10 Factors to Consider When Choosing a Dedicated Server

Posted on June 28, 2020 Servers

50 percent of all global companies are now embarking on digital transformation to improve customer experience and satisfaction. With the shift to the click and mortar business model, websites have become an essential link between companies and customers.  

If your business website has consistent traffic, it will help to consider improving user experience. This is possible if you focus on improving customer experience. 

Leasing a dedicated server is one sure way to ensure your website’s reliability and performance. With a dedicated server, you don’t have to worry about website speeds and potential website crashes. However, choosing a dedicated server can be one of the most challenging decisions for a small business. 

Are you hoping to invest in a dedicated server soon? It would help to consider these ten critical factors before settling for a particular dedicated server. 

1. Your Performance Requirements 

Businesses have varying performance requirements and needs. Does your business’ website attract an average of 1000 visitors every month? Then your performance needs might be different from a smaller company with at least 500 visitors. 

Depending on factors such as the number of users you anticipate, you might need to be more specific about your dedicated server. 

The performance also depends on the kind of services you want to provide with your server. These factors determine the number of servers you might need. The performance also depends on the type of hardware you want to use.

If you aren’t sure about your performance needs, it will help to consider the insights of an expert on matters such as bandwidth and load-times.  This will help you understand the right blend for your dedicated server to help meet your performance needs. 

2. When Choosing a Dedicated Server Consider Potential Downtime

Nearly half of all visitors to your website won’t wait beyond three seconds for your website to load. Such a statistic only confirms how important it is to select a reliable, dedicated server. The benefits of dedicated servers should include superb uptime and stability. 

Before you settle for a specific dedicated server, ensure that you consider the potential downtime. Your choice of a server must be one that assures you of around the clock uptime. However, considering that these servers are prone to technical hitches, you should also have the assurance of speedy interventions even when such downtimes occur due to unavoidable circumstances.  

The choice of a dedicated server also depends on how much time you’re willing to risk in case of downtime.  Such considerations should rely on other factors, such as the nature of your business.

3. Stable Security Features 

Security remains a significant concern for most businesses in this age of technology. With a significant extent of customer information on the line, features of security are a priority when choosing a dedicated server.  You must consider working only with service providers who embrace safety as a service

Security must be top of your priority when selecting a dedicated server given that there’s personal information you’re likely to exchange with your clients. You need to consider all the likely mitigation measures put in place by the dedicated server provider in case of unexpected breaches to data security. 

There has been growing concern over the number of data privacy breaches at the corporate level over the last two decades. The impact of data breaches is so immense that almost 60 percent of hacked businesses close shop within six months after such incidences. Your data is most vulnerable when dedicated servers experience instances of downtime. 

You must be keen enough to question your potential hosting provider’s inherent physical and virtual security considerations. Your provider must satisfy that they have the right firewalls, intrusion management, malware, and virus prevention measures at all times. Such hosting providers must also have reliable spam filtering techniques to guarantee data security.

4. Technology Advancements

Change is the only constant in this age of technology. It would help to consider all the potential technological dynamics in the future when choosing a dedicated server. First, consider the operating system compatibility with your server. You also need to ensure that your potential server has enough RAM to cover all your future tasks and needs. 

Your provider should also have a wide variety of new hardware choices to suit your needs. Further, ensure that they have hardware capabilities to manage all your future growth objectives. Aspects such as the type of RAM and the RAID system in place might appear technical, but they’re critical considerations.

5. Consider Scalability

Every business exists with growth in mind. Your website visits will likely grow steadily over the next few years. You need to consider a site that guarantees scalability in line with your business’ growth trajectory.

Can your choice of dedicated server increase the number of end-users with an increase in visitors? Such dynamics make an incredible difference in the long-term. The reality is that some applications are hard to scale up. 

You don’t want a situation where you have to change your hosting provider each time you want to scale up your activities. Working with seasoned hosting providers is the best option when future scalability is an issue of concern. 

6. Your Budget 

The cost of hosting on a dedicated server can be a deal-breaker. You might need to consider the dedicated server budget when choosing what best suits your needs. You must also consider the final monthly prices for the dedicated server over the anticipated time of use. 

Your budget when choosing a hosting provider should include the setup fees. You may also need to factor in the software licensing fees in your dedicated server budget. Further, ensure that you have adequate information on the upgrading fees in case you consider an upgrade in the future. 

It would help to have a careful evaluation of the hosting packages before settling for one that works for you. Ensure that your parcel covers several hours of unlimited support per month. This consideration should, however, depend on all your hosting needs.

7. Technical Support 

With digital transformation, most business tasks have become rather complicated. Your teams need constant technical support to help them navigate the various routine tasks or to deal with emerging technical hitches. How fast can your hosting provider help you troubleshoot issues when they arise?

Before you select a dedicated server for your business, ensure that they’re able to offer 24/7 technical support. A critical question you must ask your potential provider regards their automatic resolution process in case of navigation concerns. 

A reliable, dedicated server hosting provider should have a readily available team on phone and email at all times. This ensures that your operations don’t grind to a sudden halt in times of technical issues. 

8. Backup Services

A server backup is among the most critical procedures that occur regularly. Before selecting a hosting provider for your dedicated server, you might need to consider the available options for backing up data. If your hard drive fails to restore your critical data following a hitch, you’ll rely solely on a backup server. 

It would be critical to settle for a provider who prioritizes data backup protocols. This approach ensures that you are better prepared to deal with any unfolding disaster scenarios. Your hosting provider should at least have a planning and testing protocol in place to guard against the injurious impact of data loss.  

Most reliable dedicated servers blend storage and backup through cloud computing to guarantee clients the highest levels of data protection against potential loss. Before settling for an option that suits your needs, it would help to consider the different approaches to backup and storage.  

Consider a dedicated server with reliable server backup hardware. You should also find a provider who offers automated dedicated server backups in real-time. This way, you have the assurance that your data is safe at all times.  

9. Network Quality

It’s essential to consider network quality when selecting a hosting provider. Network quality directly affects performance. Physical location is among the issues that often determine network quality. 

The further your dedicated server is from your business, the more likely it will affect your network’s quality. You need to consider your Network’s Operation Center and test the network speeds and quality before committing. Such considerations are vital to minimize potential disappointments.  

10. Available Control Panel Options

The most suitable dedicated server for your business is one that has enough control panel options to ensure functional effectiveness. Control panels are an essential element when supporting your server functions and applications. However, some dedicated servers lack control panels that can provide easy user navigation.  

Are you looking for dedicated server options that fit your needs? You need to ensure that you settle for one with in-built management functions. This is important to ensure better business operations and effectiveness when meeting your specific business needs. 

Order Your Dedicated Server Now

Modern-day businesses need a change in tact as digital transformation takes root. Websites will become an invaluable asset for every entity going forward. However, to ensure the effectiveness of your landing pages, you need a dedicated server to manage all your network resources. 

Selecting a server that meets all your business needs is vital. The problem is how to settle for a server that you can grow with over time. If you’re stuck at how to select a server that meets your every need, visit Net Depot, we have the answers for you. 

Are you looking for a trusted strategic infrastructure solutions provider for your data needs? Visit us for a wide range of options.

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