In today’s online platforms, server management plays a big role for any business that works with computers. As we already know, servers are responsible for storing and sharing of important files, and hosting applications, among others. With this, having the right personnel to manage your server is important in order for businesses to increase their productivity. Learn more about server management here in this blog.

What is server management?

As the name states, server management basically involves the monitoring and maintenance of the IT system’s hardware and software. It also helps with its security and backups in order to keep the IT environment operational and working effectively. Some of the main objectives of Server Management include:

• Preventing server slowdowns and downtime while maximizing reliability
• Helping secure server environments
• Helping scale servers and related operations to meet the needs of the organization

Basic functions of server management

Now that we’ve tackled what server management is, let’s take a closer look at some of the basic functions of this service:

 

• Server Provisioning

 

Server provisioning refers to the process of providing a server with the necessary elements and components needed to perform its intended functions. This process usually begins with gathering information about the server’s expected purpose. Afterwards, the IT specialist will set up the operating system that will control the server and install required softwares to meet the intended functionalities. 

 

• Performance Monitoring

 

IT specialists monitor all the components and software that are performing during day-to-day operations. Some of the functions include checking for any downtime, unexpected issues, etc.

 

• Updates

 

As the name suggests, this server software as well as the operating system receives updates to add new features, improve the existing features, work on issues that may arise, and many more. Overall, this helps keep the software up to date and is an essential part of server management.

 

• Server Security

 

This server management service functions as a way to secure all the data in the server. The IT specialists usually install security monitoring programs to know whether there is a breach in the server. These can result in data leak prevention to unwanted users.

 

• Backup & Restoration

 

Another key component of a server management service is backup and restoration. This keeps your system backed up with several restoration points. For instance, if an unexpected outage happens, you can restore your data and track down the cause of the issue.

In order to do everything mentioned above, aside from expertise you will be needing tools such as softwares. These tools are costly and have a huge learning curve to begin with. It would be best to just hire a team that has both expertise and tools like the experts in iManila!

With 27 years of experience in the industry and an IT company at its core, iManila, having been one of the first Internet Service Providers in the Philippines, a web development company and a top digital marketing company in the country, is committed to providing our clients with innovative information technology, web, and digital solutions. As one of the best web hosting providers in the Philippines, iManila is also a full-service business web development company and digital marketing agency in the Philippines ready to help you with your web design and development, website update and maintenance, web hosting, email hosting, dedicated server, technical, desktop and remote support, and digital marketing services needs.  Talk to us!

Traditionally, when it comes to hosting solutions there were only two major options people go for. These are the affordable Shared Hosting and the powerful yet expensive Dedicated Hosting. But with the advent of virtualization, the web hosting sector developed Virtual Private Servers. And with the evolution of the cloud and the applications of cloud to hosting, Cloud Server Hosting came to life.

Cloud Hosting allows applications and websites to be accessible using cloud resources. In this hosting set-up, solutions are not installed on a single server, as opposed to traditional ones. Instead, the application or website is hosted on a network of connected virtual and physical cloud servers, ensuring greater adaptability, security, and scalability.

Being the latest and most innovative web hosting solution, Cloud Hosting has a lot to offer. Read further as we uncover seven unique features of Cloud Hosting!

High on security 

First and foremost, hosting your site to a cloud server guarantees your data’s protection from accidental loss and malicious activity. And since it’s in a cloud server, you are also safe from disasters like fire, floods, and earthquakes. In addition, with a Cloud Hosting solution, your data is handled and taken care of by experienced IT professionals. They install interconnected security tools, acquire needed resources, and offer additional security layers all just to keep your data safe.

Redundancy

As mentioned earlier, in a cloud set-up, your site is hosted on multiple servers. If something happens to one of the servers, a backup will take over without causing any downtime to your site. Also, in the event of data loss, it’s easy to get your data back since it is duplicated and stored in multiple servers.

Low exposure to cyber threats

With a Cloud Hosting solution, even if one of the servers is under attack, your data will not be at risk. This is because it has been distributed between multiple servers. Additionally, since your data is constantly moving from one server to another, it would be impossible to plan a hack.

Faster website speed and performance

Again, since your site is hosted on multiple servers, there is an instant increase in your site’s capacity. You can add a lot of images and features without slowing your load speed. Also, having multiple servers balances out the pressure or demand of a single servers’ resources giving your site better performance.

