Your website, app or software runs on a server somewhere. When it is slow, goes down or gets hacked, customers notice before you do. Hosting is easy to ignore until the day it fails. This guide covers what good hosting and server management look like for a small business, and what to ask the person looking after yours.
What "server management" actually covers
- Uptime. The site or app stays available, and someone is told quickly when it does not.
- Backups. Copies of your data and files are taken regularly and stored somewhere separate.
- Security. Software is kept up to date, access is limited, and traffic is protected with HTTPS.
- Speed. Pages load quickly, including on a mobile connection.
- Scaling. When traffic grows, the setup can handle it without a rebuild.
Questions to ask about your current hosting
- Who owns the account and the domain: you, or the developer?
- Where are backups kept, how often are they taken, and has anyone tried restoring one?
- What happens if the server goes down at night? Who is told, and how fast can it be fixed?
- When were the software and plugins last updated?
- Who has logins, and are old ones removed when people leave?
- What does hosting cost each month, and what happens if traffic grows?
Common problems and their causes
- Site goes down at busy times. The plan is too small for the traffic, or one slow process is using everything.
- Site is hacked. Outdated software, weak passwords or too many people with admin access.
- Data is lost. No backups, or backups kept on the same server that failed.
- Page is slow. Large images, too many scripts, or a server far from your customers.
- Nobody can log in. The account belongs to a former developer or agency.
A simple routine
- Check each month that backups ran, and test a restore a few times a year.
- Apply software updates regularly, not only when something breaks.
- Keep an up-to-date list of who has access to what.
- Use strong passwords, and two-step sign-in where it is offered.
- Keep your own copy of the domain and hosting login details, in a safe place.
Static sites need less
A simple site made of fixed pages, with no database, has far less to maintain than one built on a content system with plugins. If your site mostly tells people who you are and how to contact you, it may be worth building it that way. There is less to hack, and it loads faster.
How we work at FutraInc
We manage servers and hosting for clients, aiming for secure environments, minimal downtime and room to scale as you grow. Tell us where your site or software runs today and what worries you about it, and we will say what we would check first. See our services or contact us.