Do I really need a server for my small business?
It depends on the number of staff you have and the kind of business needs you require.

If your office has three or four staff members who share files occasionally across networked computers, send email, print and surf the Web, you do not need a server at all. On the other hand, with the same number of three or five staff that require frequent sharing of data or applications; backup of data; high security; hosting of own email, etc, you will need a server.

When you have five or more employees working together on a network, a server can provide a central location for your important files, shared applications and other resources you regularly use, like quotation forms, accounting software and movement chart activities.

What can a server do me?
You will need a server if you want to implement any of the following systems or applications below:

• File and print sharing
• Manage authorized users and computers – Active Directory
• Provides proper naming system for computers, services or other resources connected to Internet or a private network – Domain Name System (DNS)
• Provide address to computers – Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP)
• Email – Microsoft Exchange
• Firewall or other security system
• Website or company intranet – Windows Sharepoint
• Database – Microsoft SQL
• ERP or CRM solution
• E-commerce solution
• Backup of centralized data

In general, if you need to put a computer system in place that processes, shares or otherwise manages data, you’ll need a server.