When purchasing a dedicated server or VPS from a hosting provider, the server comes with a default configuration. It is your responsibility to optimize and secure the server. The hosting provider does not perform these tasks by default. We handle this aspect by configuring the server appropriately, optimizing it for optimal performance, implementing a firewall and enhancing security measures, as well as setting up backups and alerts.
Typically, customers are unaware when the server experiences downtime or encounters issues. For instance, server performance may gradually decline after a few months without the customers' knowledge. This could be due to various reasons such as excessive resource usage by certain processes, hardware problems, or certain web applications overloading the CPU, RAM, or I/O. Without the supervision of an experienced server administrator, maintaining your server can expose it to potential security breaches from hackers.
We utilize our own custom monitoring software to establish server alerts, allowing us to take proactive measures. For instance, if a website on the server is compromised and begins sending a large volume of emails in a short period, our script will be automatically triggered. It will then take the necessary actions to halt the script from sending further emails.
There may be some website scripts which is consuming excessive amount of CPU, RAM or I/O and this will affect all hosted sites unless the server is configured properly or not acted immediately. We do take care this part.
Service monitoring is an additional aspect we cover, ensuring that we receive notifications whenever a specified server service is down or unresponsive. This encompasses various services such as HTTP, HTTPS, SMTP, POP3, IMAP, FTP, SSH, as well as any custom services that may be in use. By monitoring these services, we can promptly identify and address any issues that may arise.
Not all hosting providers offer a complimentary external backup service, but we provide this essential feature. Backup is crucial for any reputable hosting provider. In the unfortunate event of a server hard drive failure or accidental file deletion, the consequences can be severe without a reliable backup system in place. To mitigate such risks, we store all account data on local storage and maintain remote backups in a separate location. This ensures that we have daily backups readily available at all times.
It is crucial to manage servers properly to stay updated with periodic software updates and patches provided by software providers. Failure to do so can leave the server vulnerable to security risks. Automatic updates are not always enabled on all servers, which is why it is essential to configure updates properly. By staying up-to-date with news and announcements from software providers, we can promptly address any issues or vulnerabilities that may arise and take immediate action when necessary. Maintaining proper server management ensures that the server remains secure and protected.
New updates can sometimes introduce bugs or compatibility issues, which can result in server downtime or service interruptions when installed. Without the expertise of a skilled server administrator, the risk of such issues occurring increases. However, we ensure that this aspect is well taken care of. Our experienced team manages the update process diligently, thoroughly testing updates before deployment to minimize any potential impact on server stability. This proactive approach helps us mitigate the risk of downtime and service interruptions, providing a reliable and uninterrupted hosting experience for our customers.