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ToggleJust because your server is running doesn’t mean it’s healthy. Will it be ready to take on your business in the future?
Servers can be unassumingly critical for small and medium sized businesses. A lot of day-to-day operations rely on a server. Things like data storage, application management, database administration, user administration, and business system administration can all suffer from poor server performance or even server failure.
Thankfully most server failures aren’t sudden. Public signs of server distress can be an increase in storage usage, performance issues, failed backups, old software, and old hardware. All of these issues can be discovered in regular server maintenance, which is better than unexpected failure.
Below are 10 server maintenance checks that small and medium businesses can perform to improve their server reliability and performance
Server maintenance is usually performed sparsely, and there’s a reason for that. There doesn’t seem to be a need for it when everything seems to be functioning properly. Employees can access files, applications run, and there are no reports of issues.
Behind the scenes, there are issues that are often times not visible to the end user.
Storage can be nearing capacity. There may be unsuccessful attempts at backups. Drives can start to fail. There can be outdated and vulnerable software. Though small issues may seem irrelevant, they can turn into large problems.
Maintenance can be the difference between performing reactively, and having the ability to ask what may potentially go wrong in the future, and how the business can work to avoid that happening.
What Regular Maintenance Can Help With
This technique can be more helpful for SMEs more-so than larger organizations because smaller companies tend to have smaller IT departments.
A good server maintenance system doesn’t require frequent changes to your architecture. It’s about checking the areas that matter most for performance, security and reliability.
1. Monitor Server Performance Before Users Notice a Problem
Server performance issues are usually the first problems to occur.
Some things to look for when doing routine maintenance include CPU and RAM usage, disk I/O as well as network and application response times. It’s helpful to look at trending metrics over time because performance degradation can occur gradually and be harder to notice.
An example of this can be a server that always has an 85 to 90 percent memory usage. That could mean that more users and/or applications have been added.
Keep an Eye On:
Quick tip: Never wait for an employee to complain about slow responsiveness of an application. Many issues develop over time and can be detected before becoming performance problems.
2. Keep Operating Systems and Server Software Updated
Insecure and slow servers are often the direct result of failing to update software.
Various elements over time can sometimes require updates such as the Operating System, application software, database software, driver software and even firmware. Security updates, in particular, are important because they can provide a patch for exploitable vulnerabilities.
Care should be taken when deploying updates to production servers because proper server maintenance procedures should include an assessment of the update’s impact, planning of a maintenance window, and verifying that reliable backups are available.
A business needs to monitor:
Updating these elements helps to simplify future troubleshooting by recording version changes and updates.
3. Check Storage Before It Becomes a Problem
There’s more to hardware failure than broken hardware when looking into server failures. Storage space shortages are to blame more often than not.
The space can be hit hard by business data, backups, logs, and apps and be left with little to no storage available. It can also contain a lot of temporary files.
You need to schedule storage checks as part of your required server maintenance and keep an eye out for sudden spikes in storage space usage. Implement storage space alerts so that your IT team will have some notice before storage space is completely used up.
Data should not be recklessly deleted. Keep the company policies in mind for the retention and backup of data.
Watch for:
Don’t ignore it: The warnings may come in the form of minor storage space issues, but these can develop into large application outages.
4. Check Server Hardware Health
Software-based monitoring only accounts for half of the maintenance needed for a server. The hardware can fail too.
Each component of a server should be evaluated according to the configured hardware.
The more advanced warnings a drive’s health reporting can give you, the better. This can be used to replace drives before they fully fail and cause an unexpected outage.
Poor airflow and excessive dust and dirt can affect hardware as well. The reliability of hardware can be impacted by cooling issues that are not addressed.
Hardware checks may include:
A healthy server environment is not only about what is happening inside the operating system. The physical infrastructure matters too.
5. Make Sure Your Backups Actually Work
Would your business be able to restore important data tomorrow if your business server failed today?
Merely having backup software installed on your business’s server does not necessarily answer this question. Backup verification should be included in routine server maintenance. Businesses need to ensure that scheduled backups have been accomplished, that all critical system backups have been made, that sufficient backup storage is available, and that recovery is actually possible.
