Now with WAN connectivity becoming relatively cheap and with free virtualization software, is it not time to consolidate your servers and move it to a more secure hosting facility? Other contributing factors such as crime, power outages and data manageability should make you think more seriously about this option.

Unfortunately each option has got advantages and disadvantages and in reality, it depends on your situation and environment. Each case needs to be looked at individually. In most cases, when running your applications through the Internet, you require terminal software like Terminal Server or Citrix, depending on the type of application that you need. 

When do I need to consider consolidating and moving servers to a hosting facility?

1. You have more than one branch
2. The costs and risks of downtime outweighs the costs of centralized hosting
3. Data manageability becomes a problem

When you have more than one branch, it might be a good idea to consolidate your servers and move it to a hosting facility. In our experience, customers are consolidating their servers not only when hosted at a head office, but also when hosted at a secure hosting facility. Reasons for this move are due to power outages, theft and even fire which can and will leave a company completely vulnerable.

We have had scenarios where an hour’s downtime outweighs any hosting costs.

When servers are decentralized, you require an investment in staff with technical resources to manage your network, which can become costly and can present problems of its own.

So what does a person need to be mindful of when you decide to centralize you servers?

1. Be mindful of current as well as future requirements: Design your server hardware according to current and future requirements to prepare for future growth
2. Avoid single points of failure: By using fewer servers, you have fewer points of potential failure; however, the impact of failures increases. You can implement redundancy to address potential points of failure. If one component fails, another component can take over. Performance might be degraded temporarily during an outage, but users can continue their work
3. Implement a good backup solution: Due to the increased risk and impact of hardware failures, backups are crucial

With free virtualization software, server consolidation becomes a reality, especially for the SMME market and with software like Terminal Server and Citrix, these applications can be accessed with relatively low bandwidth requirements.

As mentioned before, each situation needs to be looked at individually.

Below are three case studies concerning clients who have moved their servers to our secure hosting facility.

Case study 1:

Company A

Has 3 branches and they all use the same accounting server which resides at Head Office. All these branches run cost effective ADSL accounts, including Head Office. The problem is, Head Office has regular power outages. With this scenario, when Head Office is down, so are all their branches.

Case study 2:

Company B

Has 1 branch and any down time will cost them an absolute fortune. If their servers crash,  are stolen or are destroyed by fire, the time spent in getting new hardware and restoring everything to working state as well as to restore data, outweighs the cost that would be incurred by moving their servers to XDSL’s hosting facility.

Case study 3:

Company C

Has 14 branches, uses accounting software, mail and complicated helpdesk systems. Decentralized servers are not even an option as costs will skyrocket, not only due to hardware costs, but also due to required technical resources needed to maintain a system that is decentralized.

Summary:

If you have more than one branch, the possibility of cable theft or power outages, maintain complex systems or simply cannot afford the risks, then please contact me for advice with no obligations.

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By Danie Fourie