Why network is n essentil productivity tool for ny smll business Effective technology is essentil for smll businesses looking to increse the productivity of their people nd processes. Introducing technology such s computer networks cn help them to sty competitive, by simplifying collbortion nd reducing hrdwre costs. Even simple networks mke shring informtion nd resources esier, provide better security nd enble esy bckup fcilities for ny smll business. Why network is essentil for your smll business TechAdvisory.org SME Reports sponsored by As Microsoft Chnnel Prtner, OnlyLink is reputble provider of Mnged Services, Internet Solutions, Website Custom Development, Softwre Custom Development nd Network Security Services. OnlyLink provides its clients with turnkey IT solutions, dvnced infrstructure, nd dvnced networking, which then frees tht compny to pursue its core business interests. Through our prtnership with Dtotel, OnlyLink offers tremendous One of the primry chllenges smll business owners fce is getting the right technology into their orgniztions on n ffordble, sclble system. For exmple, business my hve strted with single computer nd printer but s the business grew, more PCs nd other peripherls re dded. As result, the demnd for printers nd other hrdwre devices increses nd shring becomes more problemtic. Rther thn purchsing seprte hrdwre peripherls for ech computer, network provides the solution for single printer to be shred mong computers, which is essentil s the business grows lrger. If the smll business hs more thn one computer, networking the computers cn mke the difference in smoother opertions. In fct, network becomes the foundtion for productive nd secure smll business opertion. bndwidth over secure network. The compny lso hs brought on bord pckge of security services tht include udits, vulnerbility ssessments nd penetrtion testing. 1
Wht is network? A network is system contining ny combintion of computers, printers, fx mchines, dt storge, udio or visul disply devices, or telephones interconnected by cbles used to trnsmit or receive informtion. Two Types of Networks: Peer-to-Peer nd Client/Server Peer-to-Peer networking A peer-to-peer network is the most bsic type of network tht llows multiple users to shre informtion or resources such s printers nd scnners. In peer-to-peer network, ech computer is connected directly to the other computers with ech treted eqully on the network. Ech computer cn shre resources or informtion with ny other computer on the network without centrlized computer or server. In this type of network, ech connected computer hs n equl responsibility nd role. Figure 1: Peer to Peer Network 2
Client/Server networking In client-server network, ll computers re connected to the server or centrlized computer. A single computer clled server is used to mnge the entire network nd stores shred informtion in centrl loction. Servers re run with specific server softwre designed to mnge the computer network nd serve s centrl plce to store dt. The clients in the network cn be n individul computer, printer, scnner or ny other device. The server softwre performs specific tsks such s file shring, printer shring, connecting multiple users to the Internet or sending nd receiving emils for ech of the network s clients. Figure 2: Client/Server Network 3
Peer-to-Peer vs. Client/Server Network Both of these networks serve the sme purpose of llowing multiple users to shre nd exchnge informtion nd resources with ech other. But the functions nd benefits differ gretly. Peer-to-Peer networks re simple to configure, esy to instll nd re certinly low-cost solution; but they re very limited in the functions they cn perform. For exmple, peer-to-peer networks hve no centrlized loction to store the informtion becuse the informtion nd resources re shred from one computer to nother. In the event one computer shuts down, other computers cnnot ccess the dt stored in tht computer. One mjor downside of this type of network is tht it hs no centrlized security sfegurds so it is reltively insecure. Anybody connected to the network cn get ccess to PCs with few security concerns. Plus, if you hve more thn five or so PCs on the network, performnce dwindles nd things hve the tendency to move slowly. Client/Server networks cn remrkbly improve business performnce becuse of the different functions it cn perform. The server cn bck up informtion, sving time nd preventing dt loss s well s providing security for informtion. A server cts s the single centrlized unit for the whole of the network, so Internet connectivity cn be esily monitored nd controlled. Another dvntge is tht performnce of computers improves becuse computers ren t bogged down by functions such s storing lrge mounts of dt for other computers. This llows the client computers to run fster. Besides this, in client/server network there is single point of ccess for the entire network - so users re not dependent on ech others computers s they re in peer-to-peer network. Servers lso increse the security of vitl dt like finncil informtion, by llowing controlled ccess to different users. So, if the smll business hs more thn five computers, then centrlizing the network on server llows the smll business owners to hve tools nd services tht cn help to ttin impressive time nd cost svings. 4
