Server Setup and Installation
Prism IT specialises in setting up Windows servers for small business, including Windows Server and Small Business Server.
How Many Staff Justifies Getting a Server?
Since the release of Windows Server Foundation Edition servers are now so affordable that if you have a need for even simple file sharing then it's worth getting a server as it may not cost you any more than getting an 'ordinary' computer anyway.
Depending on the value of your staff's data, a server may also be an affordable way to ensure all that data is backed up.
In any case, once you have four computers or more, a server is the best way to keep central control of and monitor those machines.
What Can a Server Do?
The theme with server benefits is generally 'centralisation'. These are some of the typical uses for a server in small business...
Better File Sharing
When you share files from an actual Windows Server - as opposed to an ordinary Windows machine - you can control file access based on individual users and their departments. For example, you might want only bookkeeping staff to be able to access the books.
If you want to go a step further, you can also use SharePoint to track the history of changes to files. SharePoint is freely available for installation on Windows Servers.
Email with Shared Calendars and Contacts
You can run Microsoft Exchange on Windows Server. This software allows users running Outlook to share calendars, contacts, and tasks without having to pay a monthly fee to a third-party mail service.
Application and Desktop Sharing
You can give remote users secure access to applications running on the server. This is useful especially when staff are working from home and need to access an application from their home computer without installing it locally.
Centralise and Backup User Data
User data - such as everyone's My Documents folder - can be redirected so that it exists on the server. Each user's privacy is maintained - if that is wanted - and backing up everyone's data becomes simply a matter of backing up the server. This is also practical for users who are very mobile.