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.

Why Your Small Business is Not Too Small to be Hacked

For technology professionals, working with small businesses (SMBs) is often a balance of high-stakes problem-solving and strategic frustration. While technology has become more accessible, the gap between having the tools and using them correctly remains a primary point of contention. Let’s go through four considerations the IT pros are pressing as they enter 2026.

January 19, 2026

Your Customers Benefit from Improvements to Your IT

At its core, your business exists to provide value to your clients. While technology often feels like a behind-the-scenes necessity, it is actually the engine that drives your customer experience. By optimizing your internal operations with the right tools, you don't just work faster; you serve better.

January 16, 2026

You Want Your IT to Be Boring… Here’s Why

In storytelling, there’s a structure that the vast majority of stories follow, regardless of the format: introduction, rising action, conflict, falling action, resolution. The rising action and the conflict are what give the story its appeal—they’re the source of all the tension that keeps things moving forward. They’re where the stress and the drama live; they keep the story interesting.

Welcome to the First Column IT Tech Blog