cost below $500. Or else, you should target a better server option with a better feature which may cost over $2,000.
Research the Sever Specification Based on Your Needs, Budget, and Other Factors
After understanding your business needs and drafting a budget, it is time to search using those parameters. You can input those parameters into the search bar, and you will get several results that you can go through. For instance, if your business requires one for hosting web applications and a budget of $2,000, you can input “web app hosting servers below $2,000” in the search section. Then go through the results and choose the best match for your business.
Another way you might find what you are looking for is by consulting professionals. Some experts offer consultation services to help businesses find a suitable server option for their business. So, you might need to send a document explaining your business needs and budget to the expert if you are using this option. And while searching by yourself might be ok, some jobs are better handled by pros.
Choose a Server Type
We can classify server use into two – Dedicated and Hybrid servers. While each has its benefits and disadvantages, it will be best to choose one that fits your needs.
Dedicated Servers
As the name implies, dedicated servers offer single physical functions to a single client. And they are best for handling critical applications. Also, they provide high performance since the entire server resources serve one client. However, they are more expensive compared to other options.
Hybrid Servers
If you need to share a server with several users, then hybrid servers are what you might need. They are best for hosting smaller applications and are usually the most affordable. However, their performance rating cannot match a dedicated hosting option. You can click on https://en.wikipedia.org/ to read more about hybrid servers
Place an Order
Here is the final step. After ensuring that all the parameters fit what you need, you can place an order. However, ensure you read the seller’s policy and other vital details on their website. Also, give them a call if you are stuck with the process.
Usually, it can take a few working days for your new server to arrive. But this depends on your location. However, it is best to have a professional installer on ground before the arrival.
Conclusion
There are several reasons why small businesses need servers. Some reasons include hosting a site, web application, secure email, etc. However, it might be tasking to find the right one since there are too many options. But, using the steps explained in the article can help you find the best one for your small business.
