Basic Server Maintenance for Busy Businesses
Posted on 29th April 2025 at 11:05
Not everyone has switched over to the cloud. Despite its storage and encryptions capabilities, some businesses just feel much safer with an on-site server. In fact, for some businesses, this is the best option. But with a great server comes great responsibility – a basic understanding of practical maintenance is key.
Servers look daunting, though, don’t they? They have this science fiction feel, all wires and lights, bleeping and blooping away in their own room. Most employees will have very little to do with the physical servers themselves; therefore, the collective understanding of server maintenance is very limited. But, without them, your business could run aground when there is a problem.
So, it’s always useful to understand basic server maintenance.
Busy business backups
We learned it in our very first IT lesson back in school. Back everything up. It’s never lessened in importance. If you are storing documents, customer data, or other business information on an onsite server, it needs to be backed up.
Back it up regularly: implement a robust strategy and routine to make sure that your business data is backed up. This can be done daily or weekly, depending upon how much data you harvest.
Test test test: It isn’t enough just to regularly back up your data. You need to make sure that it has worked, there are no problems and that your backup is not missing data. Test this regularly.
Consider offsite storage: In some ways it makes no sense to have your backup sitting right next to your main server. If there is a flood or fire you will lose everything, original and backup.
Software updates and security
Much like your apple or windows laptop, you will find there are often updates and patches released to help protect your server. You might be busy, but for the most part, keeping these up-to-date only takes a couple of minutes. You might even be able to update them automatically.
Regular updates and patches: check this regularly – daily if you can. Updates are vital for security and efficient operation.
Strong passwords and MFA: access to the server should be protected. Create strong passwords as a minimum, if you can use multi-factor authentication or biometrics.
Hardware maintenance is important too
As well as worrying about all things digital, the onsite server is also a very physical beast humming away in your offices. It is important that you make time for some physical maintenance too.
Clean the server room: Nobody likes getting the hoover and feather duster out for rooms that nobody visits often, but cleaning the room protects the hardware. It will stop dust and debris causing the server to overheat.
Monitor the temperature: talking of overheating, if you place your server in a greenhouse right beneath the midday sun, you could cause issues. Make sure your server room is kept cool to ensure optimal performance.
Check UPS batteries: regularly check and test the batteries that will serve as backups in case there is a power outage. You don’t want to find out, during the next storm, that you have no servers when there is a power cut.
This is a simple way to start
Maintaining a server is quite easy when you find a regular routine that you can keep to. These tips will help you keep that server running without issue. However, if there is a big issue with the server, it is always best – no matter how well read you are – to call in the experts. We wouldn’t want you to permanently lose any data.
Contact Keba Computer Services for more information about your onsite server and how we can help with maintenance and repairs.
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