6 Wys Network Cn Influence Smll Business Performnce Collbortion: A network llows employees to shre nd exchnge informtion. A network provides ccess to vriety of tools by which employees cn communicte with ech other. It lso offers collbortion fetures nd llows multiple users to contribute to single document, which is otherwise not possible with individul computers. File shring: A network mkes it possible to ccess file stored on nother computer. Multiple users cn shre sme files so it elimintes the need for creting nd mnging multiple versions. Printer/Fx shring: Severl computers cn shre the sme printer or fx mchine if computers re connected through network. As result, there is no need for buying nd connecting seprte printers nd devices to every compny computer. Dt protection: Bcking up dt is essentil for business to prevent the loss of vluble informtion. With network, it becomes routine nd secure to bck up the compny dt - which is redy for retrievl when necessry. Shred Internet ccess: With network it becomes possible to shre single Internet connection mong multiple computers. In-house emil systems cn lso be esily implemented with client/server network. Increses the productivity, reduces costs nd sves time: When smll business hs computer network, it increses the productivity of employees nd reduces costs. With network, multiple employees cn shre compny resources such s printers, fx mchines or ny other hrdwre devices. Plus, multiple users cn ccess the Internet t the sme time. Consequently, the hrdwre costs of the compny re reduced nd the productivity of employees is incresed. A network lso helps sve time by providing esy bckup solutions. 5
Pybck Period of Network...The Forbes study hs shown tht verge pybck period of server network rnges from 2.4 to 4.9 months. Smll business owners cn rep enormous benefits by networking their computers. But sometimes concerns bout hrdwre, softwre nd instlltion costs of networks (prticulrly client/server networks) become min deterrent in the doption of this technology. But the network technology strts pying for itself quickly in the form of incresed employee productivity nd reduced operting costs....the Forbes survey concluded tht server networks re helping smller firms extend their geogrphic rech,find new customers, nd increse revenues while holding costs stedy or decresing them. According to study conducted by Forbes*, smll business owners re quickly recovering investments nd relizing enormous benefits from server technology. Smll businesses using server networks find tht their employees cn now perform n verge of 20 percent more revenueproducing tsks. The study hs shown tht the verge pybck period of server network rnges from 2.4 to 4.9 months. Most smll businesses were ble to recover their hrdwre nd softwre investments in less thn 2.5 months. The survey concluded tht server networks re helping smller firms extend their geogrphic rech, find new customers, nd increse revenues while holding costs stedy or decresing them. Conclusions nd Recommendtions In conclusion, peer-to-peer networking is cheper nd esier to implement nd mintin, but client/server networks cn be much more useful for smll business s it leds to greter productivity, security nd lower costs. 6
Recommendtions: Check out the following before you invest in network solutions: A network cn mke difference if your smll business hs more thn one computer nd your employees feel the need to shre printers, scnners etc., shre n Internet connection nd computer files. It would be more fesible for you to estblish peer-to-peer networking if you hve five or less thn five PCs in your office. If you more thn five PCs, the client/ server network is likely suitble for your compny. Windows Smll Business Server 2008 cn be n ffordble network solution for estblishing client/server networking in your compny, if you hve two to 75 computers. It provides you file nd printer shring fcilities, Internet connection-shring cpbilities, secure Internet connectivity, support for your mobile devices, esy bckup nd restore fcilities nd mny other dvnced fetures. OnlyLink Business Solutions Miling Address 1734 Clrkson Rod Suite 300 Chesterfield, MO 63017 Phone: 314-641-3000 Emil: sles@onlylink.com Web: www.onlylink.com 7