6 Factors You Should Take Into Account When Choosing A Server
Choosing a server is no easy task. There are so many different types of servers out there, and each one will have its pros and cons. This blog post will go over six essential factors you should consider when choosing a server for your business.
1. Budget
How much are you willing to spend on your server? The cost of a server can vary greatly depending on the size and features that you want.
If you’re looking for something more affordable, consider renting or leasing an existing machine rather than buying one. You’ll save money in both capital expenses and ongoing costs since a third party handles hardware maintenance, security patches, power supply replacements etc.
Many people are also drawn to the idea of building their servers from scratch using old PCs they have lying around – but if there’s no technical expertise within your company, then it might not be worth all the time investment.
2. Uptime Guarantees
When looking for a server in the UK, remember to consider how often the server goes down. You may be able to find a plan with 99% uptime, but if it only guarantees that for one year, then you’ll have some problems in other years when the uptime dips below 98%.
Many companies offer unlimited downtime per month as long as they make up for it by adding time on at the end of the month. This might not sound like such a great deal, but think about what would happen if your site had two weeks’ worth of downtime and was penalized 600 hours because there’s no more free time left; now imagine having three months’ worth!
Dedicated servers are more expensive, but they also tend to have better uptime guarantees than shared ones. However, this doesn’t mean that you can’t find cheap dedicated servers UK because all that is needed is to do a little research if you’re in the UK to find servers that are close by and with packages within your budget.
3. System Requirements
Depending on the server software you want to run, your system may need specific hardware. For example, if you’re installing an operating system like Linux or Windows Server 2003 on a shared hosting account with cPanel, the host should have at least 256MB of RAM per domain. The chances are that they do and will let you know during the sign-up which limits apply for the type of service chosen—for most people, and this would be enough.
If it’s not specified by default, ask before signing up, so there aren’t any surprises later down the line when things start getting busy and performance starts dropping off due to insufficient resources in heavier traffic times!
4. Memory and Storage Space
Memory and storage space is a significant consideration when choosing your server. While it may be tempting to go with the cheapest option, this could end up costing you more in long-term costs and performance than going with something that is higher quality or provides better service.
Memory can affect how quickly data is processed on a computer system, so having enough memory space will allow for faster data processing without additional strain on other hardware resources such as CPU power or hard drive usage.
Storage space also affects this; if there’s not enough storage space, programs will have difficulty loading files they need from the various parts of their software package (i.e., database). This means a slower execution time for essential functions like opening documents or starting applications.
5. Physical Location
The location of your server is a significant factor to consider. The closer your server is geographical, the better experience you will have with its performance and speed. That’s why people in the UK need to consider a UK-based host and people in the US to select an American company.
If you deal with sensitive data like credit cards or personal information, then your server must be located within its perimeters of jurisdiction. This can protect you from any legal prosecution when there are laws against hosting this type of content on servers outside said country’s borders.
6. Security
Security is paramount for any server administrator. There are many things to consider, but some general guidelines for network security include using strong passwords and keeping software up-to-date.
It’s essential to consider the security measures that your hosting provider will take on their servers. You want to know that if an issue pops up, it can be resolved immediately. StrongDM helps companies securely manage and audit access to their databases, servers, clusters, and web applications.
The security of the server you choose is important because hackers could attack and potentially destroy data in some cases or steal sensitive information. A compromised server exposes everyone else hosted there to potential hacking by being infected with malware or spamming.
Here are a few tips for choosing a secure web host:
- Look at reviews from trustworthy sources.
- Check what kind of SSL certificate they provide.
- Consider whether the company does backups and has access controls.
- Ask about its disaster recovery plan and backup system – find out which parts are backed up regularly, where they store copies off-site, and how long it took to restore in the last disaster.
When it comes to choosing a server for your business, there are many factors you should take into account. Mentioned in this piece are top tips to help you make the right decision.