Choosing the right hardware is an important step in setting up your business and allowing it to thrive efficiently. From your network servers to your phone system to the computer itself, every choice of hardware you make must be done with the functionality of your business in mind.

Computers

In today’s workplace there are not many businesses that don’t rely on computers to conduct business, showing the importance of this technology.

The first step in choosing a computer for your business is deciding what kind of computer will best fit your needs? What is your computer going to be used for? Where is it going to be used? How many devices will need to be purchased? These are the first questions to ask when considering what hardware should be purchased for your business. Perhaps a combination of devices is needed to cater for a variety of workers.

The next step is the choice of brand. Generally, all brands of computers will have similar components on the inside no matter the brand name. The biggest thing to consider will be the durability, upkeep and applications the brand brings. You have to choose a computer that will be able to handle the work of your business. If your business uses large amounts of multi-media regularly then you will want something with large amounts of storage to hold all that data as well as a strong processor that can handle the work.

You also have to consider the durability of the computer, ensuring it will last several years without performance slowing down. The hardware should also require minimal upkeep and maintenance, and uses a user-friendly interface that can be easily operated by your employees.

If your company requires hardware to handle specific tasks that cannot be handled by a regular computer, you can look at getting one custom built to fit your exact specifications by a reputable computer service.

Printers

Printers are another important device to possess with the type of printer depending on the type of business and your printing needs. If you require very little amounts of printing to be done then a simple store bought printer that can print, scan and fax simple documents will be able to perform the job. If you are requiring large amounts of documents and pages to be printed consistently then a larger heavy duty, industrial printer may be necessary.

No matter how much printing is done at your business, it is commonly agreed upon that having at least one printer is a must.

Servers

Depending on the size of your business, a network server can simply be a personal computer at your office. However, there are many benefits to using a dedicated server  for your business. Dedicated servers can provide a faster CPU, larger storage capacity and higher performance memory. It also provides more security.

Picking out the perfect network for your business is best done through a specialist who can provide better insight into your specific businesses needs.

Telephone Systems

Much like computers, telephone systems are relied on for day-to-day business in just about every business. And also much like computers, there are many different products to choose from.

The most commonly used phone device in this day and age is the cellphone (or smartphone). With many businesses on the go, the smartphone provides an employee with a voice connection as well as email access, apps and a camera/recording device. Many businesses can be run entirely through cellphones.

Voice Over Internet Protocol or VOIP telephone solutions are also commonly used among businesses. This system includes software like Skype where video call can be utilised in a simple manner. Most VOIP services are free to use or require a small fee for businesses.

Network Equipment

Network equipment can include everything from wireless routers to access points to firewalls and other security appliances. With network equipment, it is suggested that you contact a specialist to identify your businesses specific needs. The equipment required can vary depending on your businesses size with some set-ups very easy to implement yourself while a larger scale set-up would require a far more complex and potentially professional set-up. It is likely that your business will need at least one wireless router somewhere in your business to allow your staff easy online access.

Source: http://www.dataonenetworks.com/blog/how-to-choose-the-right-hardware-for-your-business/

18 July 2019