IT Support: Maintenance of your server

In IT there’s a thumb rule – preventing a problem is less expensive than fixing them. Agreed? So, what type of server are you depending upon? Is it a web server, proxy server, or application server? Server maintenance comes before any other aspect of a website development process. We follow a server maintenance checklist to ensure that there’s no respite! The checklist encompasses some vital steps to be followed…

Checking if the backups are working

Your server necessarily needs to be updated but before invigorating any changes to the server database. Choosing the apt location of backups is crucial.

Monitoring the disk usage

Smaller the data footprint faster is the recovery process. Therefore, it's highly advisable to delete old emails and all the s/w versions that are no longer in use! The usage quantity of your disk partition should not reach 100 percent – that corrupts data and renders database tables non-functional!

Updating the OS

Operating systems like LINUX frequently fetch updates and you need to stay on top of these updates. When updating the server manually, you might miss out on some of these security updates. Preferably use an automated – create a schedule to update the system and save yourself from hacks!

Checking the RAID array

RAID stands for Redundant Array of Independent Disks – here multiple hard drives function as storage devices. This saves you in the event of any disk failure. Even modern RAIDs have some remarkable monitoring tools that can alert you of some potential disk failure in the near future!

Examining the remote management tools

This is especially applicable when you are using a cloud-based virtual server (check below for our cloud-based server management). Remote management tools include remote console, remote reboot, etc. Rebooting resolves a lot of things automatically, whereas, a remote console will let you log in to a server without being physically present!

Checking server logs regularly

Server logs need to be reviewed regularly. These logs track both errors and accesses. Hence, any unauthorized access or usage by an intruder could be easily identified. Logged errors also detect hardware issues and they might be fixed before things corrupt!

Server maintenance incorporates a lot of other things such as - installing application updates, checking for hardware errors (if any), changing passwords periodically, checking the server utilization, and so on.

Worried about servers and storage? Switch to Cloud Computing now!

Planning to move to the cloud? Before getting started, here are the reasons why we would prescribe you to switch to cloud computing. Here’s a brief for you in the layman’s language: your business will certainly flourish and as you grow in numbers and size, you would tend to migrate to something like cloud computing. The perks of doing so are -

• • You can run all your tasks on the provider's data center and server for a certain price.
• • Scalable services like data storage, software, networking are provided by the cloud service provider only based on a strong internet connection on your end!
• • Your data is subjected to multiple security layers as they are managed by third-party data centers.

Migrating to a cloud environment would therefore positively ensure the following…

• Highly efficient utilization of resources
• High scalability of your enterprise
• Effective costing as the usage-based cost is implemented in a cloud environment

Security bonuses in a Cloud environment

Did you know that there's not one but an array of security parameters that are offered by cloud service providers? You can check them out here!

Firewalls – cloud firewalls are much like traditional firewalls. The flow of information between the internal systems and outside domains needs to be managed to tackle the advanced threats and protect data!

Direct Access controls – one might set an access list, that provides access to specific persons working on a particular aspect. Access restriction is not only applicable to users but also the working tools as well – access to only those tools that are required to do the job can be provided.

Data masking – It encrypts information thus keeping it private even while data sharing is in process.

There’s a lot that we can talk of when it comes to data security measures in a cloud-based development process. Take the case of VPNs (a virtual private network) that allow remote employees to connect over a corporate network! Disaster recovery is another remarkable feature that aids in the recovery of lost or stolen information.

Cloud Services Providers we work with

So, you have finally apprehended the pluses of switching to the cloud environment – the opportunity to both scale your business dynamically and secure data affordably! An insight into the most common cloud service providers that we work with is entailed below. What’s more, they even offer free versions to get started with! Whether yours is a startup enterprise, a small business, or a large government agency, you can pretty well rely on any of these cloud services.

AWS – offers functionalities to build high-end applications and scale your business within a span of 22 geographic locations.

Google Cloud – this operates in an area sprawling within 20 geographic locations!

Microsoft Azure – This one has got a massive global network that spans over 54 geographic locations.

To cut a long story short, cloud management could be manifested in the form of 4 pillars – determining the costs and expenses, security challenges, managing assets and inventories, and optimizing the business performance!