The sql server is a database for software (
excel file, pdfs and maps) you have to sync the server type to the systems using it in order to work so upgrading the server to the current 2016 version is pointless if your company still uses XP workstations and open office.
- How many people use this server
- Are they in different countries
- What hardware is the server sitting on now
- What hardware | software are all the workstations
- What is your budget (time and money)
- How long does the new server have to last
- Are you going to retrain the staff on this new system
Option: get Microsoft to move the entire system over onto their cloud
Advantages; fast setup, most of your old software can carry over (
even XP) and you don't need to employ | train new staff
Disadvantages; very expensive, lose control of the system and you box yourself into the past systems
Option: get a half decent server system and perhaps some new workstations then rebuild the network
Advantages; a new system is faster | better, hardware is cheaper, you generally set the new system up alongside the old one to avoid downtime and modern servers have more people that understand them
Disadvantages; you need good staff that
know what they are doing to set the new system up and you have to retrain everyone to use it