Every month RB’s Computer Service gains a new client when their server goes down. While we welcome the opportunity to help, most of the issues we find a solution for could have been prevented when the server was initially set-up and professionally managed after it was up and running. A 
lot of the small businesses owners we work with don’t have the time to explore the options they need to, and they are genuinely concerned the costs to set-up and outsource the management of an in-house server are out of their reach. As a result, they go the Do-It-Yourself route or rely on the most “computer knowledgeable” person in their employment or on their team to get the job done. At RB’s Computer Service, we get it! In this blog I’m going to touch on several reasons why it makes sense to outsource the installation and management of an in-house server. As Paul Mah notes, “it's arguable that being easier to manage far exceeds the cost premium” between DIY vs hiring a professional (Paul Mah, CIO.com, April 18, 2017, 6 steps for setting up a server room for your small business, https://www.cio.com/article/2382635/small-business/small-business-6-steps-for-setting-up-a-small-business-server-room.html). Furthermore, as I have written about a number of times, for the price one pays for lunch each day of the month, a small business owner could enjoy the benefits of an RB’s Computer Service Managed IT Service Agreement.
DIY: Server Set-Up & Management Pitfalls
Let’s assume you have a person that is knowledgeable enough to get an in-house server up and running. Does he or she also have more than a basic electrician and HVAC skill set? He or she will need those skills. Proper cable management can't be overstated. Exposed cables and “equipment completely open to physical tampering is a ticking time bomb for accidents such as coffee spills, dust or even workers tripping over wires (Paul Mah, CIO.com, April 18, 2017, 6 steps for setting up a server room for your small business, https://www.cio.com/article/2382635/small-business/small-business-6-steps-for-setting-up-a-small-business-server-room.html).” In addition to the cabling and setting up access to work stations, you will also want to connect a mid-sized pure sinewave uninterruptible power supply. But, when you do this, heat may build-up quickly, so the area you have the in-house server needs to be vented and cooled at the same time, which is why some HVAC knowledge will be helpful. You also need to consider the impact on temperature from outside the room too, such as direct sunlight or other factors that may raise temperature (Tom Collins, alantech | online, August 17th, 2015, 7 Common Server Room Problems for Businesses to Consider, https://www.atlantech.net/blog/7-common-server-room-problems-for-businesses-to-consider).
Besides considering these essentials above, it is helpful to have a professional team to help you navigate away from the not so obvious issues too. One often-overlooked issue is what happens when servers remain on after office hours in a building where all the businesses are tied into the same HVAC system. This may require a separate air-conditioning unit that's not tied to the building's central air unit, which is usually switched off after a certain hour. A business might want to install two standalone units in the room, on separate circuit breakers, for redundancy. This also allows them to be alternated regularly for servicing (Paul Mah, CIO.com, April 18, 2017, 6 steps for setting up a server room for your small business, https://www.cio.com/article/2382635/small-business/small-business-6-steps-for-setting-up-a-small-business-server-room.html). There are numerous other things to consider and easily overlooked until there is trouble, but with a professional team behind you, you can plan to avoid them.
Cost Benefits: RB’s Computer Service Can Save your Business $$$
When we visit a business to help get a DIY in-house server back up and running, the labor hours spent figuring out the cabling configuration alone could have been better spent installing a new in-house server. Therefore, RB’s Computer Service recommends labeling everything and documenting a set-up precisely to keep it simple for maintenance, upgrades, and when necessary, repairs. This additional documentation and labeling will cost a few additional dollars up front, but there is no question, this essential task is always a money saver in the long run. Equally so, businesses can instantly reduce their server maintenance costs with an RB’s Computer Service Managed IT Service Agreement. We offer both standard packages and custom options.
From managed backups to setting up an in-house server and managing it, RB’s Computer Service to can help your business today. For a consultation or help with your business, contact us via phone or email: 763-441-3884, or help@rbsmn.com. In addition to providing strategies to protect your computer or network when you are online, we also offer phishing prevention and ransomware strategies, and sell the best commercial grade firewall routers, best laptop computers, best desktop computers, business computers, computer parts and computer monitors. We provide managed IT services, computer repair, iPhone and smartphone repair and tablet repairs to customers and clients throughout central Minnesota and St. Cloud. Contact us today!