Server or NAS? It depends on whether it only stores or also runs things
A NAS is designed to store and share files. It is simple, uses little power and, for an office that only needs shared folders and backups, it is usually enough.
A server, as well as storing, runs software: the ERP or business software, databases, a domain controller to manage users and permissions, virtual machines, remote desktops or a private AI. As soon as any of those workloads appears, a NAS falls short: little memory, a modest processor and few upgrade options.
Tower or rack: where the server is going to live
If your office has no network cabinet, a tower server is the natural choice: it sits like any other computer, makes little noise and takes several disks and a graphics card or two.
Rack servers are bolted into a 19-inch cabinet and take up little height (1U, 2U or 4U), but their fans are loud and they should not sit in a room where people work. Rule of thumb: tower for offices without a server room; rack when there is already a cabinet or more than one server is planned.
Processor and memory: size by users and workloads
For files and business software with a few dozen users, a mid-range server processor is more than enough. Virtualisation changes the maths: each virtual machine needs its own cores and memory, and it all adds up.
Memory should be ECC, which detects and corrects errors before they corrupt data or stop the system. In a machine that runs for weeks without rebooting it is not a luxury. As a starting point: 32 GB for files and business software, 64 GB or more as soon as there are several virtual machines, and always with free slots to grow.
Disks and RAID: RAID is not a backup
RAID spreads data across several disks so that one failing does not stop the server. RAID 1 mirrors data on two disks; RAID 5 and RAID 6 spread it with parity and survive one or two failed disks; RAID 10 combines speed and redundancy at the cost of half the capacity.
What RAID does not do is protect you from accidental deletion, ransomware or a fire: it copies the mistake to every disk instantly. That is what backups are for.
For databases and virtual machines, NVMe SSDs. For large volumes of files or recordings, enterprise-class hard drives designed to run around the clock.
Backups: the 3-2-1 rule
Three copies of the data, on two different media, with one of them outside the office. For a small business that means: the data on the server, a daily copy on a second machine in the office and another encrypted copy off-site, in the cloud or at another location.
And the part almost nobody does: test a restore. A backup that has never been restored is an assumption.
Redundant power, remote management and a UPS
Two power supplies keep the server running if one fails, and let you swap it without shutting down. Remote management (BMC or IPMI) lets you power the server on and off and see its screen even if the operating system does not boot. And a UPS stops a power cut from corrupting data and gives time for an orderly shutdown.
Which server for each case
| Case | Form factor | Starting point |
|---|---|---|
| Office of 5 to 20 people: files and business software | Tower | One processor, 32 GB ECC and 2 to 4 disks in RAID 1 or RAID 10 |
| Virtualisation: ERP, domain and remote desktops | Large tower or 2U rack | 64 to 128 GB ECC and NVMe SSDs in RAID 10 |
| Video surveillance with many cameras | 2U or 4U rack | Continuous-recording disks in RAID 6 with plenty of capacity |
| Private AI or rendering | Tower or 4U rack with GPU | A GPU with enough memory for the model or the scene |
What we need to know to propose one
How many people will use it, what software it has to run (and its requirements, if you have them), how much data you keep today and how fast it grows, whether there is a rack cabinet and a UPS, and how you back up today. With that we send you a written proposal in under 12 business hours, with alternatives if there are any.
We build and test every server with a 24-hour stress test before delivery, ready for your IT team or your integrator to install the system. You can pay outright or on renting: see professional servers for details.
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Frequently asked questions
How often should a server be replaced?
It is sensible to plan for about five years, when extended warranties usually end and disks have clocked up many hours. It can last longer, but replacement should be a decision, not a breakdown.
Can I keep the server in the office without a rack cabinet?
Yes: that is what tower servers are for, designed to live alongside people. They are quiet and need no server room.
How much does a small business server cost?
It depends on what it has to do: a file server for a small office and a virtualisation server for the whole company are nowhere near the same price. We give you a fixed written price in under 12 business hours, and you can pay on renting.
Shall we help you choose?
Tell us how many people you are and what it has to do. We propose a reasoned configuration, in writing.