The Risks Behind An Unmonitored Server
The Internet is a powerful tool and in today’s digital age, most businesses rely heavily on their IT infrastructure to carry out their everyday functions. However, there are risks associated with accessing the Internet. These can cause serious technical issues to your network and have significant cost implications. It is therefore essential that your server is monitored and maintained regularly, to keep the computer network of your business running in an optimal and reliable condition.
What does server monitoring involve?
Technology experts at Techopedia explain how “server monitoring is the process of reviewing and analysing a server for availability, operations, performance, security and other operations-related processes. It is performed by server administrators or external IT Support to ensure that the server is performing as expected and to mitigate problems as they become apparent.” The server monitoring process involves:
Patches installation – Preventive maintenance on servers ensures that updates to the operating system and applications are applied immediately and consistently. This is to prevent unauthorised access of your network and also secures high uptime.
Regular server diagnostics – Running a diagnostic report will provide information to monitor and gain an insight into how well your system is functioning. You can use this information to help detect and correct issues, and also to identify potential problems and prevent them from occurring.
Regular updates – An outdated computer is more prone to security threats and cyber-attacks . New viruses are created every day and are becoming increasingly sophisticated. Anti-virus software should therefore be updated regularly to protect your server from viruses, malware, and other forms of hacking.
Failing to monitor your server carries a number of potential risks to your business. Below, we are going to look at some of the risks of operating without the right set of web monitoring and regulating software.
Reduced productivity
Most network issues display warning signs of some sort before becoming critical issues. Failing to monitor your server means that issues are likely to go unnoticed until they become a crisis situation. This can result in IT downtime where employees are left unable to work, resulting in loss of revenue, along with potential overtime costs incurred as a result of lost work or catching up. Failing to identify and resolve any issues quickly could lead to very serious and possibly unrecoverable losses to productivity and revenue. Proactive monitoring gives you the ability to prevent these unexpected emergencies.
Unreliable Productivity
Failing to monitor your server means that you are unlikely to identify and correct small problems early, before they have a chance to develop into serious problems. You are then more likely to experience network issues and problems with your IT infrastructure. Server maintenance is important for keeping the computer network of your business running in an optimal and reliable condition.
Increased periods of IT downtime
Downtime is a huge threat to businesses. It can lead to a huge loss of revenue and productivity and have a detrimental effect on any business. When systems go down, your employees are usually left unable to work, meaning you are paying salaries, rent, and other fees, even though no meaningful work can be done during this period. Failing to monitor your server is likely to result in increased periods of downtime. In a downtime situation, time is money. Network monitoring makes problem-solving easier and faster and means that the problem can be identified and resolved quickly.
Poor security
An unmonitored server leaves your business open to security threats such as viruses or malware. Security is a top priority for all businesses dealing with sensitive business and client information. Security issues can have a detrimental effect on your business, including damage to your reputation. Repairing the damage caused by viruses can also be extremely costly for your business.
Decreased lifespan of server
Servers represent a sizeable investment for many businesses, and so the last thing you want is to have to replace your server a few months down the line. Failing to properly maintain and update your server is likely to reduce its lifespan; usually due to hardware corruption and damage caused by viruses. This will prove costly to your business in the long run.
Final Thought
Unmonitored servers are difficult to maintain, more unpredictable, and more prone to failure. Monitoring your server will allow you to identify any potential problems, or security threats, and resolve these before they turn into serious problems. Proper proactive maintenance and web monitoring will improve productivity, increase the reliability of your systems, reduce IT downtime, and possibly save you money on IT support costs.
