IT for Charities & NFPs

Is it Time To Buy a Server? April 5, 2011

We are often asked to help small UK charities who feel (or have been told) that it is time to invest in their first server. 

Though there are huge advantages in having a server, there are significant time and cost implications, so it isn’t a decision to be taken lightly or rushed into – in some cases a server isn’t even really what is needed.  So we thought is was high time we updated our (sadly recently neglected!) blog with a few posts to help you make the decision and, if you decide it is right for your charity, implement it.

Firstly, let’s start with the basics.        What is a server?

A server is basically just another computer, designed to provide a number of centralised control and storage features – more details below.

You could use a “normal” workstation PC or laptop as a server, but it is better if at all possible to buy a machine designed for the task.  Unlike “standard” PCs and laptops, server hardware is especially designed to be left on 24/7 and often includes extra options to help keep things running if a fault develops – spare power supplies, fans, network cards etc.  The more expensive servers also often have better hard disks (faster and/or with a better warranty), though sadly this is no longer always the case … more on that in a later post.

Another significant difference between servers and PCs/laptops is that servers don’t normally by default come with any operating system software – so when budgeting you need to make sure you include this extra cost.  (And when you do, make sure you get the software with the biggest charity discount possible!)

Servers can be used for a variety of tasks including (depending on their capabilities) any number of the following:

• Central control of users – login names and passwords, access rights etc
• Central storage of files
• Email
• Databases
• Remote access capabilities and control
• Website hosting
• Printer management
• Central management of antivirus and antispam programs
• … and lots more

But it’s unlikely (and not advised) that you get one server to do all of the above.  You would need pretty a pretty “high-spec” server to do it all effectively – and by putting all your “computing eggs in one basket” you would be risking major issues for your charity if the server ever went down.

In our next post we will look at whether a server is the right option for you or whether there could be a better/easier/cheaper solution for your specific needs.  And in later posts we will cover more about how to choose the right server for your particular needs and budget.

But if you can’t wait that long just contact us (details on the About Us page) and we will be more than happy to go through the options with you and help you find the best solution for your particular organisation.