IT question

[Cyclonepride]

We're currently investigating switching all of our business programs (accounting and otherwise) to cloud based platforms, and switching to an all Apple environment.

My question is whether we need to continue using a server once we no longer have the need to store programs and documents, or share them via that server? I think I would need some printer servers to make sure that everyone could still communicate with those, but the server itself is older and close to needing replaced, and I don't want to lay out all that money if I don't have to. I'd appreciate your thoughts.

 

[dmclone]

There are a lot of servers for a lot of different purposes. You need to know what your current server does and what your new cloud provider is going to do. For example, you cloud provider may just provide storage for your documents and your server may handle Outlook.

 

[SCNCY]

Will the cloud also backup your data? If not, you may want your server to do that. I don't work in IT, but that would be my concern. Maybe have your data in the cloud, but keep the backups in the server and more in your control.

 

[Cyclonepride]

Will the cloud also backup your data? If not, you may want your server to do that. I don't work in IT, but that would be my concern. Maybe have your data in the cloud, but keep the backups in the server and more in your control.

Yes, everything with both programs is stored and backed up offsite, and both are browser based.

 

[Cybone]

There are a lot of considerations and questions that need to be addressed here. I do work in IT and have moved law firms and all sorts of companies to the cloud. Going to need more details before I can give you any insights.

 

[Cyclonepride]

There are a lot of considerations and questions that need to be addressed here. I do work in IT and have moved law firms and all sorts of companies to the cloud. Going to need more details before I can give you any insights.

It would be an all Apple environment with about 20-25 users. Our business and accounting software would be browser based (we use takeoff software that is browser based as well), all backed up and stored in the cloud by the providers. We have three main printers that almost everyone uses and would need to keep access to. Other than that, the only other thing we'd really continue to use would be Microsoft Office 365.

 

[Mr Janny]

It would be an all Apple environment with about 20-25 users. Our business and accounting software would be browser based (we use takeoff software that is browser based as well), all backed up and stored in the cloud by the providers. We have three main printers that almost everyone uses and would need to keep access to. Other than that, the only other thing we'd really continue to use would be Microsoft Office 365.

There are cloud based printing solutions like Papercut and Printerlogic that would work. Not sure what their pricing would be given your needs but I can vouch for the functionality of both

 

[jmb]

We're currently investigating switching all of our business programs (accounting and otherwise) to cloud based platforms, and switching to an all Apple environment.

My question is whether we need to continue using a server once we no longer have the need to store programs and documents, or share them via that server? I think I would need some printer servers to make sure that everyone could still communicate with those, but the server itself is older and close to needing replaced, and I don't want to lay out all that money if I don't have to. I'd appreciate your thoughts.

I thought I was coming to check out a Stephen King thread

 

[Cybone]

I would remove the server, move any files and folders, depending on how much we are talking about to Sharepoint or Azure storage.

I would recommend a cocktail of productivity and security licensing through Microsoft to protect your tenant, endpoints and other data.

 

[Gorm]

From experience, running instances of MacOS in the cloud is very expensive.

 

[Cyclonepride]

I would remove the server, move any files and folders, depending on how much we are talking about to Sharepoint or Azure storage.

I would recommend a cocktail of productivity and security licensing through Microsoft to protect your tenant, endpoints and other data.

We really have no files and folders on the server that couldn't be as easily stored on a computer, or on Google Drive. Just the accounting software and its backups are the only important things that I see on there.

Sorry, I am not sure what is meant by tenant/endpoints. Just trying to see how this scenario would be any different than a home setup with a whole bunch of computers running off a modem with a switch coming off of it. Sorry if that is a silly question, I'm just not that up to speed on servers.

 

[CYdTracked]

This question feels a lot like one I had to answer on my Microsoft AZ-900 Certification exam last week. LOL

There are many different flavors of cloud depending on what your goals are. Kind of a general explanation of it here defined by Microsoft:

What are public, private, and hybrid clouds? | Microsoft Azure

Learn the difference between public, private, and hybrid clouds. Compare features, benefits, and use cases to choose the best cloud strategy for your business.

azure.microsoft.com

You can do everything from going to completely public based cloud computing where all your resources are off premises and you have no physical hardware/servers to a hybrid or private cloud solutions where only certain resources are hosted on the cloud while you still maintain physical servers for part of your computing environment. There are pros and cons to all of them.

 

[1100011CS]

Is your question strictly about whether you still need your server for printers?