Current eMessage > Technical Information > June 2016

Technical Information

Is keeping your old server in use really saving you money?

by MACC’s Technical Support Team

When it comes to replacing a server, the old idiom “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” comes to mind. Often though, this logic isn’t the best approach. In this month’s article we’ll discuss some of the hidden costs tied to keeping an old server around. Sure, it is still running, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it “ain’t broke.”

Power and performance
Newer technologies equate to higher performance, better manageability, and lower power and cooling requirements. This translates to reduced wait times for your users (which equates to higher productivity), simpler server management, and less power and cooling costs.

Unexpected expense and downtime
It’s not a matter of “if” something fails on that old server; it is a matter of “when.” And when that happens, you will be hit with unplanned expenses and unexpected downtime. What’s worse, these sort of outages never seem to happen at an ideal time.  Without a fallback plan, you run the risk of making a hasty purchase of whatever is readily available, regardless of whether it is the best or most cost effective option. Haste makes waste.

Vulnerabilities
If the server is old enough, chances are Microsoft has either ended support or will be ending it soon. This becomes a security risk as Microsoft will no longer provide updates and this leaves your server more vulnerable to viruses and exploits. Even if the hardware doesn’t fail, a virus or exploit could still result in unplanned downtime.

Depending on how you use your server, its failure could cause your business to be unable to operate. It is worth considering how much could be lost in revenue and wages during such a downtime.

MACC Tech Support is here to help you in planning and maintaining your business network and the server that powers it. From hardware replacement and monthly maintenance plans, to backup/recovery and hosted solutions, we can work with you to help determine the best course of action for your needs. If there is anything we can do for you, don’t hesitate to ask. Our Tech Support team can be reached at (402) 533-5300. We look forward to working with you!