How to Make Sure Your Server’s Performance is Maximized. Your server is the backbone of your business and ensures that your IT infrastructure can run smoothly, but how do you make sure it remains optimized?
Supervising and monitoring the performance of your server can make a significant difference in terms of its health and, in turn, the productivity of your organization. Without routine maintenance, some of which involves some very simple checks, you can soon find yourself with a server failure on your hands. And, as I’m sure you’re aware, server failures tend to occur when you’re at your busiest.
Avoiding a server failure, however, can be easily avoided if you can keep your servers in peak condition by following best server practices. To help you make sure your server’s performance is maximized, we’ve put together a quick list of checks you can carry out.
Double Check Your Backups
Server backups are often automated, so there’s a tendency to assume that these are taking place as necessary and all the data you need is safely backed up. However, this is a dangerous line to take. IT infrastructure can change quickly, so you need to regularly check your backups. Analyze your recovery logs to understand exactly what is being backed up and whether any modifications are needed. Without the correct data being backed up then your server could be in for a tough time in the case of a data emergency.
Is Your Server Coping?
The current performance of your server indicates exactly where it is and how it’s coping with the demands of your workload. Perhaps there are redundant areas of your server which are eating into valuable processing power, but it’s very easy to overlook these issues when pressed with immediate IT issues. However, regular monitoring of your server’s performance allows you to make changes to your server whether it be upgrades in RAM or retiring unused sections.
Maintain Server Security
Servers are a keen target for hackers, so maintaining good security practices is vital. Monthly checks should be established that encourage regular password changes, auditing user accounts to ensure that redundant accounts are deleted and installing each and every server update as soon as it’s available. With thorough and regular security checks in place, you’re making sure that your server is protected from the threat of downtime.
Check for Hardware Errors
Servers are nothing without good hardware, so it’s important that you keep a close eye on the hardware powering it. Performance logs should be able to indicate issues such as hardware failure, power outages or disk read errors. Vigilance is paramount and will allow you to keep one step ahead of a larger hardware failure, so anything, even a simple case of overheating, should be investigated and rectified.
How Does You Disk Capacity Look?
The amount of disk capacity being used can seriously impact the performance of your server. The closer your disk partition gets to 100% usage then the slower your server will respond. Eventually, it will come to a standstill and this spells serious danger for your organization’s productivity. Therefore, regular maintenance needs to be undertaken to delete old, unused files such as archived email logs etc. A leaner disk capacity will provide your server with much more of a spring in its step and guarantee that tasks get completed quicker than ever.
For more ways to secure and optimize your business technology, contact your local IT professionals.
