Server Based Computing

Server-based computing is one of the most exciting new developments in office technology.

What is Server Based Computing?

With a normal office network, every user has a fairly powerful computer on which they run software. The server is used for central file storage and specific tasks such as file exchange and internet access.

With server-based computing, every user has a much smaller terminal, and all their day-to-day software is run from the server. Each terminal is little more than a screen and keyboard, although it can be an existing PC (an old one at that).

There are plenty of benefits

• Financial benefits: because each terminal is smaller and less expensive than a PC, you save money with every new employee.
• Security benefits: because you centrally control all the software to which your employees have access, you’ll have a much lower risk of viruses or unwanted software.
• Facilities management benefits: because employees can access their files and software from any terminal, you can easily move staff between desks with no downtime.
• Maintenance benefits: all the hard work is done on the server. So system maintenance is largely done in one place, on one machine.

Home-Working Benefits

As you would expect, the tried and tested security and software management tools can be applied to home-working too; making remote working a true reality- with server based computing, staff can work from home and truly have access to the same files and software they have at the office.

Business Continuity Benefits

SBC is also an ideal business continuity solution- should your office become unusable due to flood, fire or other event, you can be up-and-running elsewhere, or even at home, in a matter of minutes.

Principal offer a range of server-based computing products, from the Citrix platform to the Jetro suite of enhanced management tools. To find out more, call your Principal consultant, free, on 0800 132908, or click the links below for more details.

> Ten ways to get more from server-based computing
> What’s a server-based system going to look like to my staff?

See also :

> Network Security?
> Document Management Solutions