✅ Step 1: Qualifying Questions for the Client
1. Business Overview
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What does your company do, and how many users will access the server?
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Are you replacing an existing server or setting up a new one?
2. Server Role / Use Case
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What will the server be used for? (e.g., Domain Controller, File Server, Application Server, SQL, Remote Desktop Services, etc.)
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Do you require virtualization (e.g., Hyper-V, VMware)?
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Any specific software or services that will run on the server?
3. User & Device Load
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How many users/devices will be connecting concurrently?
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Are there remote users? Do they need VPN or RDS access?
4. Performance Requirements
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Do you need high IOPS (e.g., SQL server, CAD apps, video editing)?
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Are there uptime or performance SLAs (mission-critical workloads)?
5. Data Storage Needs
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How much total data needs to be stored?
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Is storage expected to grow significantly in the next 1–3 years?
6. Security & Compliance
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Are there compliance requirements (e.g., HIPAA, GDPR)?
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Do you need encryption at rest / in transit?
7. Backup Strategy
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Do you have an existing backup solution? If so, what?
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What is your RPO (Recovery Point Objective) and RTO (Recovery Time Objective)?
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How long do you need to retain backups?
⚙️ Step 2: Server Hardware Specifications
| Component | Considerations |
|---|---|
| Form Factor | Rackmount (1U/2U) or Tower |
| Processor (CPU) | Intel Xeon or AMD EPYC, # of cores based on load/virtualization |
| Memory (RAM) | Min 16–32 GB for basic, 64–128 GB+ for VM/SQL-heavy setups |
| Storage Type | SSDs (NVMe/SATA) for performance, HDDs for large storage; RAID considerations |
| RAID Level | RAID 1/5/6/10 depending on redundancy/performance goals |
| Network | Dual NICs, 1GbE or 10GbE depending on infrastructure |
| Redundancy | Dual power supplies, hot-swappable drives if uptime is critical |
| Virtualization | Do you need a hypervisor license (VMware, Hyper-V)? |
???? Step 3: Software & Licensing
1. Operating System
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Windows Server SPLA (Monthly):
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Version: 2019 / 2022 Standard or Datacenter
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User CALs or RDS CALs as needed
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2. Antivirus
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SentinelOne:
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Number of endpoints?
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Active EDR needed?
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3. Backup Options
Choose the best-fit solution based on budget, performance, and data retention needs:
| Backup Type | Tools | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Local & Cloud | VEEAM + Wasabi or Probax | VEEAM for VM/file-level, Wasabi for S3-compatible offsite storage |
| Remote Monitoring | NinjaOne | For managing backup agents, remote support, monitoring |
| Bare-Metal Recovery | VEEAM / Probax | Inquire about image-based backups and disaster recovery options |
???? Optional Add-ons
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VPN Configuration
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Firewall Setup / UTM Integration
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Cloud Failover / DRaaS
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Domain Migration (if replacing legacy AD)
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Ongoing Managed Services (MSP)
???? Order Checklist
| Item | Notes |
|---|---|
| Server make/model | Dell / HPE / Custom Build |
| OS License | SPLA (version + CALs) |
| Antivirus | SentinelOne |
| Backup Software | VEEAM / Probax / NinjaOne |
| Cloud Storage | Wasabi (TB/month) |
| RAID Level | RAID 1/5/10 etc. |
| Hypervisor license (if needed) | VMware / Hyper-V / None |
| RDS CALs (if needed) | Number and version |
| Estimated delivery timeline | Lead time on hardware |
| Onsite installation / remote | Scope of work / technician needed |
