As a small business expands, so does its need for greater data management. Eventually, you’ll need new servers and backup power in order to handle the flow of data coming to and fro and you’ll need a server room that can house it all.
That being said – even when you’re a growing small business, you’re still small. Money isn’t growing on trees and you’ll need to figure out how to be responsible in terms of where you can save money without compromising too much on quality. Today, we’re going to share some tips with you on how you can set up your server room if you’re on a budget. Let’s jump right in!
Start small
Buying more than you need is a great idea when you’re projecting out growth, but reality is that it’s not real growth until it is. Start small and don’t waste money on storage space, electricity and backup power that you don’t need. Calculate your needs and then figure out what’s a reasonable buffer for growth in the short(er) term. Choose racks that are appropriate sizes, experiment with wall mounts and try to economize your space as much as possible so as the need arises to expand, you can rearrange equipment in the way and manner it needs to be rearranged.
Racks
If there is something affordable that you’ll want to invest in a little bit more up front because it’ll save you more money in other areas – it’s in server racks. Spacing out equipment will allow you to keep it cooler and functioning at a higher level – and that means less maintenance cost in the short-term and long-term damage to a minimum. These factors will help you maximize efficiency and even save on controlling cooling costs.
Organizing cables
Keeping your cables organized doesn’t seem like something you’d think would save you money at first, but it most definitely is. Messy server rooms cause undue strain on equipment and can cause overheating. Bundling and labeling cables helps to fix that problem – but also makes it easier to move and add equipment when the time comes. The less time you spend on managing your hardware – the more time goes towards managing the revenue generating aspects of your business. This will also save you significant time in maintenance – as there’s significant time spent by service techs simply on identifying what wire goes where.
At the end of the day, server rooms are important, but it’s certainly far too easy to get over your skis and buy more than you need. Stick to these tips and you’ll get a high functioning server room that won’t cost you too much, that you’ll be able to grow with and will help trim pesky maintenance costs that accumulate in both the short and long term. Good luck!