Is your business multiplying? Are your technical departments overloaded due to the growth of your business? Or are you searching for reliable storage and networking infrastructure for your small business?
There are various ways to solve the infrastructure problem, but you would require a guide that can make things clear for you.
From storing commercial data on punch cards to the existence of entire buildings dedicated to data management, the technological world has come a long way.
Businesses can choose many options according to their requirements. The two leading choices are data centers and server rooms.
Both these options have advantages and disadvantages. This article will discuss all the points regarding the two options. Reading this article will help you make an educated decision for your company’s future, so keep on reading!
Before we delve into any details, we need to know and understand the basics. What are data centers and server rooms? Why are they used? How is a data center different from a server room? These questions need to be answered first.
Data Center
Data centers comprise entire buildings dedicated to storage and the support of industrial networking hardware. Usually, a data center is shared by multiple organizations.
Why is a data center used?
The data center provides a facility to organizations to centralize their IT operations. They are equipped with top-notch hardware that aims to give the best possible service to their clients.
Server Rooms
A server room is a dedicated room in a building where IT operations occur. These rooms are usually present on the site of business or company. The server room is available only for the company in which it is present.
Why is a server room used?
Server rooms unite the computer hardware present in a building or institute. As the name suggests, it contains servers that store data, help in networking, and provide additional computing power to a company.
The difference between a data center and a server room
A data center is a remote facility where a business’s data is stored and managed, while a server room is a room in the company building that contains the data within it.
A data center is cared for by the staff present on-site. But with a server room, all the upkeep and management falls on the shoulder of the owner.
Whether these points are considered advantages or disadvantages depends on the company’s needs.
Evolution of Data Centers and Server Technology
Data centers started as server rooms available only for the largest companies. Over time, businesses began booming. This growth, along with the advancement of the internet, gave rise to modern-day data centers. As data centers evolved, they became available to small businesses.
The technology present for server rooms today is leagues better than what was available ten years prior.
Today, server rooms have high-powered computer servers that can handle most of the tasks provided. Problems only start when maintenance is scarce or the workload becomes heavier than the servers can bear.
Despite their differences, both data centers and server rooms are appreciated by businesses.
Which is better?
Now that the basics of data centers and server rooms are covered, let’s see what pros and cons these things bring.
Data Center
Pros
- If a small business can’t afford to build a server room of its own, it can opt for a data center that will provide all the facilities.
- Lower cost. Monthly fees start from $45 and can range up to $300.
- By choosing a data center, you wouldn’t have to worry about the maintenance and upkeep of the servers.
- Network outages are absent as data centers have their backup generators and quality-controlled environment.
Cons
- Security can be compromised.
- If all your data is being stored in data centers, you will be entirely dependent on the center’s quality of maintenance and uptime.
- The upfront costs will be a bit high. But the price will become negligible later on.
Server Room
Pros
- A server room gives you complete control to modify and expand your servers according to need.
- Security cages in server rooms keep your hardware and data safe.
- You won’t have to rely on someone to maintain your servers.
- You can physically check up on your servers from time to time.
Cons
- The increased workload of maintenance.
- Less backup assurance.
- Costs starting from $1,000 – $4,000. This cost is bound to increase as more hardware and maintenance will be required.
- The requirement of backup generators increases the cost further.
- You would lose all the data if a hazard like fire or flood occurred.
Keeping these points in mind, you can choose which facility is better for your company.
Small businesses would benefit from data centers as it requires no maintenance and low costs. At the same time, large companies might opt for their private server rooms, so their security isn’t breached.
Quick review
| Data Center | Server Room | |
| Price | $45-$300/month | $1000-$4000 initially |
| Maintenance Required | None | Constant |
| Space required | None | Large room (depending on server size) |
| Data Backup | Frequent | Once in a while |
| Security | Less Secure | More Secure |
| Loss of data | Negligible | Complete data loss in case of hazard |
| Advanced Technology | More advanced | Less advanced |
Conclusion
The advantages and disadvantages of both things are explained in this article, which can help you decide for your business.
A cheap windows VPS is the best option if you are a business owner who wants to make an economical yet practical purchase. It is a cheaper alternative than all the other services present in the market.
Hopefully, you’ll make the right choice after understanding the difference between the data center and server room. A choice that will be easier on your wallet while being productive and assuring your company’s future!
FAQ
Q. Is a server room cheaper than a data center in the long run?
A server room is generally more expensive. The maintenance cost and the burden of keeping the machinery running 24/7 add up quickly.
Q. Is there a limit for data storage in data centers?
Data centers offer multiple plans. If more data storage is required, your current plan would be upgraded to the one that meets your requirements.
