Life Span of Server...
Unfortunately, technology does not last forever. But that does not mean you have to go out and buy a piece of new equipment right away. Fortunately, these days there are many different options for storing important data. Knowing when exactly to make the change is the hard question. There are elements, however, you may need to consider: age and performance.
The life span of a server is around three years. Although some servers can last more than three years, at that point, you are taking a risk. This risk can include hardware problems and downtime. This may also include costly repairs and downtime for the entire company. What you spent on repairs; you could have invested in a brand-new server. For performance, you must measure how well they are running. Are they slow? Are they constantly breaking? Do they require daily restarts and tune-ups?
It is not necessary to go out and buy a server immediately, however. You have options! One solution, if you are limited on space e, is embracing the virtualized server. This means your server is stored and processed off-site. All information will be available from the internet. One benefit is you will not have to spend a lot on new equipment. Secondly, since it is virtual, you only pay for the data capacity that you use. This means that if you need 2.5 servers, you will not have to go out and buy that third server. Just pay for the capacity that you use! However, there are always risks involve done of them being security. Data security will always play a part in the risk factor. Some may not like the idea of their information being stored offsite. Another option would be to make a hybrid data decision. Keeping the most valuable data onsite and the rest of it offsite. But then you must decide what you deem important and whatnot.
If you do not want to go this route and you are not ready to invest in something like these upgrades are always an option. However, they are not the best long-term solution. Upgrades are good if the server is just starting to perform poorly. You can install more CPU or memory. This is a lot cheaper than going and buying an entire new sever. You can also try and repurpose an older service for light work that will not make the server run too hard. This will help with the ROI and help the company's budget.
