Are you searching for alternative options to servers to save your money? Find out how to select options for servers, and which is the right option for your needs. In the next article, learn about the benefits and negatives of the various replacements.
Servers are now incredibly expensive. It is possible to pay around $1000 or more when you’re a small company owner. However, because of the increasing costs, there is a chance that you could be spending over $5000 to buy the server. Due to this, you could be seeking options for servers to use in your business.
According to Intivix Director of Sales, Rob Schenk, there are three things to think about in your search for alternatives to server:
- It is the policy of your business to store the data.
- Industry-specific regulations for your business.
- What kind of information you’re collecting?
“Policy as well as legal requirements and what type of information or degree of risk is equal to the kind of storage solutions available to the business,” Schenk said.
Be aware of these factors while reading about the best alternatives for a server for 2021:
- Network-attached Storage
- Storage Area Network
- Cloud Archiving
In its role as a Managed IT Services Provider (MSP), Intelligent Technical Solutions (ITS) has helped many clients in their choices for acquiring IT infrastructure to support their businesses.
It’s been observed that the prior alternatives are the ideal options for businesses that don’t want to invest excessively on a server.
At the end of this post, you’ll understand what these choices mean and the best way to make them an ideal fit for your company.
1. Network-Attached Storage
network-attached storage (or NAS) is in essence an appliance that is local and stores information for an organisation.
“Network-attached storage” is similar to an appliance local to you that houses many hard drives inside,” Schenk further explains, “and it’s typically more small to medium-sized business type stuff.”
The NAS is a storage device with hard drives which are configured to be replaced easily. It is connected to a router or switch to ensure that servers and computers can access it within the network.
The Advantages of a Network Attached Storage Device
A NAS offers the following benefits:
- At first, it is cheaper than hosting
- Files are stored locally
- Simple setup and access
At first, it is cheaper than hosting
The biggest advantage that the NAS has over servers is its cost. A storage device connected to the network could cost anywhere from two to three thousand dollars including those hard disks. The NAS costs less than servers, as it starts at around $5000, and then increases to.
But Schenk said that a NAS device can be priced between $10,000 and $25,000 depending on the quality of materials and how much memory that you require.
Files are stored locally
Local files can be beneficial to companies that wish to make their files secure. They also have regulations to comply with.
Accessibility and easy setup
A NAS device is simpler to install as compared to a server since it is less complicated to manage and requires a connection to an existing switch or router later.
The disadvantages of using a NAS Device
Systems for NAS have the following drawbacks:
- A single source of failure
- Not able to handle huge amounts of traffic
- The vulnerability to hacking
One cause of failure
One point of failure signifies that in the event one of the components is damaged, the whole device will fail. If there’s a power failure. If the power goes out, the NAS overall is down, unlike servers that have backup power sources in this situation.
Do not have the capacity to handle massive volumes of traffic
The NAS device can only handle a certain quantity of data it can manage, and its use to deliver data to large businesses can result in it breaking if it receives more than the specified quantity of data pulled at the same time.
The vulnerability to hacking
An examination of security issues with Network-attached storage devices showed that NAS devices are even less secure than traditional routers due to vulnerabilities like Command injection and buffer overflows as well as authentication bypasses.
Businesses that can benefit from the use of a NAS:
The Network-attached storage device can be suitable for these types of firms:
- Small-to-medium businesses
- Users who need to store documents on local networks
- People who don’t mind interruptions in service due to failure of the storage device
2. Storage Area Network
Storage area networks (SAN) are a type of network that is designed to save information local to one device. In essence, it links servers and your information via multiple sources of access as well as backup documents.
Benefits of having the SAN
- Fast data retrieval
- Eliminates single failure points
- It is easily scalable.
Fast data retrieval
The SAN can be designed to deliver data quickly to users. The majority of data is stored in SSDs (SSDs) rather than HDDs. (HDDs) and makes use of fiber cables to link to all of the parts. These considerations ensure fast data retrieval.
