A company’s IT functions will suffer miserably due to poor maintenance. Server management is crucial for storing data and hosting websites, emails, and applications. Many companies employ in-house IT experts to monitor and manage their services.
However, some companies outsource server administration services and managed cloud servers to third parties. Other companies operate with in-house and third-party partnerships and their own/ managed cloud servers.
Let’s explore what server management is and its importance in enhancing your service quality.
What Is Cloud Server Management?
Cloud server management refers to a web of processes implemented to maintain servers and help them function efficiently. It includes monitoring and optimizing servers to ensure a healthy and secure network.
Key duties of a server admin might include:
- User management
- Access control
- Server configuration
- Server-side software management
- Backup creation, data restoration
- CPU usage, RAM, and network status monitoring
- Security setting configuration
- Why Server Management Is Important
Server management helps organizations in more ways than one. Effective server management focuses on proactively identifying significant issues. The server admins monitor CPU usage, memory utilization, disk space, network traffic, application performance, and other parameters to avoid system failure, improve performance, and reduce downtime.
Sometimes, cyber attackers or hacking can disrupt the server. Hence, server management is crucial to make the server less vulnerable to attacks since such incidents affect your business reputation. Hackers can access your data illegally and even wipe out the entire database. Such events can cause a loss of customers and a bad reputation – eventually affecting your revenue.
A managed server is protected by security measures that prevent unauthorized access and sensitive data breaches. Therefore, regular server management helps reduce cyber-attacks and data breaches.
Server management also helps scale up or down as needed. When your business expands, you can add new servers or resources.
The Fundamental Aspects of Server Management
Hardware Management
Your server management admin should monitor vital hardware to keep your server running.
Some key hardware elements are:
- Central Processing Unit (CPU) The CPU is called the brain of a server because it can make programs functional. CPUs are the most used resources; thus, they need constant monitoring to avoid overload, leading to slowed operations or a system crash. In addition, the temperature of the CPU must be monitored constantly to prevent overheating and system failure.
- Random Access Memory (RAM). RAM is the temporary storage that works as the server’s memory. RAM helps achieve faster operations and caching, enhancing system performance. Certain software can shut down if RAM runs out, slowing the server’s performance.
- Hard Drive. A hard drive provides storage for the server where essential data is stored. The admins should monitor hard drive usage to ensure a certain amount of storage is always available. It’s essential to monitor and manage hard drive health to prevent failure, data loss, and performance issues.
Operating Environment
Managing servers also includes selecting an ideal location for the server. It should be located where optimal environmental conditions are maintained. Humidity monitoring, cooling, and prevention of unauthorized access must be established.
Software Management
Admins should monitor software components such as storage, network configuration, and applications. Along with regular server maintenance, the identification of performance issues and troubleshooting are required.
Security
Managing a server also includes keeping the server infrastructure protected. Therefore, servers need regular software and firmware updates and a patch management tool.
The security measure also includes:
- Installing and updating antivirus software.
- Installing and configuring firewalls.
- A password policy.
- Access controls.
The IT experts should also take measures to encrypt sensitive data storage and transit data. Many other measures can be taken according to best practices and company compliance standards.
Data Backups
Consistent data backup and testing are crucial parts of service management. Backup solutions or full-server backups can save organizations from data loss and ransomware attacks.
Power Backups
Power supply should be consistent, or a sudden outage can lead to disruptions. Uninterruptible power supplies (USPs) with built-in surge protection, emergency power, and power conditioning can keep the servers functioning during an outage.
Let Experts Manage Your Servers
At Sissines, we offer high-end and consistent server management services for in-house, data-center, or managed cloud servers. Our seasoned IT experts have access to cutting-edge tools and solutions to monitor server maintenance, performance, and operations. We also run active tests and help the server function efficiently. Reach out for server administration or managed cloud server services; we can help elevate your operations.