Home Forums Discussions General Discussion experience with external hosted servers?

I getting tired of weekend network management chores, so am considering outsourcing. Does anyone have experience running a/c in that environment? If so, any comments/recommendations/caveats about hosting companies? Thanks, Bob Burr, Salt Lake City

What kind of weekend management chores are you doing or having problems with.
I have a Windows server running AC. I have 5 wired client computers and 3 wireless laptops connected to the Server.
I have had no major problems for over a year now.
I connect to my server after hours and on weekends through Remote Desktop Connection and everything seems to work just fine as long as your staff does not meddle with any thing.
Backup is done through AC Automatic backup to 2 local hard drives and remotely through FTP to my home on a seperate Hard drive.
The only issue I can think off regarding outsourcing are PRIVACY & MEDICOLEGAL issues regarding your patients and their chart data.
Grenville

I have to agree with Grenville. Please be more specific with what chores you are talking about.

Also, what do you mean outsource AC? How would you be able to do that?

We have a business here in town that provides the servers, IT support, and fiberoptic lines (only show in town for fiber) for a few practices running e-clinicalworks. It is secure and blindingly fast, they say, and the service and support are very good, but very expensive; something over $1,000 per month per provider. Then there is the issue that your data can be held hostage; get in a disagreement about the contract or service, and you may find yourself coming to work on a Monday morning to stare at a blank screen.

IMHO, you will be better off spending the $$$ on your own equipment and a good IT service if technical issues are troubling you.

We've been up for about 5 1/2 years. I have about 20 workstations, three providers in-house, two providers that work in the field doing house calls using VPN/RDC, a domain controller, terminal services server and an application file server. We provide diabetes care primarily (70%) and do this using time-based medicare rates, so we can actually have the time to do a good job with our folks who have diabetes. Can't afford an IT person who would make more per hour than me, so I'm the (very) cheap alternative techie. Will keep exploring options and report back if I find something workable.

Bob Burr