UPS is more than just the United Parcel Service; it stands for an uninterruptible power supply in the tech world. They are necessary for helping businesses stay afloat. Many smaller companies can use one, while some giant corporations may use numerous UPS machines for various servers and PCs individually. What’s important is why we use them and what they can do for the company and the users of computer and VoIP systems as a whole. If you like this idea, keep reading to find out more!
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What Does a UPS Do?
A UPS is a power supply that features a backup battery. It allows users to continue to operate any device plugged into it for a certain amount of time. In case of a power failure, a company or person can avoid having to lose all of their precious data, or so they can have time to shut their systems down. That being said, UPS systems are often used with system servers, networked servers, and some businesses even use it on their PCs for certain positions (such as IT staff or executive computers).
A UPS keeps everything up and running for a period of time should a disaster strike.
Can a UPS Last All Day?
Lasting power is a big question that many people have, and the truth is no – they do not last for a long time. While some things may benefit from a UPS for extended periods (such as VoIP systems or devices, and even possibly routers or modems), the majority of networks and computer systems don’t have a long time to continue use.
A 1500VA UPS system like the APC UPS 1500VA Smart-UPS can last up to 3 hours for a router, switch, modem, or VoIP phone device, but it only offers about 20 minutes of computer use (assuming only one is plugged into it). While this doesn’t seem like much, it is ample time to save all data and safely shut down a system in almost all cases.
Check out this server room with multiple UPS installed to keep servers running no matter what.
Some systems, however, can offer even longer time by having multiple batteries and backup power options, but these can be extremely expensive (we’ll get into that next). The average user can still benefit from a smaller VA system because they can achieve what they need to do before losing power to their network.
What About the Price?
Price is another big question because there are many options out there. One key thing to note is that you’re going to get what you pay for most of the time. Mostly, if you find a device that claims to make large amounts of time but only costs less than a hundred dollars, you’re probably going to find that it doesn’t work as it says it does. One can expect to at least spend over a hundred bucks (and even a few hundred more for better models) for each one of these smaller systems.
When you start to look at corporate models, you can expect to pay into the thousands, and sometimes even tens of thousands of dollars on battery backup systems. The more backup power you have, the more you will expect to pay for the backup system.
Are UPS Systems Necessary?
Aside from customers, we highly recommend that you look into a cloud storage solution and a UPS system for your business. Data of all types is necessary for companies to thrive these days, and yours must be kept safe and secure. Power failures can destroy data and even computers, so they must be shut down correctly as often as possible to extend their lives.
If you can or don’t want to be safe, then, by all means, don’t invest in one. But if you want the security of knowing that your items will be safe in case of a power outage (they are known to happen), they are an essential part of a professional company network, even if it’s just a small business.
Even when the power is out, your network will be safe if you are using a UPS.
What We Think
You can’t get unlimited power by harnessing a UPS unless you opt for solar electricity for a dedicated computer backed with a generator and even a UPS power supply. Still, in some cases, yet these are known not to be enough. Natural disasters can take power out for a very long time, and when this happens, companies have to make sure their data stays safe. Therefore, we highly recommend using a high-quality system for your business, no matter how big or how small it is.