Sunday, July 27, 2008

The Benefits of Renting a Server

When you think of computer rentals, you probably think primarily of desktops or laptops. You may not have thought of the many ways that rentals of other equipment can help your organization.

Along with actual computers, most rental companies provide monitors and projectors and even printers and faxes. The many potential uses of these items are obvious. Trade shows, conferences, temporary staff increases; all require additional technology for the short-term.

But what about file servers? They are often thought of as a long-term investment, but it is becoming increasingly common for businesses to rent servers. There are many reasons, but the main ones seem to be training, testing, moving, and recovering.

• New installations or upgrades of software often involve staff training. In-house training can require more hardware resources than most offices have on hand. To create a real world environment for training, most companies aim to set up a classroom that mimics their work flow and processes. A file server that is dedicated to training gives employees the chance to test new features and procedures in a secure setting that will not effect real data and programs.

• Testing of new software applications or new hardware is another scenario that calls for server rentals. As with training, the purpose of testing is to recreate the exact environment in which software or hardware will be used. Renting a file server is a cost-effective solution.

• Moving an office can be a logistical nightmare. Somehow you have to keep business running smoothly while all of your equipment and people are scattered. Having the temporary use of a file server helps minimize or eliminate downtime. Use a rented file server to replace the live server until your equipment is moved. Or, you can use a rented server as a backup in case anything gets lost or damaged during the move.

• Hardware failure or natural disasters can cause costly problems for any business. File server rentals give you the equipment you need to keep functioning until your original hardware is replaced or repaired.

For more information on how server rentals can help your business, visit VernonComputerSource.com

Contact a Server Rental Specialist at http://www.vernoncomputersource.com or call toll free 1 800 827-0352

James Barry is a small business technology consultant with clients throughout North America.