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Effective technology is essential for small businesses looking to increase their productivity. Computer networks can help businesses like yours stay competitive by increasing the efficiency of operations and reducing hardware costs. Even simple networks make sharing information and resources easier, provide better security, and enable quality backup facilities.
One of the primary challenges small business owners face is employing the right technology to sustain growth. However, getting the most out of this technology investment is often a big challenge for small businesses. For example, your business may have started with a single computer and printer, but as it has grown you have added more PCs and other equipment. As a result, the demand for printers and other hardware devices has increased, and sharing has become problematic. Rather than purchasing separate hardware peripherals for each computer, you might consider setting up a computer network, which provides an ideal solution for a single printer to be shared among a few computers.
Computer networking is essential too as your business grows. With more than one computer, a network can facilitate smoother operations. In fact, a
Why a Network is an Essential Productivity Tool for
Any Small Business
Figure 1: Peer to Peer Network
Two Types of Networks:
Peer-to-Peer and Client/Server Networking
A peer-to-peer network is the most basic type of network that allows multiple users to share information or resources, such as printers and scanners. Each computer is connected directly to other computers, all treated as equal on the network with the same responsibilities and roles. Each computer can share resources or information with any other computer on the network without a centralized computer or server.
A network is a system containing any combination of computers, printers, data storage, audio or visual display devices, or telephones, interconnected by cables or Wi-Fi and used to transmit or receive information.
Figure 2: Client/Server Network
Client/Server Networking
In a client/server network, all computers are connected to a centralized computer or server that manages the entire network and stores shared information in one central location. Servers are a central data store and run with specific software designed to manage the network. The clients in the network can be an individual computer, printer, scanner, or any other device. The server software performs specific tasks such as file sharing, printer sharing, connecting multiple users to the Internet, or sending and receiving emails for each of the network’s clients. Furthermore, modern servers allow for cloud computing, making them an even more convenient choice to streamline your business processes and enhance employee collaboration.
Peer-to-Peer vs. Client/Server Network
While both of these networks serve the same purpose of allowing multiple users to share and exchange information and resources, their functions and benefits differ widely.
Peer-to-peer networks are simple to configure, easy to install, and certainly a low-cost solution, but they are fairly limited in the functions they can perform. They offer no centralized storage location since information and resources are shared from one computer to another. In the event one computer shuts down, other computers cannot access its stored data. One major downside of this type of network is the fact that it is relatively insecure, since peer-to-peer networks have no centralized security safeguards. Another shortcoming is that once this network has five or so PCs connected it can slow down.
A client/server network can markedly improve business performance as a result of the different functions it can perform. The server can back up information, saving time and preventing data loss, as well as provide information security. Since the server acts as a single centralized unit for the whole network, Internet connections can be easily monitored and controlled. Another advantage is computer performance improvement and speed as a result of not storing large amounts of data for other computers. Moreover, client/server networks have a single point of access for the entire network so users do not depend on each other’s computers as they do in a peer-to-peer network. Servers also increase the security of vital data like financial information by allowing controlled access to different users. If a small business has more than five computers, centralizing the network on a server affords it tools and services that can lead to
6 Ways a Network Can Influence Your Small Business
Performance
Collaboration: Networks make it easier for employees to share and
exchange information. They also provide access to a variety of tools by which employees can communicate with each other. Collaboration features allow multiple users to contribute to a single document which is not possible with individual computers.
File sharing: A network makes it possible to access a file stored on
another computer. Multiple users can share the same file which eliminates the need for creating and managing multiple versions.
Printer sharing: Connected through a network, several computers can
share the same printer. As a result, there is no need to purchase and connect separate printers and devices.
Data protection: Backing up data to prevent the loss of valuable
information is essential for any business. Computer networks make company data backup routine and secure, ready for retrieval when necessary.
Shared Internet access: Networks make it possible to share a single
Internet connection among multiple computers. In-house email systems can also be easily implemented with a client/server network.
Increases productivity, reduces costs and saves time: Computer
networks increase the productivity of employees and reduce expenses for small businesses. With a network, multiple employees can share company resources, including printers or any other hardware devices. Time is also saved through easy backup solutions.
Payback Period of Network
Conclusions and Recommendations
Small business owners can reap enormous benefits by networking their computers. Yet, sometimes concerns about hardware, software and installation costs of networks (especially client/server networks) become a primary deterrent in adoption of this technology. It is important to keep in mind though that network technology can pay off quickly in the form of increased employee productivity and reduced operating costs.
According to a study conducted by Forbes, small business owners tend to quickly recover their investments and realize enormous benefits from server technology. Small businesses using server networks find that their employees perform an average of 20 percent more revenue-generating tasks. The study revealed that the average payback period of a server network ranges from 2.4 to 4.9 months, with most able to recover hardware and software investments in less than 2.5 months. The survey concluded that server networks assist smaller firms in extending their geographic reach, finding new customers and increasing revenue, while holding costs steady or decreasing them.
In conclusion, a peer-to-peer network is more affordable and easier to implement and maintain, but a client/server network can be much more useful for a small business as it leads to greater productivity, security and lower costs .
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...The Forbes study has shown that average payback period of server network ranges from 2.4 to 4.9 months.”
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...The Forbes surveyconcluded that server networks are helping smaller firms extend their geographic reach, find new customers, and increase
revenues while holding costs steady or decreasing them.
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Full City Tech
Recommendations:
Consider this before making a decision about the network solution for your business:
A network can make a difference if your small business has more than one computer and your employees need to share printers, scanners and other hardware, as well as an Internet connection and computer files.
It would be feasible for you to establish peer-to-peer network if you have five or less than five PCs in your office.
A company with more than five PCs is likely more suited to a client/ server network.
Windows Server Essentials 2012 is an affordable network solution for establishing a client/server network in your company, if you have 2-25 computers, or user accounts per required server. It provides you with file and printer sharing facilities, Internet connection sharing
capabilities and secure connectivity, with support for your mobile devices, easy backup and restoration facilities and many other advanced features.
