Nearly every company in the world requires a computer system to operate – and they all require servers. While not every company has an in-house server or server farm, those that require a lot of data to handle the work do keep them in house. For these companies, server maintenance is a critical part of keeping day-to-day operations running smoothly. There are a few key elements to keep in mind for regular server maintenance.
Physical Server Maintenance
When most people consider server maintenance, they immediately default to making sure that the software is working.
No one will deny that it’s important to take care of the technical side of things, but it’s also crucial that you don’t neglect the physical health of your servers. They’ll last longer and work more effectively when you maintain the hardware as well. You should focus on the following when maintaining your servers:
- Clean your hardware by removing any dust and debris internally and externally
- Check for hardware errors both in your error logs and by inspecting the hardware
- Manage the temperature in your server room to keep it between 68 and 71 degrees
You can both extend the life of your servers and improve cybersecurity by physically monitoring them.
Data Verification and Backups
Even if you have automatic backups scheduled, it’s important to regularly check these backups to make sure that they’re actually happening.
Sometimes they can get interrupted by a password or data change. If your servers crash or something beyond your control happens, you may end up dealing with a catastrophic loss.
You’ll also want to go through and verify your server’s storage utilization. Servers often generate logs and files that you won’t have any use for on a day-to-day basis. Consider sending them to external or cloud storage to avoid jamming up your storage space.
Cybersecurity
One of the most important things you can do is review password security, not only for your servers but for everyone on your team. Your password requirements for employees should be clear and stringent, especially if the information that you keep on your servers is sensitive in any way (i.e. credit card numbers or personal health information).
You should also keep up-to-date with purging old user accounts and monitoring new ones for the safety and health of the entire server system. It’s also a good practice to use an outside company or third-party tool to check the health of your server security.
They may be able to identify issues that you don’t know to look for or don’t have the capacity to fix.
The Importance of Regular Server Maintenance
Regular server maintenance can extend the life of your servers and ensure the safety of your company’s data. J&P PC Solutions can help by monitoring your servers remotely and checking in on a routine schedule to check the physical health of your servers as well.
Don’t risk data loss or poor cybersecurity. Give us a call today at 443-588-5808 or contact us here for more information.
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