If your business is looking for a suitable hosting service for your specific requirements, you may want to utilize the flexibility of a VPS. A VPS is an abbreviation for a virtual private server. It is a hosting server that is used for businesses to run their online activity, store data, and manage capacity and usage. VPS comes at a cost effective price, as you can see on this page from hostadvice.
It can provide increased reliability and give you more control over your server when you start to get increased traffic. It can help manage an influx of traffic by offloading to certain areas, and alerting your business of errors and disruptions when they inevitably do occur. When a managed virtual private server is used, an IT representative is also there to work as an extension of your business to help get digital activity back up and running smoothly. Having this flexibility is highly essential when you want to make sure your sales don’t get disrupted.
Increase Reliability
Shared hosting can make your business website susceptible to crashes due to other users who have websites sharing the same server as yours. Putting too much strain on a single shared hosting server can create problems when multiple users are facing an influx of traffic and activity. This is why so many businesses opt for private servers or dedicated hosting solutions. Hosting companies often pile as many customers as they can onto the same server with this type of plan. Performance and uptime can be significantly impacted. With this type of hosting package, you’re given a virtual environment to use on the server.
Taking Control and Ability to Scale Resources
Utilizing a VPS from Liquid Web allows you to have full root access to your server, which gives you complete control over performance and security. Many businesses that opt for virtual private servers do not have a full blown IT department. MAny of these businesses fall within the small medical clinic space and cannot afford such staff. VPS is often a good solution for these types of businesses because of the support offered from the hosting provider. The host acts as an extension of your business to handle the server issues and keep your business up and running regardless of the strain on capacity at any given time.
If your business uses a custom software package, you can install it on this type of server. Using this hosting plan also makes it possible to scale your hosting resources larger by upgrading your RAM if you expect to receive a high number of visitors. Since you’re hosted in a container, it makes it fast and easy to prepare for extra traffic without having technical issues or downtime.
Like any connection to the internet, keeping your data secure is a top priority. Taking control of this type of server means you’ll need to ensure you’ve got high-security measures in place. Here are five top tips to use:
1. Using a Strong Password for SSH Login
If you’re logging into your server by using SSH, it’s important to stay secure. Changing your default SSH login password to a strong password that consists of numbers, non-alphanumeric characters, lower and upper case letters is best. You should create a business policy for regular password changes and complexity. Instruct all staff not to share passwords, reuse passwords on multiple systems, or leave private information like this out in the open. Passwords are one of the easiest security measures to put in place, yet account for many data breaches and system breakdowns, many of which could be easily avoided.
2. Monitoring Server Logs
Monitoring your server logs keeps you informed of what’s happening on your server. By tracking your records, you should be on top of any problems that might appear. Setting up an email notification for errors or warnings can be helpful if you want to follow an event in real-time. You will also want to have a plan for handling such errors when they do occur. Identify the person, process, and expected timeline for identifying and fixing such errors. Also, regularly review logs to identify patterns in errors or issues and work with your hosting provider to address the issues and potential prevention solutions.
3. Always Use the Latest Software Version
If you’re using an older software version, it may become vulnerable to attacks. Just like with passwords, create mandates within your company to regularly update software, check for updates and perform regular maintenance on all equipment and connections.
Keeping your system updated helps ensure you’re doing all you can to avoid this problem. Upgrading to the current version of any software you use on your server, such as a content management system, can be highly beneficial in avoiding attacks from hackers.
4. Protect Your Server From Malware
Setting up a firewall on your server helps filter out unwanted traffic and can block access to specific IP addresses. Implementing an antivirus software can also help you detect suspicious activity. Whether your business is managing the server itself, or using a managed VPS server, you’ll want to watch for exploits. Core operating system patches stop hackers from using well-known exploits against your servers. When an exploit is found, operating system updates are issued to patch the exploit and prevent it from being further abused by attackers.
5. Protecting Against Brute-Force Attacks
Hackers are continually looking for weak points on a server, such as a common password. Limiting the amount of failed login attempts that can be made can help protect your data from brute-force attacks. Consider programming the system to kick back after two to three failed login attempts. Utilizing Login Failure Daemon can also help locate brute-force attacks and block IP addresses when they are being made.
By following the above tips, performing regular checks and backups, and having someone in charge of user access both in your company and with your hosting provider, it should help provide a more secure environment for your website and keep your business ready for incoming traffic spikes and the possibility for more sales.
