Data and equipment backup

Software management

The server software also requires monitoring and regular maintenance. To do this, you need to have a good understanding of the interdependencies of programs in the server infrastructure, which helps not only to better configure the software, but also to quickly find the reasons for unsatisfactory server performance.

It is also necessary to make regular updates to application software, firmware and operating systems. This improves both the performance of the entire IT system and its security, since poor server performance pulls other parts of the system with it and potentially creates vulnerabilities for cyberattacks to the IT system. It is also good practice to remove old software that is no longer in use.

Security

An important component of server management is security. Security policies can vary depending on the type and needs of the business. Common server security solutions may include: Aruba certified design expert (acdx)

installing and keeping up-to-date anti-virus software;

using firewalls to cut off unauthorized traffic from the external network;

using the installation policy and creating passwords for personnel access to equipment and software;

encryption of sensitive data in the storage system and on external connections for transmission over the network;

using SIEM (Security Information and Event Management) tools to better understand potential threats.

Data and equipment backup

For reliable and stable operation of the server, it is necessary to make regular backups of its data ("backup"). The loss of important data can be disastrous for any business. According to the American operator Verizon , about 70% of data loss occurs due to external factors. And 40% of small and medium enterprises in 2019 were unable to recover their business after losing a large amount of data. It is even more surprising that according to the research organization Ponemon Institute, 39% of small and medium-sized enterprises do not have any plan for recovering critical corporate information in the event of disasters and data loss.

Fortunately, there are many effective backup solutions available, including software backup for both physical and virtual servers.

The power supply to the servers must also be redundant so that data is not lost in the event of a sudden external power outage. For this purpose, autonomous power sources (diesel generators and batteries) are installed in data centers, and in data centers they also use the input of external lines from two electrical substations located in different "trees" of the power supply network topology.

Server management systems have special software tools that automatically back up and restore data, and monitor the status of server power elements to avoid potential data loss during power outages and power failures.

However, while there are many backup options available on a single server or corporate network, not all of them will work on large scale networks. In this case, you need special techniques and tools that cloud providers use.

Manage servers yourself or outsource?

Each business or organization must find an answer to the question: to manage their servers themselves or to use external management, or a combination of both. And decide what is more profitable in a particular case, taking into account many factors: economic, information security, reliability, etc.

If an enterprise has enough skilled staff, managing its own servers can give the advantage of being in complete control of its own computing environment. There are many tools for this purpose, such as automated regular reports and proactive alerts, that keep the server environment running efficiently and without fail. The functionality of these tools can vary significantly, from simple performance monitoring to proactive server management.

Choosing a server management system

It is quite difficult to provide a comprehensive guide to choosing a server management system. This task is akin to choosing the right car. No one has yet undertaken such work as writing a detailed guide to choosing a personal car. The same situation is with the choice of the server management system. There are too many different factors to consider.

Therefore, the best advice may be to use the services of a qualified expert who would understand the situation and needs of an enterprise or organization where a server management system is needed and recommend one or another system.