Top 5 Reasons to Update Your Outdated Server OS

A good server is critical to build an effective, reliable IT infrastructure. Small- and medium-sized businesses alike use servers for many essential functions. These include storing files, hosting one or more websites, handling eCommerce transactions, and providing employees with remote access to the business network.

But all servers rely on operating systems (OS) to complete these tasks and run various applications. Some of the most popular server operating systems on the market include Windows Server (running on 72% of servers globally) and Red Hat Enterprise Linux.

Using an outdated server OS can affect your business in several ways, disrupting everything from security to employee performance.

With that in mind, here are 5 reasons why you should update your obsolete server OS sooner rather than later.

Reduced Risk of Security Breaches

In the digital age, security is one of the biggest dangers facing any business of any size. These differ in scale and type.

Ransomware is one of the most common, and it’s a growing problem. Demands grew by more than 80% worldwide in 2020, and ransoms are believed to have cost Canadian victims hundreds of millions of dollars.

Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks are another. Coordinated perpetrators boost traffic to the target’s site to such an extent that their server can no longer function properly.

And your business will be more vulnerable to security risks like these if you use an outdated server OS. The latest software is designed to offer users maximum protection against both common and uncommon threats.

Updating your server OS will help to reinforce the safety of your infrastructure, and make hackers’ work more difficult if they attempt to target your network. Making the switch to a new OS may seem daunting if you’ve used the same one for years, but it’s worth it for better peace of mind.

Improved Employee Productivity

Healthy productivity depends on a range of factors. Employee happiness in the workplace is one: you could boost your team’s productivity by 13% if you manage to improve their satisfaction.

Another factor is the tools at your employees’ disposal: they can’t do their best work if they’re burdened by obsolete technology. An outdated server OS may affect the software your team needs for everything from basic tasks to critical client communications.

Lags, glitches, and crashes could cause delays and irritate staff. And your business will also appear less tech-savvy than competitors if your technology is obviously obsolete.

When you update your server OS, your employees should notice an improvement in software performance. You will also have the capacity to embrace the latest cloud computing solutions. That means greater flexibility and convenience, empowering your employees with the freedom to work remotely.

Mitigate Non-Compliance Risks

Businesses in certain industries have to comply with more rigorous regulations than those in others. For example, if you’re in healthcare, your compliance is likely to be extremely complicated.

And failure to comply with the latest rules could lead to fines, possible legal action, and damage to your reputation.

That’s why you need to keep your hardware and software up to date — an outdated server OS will make it harder to align with new requirements.

Take Advantage of Better, Faster Technology

Information technology evolves at a fast rate. Some companies have the resources to stay on the cutting edge, investing in state-of-the-art releases as soon as they become available.

But that’s not the case for most businesses, and it doesn’t have to be. Yet keeping the same components in your IT infrastructure for years without updates is highly unlikely to be in your company’s best interest.

Implementing a new server OS will bring you and your team more effective tech. New operating systems can help servers to cope with the performance requirements of the latest applications better. As a result, it can revitalize your entire IT infrastructure and improve key processes that rely on a stable network.

You may also be able to enhance your business’s energy efficiency, as some operating systems allow you to adjust your server to consume less power.

This can affect performance, though, so be sure to speak to an expert before you tweak the settings. Otherwise, you could experience avoidable technical issues.

Better Operating Costs

An obsolete server OS won’t utilize a system’s hardware in the most efficient way, which can increase your operating costs over time. Your server will be able to do less and become increasingly expensive.

Every cent is valuable when you have a business to run, especially when you plan to grow. But updating your server OS can help you improve your operating costs and get more value for money.

You may also choose to invest in a new server instead of replacing your current operating system. That may be necessary if your server is severely outdated and makes your IT infrastructure less powerful than it should be.

Before you choose a new server, though, it’s recommended that you speak to IT specialists to discuss your requirements. Experts will be able to help you understand why your current server and OS cause problems. And they’ll steer you in the right direction when it comes time to buy.

Update Your Server OS with GenX

GenX has well over 30 years’ experience helping small- and medium-sized businesses across the Greater Toronto Area with an extensive range of IT services. Server OS updating is just one of them.

We’re here to keep your server, and your entire infrastructure, operating at its best. Our specialists can perform maintenance on your server system, and upgrade it to suit your business needs. We’ll upgrade your server to a new operating system, while making minimal impact on your operations.

Our server OS update services cover:

Reliable on-site physical deployment of equipment.
Setup or upgrading of your new server operating system.
Implementation of virtual spaces to boost your server’s operational efficiency.
Post-upgrade testing and verification to confirm proper installation.

GenX’s experienced team is ready to discuss your server OS issues and set you up with the best server for your operations. Get started today!