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Are you sufficiently cooling your servers?Today, many businesses rely on servers for their day-to-day operations. If your servers are hosted locally, you should be aware that proper temperature control plays a vital role in keeping them running smoothly. Knowing how to properly cool your servers can help minimize the risk of crashes, which can cause downtime. How does temperature affect […]

The post Are you sufficiently cooling your servers? appeared first on Complete Technology Resources, Inc..

Are you sufficiently cooling your servers?

Today, many businesses rely on servers for their day-to-day operations. If your servers are hosted locally, you should be aware that proper temperature control plays a vital role in keeping them running smoothly. Knowing how to properly cool your servers can help minimize the risk of crashes, which can cause downtime.

How does temperature affect servers?

High server temperatures can cause it to crash, resulting in costly data loss and service interruptions. If a server's temperature rises above 70 degrees Fahrenheit, the server's reliability decreases. In fact, an increase of 15 degrees leads to a 50-percent decrease in server reliability. When servers reach these temperatures, they will start to perform poorly, and computers connected to the server will start to struggle as well. Keeping your servers cool is vital to maintain optimal performance and longevity.

Effective methods to keep servers cool

    1. Use low-heat lighting

Incandescent lights produce too much heat that can raise the temperature of your server room. Go for low-heat options such as LED arrays and fluorescent tubes. Not only do they produce less heat, but they also provide better illumination compared to incandescent bulbs.

    1. Ensure your server room is well ventilated

Server rooms are usually small and contain other hardware aside from servers. Without proper air circulation, all that hardware can raise the temperature of the room and your servers. Make sure the server room you choose has good air circulation. If you have no choice but to place your server in a small room, install a ventilation system that will let hot air escape from the room.

    1. Use cooling fans

Cooling fans work well with a ventilation system to move hot air away from your servers. They are also a more affordable option to air conditioners. Placing a small and powerful fan next to your server’s heat vent will keep it from overheating.

    1. Air conditioning system

Installing an air conditioner in your server room is probably the best way to keep servers cool. Make sure that the air conditioner you choose is perfect for your server room. If you have a big server room, a small air conditioner won’t do much to cool it. Also, don’t be tempted to use residential air conditioners, as they are not designed to run 24/7/365. Go for industrial air conditioners instead. They can be a bit costly and require semi-annual maintenance checks, but industrial air conditioners will ensure your servers are constantly operating in cool temperatures.

Servers work best when kept at a cool temperature constantly. While manufacturers continue to build more resilient servers, proper care and maintenance still play a vital role in ensuring high operating quality and longevity. If you need more information about server management or have any other questions about your server setup, contact us today.

Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.

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Here’s why you need a VPN and how to choose oneInstalling antivirus software and using strong passwords are no longer considered the bare minimum in cybersecurity. With your online activities transparent to internet service providers, third parties, and hackers alike, it’s important to keep your information secure and private by using a virtual private network (VPN). Here’s why. What is a VPN? A VPN creates […]

The post Here’s why you need a VPN and how to choose one appeared first on Complete Technology Resources, Inc..

Here’s why you need a VPN and how to choose one

Installing antivirus software and using strong passwords are no longer considered the bare minimum in cybersecurity. With your online activities transparent to internet service providers, third parties, and hackers alike, it’s important to keep your information secure and private by using a virtual private network (VPN). Here’s why.

What is a VPN?

A VPN creates a secure tunnel between your device and the websites you visit on the internet. Once you’ve established your PC’s connection to a VPN server, your computer acts as if it’s using the same local connection as the VPN, making it seem as if you’re in a different location. As far as websites are concerned, you’re browsing from that server’s geographical location and not your PC’s actual location.

When you surf the web through a VPN, all the data transmitted and received is also encrypted, preventing anyone, from hackers to government agencies, from monitoring your online activities.

Why should you have a VPN?

Security and privacy are the main reasons you would want a VPN. For example, if you’re connected to a public Wi-Fi network — like the ones at local cafes and airports — using a VPN encrypts the information you’re sending or accessing online. This means your credit card details, login credentials, private conversations, or sensitive documents can’t be intercepted by a third party.

VPNs are also useful for accessing geo-restricted websites. If you’re traveling abroad and certain US websites are blocked in that region, you can connect to a VPN located in the United States to access the sites you need.

How do you choose a VPN?

Given the increasing demand for secure online privacy, VPNs are surging in popularity. The following considerations can help you find the right one.

1. Cost
While free VPNs are available, it’s best to avoid them as they could keep logs of your internet activity. In some cases, data collected by free VPNs are sold to data brokers or worse, cybercriminals. Additionally, maintaining a VPN service is also expensive, which means the free ones will likely plaster ads on your browser to make a quick buck.

Paid VPNs like NordVPN and ExpressVPN often come with more robust features and configurations that keep you secure. Prices differ depending on a VPN’s features and subscription length, and how you pay is also important. Some VPNs offer anonymous payment systems like Bitcoin, while others allow you to use gift cards to avoid giving out your personal information.

2. Location
The physical location of VPN servers is important if you want to access region-blocked websites. So if you’re planning on accessing a UK-based service, your VPN provider must at least have servers located in London.

3. Capacity
Read through a VPN provider’s terms of service to determine how much data you’re allowed to use. If possible, find out how many servers a VPN provider has. If they have plenty of servers online, you can rest assured that they have the capacity to support your internet browsing.

4. Device compatibility
Another important factor to consider is whether the VPN can be used across multiple devices. Nowadays, employees work on laptops, tablets, and smartphones, so you’ll want a VPN that’s compatible with various types of devices.

5. IP leaking
Beyond the fundamental nuts and bolts of the VPN protocol, there are other challenges like dealing with leaky tunnels, which means your IP address could be tracked. A great way to evaluate a VPN service is to sign up for their free trial service and visit IP Leak. This will allow you to check whether your real IP address is being leaked. If it tracks your physical location, you should opt for a more reliable VPN service.

VPNs are now a vital component of cybersecurity, and if you need help in selecting the right one for your business, consult with our security experts today. We also offer comprehensive cybersecurity services so no hacker or third party can get their hands on your data.

Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.

The post Here’s why you need a VPN and how to choose one appeared first on Complete Technology Resources, Inc..

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