Easy to scale server resources

Scaling refers to upgrading or downgrading your servers’ capacity (RAM, storage, CPU core, etc.). For instance, your website will grow and receive huge traffic. When this happens, you will be needing more resources. With cloud hosting, it is easy, simple, and takes just a couple of minutes to upgrade.

Simple to use and manage

With everything that is happening on a cloud host – multiple servers, constant movement and mirroring of data, and so on – it can be overwhelming. However, none of these are something you should worry about. All complexities are handled by the hosting company. Usually, you will just be given an easy to use software like cPanel where you can manage your site. This software is designed for non-tech savvy so even if you’re new to Cloud Hosting, you can still manage it.

Exceptional website uptime

In a traditional hosting where your site is hosted on a single server, when that server goes down, your site goes down as well. It’ll not just cause downtime but will also affect your SEO and lowers your ranking in the search results page. However, when you are hosted in a multiple server like in a Cloud Hosting, you can expect 99% uptime. A non-functioning server will not really affect you.

Cloud hosting is gaining popularity for several good reasons. Aside from its great features, it is affordable. If you are ready to give Cloud Hosting a try, make sure to get it from the best web hosting provider in the Philippines, iManila!

With 27 years of experience in the industry and an IT company at its core, iManila, having been one of the first Internet Service Providers in the Philippines, a web development company and a top digital marketing company in the country, is committed to providing our clients with innovative information technology, web, and digital solutions.

As one of the best web hosting providers in the Philippines, iManila is also a full-service business web development company and digital marketing agency in the Philippines ready to help you with your web design and development, website update and maintenance, web hosting, email hosting, dedicated server, technical, desktop and remote support, and digital marketing services needs.  Talk to us!

Web hosting is an absolute necessity for all businesses with a website. It allows businesses to store all the data needed for their website to run smoothly while keeping it all secured. 

With so many options to choose from, it is hard to decide which type of hosting service to invest in. For this reason, we are featuring two of the most popular hosting services – Shared and Dedicated Hosting. Read further to help you make the best decision regarding where, and how, to host your site!

Shared Hosting

Shared Hosting is one of the most used hosting services. As the name suggests, it functions by hosting multiple websites on one server. This is fairly inexpensive to use and involves sharing resources with other users. However, hosting hundreds or even thousands of websites on a single server can create a lot of advantages and disadvantages.

Advantages of shared hosting

• Inexpensive- If you’re low on budget and looking for a quality hosting service, then Shared Hosting is perfect for you. A single server’s maintenance costs is distributed among its many users. In this way, it lowers individual costs to customers in the process. Moreover, you also have the option to pay more to upgrade your storage or resources to allow more website traffic, or bigger use of storage space.
• Easy to use- Another benefit of Shared Hosting is that it’s easy to use. New websites usually use this service since it requires little technical skill. Overall, Shared hosting comes with a control panel to manage the website, and pre-installed programs to accommodate most websites. Moreover, server setup is done by the hosting providers, so more or less the hosting is ready to use upon turnover to the client.

Disadvantages of shared hosting

• Joint server resources- Shared Hosting is a great option for new websites since it provides basic resources and is fairly easy to use. With that said, however, it does have its limitations. One of those disadvantages is the “bad neighbor effect.” Basically, this is where one website on a shared server takes over most of the resources. When this happens, it can cause other websites on the server to slow down. Luckily, the chances of this happening are low since professional hosting companies provide more than enough resources to accommodate their users.
• Security Risk- Another risk of using this hosting service is that your server’s IP address could be blacklisted if someone on the same server is sending out spam. To prevent this from happening, make sure you pick a web hosting provider with policies against this abuse.

Dedicated Hosting

Unlike Shared Hosting, Dedicated Server Hosting is a single server specifically for the use of your business website. This helps cut out the competition in the process and results in better overall website performance. In this hosting service, you have more control over your server, how fast it goes, and what to do. However, it does come with a price and requires more knowledge in order to maintain it. 

Advantages of dedicated hosting

• Full control of server resources- Since there is no server sharing involved, there are no bad neighbor effects. This means that all of your server’s processing power, memory, and disk space can be focused on your website. Moreover, there will be no other user who could expose your website to cyber threats and cause it to be blacklisted.
• Customizing capabilities- Another advantage of a Dedicated Server is its ability to use extensive customization, which helps you optimize your server settings. Not only that, but it also gives you root access so that you can modify software code.