A proper backup review should ask:
A backup that has never been tested shouldn’t be treated as a guaranteed recovery solution.
For additional, stronger, cloud-based protection services, Chipin Corp offers Acronis Cloud Backup for its partners. These services meet the partners’ data protection and recovery requirements.
6. Review Server Security and User Access
A server can perform with no issues but can still be a major business risk with poor security control management.
Security should be a part of basic server maintenance as opposed to being managed as its own separate task.
This requires checking things like user accounts, administrator access, remote access, firewalls, security software, and unusual account log ins.
Employees should only have the access required for their job duties and former employees and vacant accounts should be removed.
Security checks should include:
Important: The potential impact of a compromised account can be reduced by removing unnecessary privileges.
Those looking for IT security protections for their business should browse Chipin’s Cybersecurity Solutions.
7. Review Server Logs and System Alerts
Information about everything on the server is logged continuously.
Problems occurring during server use may be logged: failures, errors, application problems, hardware issues, unexpected shutdowns and network problems may be reported.
For this reason, log files must be reviewed frequently during general server maintenance.
Manually going through server log files is usually not done. Instead of reviewing logs, tools are utilized that provide event notifications and allow focus on events that are important to the IT staff.
Patterns and trends are what is really useful.
One event may not be an issue if it is a one-time event. If errors occur and are logged daily, then that situation should be looked into.
8. Check Network Connectivity and Infrastructure
A server performs tasks with other devices. These devices can include employee computers, switches, routers, firewalls, storage systems, cloud integration, and other business applications.
The health of the network can impact maintenance of the server.
Employees may have some trouble accessing shared files or programs. Some people might point to the server as the source of the problem, but there may be a host of other issues such as network congestion, configuration problems, faulty interfaces, or other issues with the infrastructure.
With that in mind, regular checks should evaluate overall network performance, abnormal traffic patterns, packet loss, and interface errors.
Reliable business connectivity is also an important part of business infrastructure planning, and Chipin’s Network & Infrastructure Setup solutions can address that for businesses that need assistance managing their IT architecture.
9. Review Server Capacity and Future Requirements
A server that can keep up with your current business needs may not be enough to meet future business demands.
Additional employees mean more accounts, files, applications, databases, and network activity. If there is no planning, the existing systems may become a bottleneck.
Planning capacity for long-term server maintenance is necessary.
Watch how fast your resources are being used, and compare your current situation with what your future business needs may be.
Depending on the situation, the solution could involve:
The main goal is to avoid a critical situation and perform capacity upgrades in a timely manner.
10. Test Disaster Recovery and Document Changes
Data backups are nice to have, but what happens after a significant event?
Hardware failure, ransomware attacks, accidental deletion, and system corruption, among other major events, all qualify as disasters.
Maintenance of your servers should include reviews of your disaster recovery plans and testing of the recovery steps that are critical.
It should be clear which systems are the most critical, the restoration order of each system, and who is responsible for each stage of the system restoration.
Record configuration changes, hardware swaps, and software updates as well as documentation of recovery procedures. This will help another IT employee understand the environment when he or she steps in to assist.
The right server maintenance schedule depends on the size of the business, the number of servers, workload, applications, security requirements, and the importance of the systems involved.
A practical starting point is:
Frequency
Daily |
Weekly |
Monthly |
Quarterly |
Annually |
Recommended Checks
Critical alerts, backup status and major errors |
Storage, logs, performance and security alerts |
Updates, accounts, hardware and services |
Restore testing, security review and recovery procedures |
Capacity, hardware lifecycle and infrastructure planning |
This schedule isn’t a strict rule. Businesses with highly critical infrastructure may need more frequent monitoring, while simpler environments may require less intensive checks.
The important thing is to create a routine that your IT team can consistently follow.
Sometimes, the most meticulously developed server maintenance plan fails a business if they are not consistent.
Waiting for Something to Break
Reactive IT support waits for the issues to impact staff members. If businesses performed regular checks, they may be able to find issues before they become apparent to the staff.
Assuming Backups Are Fine
Just because a notification says backups are “Completed” does not mean that the data is actually restorable. Backup recovery checks are a must.
