Are You Worried About Your Onsite Servers?

For many Australian businesses, the on-premise server room has been a long term fixture - a humming blinking heart of operations. With the evolving technological landscape, those (dare I say!) "legacy" systems are rapidly becoming more of a burden than an asset.

Lots of organisations feel stuck with ageing onsite servers. They know the risks of leaving them be, but the idea of moving to the cloud feels risky too. One executive described their server room as “a single cupboard that keeps me awake at night”.

If you're a grappling with an aging server infrastructure, and unsure what options are available, this guide is for you.

A Practical Guide to Overcoming On-Premise Server Challenges

The Tipping Point: Recognising When On-Premise Servers Become a Liability

There was a time when on-premise servers offered a sense of control and security. However, several factors contribute to identifying a point where they become a significant liability.

• Escalating Costs: The initial purchase price of a server is just the tip of the iceberg. Each year, replacement parts get harder to find and more expensive, and the IT team spend hours troubleshooting issues that modern systems solve automatically. Ongoing costs include:

  • Hardware Maintenance: Servers are complex machines that require regular maintenance and eventual replacement.

  • Software Licensing: Operating systems, databases, and other server software come with licensing fees that can quickly add up.

  • Power and Cooling: Servers consume significant amounts of electricity and generate heat, leading to higher utility bills. Failures in power or cooling also pose problems. They lead to downtimes and leave staff unable to access care or compliance records for lengthy periods of time which disrupt services and impact trust-based businesses.

  • IT Support: Maintaining a server infrastructure requires skilled IT professionals, whether in-house or outsourced. 

• Security Vulnerabilities: On-premise servers are hard to secure. Updates are slow, and patches may no longer be available, leaving them vulnerable to a range of security threats, from malware and viruses to hacking attempts. Protecting your data requires constant vigilance and investment in security software and expertise. It's not just a technical risk either, it's the risk of losing access to files, client information or compliance data.

• Limited Scalability: Scaling up an on-premise server infrastructure can be a costly and time-consuming process. You need to purchase new hardware, install it, and configure it, which can disrupt your operations.

• Disaster Recovery Challenges: Protecting your data from disasters like fire, floods, or theft requires a robust disaster recovery plan. This typically involves offsite backups and redundant systems, which can be expensive to implement and maintain.

• Accessibility Limitations: On-premise servers can limit employee access to data and applications, especially for remote workers or those who need to work outside of normal business hours.

Understanding Cloud Migration as a Business Strategy

Cloud migration involves moving your data, applications, and other IT infrastructure from on-premise servers to a cloud-based environment. Most clients don't move everything to the cloud all at once. They usually start with backups and email. Once the team sees the reliability and performance gains, they take the next steps of moving core applications.

It's important to note that cloud migration is not an all-or-nothing decision. It's a series of manageable steps that reduce risk at every stage and offer numerous benefits, including:

• Cost Savings: Cloud computing can significantly reduce IT costs by eliminating the need to purchase and maintain on-premise servers. You typically pay only for the resources you use, which can be scaled up or down as needed.

• Enhanced Security: Cloud providers invest heavily in security measures to protect their infrastructure and data. This can provide a higher level of security than most small businesses can afford on their own.

• Improved Scalability: Cloud computing offers virtually unlimited scalability. You can easily add or remove resources as needed to meet changing business demands.

• Disaster Recovery: Cloud providers offer robust disaster recovery capabilities, including automatic backups and redundant systems. This can help you quickly recover from a disaster and minimise downtime.

• Increased Accessibility: Cloud computing enables employees to access data and applications from any device, anywhere with an internet connection. This can improve productivity and collaboration.

• Focus on Core Business: By outsourcing your IT infrastructure to a cloud provider, you can free up your internal IT staff to focus on more strategic initiatives.

Overcoming the Concerns: Addressing the Perceived Drawbacks

While the benefits of cloud migration are compelling, some business owners have concerns about moving away from on-premise servers. Here are some common concerns and how to address them:

• Security: Some business owners worry about the security of their data in the cloud. However, cloud providers invest heavily in security measures, and you can further enhance security by implementing strong access controls, encryption, and other security best practices.

• Control: Some business owners feel they lose control over their data and infrastructure when they move to the cloud. However, you can still maintain control by choosing a reputable cloud provider and implementing appropriate governance policies.

• Downtime: Some business owners worry about downtime in the cloud. However, cloud providers offer service level agreements (SLAs) that guarantee a certain level of uptime. You can also mitigate the risk of downtime by choosing a provider with a proven track record of reliability.

• Cost: While cloud computing can save money in the long run, some business owners worry about the initial cost of migration. However, you can reduce the cost by planning your migration carefully and choosing the right cloud services for your needs.

!! Practical Advice !! Take A Step-by-Step Approach

Migrating to the cloud can seem daunting, but it doesn't have to be. Here's a step-by-step approach to help you navigate the process:

1. Assess Your Needs: Start by assessing your current IT infrastructure and identifying your business needs. What applications do you need to run? How much data do you need to store? What are your security and compliance requirements?

2. Choose a Cloud Provider: Research and compare different cloud providers to find one that meets your needs and budget. Consider factors like security, reliability, scalability, and support.

3. Develop a Migration Plan: Develop a detailed migration plan that outlines the steps you'll take to move your data and applications to the cloud. This plan should include a timeline, budget, and risk assessment.

4. Migrate Your Data and Applications: Migrate your data and applications to the cloud according to your migration plan. This may involve re-platforming, re-factoring, or simply moving your existing infrastructure to the cloud.

5. Test and Validate: Once your data and applications are in the cloud, test and validate them to ensure they're working properly.

6. Train Your Staff: Train your staff on how to use the new cloud-based systems.

7. Monitor and Optimise: Continuously monitor your cloud environment and optimise it for performance, security, and cost.

Cloud or Colocation: An Alternative Approach

For businesses with compliance or other concerns that prevent a full migration, another option exists: colocation.

• Colocation: This involves housing your physical server in a secure, managed data center. Companies like Microsolve offer this option, allowing you to leverage their infrastructure (power, cooling, security, and network connectivity) and technical expertise without the capital expenditure of a full cloud migration.

  • Benefits: You retain control of your hardware and software while benefiting from a more robust and secure environment. This can be a stepping stone to full cloud migration when the time is right.

Actionable Objectives:

The optimal approach to cloud migration will vary depending on the size and complexity of your business.

Embrace the Future of IT

Moving away from traditional on-premise servers can seem like a significant undertaking, but the benefits of cloud migration are undeniable. By carefully assessing your needs, developing a solid migration plan, and choosing the right cloud provider, you can unlock the power of the cloud and transform your business for the future.

Technology should support your team. It shouldn't keep you up at night. Whether you need to modernise your existing server setup or plan a path to the cloud, Microsolve can help you take each step with confidence.

Move at your own pace and step towards smoother operations and a future-ready digital foundation. Contact Microsolve to explore a tailored roadmap that keeps your systems secure, stable and aligned with your organisation's needs.