When Should a Business Upgrade Its Server

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IT technitian performing server upgrades

Small- and medium-sized business owners want to make sure their organizations are operating at peak efficiency.

With the reliance on technology, business owners want all their systems, hardware and software to be working correctly and in sync.

The importance of reliable, secure and efficient technology cannot be understated. That’s why having regular server upgrades is an important part of your technology management strategy.

Why Is it Important to Upgrade a Business Server

Servers are the backbone of any technology stack. They are constantly processing information – from sending and receiving emails to storing and accessing database fields. They are in demand by employees, customers and partners.

Unfortunately, servers are not built to last forever. Parts replacement and regular upgrades will extend your servers’ lives. However, despite good management, servers will only last 3-5 years.

Given their role in business continuity, it should be a priority to plan for server replacement.

When to Upgrade Your Computer Server

When to upgrade your business server will depend on the recommendations of your internal IT team or managed services provider. Outside of regularly scheduled upgrades, you should consider switching out your servers if the following occur:

Support Ending. If the manufacturer is no longer providing support or it’s out of warranty, it’s time to make a change. As your server ages, it’s more likely to fail
Poor Performance. Reliability is imperative with your servers. If you’re facing disk crashes, overheating episodes or power supply issues, it’s a good time to swap out a server
Slow Response. Whether due to age or increasing demand, slow response times mean your small business server cannot keep up with the traffic. In addition, if applications run slower, they are more apt to crash, leading to productivity issues that can be widespread, even companywide

Why You Should Upgrade Your Servers

There are many benefits to upgrading your business servers. Here are a few of the key perks.

Techs working on a small business server

Up to Date Technology

Organizations frequently upgrade their network servers to leverage the new features that new servers can offer. There are several factors to consider when it comes to leveraging the new technologies, however.

For one, hardware and software manufacturers will frequently release their upgrades. Of course, these upgrades are rarely synchronized.

In addition, there may be system upgrades, application installations or new technologies the business is implementing. Having the right servers in place to meet the needs of new software and needed functionality is critical.

Server Speed

On average, your server performance will decline by 14 percent annually. After five years, that means your servers are operating at 40 percent of its initial performance levels.

Slow performance has an impact on your entire operation. Lagging operating systems and applications can grind internal performance to a trickle at times. Poor responses can also shape customer experiences; poor server performance can have a direct impact on sales, customer impressions and return business.

New servers allow you to meet the growing expectations of your customers and your employees, optimizing performance both internally and externally.

Security Risk

Older servers are more vulnerable to security issues. Upgrading will leverage the latest cybersecurity features and ensure you have the security updates and have closed flaws that may be present in older models.

Data Loss or Corruption

You need your data to be reliable and available. If you’re experiencing data loss or corruption, you have a major issue to address. When backing up data, you need the processes to write all your data accurately. Hardware failure can be a major business continuity or disaster recovery issue. Without reliable backups in place, data are at peril.

Need More Storage Space

A lack of disk space can be problematic. Without enough free space, server performance can suffer considerably. A lack of free space leads to instability in performance or the degradation of the servers themselves. In the worst case, the server may shut down completely.

Scaling up a business is a sign of growth, expansion and increasing value. However, with scaling comes more locations, more customers and more data. Scaling up without addressing data capacity is a major problem.

There are steps you can take on an interim basis to address data issues on your servers, such as deleting shadow copies, backups and logs that are not essential to operations. However, the better case is to upgrade to allow for more disk space.

How to Upgrade Your Servers

Many businesses incorrectly assume that upgrading a server is a plug-and-play operation when it’s not.

When choosing to upgrade a server, there are several important steps to take.

Create a Backup

Never make even minor changes to a server without ensuring there is a verified data backup in place. Things can go wrong during an upgrade and it’s the top priority to ensure your data is available and secure.

Make an Image Backup

Cloning your entire server is an option to consider. These image backups allow for a complete restore, if necessary. Disk images allow for recovery of not just data but also server configurations, which can be complex.

Techs smiling, satisfied that the network servers are back online

Do One Thing at a Time

You may be tempted to use an upgrade as a time to do many things. However, it’s best to keep it simple. Don’t add disks, replace memory and add more cards all at once. If there is a failure after a few days, it’s far easier to isolate the root cause if there was only one change.

Monitor Your Logs

Be sure to look at your log files, backups and error reports after the upgrade occurs. You’ll want to see what’s working and not working. Also use third-party monitoring utilities and Windows performance reports to keep tabs on the upgraded servers.

Check the Chassis

Not all hardware components are created equally. They come in different shapes and sizes. Be sure that the chassis you’re using for your upgraded components will work for the physical configuration you have chosen.

Use a Professional

A managed services provider like ConsultNet Inc. can help upgrade your servers and ensure that the process works smoothly. ConsultNet offers extensive hardware, software, help desk and IT consulting servers to ensure that your technology is right for your business goals.