What if we let you in on a little secret? You don’t have to purchase every iPhone that comes out. Shocking, right? As technology continues to evolve, it’s tempting to constantly replace your old technology with newer models. Unfortunately, this practice is not financially sustainable. Take, for instance, your network servers. According to ServerWatch, a server lifespan is about three to five years. Now, what if we told you that before you kick your existing servers to the curb, there are more cost-efficient ways to store your data? Let’s explore some questions companies should ask before they make any purchasing decisions.

When Do Servers Need to Be Replaced?

Is it really time to replace your servers? As we mentioned, servers have a server life expectancy of three to five years. This can be extended with regular maintenance. The only caveat is that hardware problems may arise due to the age of your server. This may have a direct impact on your team’s productivity and performance. Who wants to be on the phone constantly in pursuit of IT network support? It’s essential to compare the opportunity cost of purchasing new hardware versus the cost of repairs and loss of productivity.

What’s a Cost-Efficient Alternative to Buying Server Hardware?

Is there a cost-effective way to modernize your IT network servers? For maximum efficiency, you may not need to invest in buying server hardware.  Your servers can work for you without taking up space in your office with a process called server virtualization. This process allows your servers to be stored and maintained off-site, with all your resources being delivered to your office via the internet.

There are two notable benefits of virtualizing your servers. First, your team doesn’t have to spend an exorbitant amount of money on new hardware equipment. Second, virtualization is a scalable technology, meaning your team only pays for the data capacity you use. For instance, you can have just two and a half servers if that’s all your business needs. This contrasts having physical equipment, which would require your business to either make do with two servers or splurge and buy a third one even if you didn’t need all of that space.

There are a few things you may want to consider before switching to server virtualization. One of the most significant issues is cybersecurity. Storing all your data off-site might leave some companies feeling apprehensive. There are several workarounds to this issue, including the hybrid option which allows you to keep sensitive information on-site and everything else off-site.

What Can Companies Do to Prevent a Comprehensive Server Replacement?

Buying server hardware can be very expensive. If you want to keep your current servers for as long as possible, regular maintenance is very important. We often have clients ask what to do with old servers. If your servers are not performing as well as they did when you bought them one to three years ago, server upgrades can help. Installing more memory or additional CPUs can make a big difference. 

You can also repurpose your four to five year old servers. Instead of replacing them all at once, use the older ones for non-critical processes and buy new ones for your most important functions. If you have any questions about your servers and how you can increase their performance, get in touch with ClearFuze’s IT management solution in Los Angeles today. We can help you procure new hardware or explore other alternatives such as server virtualization.