Solving server business issues with the cloud Comparing cloud and server
Published: 2024/01/25 Updated: 2025/03/18
Servers play an important role in creating a company’s network environment. However, did you know that they are not necessarily required? The reason is that cloud services are widespread. By using cloud services, you can create an office network environment cheaply, quickly, and easily without using a server.
This article will explain servers and cloud services in detail with tables and other information.
Table of Contents |
Merits of hiring a server administrator Demerits of hiring a server administrator |
What is a server?
A server is a computer system that provides information and services over a computer network, in which storing data for users to access and making that data available when required.
For example, a web server stores the information for web pages and sends this information to the user’s computer when a user accesses those pages through an internet browser.
As such, servers are used in a variety of situations and can be said to play a central role in today’s digital society.
What is server management?
On the other hand, while having a server is certainly convenient, the server itself requires care and maintenance, and you need someone to manage the server.
Server management refers to the configuration, operation, and maintenance of a server on a computer network.
To ensure that these functions can be operated stably, you will need to hire an employee who can manage the server, in other words, a “server administrator.”
Merits of hiring a server administrator
The merits of hiring a server administrator are as follows:
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Expertise: Server administrators have specialized knowledge in configuring, maintaining, and troubleshooting servers. This allows businesses to quickly resolve IT infrastructure issues and minimize downtime. Time savings: Managing and maintaining servers is a time-consuming task. Hiring a server administrator can free up time to focus on other important business activities. Enhanced security: Server administrators understand the latest security protocols (used to enhance security by encrypting the network in order to safely handle it) to protect your business from cybersecurity threats. This keeps your company’s data and information safe. Cost-effective: Trying to fix server issues in-house often results in expensive repairs and equipment replacement costs. Hiring a server administrator can help you avoid these outsourcing costs.
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Expertise: Server administrators have specialized knowledge in configuring, maintaining, and troubleshooting servers.This allows businesses to quickly resolve IT infrastructure issues and minimize downtime. Time savings: Managing and maintaining servers is a time-consuming task.Hiring a server administrator can free up time to focus on other important business activities. Enhanced security: Server administrators understand the latest security protocols (used to enhance security by encrypting the network in order to safely handle it) to protect your business from cybersecurity threats.This keeps your company’s data and information safe. Cost-effective: Trying to fix server issues in-house often results in expensive repairs and equipment replacement costs.Hiring a server administrator can help you avoid these outsourcing costs. |
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Demerits of hiring a server administrator
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Cost: Server administrators have specialized skills and experience. Therefore, the salary of a server administrator is generally high, which can be a big burden especially for small and medium-sized enterprises and sole proprietors. Furthermore, when it comes to local companies, there is a possibility that they cannot hire people in the first place. Dependency: If the server administrator becomes the only source of knowledge, the company may face a difficult situation if that person takes a vacation or resigns. Security risks: Server administrators have access to a company’s important data. Therefore, hiring someone who may behave inappropriately could put the security of the company at risk. This is why you need to choose your people carefully. Technology education: Technology is evolving rapidly, and server administrators need regular training and education to keep their skills and knowledge up to date. This requires additional time and money.
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Cost: Server administrators have specialized skills and experience. Therefore, the salary of a server administrator is generally high, which can be a big burden especially for small and medium-sized enterprises and sole proprietors. Furthermore, when it comes to local companies, there is a possibility that they cannot hire people in the first place. Dependency: If the server administrator becomes the only source of knowledge, the company may face a difficult situation if that person takes a vacation or resigns. Security risks: Server administrators have access to a company’s important data. Therefore, hiring someone who may behave inappropriately could put the security of the company at risk. This is why you need to choose your people carefully. Technology education: Technology is evolving rapidly, and server administrators need regular training and education to keep their skills and knowledge up to date. This requires additional time and money. |
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The merits and demertis discussed so far can be summarized as follows:
Hiring a server administrator has the merits of being able to resolve problems quickly, operating the server with peace of mind, and reducing the physical costs of the server. However, we have also learned that there are demerits, such as having to pay a large amount of money to hire a technician, not being able to hire qualified personnel in the first place, and being dependent on a single person. |
So, if you do not hire a server administrator, how can you ensure a stable network environment?
A substitute for a server
The most common substitute for a server is the “cloud.” Cloud refers to technology that provides on-demand computing resources such as data storage (capacity), servers, databases, networking, software, and analysis via the Internet. To put it simply, it means that you can do the same things as a server on the Internet. The name “cloud” comes from the fact that external networks such as the Internet were represented by pictures or icons of clouds.
Cloud Features
The features of the cloud are as follows.
