As the name would imply, an enterprise computer offers more than a typical computer that you can buy at your local electronics store or online retailers. These devices are engineered for organizations that have a more specialized need from their hardware. Because enterprise computers are highly customizable and engineered to operate in a variety of environments, they offer far more reliability and adaptability than a basic home or office computer.
One of the critical features that differentiate enterprise computers from standard office desktop PCs is that they are all in one. They also are VESA mount compatible, which allows you to mount these units anywhere. They are built with industrial-grade components meaning they can withstand a variety of different operating conditions without breaking down. Furthermore, they can be customized to meet a number of specific use case needs. The number and types of I/O ports can be adjusted depending on the external peripherals. Operating systems and memory can be adjusted depending on an organization's needs. Lastly, enhanced features like RFID, smart card, and even fingerprint readers can all be integrated into these devices if necessary.
Enterprise PCs are generally not going to be found in a cubicle farm. They are for more specialized operations where reliability and performance are paramount. Imagine a customer-facing concierge computer in a hotel or retail center that needs to operate 24/7, possibly with a locked-down version of Windows such as Windows IoT, and the need for a hardened touch glass to prevent damage from being used by the general public.
Perhaps you have a highly secure environment that requires Linux, or you want to restrict log-in access to people who have RFID or smart-card badges. Or maybe you work in a lab or research environment that requires a fanless design to prevent dust and debris from circulating in the air.
All of these examples call for a computer that has a more robust feature set than cannot be found in a consumer computer and are all reasons to invest in an enterprise PC.
Mean time between failure and product lifecycle are two critical factors to consider. For light computing applications, you can get away with a consumer device. But for more intense applications, MTBF and product lifecycle are vitally essential considerations.
Because Cybernet engineers all of our computers with industrial-grade components and are designed for 24/7 operation, our enterprise computers are built to last. In fact, over the past decade, we boast a less than 2% failure rate despite having deployments in some of the most demanding and harsh environments imaginable.
Beyond that, product lifecycle can be an important consideration. Your standard computer manufacturer is updating their models every 10-18 months. This means two things. First, the end goal is to get you to upgrade your computer hardware more frequently. Second, support for these devices is more challenging to come by. The cost to fix an "older" computer is only slightly less than it costs to replace a unit completely. This is by design. Cybernet offers a 5-7 year product lifecycle, meaning if your project takes a year to complete, you'll receive the computers with the same technical specification for your last deployment as you did with in the first batch. Cybernet offers support on all of our enterprise PCs for the life of your computer, which is far longer than a consumer-grade option.
As we touched on briefly above, some industries require much more data security than others. This is where an enterprise computer is vital. Cybernet offers a variety of OS options, including Linux, which is far less susceptible to viruses and malware. Our units can also be equipped with Integrated RFID, Fips Compliant smart card, and fingerprint readers for two-factor authentication, ensuring only authorized users can access data.
In the event of power outages, we offer an optional internal UPS to ensure uninterrupted power so users can safely shut down without losing data. We even protect against accidental damage and hard drives' corruption by offering IP65 protection that prevents dust, debris, and water from penetrating our devices and permanently damaging internal components. While these additional layers of security and safety aren't necessary for everyday office applications, when there is a specialized need, the only option is an enterprise computer.