Server management is the process of maintaining and monitoring servers so they operate at peak performance. This can include the management of software, hardware, security, and backups. Server management can be time-consuming, but is vital in minimising and eliminating server slowdowns and downtime, building secure server environments, and ensuring the servers meet the needs and objectives of the organisation.
Basic Components
Server management has four basic components and IT managed service experts recognise all four as important elements.
Hardware management is the foundation of effective server management and reliable hardware improves business productivity. There are five main components to hardware management; central processing unit or CPU, random access memory or RAM, hard drive, CPU temperature, and operating environment.
Server management in 2020 covers all these components to hardware management while also taking into consideration the developments in hardware technology that may require added maintenance.
Software management focuses on the monitoring and maintenance of server software. IT consulting service experts suggest understanding the software dependencies within your infrastructure, which makes the locating of performance issues easier.
It is also important to uninstall any old software you no longer use in order to ensure they do not make your system vulnerable to any malicious attacks.
Network security is an important element of server management and an IT consulting company may offer networking monitoring services for early detection of any issues. Security solutions in server management include installing and updating antivirus software, keeping out unauthorised traffic by putting up firewalls, using access control software and implementing a password policy, and encrypting sensitive data storage and external network connections.
The fourth component of server management is regular backups so you do not risk losing any important data. IT managed service experts recommend various backup solutions for both physical and virtual servers. A backup power supply is also important so data is not lost during a power outage.
These are the basic components that an IT consulting company will consider when providing server management services.
Trends in 2020 and beyond
Dell EMC has published several server management trends and observations for 2020 and their annual observations provide IT managed service experts with valuable insight.
Dell EMC predicts that data will be king in 2020 and beyond as it is the key to the future. Data-driven insights are changing the way businesses operate and present new challenges. This is why server management in 2020 and beyond will study data to improve the services offered by an IT consulting company.
The importance of data has led to the storage and analysis of massive amounts of data. These large amounts of data are easy to access and acquire. Accessibility is also improved through automated and simplified IT infrastructure, which organisations are using to accelerate their digital transformation.
However, this also raises concerns about privacy and the future will see an increase in policy and regulations related to privacy and transparency.
The increased use of artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and deep learning will also change server management in the future. These developing technologies will have a direct impact on the four basic components of server management and how they operate, especially in terms of hardware and software.
Onsite administrators of servers may also become more impractical in 2020 and beyond, especially with the increasing use of servers in remote locations. This will encourage the complete automation of deployment and lifecycle management.
Dell EMC also observes that, if organisations are to survive the digital age, digital transformation must include strategy that embraces the edge to core to multi-cloud era. “Whether or not businesses need all three elements during phase one of digital transformation is not critical, but what is critical is they need to ensure the architectural elements and decisions made include all three elements,” the report states. It adds that failing to do so can result in the need for another transformation to re-architect the other elements later.
These are some of the key predictions, trends, and observations IT consulting service experts have made about server management in 2020 and beyond and any IT consulting company will take them into consideration to improve the quality and range of services they provide.
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