Have you recently experienced a server failure? If you ever have in the past, you likely don’t want to do it again.
Server failure can cause major issues for a business, even if that business is small. It’s more than worth your time to create a prevention plan before failure ever happens.
A big part of server failure prevention is maintenance. So what should you be doing? Here are five server maintenance tips to help keep your server up and running.
1. Update Your Operating System
Whichever type of operating system you use, make sure it is regularly updated. Updating may seem like a hassle, but it’s important to keep your server running smoothly.
Operating system updates can be performed automatically or manually. Choose whichever option works best for your business.
Updating your OS regularly helps keep your system safe since security measures are constantly changing.
2. Verify Backups
Data backups are essential to keeping your business running smoothly. If data is lost you’re in for a world of hurt. That’s why simply backing up your data isn’t enough.
Are your backups working? If you don’t know, you need to check. Set up a regular schedule to make sure they’re working all the time.
If you haven’t tried recovering data from a backup location, it’s a good idea to try that too.
3. Update Common Apps
You likely use a lot of apps, but that doesn’t mean you use all of them regularly. When determining where to spend your maintenance time, focus on the apps you use every day.
Like your operating system, these should be updated to keep your security high. Plus, you’ll get the added benefit of any new features that are available each time you update.
4. Update Passwords
No matter how strong your passwords are, they can be hacked. That’s why it’s important to change them regularly.
Require password updates for all employees every few months. Set parameters so all employees are required to create strong passwords. Strong passwords often include a mix of numbers, symbols, and letters, without using full words.
5. Check and Maintain Hardware
Your hardware needs to be taken care of just as much as your software does. Make sure it’s running smoothly by checking it regularly.
Care for all hardware as recommended by the manufacturer. Proper care will help your hardware last longer.
To prevent hardware failure, make sure you regularly check for log errors.
Server Maintenance is Key
Never skip server maintenance if you want your server to keep running smoothly. While these tasks may seem unimportant when you’re pressed for time, they couldn’t be more important.
Take the time to regularly maintain your server. Create a schedule if you need to. Though server failure is always possible, maintenance helps keep the issue at bay.
Still not sold on regular updates? Read up on how they can make or break your business.
