Tech Moving Too Fast? 5 Signs It’s Time for a Server Refresh
Imagine how much better your business would run if it had the same server capacity—but your IT systems were 25 times simpler.
It might sound like we’re pulling that number out of thin air. But a server refresh can consolidate your servers at a ratio of up to 26:1, freeing you with more data center capacity and increased power savings. The result is a more scalable, simpler IT environment that frees up your business to accomplish more.
If your servers have felt out-of-date for a while now, here are five compelling reasons to invest in a server refresh:
Reason #1: Expanding Your Innovation with new Server Refresh Cycles
AI and data analytics are becoming commonplace. To keep up with the competition, you need modern servers capable of supporting these advantaged technologies. Since AI and data analytics can consume a lot of processing energy, a server update is probably in the cards.
AI and data analytics aren’t just important because the competition is using them. They help you. Having built-in superior strategies for processing your data can lead to better decision-making throughout your entire business. Data analytics and AI can also help you interpret your business data, alert you to any potential weaknesses, and make recommendations for future actions.
Reason #2: Supporting the Sustainability of Your IT with a Server Refresh
The more energy-efficient your servers are, the less impact your organization will have on the environment. Modern servers, for example, can include both air and liquid cooling, which can reduce their energy footprint.
That’s the long-term benefit. The short-term benefit is that using less energy means less ongoing costs for you. Your IT will be sustainable in more than one sense of the word. Yes, it will help promote a sustainable approach to your impact on the environment. But running these servers itself will be more sustainable from a business perspective—reducing long-term costs and improving the quality of your data. For example, HPE ProLiant Gen12 Servers demonstrate up to 87% annual power savings compared to previous generation servers.
Reason #3: Improving Your Server Security
Modern servers now include enhanced security features by default. For example, HPE Provides remote management tool known as HPE Integrated Lights-Out, or iLO. This remote system lets your teams security monitor, manage, and troubleshoot your servers—even if they’re not physically there, or if the servers are powered off.
What are the security advantages? You can diagnose and fix issues before they cause downtime. You can update firmware and software so you have the latest security guardrails in place even before you fire up the servers in the morning. And by adding in built-in protections, you’ll have the latest security features designed to handle the cybersecurity threats of the modern world.
Reason #4: Reducing the Technical Load of Legacy Systems
It’s also known as “technical debt.” The longer you maintain your legacy systems, the more you pay for the downsides of those systems. The hardware, for example, can be a challenge to maintain—and it can be energy-intensive. That increases your carbon footprint and your monthly bills.
However, the “debt” you pay on these legacy systems is about more than the hardware. The longer you support outdated software versions, for example, the more you’ll expose yourself to the risks present in those software versions. It can be hard to maintain compliance with disparate features elsewhere in your IT infrastructure if you’re still relying on an outdated system somewhere else.
That kind of “debt” adds up. You’ll spend more time reconciling your systems and compliance, trying to troubleshooting the errors these risks create. And, you must consider the intangible costs of the time you spend reconciling old systems, the more time you spend, the less free you are to modernize your business.
Reason #5: Improving Your Agility as a Business
Imagine that more of your IT experts were free to focus on new innovations. If their bandwidth isn’t eaten up by reconciling old systems, it can go towards driving business agility. Freeing up your team’s time, without the need to put out metaphorical fires or focus on reactive problem solving means they can start proactively seeking out solutions to unlock more of your business growth. They’re free to suggest, improve, and innovate. They can help you build new software, enhance your business processes, and find ways to save time and money throughout your IT structure.
The compounding effect that a server refresh can have on your business means you will have more freedom to dictate how your business runs. For example, if you set the goal of scaling your business, you’re now free to brainstorm ways you can do so. Your IT team can focus on modernizing and simplifying your existing business processes. For more ideas on innovation and server refreshes, contact our team today.
