How to Make Smarter Decisions About Your Servers

December 8, 2023

Servers contribute a significant effort toward your computing infrastructure, so it makes sense that you want devices that can fulfill your needs with performance, reliability, and security. To get the most out of your server units, we like to recommend you consider the following six tips when choosing new server hardware.

What Does Your Business Need?

To start off, you’ll have to consider your organization’s specific requirements and needs based on the number of users, the applications you’re running, and your data storage. Through assessing these details, you’ll be able to increase the odds of purchasing the right hardware for the right tasks.

Are You Prepared for Scalability?

Ideally, your business will grow, and your infrastructure should be able to support that growth. You’ll want to have scalable options that can add more CPUs, memory, or storage capacity as your organization thrives. Using cloud-based servers can make this process even easier and more cost-effective.

Have You Considered Virtualization?

Virtual technology provides your organization with opportunities to replace physical server infrastructures with digital ones in the cloud. It’s a great way to make better use of the resources at your disposal and reduce hardware costs. While it might cost more up-front, new server unit costs are actually larger, making virtualization a valid alternative for small businesses.

Are You Prioritizing Security?

You need to protect your servers, too, with features like firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and encryption. Furthermore, you need to update your server software and firmware with patches and security updates to ensure you’re addressing potential threats or vulnerabilities. You should also implement strong password practices and access control measures, including password management.

Have You Asked for Professional Help?

Server technology can be complicated, and if you’re not an IT professional in your own right, chances are that you’ll be better served by working with one to manage, maintain, and acquire your server units. We can offer consultations that help you make the best decisions possible for your organization's needs.

Your business can overcome the challenges of server unit complexity by working with First Column IT. To learn more, call us today at (571) 470-5594.

BYOD Does More than Save You Money

Organizations are always trying to get more efficient. One way that businesses are able to accomplish this is by utilizing mobile computing. This used to mean that businesses would have to spend a bunch of money purchasing phones, data plans, and the like for their employees. Some time ago, businesses started to realize that they could improve their mobile strategies without this massive expense by enacting a BYOD policy. Let’s discuss what a BYOD policy is and how it does more than just save a business money.

July 31, 2023

Tip of the Week: Use People Graphs in Excel for Data Visualization

With Microsoft Excel, you can use visuals to represent your data, providing greater context for the contents of your spreadsheets and making it easier to communicate what it all means. This week’s tip focuses on People Graphs, a feature that can be powerful when used appropriately.

July 28, 2023

The Internet of Things and Its Relationship with Utilities Management

The Internet of Things, or IoT for short, has changed how businesses approach many areas of technology management, including how utilities and other systems are managed. Thanks to automated systems that can control utilities such as HVAC systems, heating, lighting, and so on, the IoT gives businesses more opportunities to control costs and improve efforts at efficiency. Let’s look at some of the ways businesses can use IoT devices to produce consistent cost savings.

Welcome to the First Column IT Tech Blog