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Steve HoodFlag for Canada

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Can a web server (with new application being developed) do the functions of our Head Office servers?

Hi Community (Server Admins),

We are a company (group of 9 companies) with approx. 50 users in total.
A Head Office of (approx. 20), 3 branch offices (approx. 25), home workers (approx 5).

Our head office has 2 Windows Servers utilized for (Domain Controller, Active Directory, File Server, SQL Server, DNS, BACKUP,  etc + a Remote Desktop Server).. 2 terabytes of data, types of doc storage are: Autocad Drawings (1000's), large 3D Files, Sage Accounting Files, million + Photos, MS Docs, Adobe Photoshop PSD Files  (many 1000's of these).. and the list goes on.
These are getting old and slow and need replacement.

Our company is in process of hiring a developer to code a new web based system to tie in all of companies, much like a CRM/Doc Management System. (We are strictly file based now).. This system will at first be connected to one of our company websites (this website is like a Real Estate website) with listings and sellers and buyers (both real and potential). The thing is this website is on a web server. Pay about $200 a month for it.

Question: Can a web server (with new application being developed) do the functions of our Head Office servers. In other words, do a company our size really need in-house servers at all. Could we not get by with a "Robust" webserver and this new CRM System being built.

Thanks
Avatar of Lee W, MVP
Lee W, MVP
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Maybe not... but maybe.  How would you manage and maintain the machines at the home office.  Are you ABSOLUTELY certain you have no other needs for a server?  Keep in mind that CLOUD based things are subject to your internet bandwidth.  If you don't have google fiber or something similar, accessing CAD and other large files could be VERY slow and seriously impact productivity.  To me, this is not a question that needs to be answered now.  Get the new system in place and see what it replaces effectively.  Odds are, in my experience and opinion, it won't be good enough to replace the servers outright.
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jmac44
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What kind of Sage accounting are you referring to?
Sage 100 ERP has a CRM module that might do what you want.  Contact your Sage Reseller for more info.
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