Do I Have To Replace My Server?

Just like any physical computing device including your PC, laptop and tablet, your server needs to be replaced and/or upgraded at some point. The older your server is, the harder it becomes to maintain as finding replacement parts becomes more difficult and costly. And just like the other computing devices, the longer you wait, the more likely you are to miss out on new technologies which may actually be of benefit to you. Here are some guidelines to help you decide when your server should be replaced and a good replacement strategy:

What is the typical server lifecycle?

The general rule of thumb is around 3 years. While just like any “rule of thumb”, a server life can extend beyond 3 years but the likelihood of hardware problems occurring does start to increase which means you have to start dealing with costly repairs and unpredictable downtime.

One other thing to consider is the operating system. Even if your server has performed perfectly for the last 5 years, if it still has Windows Server 2008 installed, it is no longer an option to not replace it. On January 14, 2020, Microsoft will end support for Server 2008. That means no more updates, security or otherwise, will be offered by the company from that date forward. This means that they will no longer patch security vulnerabilities and protect you against new viruses and malware. Without these critical updates, you will open the door inviting cybercriminals and viruses into your system. Hackers around the world are going to find flaws in the Server 2008 armor and Microsoft isn’t going to be around to fix them.

Do I have to make the costly investment in new server hardware and software licensing?

The answer is no! This is where the Desktops2Go® solution comes in. By moving to Desktops2Go®, you no longer need an onsite server not to mention the costly licensing and supporting infrastructure such as backup solutions, rack and power etc. With Desktops2Go®, you will always be running on the latest OS version so won’t have to plan and pay for expensive physical server and OS licensing lifecycles again.

What if I have a newer server but it just doesn’t perform well?

Server upgrades are a good place to start if your server is less than 3 years old but degrading in performance. You can install additional CPU or RAM to increase performance and at a fraction of the cost of purchasing a new server.

If you are not sure about the health of your server or would like to learn more about Desktops2Go®, contact us today!