Key facts
- Quoted per server based on complexity
- Operating system and service patching on a schedule
- Firewall, SSH hardening and brute-force protection
- Monitoring of resources and services with alerts
- Backup setup and restore testing
- Plesk administration or custom Nginx, PHP-FPM, MariaDB and Redis stacks
- Takeover of existing or neglected servers
What server management covers
- Patching: operating system, kernel, web server, PHP, database and other packages kept up to date, with reboots planned.
- Hardening: SSH key authentication, root login disabled, unused services removed, firewall rules set.
- Protection: brute-force blocking and malware scanning.
- Monitoring: CPU, memory, disk space, service health and certificate expiry.
- Backups: scheduled and tested, because an untested backup is a hope, not a plan.
- Performance: PHP-FPM, MariaDB or MySQL and caching tuned to your workload.
- Changes: installing software, adding sites, changing PHP versions and configuring services when you ask.
Taking over an existing server
We're often asked to look after a server that's been running for years with no one in charge. The original developer has gone, nobody knows the passwords, and the operating system is past end of life. Our process:
- Get access and take a full backup before changing anything.
- Audit what's running: sites, databases, cron jobs, mail, custom services.
- Fix urgent security issues.
- Plan: keep and patch, or migrate to a fresh server with current software.
- Document everything so you're never in that position again.
See also abandoned website takeover.
Plesk or custom stack
For web hosting we usually recommend Plesk: it gives you a control panel and makes multi-site, multi-PHP setups easy to run. See Plesk hosting. For applications, a custom stack is leaner: Nginx, PHP-FPM or Node.js, MariaDB or PostgreSQL, Redis, and Supervisor or systemd for workers. We manage either.
Questions we'll ask
- Where is the server, who supplies it, and which operating system and version?
- What's on it, and which parts are business-critical?
- Who else has access, such as developers or other suppliers?
- Are there backups today, and have they ever been restored?
- Do you need out-of-hours cover, and for what?
Get a quote
Call 01623 650333 or email info@dijitul.uk. If you'd rather not own a server at all, we can move your sites onto a managed VPS or onto dijitul Complete Hosting at £1 a day + VAT per website.
Frequently asked questions
What does server management include?
Usually operating system and software patching, security hardening, firewall setup, monitoring, backups, performance tuning and making changes on request. dijitul offers Linux server management for UK businesses, quoted per server.
Can you manage a server hosted with another provider?
Often yes, as long as we can get proper access and the provider allows it. dijitul audits the server first, takes a backup, then agrees what we'll manage. Sometimes migrating to a fresh server is the safer option.
What happens when a Linux version reaches end of life?
It stops receiving security updates, so new vulnerabilities stay open. You should upgrade or migrate to a supported release. dijitul plans these moves, rebuilding on a supported version and migrating sites and services in stages.
How often should a server be patched?
Security updates should be applied promptly, ideally within days of release for critical issues, with routine updates on a regular schedule. Kernel updates need planned reboots. Managed servers at dijitul follow an agreed patching schedule.
Our server has no documentation and our developer left. Can you help?
Yes. dijitul takes over undocumented servers regularly. We back up first, audit what's running, fix urgent security issues, then document everything and agree whether to keep or rebuild the server.
Do I need Plesk on my server?
Not necessarily. Plesk is great for hosting multiple websites with different PHP versions and gives non-technical users a dashboard. Custom applications often run better on a lean stack without a control panel. dijitul manages both.
Related
Tell us what you need to run
We spec it, build it, host it and look after it. Clear quote, no jargon.