SMB Managed Dedicated Servers Content Provided by DedicatedNow Dedicated Servers

(The Hosting News) – The Internet is the most important tool for the significant growth of small and medium sized companies, as it can provide and build a worldwide presence capable of putting small, medium, and large companies together on the same playing field. With the click of a mouse and an Internet connection, businesses of all sizes can reach every household. However, to do this successfully, they need to provide exceptional online experiences, planning, deployment, compliance, and security.

If you are a small operation with very few online demands, unmanaged servers might be a logical choice. However, keep in mind that the term “unmanaged” is really a misnomer. While the company will take care of their own software upgrades and routine maintenance, you still have access to the same support as you would receive from a managed server provider, but you will have to pay extra. Unmanaged servers generally have professionals available to be hired on an hourly basis, or the individual company employs their own full time staff. The less expensive and more practical alternative is to use a managed server which is more advanced, and offers full time support from server administrators who maintain the company’s server or servers so small and medium business owners can concentrate on their core business objectives instead of worrying about server issues.

Why choose a managed server?

A managed server will take care of setup, software installation, security monitoring, backups, and technical support. It is the perfect solution for any business that has outgrown shared hosting. Dedicated resources needed to run processor intensive scripting, customized software installation, and added security eliminates headaches, and instead of purchasing and hosting your own servers at one of your facilities, managed server hosting provides the economical and efficient way to handle any company’s online business. There are the problems of keeping servers up to date, hiring experienced personnel to handle the job, and computer downtime; add to those security risks that a company might face when the wrong people hack in, damage, theft, and replacing data in case of breaches, the advantages of a managed server makes even more sense. After all, many people today rely on businesses to order services or pay bills, and expect online portals to be secure and safe. Managed server companies have the latest security measures and can help to ensure that your customers have the best online experience possible.

As the size of companies increase, businesses need to keep pace with data growth. Medium sized businesses which require increased compliance involving data retention know that not meeting regulatory compliance, disaster recovery, and data protection for local and remote offices can lead to governmental penalties, sanctions, and irreparably damaged reputations. These companies rely on robust and affordable solutions that meet their critical business needs which include 24/7 data protection and recovery without any additional network backup infrastructure, and the offsite data protection for regulatory compliance and disaster recovery.

Benefits of managed servers:

1.     Offloading server management: Manager servers offer the greatest value through increased cost efficiency. By offloading the server maintenance to the webhost, companies can focus on their own business strategies and leave the management of the servers to trained professionals.

2.     Software updates and patches: managed servers typically include automatic patching and updating of critical software. If you have and unmanaged server, you will need to perform these tasks yourself.

3.     Resource monitoring: most managed web hosts include resource monitoring (i.e. RAM, CPU) as part of their service. This will help to ensure that you’re aware of any issues as early as possible and also upgrading your hardware when it is needed.

4.     Port monitoring: most managed hosts will also monitor your ports for uptime. So, if http or email goes down in the middle of the night, it’s your web host, not your staff that answers the call to fix the issue.

Qualities to consider for managed servers

Every business needs to be online to succeed. With a resounding “yes,” fully managed servers provide solutions to current technology problems that can give a company of any size confidence and complete peace of mind.

Before considering a managed server, the business owner should review the types of features associated with the managed hosting company from A to Z. Consider and study the plans offered from each host and understand that not all hosts and support teams are created equal.

Be sure to always read the fine print. There you can find such helpful and insightful information as company policies for hardware repair, software update, service level agreements, and additional fees. Look for bonuses, special discounts and incentive plans. Competition is fierce, and most companies do run specials. And one more piece of advice – try a trial membership or engagement for one year or less before signing up for any long-term contracts. It’s always best to tread lightly at first.

Source: Do SMBs Need a Managed Server?