The data is stored in a local file, instead of sharing a network drive. It allows users to browse data more easily, as opposed to the files being shared on a network.
Finds the single cause of failure
They have a high degree of redundancy that is, multiple components perform identical tasks to minimize interruptions in service if one component fails. A large number of access points can also have the advantage of eliminating bottlenecks while connecting to the files.
It is easily scalable.
Since the SAN is focused on the configuration of data storage rather than integrating instantly with the network, it can swap components and increase storage capacity without impacting user experience.
Advantages and disadvantages of an SAN
- Extremely expensive
- This may require the use of a server.
The price is very expensive.
A SAN can be a pricey alternative that can make firms think of just purchasing servers. In light of the expensive storage equipment that is used in the SAN the cost of a SAN could cost companies anything from $40,000 to $100,000.
This may require an internet connection
Although the SAN can be used in place of servers for data storage you might still require a server in case you have many users that require access to the information. Servers are there for managing user activity.
You may have sunk the cost of the use of a storage server however, you’ll need to determine how you can control your network beyond the storage.
Businesses that can benefit from the SAN
According to IBM, the vast majority of companies use some type of SAN along with the network-attached storage system for better effectiveness and more efficient management of data. The following are the top options for the SAN:
Enterprises that need quick access to local file storage (i.e. architects or companies that edit video)
- Small to large-sized businesses
- Enterprises that can invest in SAN
3. Cloud Archiving
Cloud archiving offers the option to store your information in a cloud-based service. It is necessary to sign up for the cloud storage service that typically serves as an alternative to backup data instead of as a primary backup.
Benefits of Cloud Archiving
- Costs upfront are generally lower.
- It is easy to upload and save the data
- It is designed for storage with a long-term purpose.
The upfront cost is generally less expensive
Cloud archives are lower initially. Instead of thousands, it is possible to estimate anything from $10-$100 in the beginning cost of cloud archiving.
It is easy to upload and save the data
There is no need to have all the details or control every drive. You only need your information, a subscription to the storage, and someone to manage and upload all of the data for you.
Created for long-term storage
If you’re in search of options for storing information on a longer-term basis, cloud archiving could be ideal for those who want to store data for a long time. It’s made to help ensure that your data is protected and with minimal effort from your side.
Negatives to Cloud Archiving
- It is expensive to extract data
- One backup option is all there is.
- Not suitable for sensitive information
Costly to get data
Cloud storage costs are determined based on 1.) the quantity of data that you can store within them and two) how often you take out information. If you are required to access information, it could turn into a significant expense for your business.
There is only one backup method.
Cloud archiving is just one method of storing your information. It is recommended to store your data in at least three locations to ensure maximum security.
This product is not intended for highly sensitive or sensitive or in-use data
Cloud archiving does not have the intention of being used to be used for storage of sensitive data in fact, it’s often used to store information like company email archives. In addition, you typically restore cloud archives based on the backup version. So, if you want to access a particular document then you must know the backup that it was stored in.
Enterprises that can benefit from Cloud Archiving
- Industries that must store information for a long time because of the requirements of
- Enterprises looking for a low-cost solution for long-term data storage
- Firms are hesitant to invest in storage infrastructure
Are you looking for more information on Servers and Alternative Servers?
The price of servers has forced companies to consider ways to improve their infrastructure IT. Based on ITS experiences with customers seeking solutions to this issue the best server options are storage devices that can be network-attached, storage area networks, and cloud-based archives.
The main point for all these choices is:
- The network-attached storage (NAS) is an excellent choice for small to medium-sized businesses that need local storage to store non-sensitive information.
- Storage area networks (SAN) are a good option for those who want to make a significant investment in a local file management system.
- Cloud archiving can be a fantastic alternative for companies who wish to keep data stored for storage that is out of mind and only use it occasionally.