What Does a Server Actually Do in Your IT Infrastructure?

Servers have been around since the beginning of the internet, making them an essential part of this invention. While most people may not be acquainted with this piece of technology yet, a server is a computer in a network with more power, storage space, and speed to store information and serve other computers. Simply put, servers are the brains of any computer network that allows and controls access to stored data and resources.

Many business owners are switching to this technology, making it easy for them to store data, backups, and host websites independently. Before embarking on the hunt for your business’ server, you would need to understand how to choose a server processor,  the main component of a server. This article will provide several functions a server can perform in your IT infrastructure to help you choose a server suited for your business type.

It helps a business store its data

A business has a lot of information which is important in daily business operations. A server helps your business to keep this data safe and allows access to computers in a network to manipulate the data. A client or a computer in a server network will send requests to the server asking for specific data; the server will interpret and provide the needed data back to the client computer.

In bigger organizations, an employee must log in to their work computer, which allows them into the company’s network system. The client computer can access any data henceforth from the server until the user logs out of the network.

Connects printers to client computers

A server can typically connect computers to printers in a network. This allows client computers to access print services in the network remotely. A client would simply prepare their documents for printing then send a request to the server seeking permission to complete the task. 

The server then gives the document a tag that directs it to a printer ready for printing. Print jobs in a busy environment are queued to wait for others to finish. If one printer fails to complete its job, the server can reassign the documents to a different printer, automatically relieving the user of the need to do it.

Hosts websites for a business

Websites require hosting either locally or in the cloud. A server helps a business store websites and allows browsers to retrieve them. Since servers can operate continuously, business websites are online at any time of the day and from anywhere in the world. When someone searches for a business URL – to access the business website, the browser sends the request to the server, relaying the web pages back to the user. 

When the website is hosted on a server, its content is protected from manipulation, and users can only view it. This allows the website to be reliable and able to handle communication from both the server and the client in a network.

Provide a running environment for applications

Whether you are running your business apps like CRM or your e-commerce apps, a server holds a special role in this operation. The server environment allows the apps to access needed resources to enable it continuously run without any discrepancies. When an application is overwhelmed with excess traffic, the server allocates more space to make the app run faster.

Backs up business data

We all know how devastating it is to lose business data. While it might seem impossible, data can be lost by hacks, unexpected shutdown of a system, or irregularities. Servers come in handy to ensure business data is stored safely and retrieved throughout the day. It copies every valuable information or operation that the business does for future reference. A backup server is important in small businesses as well to keep a record of every activity to be accessed in the future.

Controls user authentication

Whenever a user requires access to a network, their credentials are processed before they are allowed in. A server provides storage of the user credentials enabling them to access the needed resources in a network system. This server allows a business to create a user, change passwords and block out unwanted access, preventing them from accessing the network resources and information.                             

Helps in gaming

Games have become more intuitive over the years, especially with the multiplayer mode that allows two players to access the game environment and communicate continuously. The server in the network relays its current data to keep the players actively engaged in the game in real-time. This ensures the intuitiveness of the game and the communication between both the players or server and client computer.

Servers can be used in different environments and can serve different purposes, especially when configured right. There are specialized servers that are suited to handle individual tasks. However, other servers can handle different types of tasks, including backups. This makes it easy for literally anyone to use one.

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