What is Server Management, and How Will It Help Your Business?

Your server is an integral part of your IT setup, which means that it is all the more crucial that it is managed properly. As the central hub of your network, it connects all of the devices that you rely on to each other, allowing them to interact and communicate. Under proper server management practices, your server will be more able to accomplish this task.

In order to better understand how to properly approach server management, it helps to look at it not as an entire process, but to break it into its two parts.

These two parts are monitoring and maintenance. Monitoring is how the industry refers to the tracking and analysis of the metrics that could cause your server’s performance to suffer. Maintenance is just what it sounds like--ensuring that your server’s components on both the hardware and software sides are properly configured for maximum effectivity and productivity, and remain that way. Both are essential to your ability to optimize your server’s function.

Server Monitoring You server is a key factor to your business’ ability to function, and so you have to be sure that it is operational at any given time. In order to properly monitor these servers, you must be sure that your receive security status notifications, as well as alerts concerning downtime. This should also be a means of detecting issues, whether they are new to your system or have struck in the past.

Server monitoring thereby allows you to ensure that your systems are fully functional, with the opportunity to proactively identify and prevent issues in real time. With balanced server monitoring practices put in place, you will have a comprehensive look at your infrastructure that will allow you to plan for the future.

Server Maintenance Without proper maintenance activities, your server is apt to encounter issues of multiple varieties. Not only must your server (and its installed software) be updated at the appropriate times, you will also need to have preventative measures and security features in place and updated as well. Performing regular audits to test the efficacy of your security and updating whenever necessary, along with having migration processes and backup and restoration plans in place will help your server function better, for a longer period of time.

Like any piece of your IT infrastructure, your server needs to be maintained. This is part of why it is so important to monitor your solutions for issues and other problems. Having an awareness of these issues allows you to perform the needed maintenance activities to ensure the uptime and connectivity your business requires.

Physical Considerations Preserving the function of your servers requires more than a digital touch--storing them properly in the right environment is key to their performance as well. Your servers are not only valuable and expensive, but they tend to be fairly loud. Therefore, to preserve both your critical computing infrastructure and a workplace environment with minimal distractions, your servers should be kept away from the central office area as much as possible.

When your servers are setup, you must also be sure that they are properly mounted in an area where they will be safe from spills and crumbs. Proper wiring will assist your server’s function, and will make it easier to identify which wires are which--although we do recommend labelling these wires to simplify this process further. Good wire management practices also have the added benefit of reducing the chance of accidents due to cables tripping up your employees.

Directive can assist you with your server management needs. Call 607.433.2200 to get started today.