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The state of your server room: Why does it matter?
Your critical servers and networking equipment – do you know what room they are in? When was the last time anyone went in there? Is it organized, clean? Do you know where the cables go?
Your server room is the technological lifeblood of your business. Yet, each day, your primary concern is running your business. And you rely on that technology to assist you in running your business. But days, weeks, months, or even years go by and, unless someone has been in there keeping it clean and making improvements to maintain or increase its efficiency, you could one day walk into your business and find a server is down or a switch is no longer working. Upon further inspection, it turns out the power supply has died from dust and dirt, things easily preventable with care. You made a significant investment in this equipment to assist in your business, wouldn’t you also be interested in maintaining that investment like you would maintain your BMW or even your own home?
It is easy for many business owners to overlook their technology investments.
Often subordinates, a CFO, or someone unfamiliar with your business practices makes the decisions that go into technology investments.
On the bright side, your technology investment is working so well that you might not even realize it is there, collecting dust in the supply closet. But, technology is often not something you can just buy and forget about; it has to be cared for almost like it is another employee in your business. There will come a day when you need to make upgrades. Or perhaps you purchased a new building and need to move.
You might’ve hired a new IT team and they’re discovering years of poorly-kept and poorly-managed systems, or a tangled mess of cables that go nowhere. Efficiency is a process but a process often achieved when all the right pieces are in place.
So you stopped reading this, and looked inside your server room.
Take a deep breath. Exhale.
Don’t close the door again and forget about it. All is not lost.
As long as everything still works, plenty of things can be done to improve your technology setup so that moving forward, you can quickly and easily glance at a professionally-tailored diagram to know what goes where and know who to contact when something needs to be looked at. An experienced IT team can assist evaluating and implanting solutions such as:
- Current and projected server utilization
- Ensuring equipment is housed in proper enclosures with adequate ventilation, filtration and cooling
- Network cables are neatly bundled, labeled and color-coded so electricians, painters or other vendors don’t accidentally take down your network
- Software is up to date and compliant
- Creation and updating of systems and network diagrams you and your staff can reference easily when working with vendors
- …and much more!
All of these things may not seem very important in the grand scheme, but having a well-maintained and professional-looking server room in any business environment not only gives you and your employees a piece of mind knowing everything will work and continue to work for years to come, but also looks professional to prospective customers, vendors or creditors. Technology drives the future and, with a little help, you will be comfortably driving that technology well into the future.
written by:
Brendan Kelly
Brendan Kelly is a Business Alliance Manager focused on building partnerships with technology companies that can help The Walker Group’s clients increase efficiencies, reduce operating expenses and mitigate IT security risks. Prior to assuming the Business Alliance Manager role at Walker, Brendan spent 10+ years in new business sales and account management roles while working for both software and service providers.
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As we close out another year, we’re reflecting on the incredible milestones, partnerships, and growth that defined 2024. From groundbreaking projects to community impact, our team has worked tirelessly to push boundaries and deliver exceptional results. In this issue, we’ll share highlights from the past year, celebrate our collective achievements, and look ahead to an exciting 2025. Thank you for being part of The Walker Group journey—here’s to continued success together!
Celebrating Our Spotlight in EY ’s Latest Publication We are incredibly proud to share some exciting news! Our business model and the purpose that drives us every day have been spotlighted in EY ’s latest publication, Beyond Sustainability as Usual: How Business Transformation Can Unlock the New Economy. This recognition is a meaningful opportunity to tell our story and inspire others to discover and follow their own true North Star. EY’s New Economy Unit publication dives deep into groundbreaking examples and case studies of businesses driving transformative change. It highlights organizations that embody new economy principles—those that are reimagining traditional approaches to create a better, more sustainable future. We are truly honored to be featured among such inspiring companies and to contribute to this vital conversation. Our inclusion in this publication is a testament to the power of purpose-driven business. We believe that aligning operations with a strong mission not only drives success but also creates lasting value for people, communities, and the planet. This feature is a reflection of our ongoing commitment to innovation, sustainability, and transformation. We hope this recognition serves as a spark for others to think boldly and creatively about how business can be a force for good. Together, we can unlock the full potential of the new economy and build a brighter, more sustainable future.
We are thrilled to announce that our recent eWaste Recycling Day was an incredible success! With the enthusiastic support of our community and the expertise of our trusted partner, Green Monster eCycling, LLC, we responsibly recycled an impressive 7,214 pounds of electronic waste.
