Servers
Server Support and Server Replacement
A small office server often runs file shares, a line-of-business database, and user logins. When it fails, everyone stops. Server support keeps it healthy, and planning keeps you ahead of replacement.
Whether your server stays, gets replaced, or moves to the cloud, we help you plan and manage it.
- Serving Los Angeles
- Business IT since 1998
- Remote first, on-site when needed
The workhorse
Server support that prevents surprises
Servers rarely fail without warning. Disks report errors, updates stop installing, warranties expire, and storage fills up. Without someone watching, those warnings go unnoticed until the morning the server will not start.
We check servers regularly, keep them patched, test the backups, and tell you well ahead of time when hardware or software is reaching its end.
Server support includes
- Health checks on disks, memory, and power
- Windows Server updates on a schedule
- Backup monitoring and restore tests
- User and permission management
- Warranty and lifecycle tracking
- Documentation of what runs on it
Server support and replacement options
Keep and maintain
If the server is healthy and supported, we keep it that way.
Replace on-site
New hardware sized for the next five years, set up and migrated after hours.
Move to the cloud
Shift file shares and apps to cloud services when it makes sense.
Hybrid
Keep one app on-site, move the rest to the cloud.
Backups
Image backups for fast recovery of the whole server.
Security
Hardening, admin controls, and protection.
How a server replacement runs
- InventoryEverything the old server does, including the forgotten jobs.
- PlanCloud, new hardware, or hybrid, with costs compared.
- MigrateMove data and apps after hours, then retire the old box safely.
When server support turns into a replacement plan
Servers usually last five to seven years. After that, warranties end, parts get harder to find, and the operating system may stop getting security updates. Microsoft publishes support end dates in its product lifecycle pages. Running an unsupported server is a security and insurance risk.
Signs it is time
- The server is out of warranty
- Windows Server is near or past end of support
- Storage is nearly full
- Disks or power supplies have failed before
- Logins and file access are slow
- Your line-of-business software needs a newer version
Do you still need a server?
Many small offices no longer need one. Files can live in SharePoint, OneDrive, or Google Drive, and user logins can move to the cloud. But some accounting, legal, and design software still runs best on a local server. We look at each application before recommending a path, and we compare total cost over several years, not just the purchase price.
Migration without downtime
We build the new system alongside the old one, copy data in stages, and switch over on an evening or weekend. Staff come in the next workday to the same drive letters and shortcuts. The old server is kept for a short time as a fallback, then its drives are wiped or destroyed securely.
The server room
Heat, dust, and power problems shorten server life. We check that the closet has airflow, that a battery backup is working and set to shut down safely, and that cables are labeled. Server support is part of our managed IT services, and offices with more networking needs can see network support.
Virtual servers
Many replacements now run several virtual servers on one physical machine, which makes backups, upgrades, and recovery easier. If the hardware fails, a virtual server can be restored to other hardware or a cloud service much faster than rebuilding from scratch. We explain whether this approach fits your office, and keep the design as simple as your needs allow.
Server support FAQ
Can you support a server we already have?
Yes. We start with a health check and document what it runs.
How long does a server replacement take?
Planning takes a few weeks. The switch itself is usually one evening or weekend.
Should we move to the cloud or replace our server?
It depends on your apps, how much data you have, and how your team works. We review both options and recommend the one that fits.
What happens to the old server?
Its data is securely wiped or the drives are destroyed before it is recycled.
Related services
Cloud migration services
Move from a server to the cloud.
Backup and disaster recovery
Fast server recovery.
Managed IT services
Monitoring and patching.
IT consulting
Plan the next five years.
Know where your server stands
A server review shows its health, age, and the best next step.
On-site and remote IT since 1998.