Disadvantages of dedicated hosting

• Expensive- Although it offers a more secure hosting service, it does come with a price. Renting dedicated servers is expensive than a shared hosting. It can cost up to 10x more of the latter depending on the storage and resources your website needs.
• Requires technical knowledge- Dedicated servers require a high level of technical knowledge. This is especially true if you want to maximize your hosting server’s customizability. If you want to pursue this service, we recommend hiring a server admin or purchasing a plan that includes server management support.

Choose the perfect hosting service today!

Picking the right server is important especially if you want to maximize the performance of your website. For instance, shared hosting would be the best option if you don’t need immense bandwidth, memory, or control, then. On the contrary, if your website requires lots of server resources, and your team can efficiently manage a specialized hosting setup, go with dedicated web hosting. Whatever you decide to get, make sure to avail it from a reliable hosting provider and from one of the best hosting providers in the country, iManila!

With 27 years of experience in the industry and an IT company at its core, iManila, having been one of the first Internet Service Providers in the Philippines, a web development company and a top digital marketing company in the country, is committed to providing our clients with innovative information technology, web, and digital solutions.

As one of the best web hosting providers in the Philippines, iManila is also a full-service business web development company and digital marketing agency in the Philippines ready to help you with your web design and development, website update and maintenance, web hosting, email hosting, dedicated server, technical, desktop and remote support, and digital marketing services needs.  Talk to us!

As the world continuously shifts to digital, cyber threats are becoming robust and harder to distinguish. One good example of this is the newest email scam with the subject: “Attention Confirmation Update Password”. It’s a phishing email that tricks you into disclosing personal information, installing malware, or giving access to your online accounts. 

How does this scam work?

The modus of this scam is to pretend that the email is sent by an IT Support. It’ll claim that your password is expiring and that you have to click a link to resolve the issue. However, as opposed to the claim, your account is totally fine and has no issue at all. This is nothing but a scam that tries to scare you into opening an unwanted attachment. Do not fall for this con trick. If you happen to receive one of these emails, delete it immediately. Do not click any links or download any attachments. 

How to spot this email scam?

To give you a clearer picture of “Attention Confirmation Update Password” phishing emails, here are the signs to look out for:

• Generic greetings (like “customer”, “account holder”, and “dear”) are used instead of specific names.
• The sender’s email address is not linked to a legitimate domain name.
• The email will prompt you to click a link to fix the issue. Most reputable organizations don’t require users to click links and provide sensitive information. 
• There is a time constraint or an unusual sense of urgency sent via email. 
• Errors in grammar, spelling, and sentence structure may indicate that the email is not from a trusted source.

What to do if you already clicked the link?

In case it is too late and you have already fallen victim, there’s a big chance your device is infected by malware. This malware can corrupt your files, or worse, grant hackers the access to your private data. What you can do is to clean your device as soon as possible with anti-malware software. This kind of software can detect the type of malware your device has, safely remove it, and clean any damages that it may have caused.

How to protect yourself from malware attacks?

Taking proactive measures is always better than finding a solution to an existing problem. Protect your data and devices from possible malware attacks with these security tips:

• Use a high-quality antivirus program and keep it up to date.
• Maintain the most recent versions of your operating system and applications.
• When installing software, pay close attention to the installation screens and license agreements.
• Make use of a browser-based content blocker.
• Be mindful of what you download.
• Always be alert and on the lookout for anyone attempting to trick you into clicking on links or responding to messages, whether it’s through your email, phone, messenger, or other applications.
• Backup your data on a regular basis and ensure that your backup data can be restored.
• Select strong and unique passwords.
• Be careful when clicking links or downloading attachments from unknown sources.
• Never use pirated software.

Malware attacks and other cyber threats can cause massive damages especially if you’re running an online business. Ensure your safety by installing web security and hiring an on-call technical support team here in iManila!

With 27 years of experience in the industry and an IT company at its core, iManila, having been one of the first Internet Service Providers in the Philippines, a web development company and a top digital marketing company in the country, is committed to providing our clients with innovative information technology, web, and digital solutions. 

As one of the best web hosting and email hosting providers in the Philippines, iManila is also a full-service business web development company and digital marketing agency in the Philippines ready to help you with your web design and development, website update and maintenance, web hosting, email hosting, cloud hosting, dedicated server, technical, desktop and remote support, and digital marketing services needs.  Talk to us!