Ignoring Security Warnings
Just because a server seems to be operational notwithstanding repeated warning messages and outdated software as well as unused admin rights, does not minimize the number of threats present.
Forgetting About Hardware
Just like software, hardware can age and will eventually break. Server maintenance should include hardware.
If a business moves beyond a couple of employees and runs without an IT team, it may need to get professional server maintenance.
Having professional server maintenance is an essential service if a company runs most of its operations from one or multiple servers, but does not have the capacity to manage IT security and infrastructure.
You may want professional support if:
Chipin Corp provides IT AMC Support Services, which includes IT outsourcing for businesses that are looking for consistent IT services and support.
Instead of waiting to experience an operational disruption, IT AMC support and proactive IT services focus on keeping the environment running smoothly and identifying potential issues.
Businesses seeking more advanced ongoing support can consider Managed IT Services to provide customers with combined IT monitoring, maintenance, security, and support services.
Before considering a maintenance cycle complete, make sure these core areas have been reviewed:
Maintenance Area
Performance |
Software |
Storage |
Hardware |
Backup |
Security |
Logs |
Network |
Capacity |
Recovery |
Key Check
CPU, RAM, disk, and network usage |
Updates and security patches |
Capacity and unusual growth |
Drives, RAM, RAID, and cooling |
Successful jobs and restore testing |
Accounts, permissions, and firewall |
Errors, warnings, and unusual activity |
Connectivity and performance |
Current and future requirements |
Disaster recovery readiness |
Stressing about if the server will be working when employees are attempting to access the files, apps, and systems to conduct day-to-day business operations should not be a concern.
The true aim of server maintenance is to stop unexpected disruptions.
It means applying consistent processes to gain control of the performance and security of the server, hardware, storage, backups, and recovery.
This particular approach emphasizes the needs of small and medium businesses and reduces the unexpected delays (downtime) that affect the IT service structure.
There will always be a need to adjust to meet the demands of the changing business needs and, as a result, changing the demands for the server.
Periodic checks and maintenance of the server afford the deployment of upgrades to server infrastructure and the services that business operations depend on.
If your team doesn’t have the time or technical expertise to manage everything internally, professional IT support can take much of that responsibility off your hands.
A server that is performing optimally, securely, and reliably is the best background support for business operations.
Don’t wait for a server problem to slow down your team or interrupt your operations. With proactive server maintenance, your business can keep its systems secure, monitored, and ready for everyday demands.
At Chipin Corp, we help businesses manage their IT infrastructure with reliable support, proactive monitoring, security, backup, and maintenance solutions tailored to their requirements.
Whether you need regular server monitoring, troubleshooting, infrastructure support, or ongoing IT management, our team can help keep your technology running smoothly.
Keep your IT running. Keep your business moving.
Server maintenance is the regular process of monitoring, updating, securing, and checking a server to keep it reliable and performing properly. It can include performance monitoring, software updates, security checks, storage management, hardware checks, backup verification, and recovery testing.
The frequency depends on the server environment and business requirements. Critical systems may require continuous monitoring, while routine checks can be performed daily, weekly, monthly, or quarterly. A structured server maintenance schedule helps ensure important tasks aren't missed.
Small businesses often depend heavily on a limited number of servers and IT systems. A server problem can therefore affect multiple employees at once. Regular server maintenance helps identify performance, security, storage, hardware, and backup problems before they cause significant disruption.
Poorly maintained servers can experience slow performance, storage problems, security vulnerabilities, failed backups, hardware failures, and unexpected downtime. Regular server maintenance helps reduce these risks and keeps the infrastructure more reliable.
Yes. Backup verification is an important part of server maintenance. Businesses should check whether backups are completing successfully and periodically perform restore tests to confirm that important data can actually be recovered when needed.
It depends on their internal IT resources. Businesses without dedicated IT staff may benefit from professional server maintenance services that provide regular monitoring, troubleshooting, security updates, backup checks, and infrastructure support.
Chipin Corp helps businesses with ongoing IT support, infrastructure management, security, backup, monitoring, and technical troubleshooting. Businesses can choose support based on their infrastructure and operational requirements rather than waiting for a major IT problem to occur.
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