Why should I consider this solution?

This is an amazingly affordable solution for SMB clients and new start-up businesses, which need the functionality, security, flexibility and scalability of a latest technology server with the associated levels of administration and support, without the expense of dedicated maintenance agreements or employing IT staff to support the infrastructure.

Why choose a dedicated server from MTB?

	Reduced IT running costs
	Access from any approved location
	Fast free hardware support for equipment sited at MTB premises
	Free Microsoft Office for every user
	Free upgrades to the latest Microsoft operating systems and applications
	Knowledge that services are provided by a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner
	Support from friendly professional Microsoft MCSE technical staff

How does it work?

Remote Server Hosting is a service which allows any office to have their servers located away from their primary site and to be fully managed without the usual costs. Users are able to login to a session on the remote server and use it in the same way that they would ordinarily use a PC at their desk.

Each user will still need a keyboard, mouse and a display. These are connected to their existing PC, or optionally a thin client terminal and this in turn connects to the remote server via a broadband internet connection.

What are the advantages?

	Reliability
	As this is a leasing service provided by MTB, the servers are maintained to the highest standard by our dedicated team of Microsoft MCSE qualified engineers. If there should be a hardware or software failure, an engineer based in our office will be able to afford immediate attention to the fault and rectify it. As you do not own the equipment there is no additional cost to you. Should you own a server and there be a fault, you may have to pay for an engineer to attend site and rectify the problem. Not only can this prove financially costly to your business but the downtime can also prove irrecoverably expensive.
	Remote real-time data access
	As long as you have access to the Internet from a PC, you are able to login to your session from anywhere in the world 24 hours a day. This means that if key personnel are working from home, visiting clients or even on holiday they will still be able to connect to their business PC and check email messages or access stock information, etc.
	Fully managed daily backup
	Your data is backed up routinely and is housed off-site meaning that should you suffer a calamity at your offices your users will still be able to work from anywhere with a PC and an internet connection. The responsibility for changing tapes, checking log files to ensure backups have been successful is now taken over by our engineers, giving you the peace of mind that your data is safe.
	Re-use even the oldest hardware
	In an environment containing numerous underpowered computers, deploying software on a remote server environment is an effective way to provide all the benefits of the latest software without requiring the expense of purchasing new hardware. Workers can use the very latest version of software, even if they have older computers that don’t meet the disk space, processor speed, or memory requirements. Some non-functioning PC’s can be re-used in the solution by utilising a bootable CD Rom to connect to the server. Users receive the seamless experience of using a new Windows based PC without any of the usual costs.
	Rapid centralised deployment
	Because each user logs in to a different instance of the same application, when you decide the time is right to upgrade all your users to a new version of your software, the upgrade (and roll-back where necessary) is a very swift and inexpensive operation.
	Low bandwidth access to data
	Access to workers’ data is another compelling reason to use Remote Server Hosting. For workers who travel and need to access their e-mail and other data over dial-up internet connections, connection to your remote server can be much more efficient, especially if the messages contain large attachments.
	Tax relief
	You are only allowed tax relief on the depreciation of any equipment which you own each year. By paying for this service the whole amount is a cost to your company and as such you may get relief on the total amount paid each year. Your accountant will be able to clarify this.

What are the disadvantages?

As with any solution there must be a number of disadvantages, here at MTB we offer an honest appraisal of all our solutions and as such would not try to hide any of the disadvantages from prospective clients.

	Internet connection
	The solution depends on the availability of the Internet. As this is a low cost infrastructure, there is no guarantee or quality of service. However over the last five years this service has become widely accepted as one of the most reliable forms of communication available. As such, many companies have adopted email and other Internet based forms of communication as the core for their businesses
	Software compatibility
	Not all software is compatible with this technology. As the solution is based on Microsoft technology, if your business uses only Microsoft software then there will be no issue. If you use other software packages, it is important that you make us aware of this prior to installation of service, so that we can liaise with the relevant software house to ensure full integration. More and more software houses are updating their software to make it fully compatible with this technology, so it is unlikely that there will be any issues surrounding the availability of service to your organisation.

Want more information? contact us