Many small businesses in Australia consider managing their own server infrastructure to save costs or maintain control over their data. In simple terms, this means running physical or virtual servers on-site or in-house to handle tasks like file storage, email, or business applications. While this is possible, it requires reliable technical skills, ongoing maintenance, and careful planning to avoid disruptions.
Why managing your own servers matters for your business
Running your own servers comes with risks that can directly affect your business operations. If a server goes down unexpectedly, your staff may lose access to critical files or applications, causing downtime and lost productivity. Data stored on these servers is also vulnerable to hardware failure, accidental deletion, or cyberattacks like ransomware. Additionally, Australian privacy regulations require businesses to protect customer data, so any breach or data loss can harm your reputation and lead to compliance issues.
A typical scenario for a small Australian business
Consider a Melbourne-based company with 50 employees that manages its own file server. Without dedicated IT staff, the business relies on a generalist to handle updates and backups. One day, the server's hard drive fails, and backups haven't been tested recently. The company loses several days' worth of data, disrupting client projects and delaying invoicing. A managed IT provider could have implemented automated backups, monitored server health, and responded quickly to hardware issues, minimising downtime and data loss.
Checklist: What to consider if you manage your own servers
- Backup strategy: Are backups automated, frequent, and stored securely off-site or in the cloud?
- Access controls: Who has administrative access to the servers? Are passwords strong and changed regularly?
- Update and patch management: Are operating systems and software kept up to date to reduce security risks?
- Monitoring and alerts: Is there a system to detect hardware failures, unusual activity, or performance issues?
- Disaster recovery plan: Is there a clear, tested process to restore services quickly after an incident?
- Compliance checks: Does your setup meet Australian privacy and data security requirements relevant to your industry?
- Support availability: Who do you call if something goes wrong outside business hours?
Questions to ask a managed IT provider
- How do you handle server monitoring and maintenance?
- What backup and disaster recovery solutions do you recommend?
- Can you provide references from similar-sized Australian businesses?
- What service level agreements (SLAs) do you offer for uptime and response times?
- How do you ensure compliance with Australian data privacy laws?
Managing your own server infrastructure is achievable but requires ongoing attention to technical details and risks. Many Australian small businesses find value in partnering with managed IT providers who bring expertise, proactive monitoring, and faster issue resolution. If you're unsure whether to keep server management in-house or outsource, consider consulting a trusted IT advisor who can assess your specific needs and help you make a practical, informed decision.