There are few things more detrimental to a business that server issues. Operating with a dedicated server certainly keeps issues down to a minimum, but there are still instances where security breaches or interruptions occur.
One of the best ways to prevent these issues from occurring is by taking the time to properly maintain your dedicated servers. This only applies to people using unmanaged dedicated servers, where maintenance is in the hands of the business hiring the hosting service.
Update Frequently
One of the sure-fire ways to keep a dedicated sever running smoothly is to update all systems as soon as you can. Updating a server doesn’t require much effort or knowledge and offers some of the best protection against attacks and technical problems.
Make sure all software installed on the server remains up to date and try running manual packages to ensure nothing is missed. If using automatic updates, then it’s a good idea to frequently review log files so you know for sure that all updates have been applied.
Operating systems, control panels, and applications all receive regular updates, so be mindful of this when maintaining the server.
Don’t Install What You Don’t Need
It’s understandable to get carried away with new software and applications on a dedicated server. After all, with complete control over your server it’s often temping to make the most of it by installing more than you need.
When overloading a server with unnecessary files and data, you need to maintain more software at any one time, making it more difficult to keep everything running smoothly. Furthermore, delete any unused software or accounts that are clogging up disk space and posing unnecessary security threats – if it’s not vital then delete it.
Always Have Backups
Even when being vigilant with your server maintenance there is a chance that things go south quickly. Should this ever occur, you simply must have a backup of all your most important data to be able to recover quickly.
Backing up data isn’t a one and done process either. It should be done any time there is a significant update or change to the applications to ensure all backups are a fully up to date. It is also a good idea to avoid creating backups on the server itself as there are instances (such as re-provisioning the server) where the backup data is also wiped.
Passwords
Another effective security measure for operating a dedicated server is to avoid weak passwords. Always use the strongest combinations for a password, including lower and upper-case letters as well as special characters and some numbers.
A password should never spell an actual word, instead use a random combination of letters, numbers, and special characters, reaching at least eight characters in total. Also, don’t rest on a strong password – change it every 6 to 12 months to avoid unnecessary security risks.