Server, NAS, Other? Suggestions Needed

[Getch08]

So I operate a small Irrigation District which has 3 office employees. I need some information and some suggestions on whether a server or a NAS would be the right way to go for what we need here for such a small group. If there are any other options I am open to all suggestions. We operate right now off of 5 desktops one that is used as a shared "server". Our outsourced IT guy is recommending an $10,000.00 server without asking us a single thing about what our needs are or going to be in the future. I would just like to see if there is alternatives and what the benefits are of a server or other options. 

 

A little about what we are looking for includes:

1. Upgrading all of our hardware as we have been running off of the same setups for about 5 years now, replacing hardware as needed.

2. We need more storage as we move to digitize our records and our Prints of our infrastructure. 

3. What we upgrade to needs to have a path for longevity or upgrade paths as much as that can be said for rapid progress of tech these days.

4. It needs to be simple to use as we have some on staff that are not as tech savy as others. 

5. Redundancy: Most of our records are vital and we need a safe alternative to back up all the stored files.

 

Any suggestions or helpful comments are greatly appreciated.  

 

 

 

[Electronics Wizardy]

Do you have AD?

5 minutes ago, Getch08 said:

Our outsourced IT guy is recommending an $10,000.00 server without asking us a single thing about what our needs are or going to be in the future.

This guy probably knows more about this than your do, and that sounds about right depending on whats included.

 

Id foollow the IT guy. 

 

Something like a basic synology/qnap NAS will work fine if thats what you want.

[Getch08]

Thank you for the response I thought a NAS would be a easy solution to the storage issues we have I just dont want to jump into a $10K investment without doing my research. Yeah said IT guy also thought that we had 19" monitors and fought with me for 2 days about it and ended up ordering us the wrong one for replacement since we have 24" monitors. He also took down our internet connection for 3 days because he could not get over the fact the IP was actually telling him the proper fixes to do over the  phone, because he wanted to blame them for his later admitted to mistake. So here is my dilemma about trusting my possibly soon to be fired IT guy. I know he knows more about this than I do that is exactly why I am getting other opinions. 

[Electronics Wizardy]

1 minute ago, Getch08 said:

Thank you for the response I thought a NAS would be a easy solution to the storage issues we have I just dont want to jump into a $10K investment without doing my research. Yeah said IT guy also thought that we had 19" monitors and fought with me for 2 days about it and ended up ordering us the wrong one for replacement since we have 24" monitors. He also took down our internet connection for 3 days because he could not get over the fact the IP was actually telling him the proper fixes to do over the  phone, because he wanted to blame them for his later admitted to mistake. So here is my dilemma about trusting my possibly soon to be fired IT guy. I know he knows more about this than I do that is exactly why I am getting other opinions. 

I don't know your network setup. I will need to know that before I can make a good recommendation.

 

You might want a new IT guy.

 

Id strongly suggest against deploying anything without talking to the IT guy. Networks can be setup so that it won't work unless the device is approved

[Getch08]

1 minute ago, Electronics Wizardy said:

I don't know your network setup. I will need to know that before I can make a good recommendation.

 

You might want a new IT guy.

 

Id strongly suggest against deploying anything without talking to the IT guy. Networks can be setup so that it won't work unless the device is approved

The new IT guy is probably the way I am going. Unfortunately he has been around a long long time so it has not been easy dealing with him. 

 

Pretty sure we have a peer to peer wired network here. I am not a network guy so not sure what else to say there. I am mostly looking for benefits pros and cons of what each type of setup for such a small company would work. 

[Electronics Wizardy]

5 minutes ago, Getch08 said:

 

 

Pretty sure we have a peer to peer wired network here. I am not a network guy so not sure what else to say there. I am mostly looking for benefits pros and cons of what each type of setup for such a small company would work. 

Id look into a basic NAS from someone like synology/qnap. There normally 500 ish without drives, plug and play, quiet, and will work well for this use. Id then look at using something like amazon glacier as a off site backup.