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Flexibility: Cloud services allow you to flexibly increase or decrease the time and capacity depending on the scale and growth of your business. This allows you to use them as much as you need, when you need them. Cost-effectiveness: Cloud reduces the costs of purchasing hardware and software, installation, maintenance, server replacement, etc. It also reduces the power consumption and cooling costs required to manage servers. Can be used anywhere: Cloud services can be accessed from any device connected to the Internet. This allows you to work flexibly regardless of location, such as on a business trip or on the go. You can also introduce teleworking by simply connecting to the Internet. Security: Many cloud providers take thorough security measures, such as setting strong passwords to protect data and having multiple data centers. |
Flexibility: Cloud services allow you to flexibly increase or decrease the time and capacity depending on the scale and growth of your business. This allows you to use them as much as you need, when you need them. Cost-effectiveness: Cloud reduces the costs of purchasing hardware and software, installation, maintenance, server replacement, etc. It also reduces the power consumption and cooling costs required to manage servers. Can be used anywhere: Cloud services can be accessed from any device connected to the Internet. This allows you to work flexibly regardless of location, such as on a business trip or on the go. You can also introduce teleworking by simply connecting to the Internet. Security: Many cloud providers take thorough security measures, such as setting strong passwords to protect data and having multiple data centers. |
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In this way, introducing the cloud can solve problems with various merits. So, what are the merits of migrating from a server to the cloud? We will explain next.
Merits of switching from a server to the cloud
Migrating from a server to the cloud brings the following merits.
Cost reduction: Cloud can be introduced on a subscription basis, thus initial costs can be kept to a minimum. Furthermore, since there is no need to own or maintain a server, it can be introduced cheaply and easily. Scalability: Cloud services can easily add or remove resources according to business demand. This allows you to flexibly adjust your infrastructure to match the growth of your business. Can be used anywhere: Cloud services can be accessed from any device connected to the Internet. This allows you to work freely, even when you’re on the go. Data protection: Cloud providers automate data backup and recovery, reducing the risk of data loss. Many cloud providers also offer strong security measures to protect your data. Access to the latest technology: Cloud providers are always offering something up to the latest, therefore your business can stay ahead of the competition by adopting new technology. |
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| サーバーとクラウドの比較 | |||
| Server | Cloud | Reason | |
Cost | △ | 〇 | [Server]: If you hire someone in-house who can maintain and operate the server, you will have to pay labor costs, as well as the price of the server itself and the maintenance costs for the server, therefore it can be said to be expensive even when various other costs are taken into account. [Cloud]: The appeal of the cloud is its low cost. When you introduce the cloud, there is no need to hire engineers in-house, thus there are no labor costs. Furthermore, since many sellers offer a subscription-based pricing structure, the fees are also affordable. |
| Capacity | △ | 〇 | [Server]: The capacity of the purchased hardware is the upper limit, so it is not small, but it lacks flexibility. [Cloud]: You can increase the capacity immediately if necessary. You can easily increase the capacity by asking the cloud provider. |
| Safety | 〇 | 〇 | [Server]: Although it depends on the server administrator, it is relatively safe. It is even safer if you can entrust it to a reliable server administrator. VPN connection will make it even safer, but it will cost. [Cloud]: Unlike a server, data is managed on the Internet, therefore data is protected even if the PC or computer is damaged. In addition, virus countermeasures are also thorough, and safety is maintained by encrypting passwords and having multiple data centers. |
| Updates | × | 〇 | [Server]: Since you have to do it manually or outsource it to an agency, it takes time and expertise to constantly use the latest version. Therefore, it is difficult to always use the latest version. [Cloud]: Updates are automatically performed by the cloud provider, therefore you can constantly use the latest functions and security. |
Communication stability | 〇 | △ | [Server]: The communication environment is stable because the infrastructure and network are physically connected. [Cloud]: Because it depends on the Internet environment, you can generally use the cloud environment stably, but it may be unstable depending on the location. If you are worried about the communication environment, we recommend using a free trial version. |
As you can see, the cloud has many merits. However, there are also areas where it is better than the cloud, such as server security and communication stability, therefore by choosing the service that suits you, you can make your work more comfortable.
Summary on Server and Cloud
So far, we’ve talked about server management and the cloud, but to summarise, it’s as follows:
By hiring a server administrator, you can quickly resolve any problems with your office’s servers, but this will cost money, so if you have the funds, we recommend a server. On the other hand, if you don’t have the funds to manage a server and aren’t familiar with servers or networks, you should consider the cloud! |
We also provide a service to convert accounting software and sales management software to the cloud.
You can convert your currently used accounting software and sales management software to the cloud as it is, thererfore there’s no need to relearn how to use them and you can smoothly introduce convenient functions.
Why not introduce applippli Cloud to work from anywhere, share information easily, and improve business efficiency?
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■Company profile Company name: applippli Co., Ltd. Address: 875-2 Yamano, Kama City, Fukuoka Prefecture, 820-0202 Business: Cloud conversion of Yayoi products, module design and development, app development, app rental,System integrator, core system implementation and maintenance Phone number: 0948-42-1570 |
