The secrets of a modern IT infrastructure for small businesses
Firebrand Training
07 August, 2013
By Sarah Morgan
In today’s business world, IT infrastructure plays a major role and without a solid foundation there is little chance for long-term success. The laymen may believe that this so-called solid foundation is of high cost. Well, it might not be cheap, but it shouldn't cost you a fortune either. Having the latest and most expensive equipment is great, but far from compulsory. So, instead of spending a lot of your hard-earned money, try optimizing your infrastructure.
It’s important to get things right and it is no different in terms of your optimal IT infrastructure. If you wish to create the aforementioned solid foundation, you have to take the following factors into consideration:
- Ideal size
- Server-Workstation ratio
- Platform diversity
- Speed
Each business is unique and what works for one may not work for another. Bearing this in mind, you should consider the workload and its complexity, in order to determine the number of people you need in your IT department.
However, ideal size does not only mean people, it also relates to the build-up of your network. Getting the server-workstation ratio right is essential, if your infrastructure is to function properly. According to TechRadar, “for most businesses a ratio of one server to 10 users is about right.” So if you are running 10 workstations, think 2 servers, because you will need a backup, right?
Of course, it’s not only about size. Diversity, in terms of your platforms is also vital. In order to escape the headache caused by a full shutdown, it is useful to mix it up a little bit and use both PC and Macs as workstations.
Once you have got all these right, you just need to make the network fast. Matching your hardware and software correctly is important to minimize slowdowns. The unwritten rule is to spend around 20% of the server costs on networking equipment.
Building a modern and well-functioning IT infrastructure is sometimes hard, but useful guidelines are always available. For in-depth discussions and tips on IT infrastructure check out Modern Infrastructure by TechTarget.
About the Author:
Sarah writes for Firebrand Training on a number of IT related topics. This includes exams, training, certification trends, project management, certification, careers advice and the industry itself. Sarah has 11 years of experience in the IT industry.
Sarah writes for Firebrand Training on a number of IT related topics. This includes exams, training, certification trends, project management, certification, careers advice and the industry itself. Sarah has 11 years of experience in the IT industry.