Database servers are used to centrally store databases and to serve up the requested data to the user. Most companies will have a software package that stores its data in a database. Examples are Accounts software such as Sage, CRM software such as ACT or GoldMine, ERP applications such as Everest, SAP or Navision and specialist software (for manufacturing, estate agents, recruitment consultants etc). Most of these applications use Microsoft’s SQL Server as the database.

The Database server needs to be high spec as it provides concurrent access to users requesting complex functions such as searching and sorting of data. All the processing is performed on the server, not the PC, so it is very processor intensive. Put simply the larger the database, the higher the demand.

Microsoft SQL Server is available as a standalone application to run on Server 2003/2008 as well as being included in Microsoft's Premium version of the Small Business Server Suite.