Backup & Storage

How a server can help your team collaborate

A server - a computer on your premises devoted to storing company files - is a dry-sounding technology that can do some pretty exciting things: improve collaboration, accelerate access to information, and produce better work. There are several kinds of servers, some store web data, others host software applications. For most small businesses though, a server means that you and your team use a shared computer to access each other's files, and back up files from your desktop or laptop computer.

Consider the following specific benefits of using a server in your company:

Boosts productivity and fosters collaboration
Instead of your employees keeping corporate documents on their own PCs, a server enables them to store the most current documents centrally. That way, they're always available; it avoids the situation where when one employee shuts down their PC, the documents are inaccessible to anyone else on the network. Having a server holding the latest version of a document also avoids the situation where two people make conflicting changes to the same document. You can also set up a workflow system in which employees are notified by e-mail that a document is ready for their part of the process.

Enhances access to information
With a server, files can be stored, using standard naming convention for ease of access. This makes it easy for everyone in your company to find information quickly and easily. No more waiting for someone to send you a file when they get out of a meeting, or losing valuable time because someone sent you the wrong version of a key document. 

Facilitates access for remote workers
The nature of business today is that information needs to be shared across many time zones and geographies. With a server in place, you can give your employees and partners access to information when they need it. You can also easily restrict access to any files on the server so that only certain people can view proprietary documents.

Creates an archive
Savvy small business owners know that the best output comes from building on previous company efforts. A server stores all company documents, letting you leverage work documents from years gone by for current engagements and projects. Without a server, documents can be "lost" on individual's computers or stored in a way that they are difficult to find.

Creates backup
Few things set teamwork back as much as the loss of key documents. A server provides a place to back up the work being conducted on each computer in your small company. If one person loses a document, the server can at least provide a back up of an older version that can be restored. 

Accommodates legacy applications and business continuity
Virtualization, a new technology with multiple benefits, brings new flexibility to servers. You can create a "virtual" version of an old operating system so that you can run an older application on a new machine, even if the latter wasn't designed to run it. If you have an older proprietary server, running a database application that's crucial for your business, you can transfer the operating system and the application to a new server, and still run other operating systems applications on the same server. You don't have to maintain two servers, two operating systems, and two networks. Virtualization also eases the complexity involved in business continuity. Previously, to transfer the contents of a server to an offsite device, the latter had to be configured exactly to match the primary device. With virtualization, that's no longer necessary. 

Overall, servers have evolved considerably in the last few years in terms of their capabilities. While maintaining their ability to give small businesses a productivity boost in terms of collaboration and productivity, they offer even more flexibility and utility than before. 

Leave the server management to AT&T so you can spend your time concentrating on what you do best - running your business. Learn more.