How to Minimize Losses from Server Downtime

Server downtime… It’s a problem that every company operating online must deal with. The fact of the matter is that any amount of downtime can equate to lost profits. So how do you know if your server is experiencing downtime? How can you tell if you are losing profits due to an outage or slowdown? Furthermore, what can you do to prevent “invisible” profit loss from servers that are performing poorly?

There are a number of ways to minimize server downtime and to keep track of any outages or slowdowns that your site may be experiencing. Here are some tips to help you manage and avoid server downtime and minimize your losses.

Know What You’re Dealing With

The first key to minimizing any losses that you may incur due to server downtime is to know exactly how much downtime you are experiencing and when slowdowns are occurring. After all, you can’t take care of a problem if you aren’t aware that the problem exists.

Unless you have someone watching your website 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, you’re going to need a program to notify you of any server downtime and outages that may be occurring. A website monitoring service will allow you to get a handle on exactly what you are dealing with and whether or not downtime, outages or slowdowns are becoming an issue for your company.

Upgrade Your Server

If you notice that downtime is indeed an issue, the issue needs to be addressed quickly. Server downtime equates to lost profits.

If you are experiencing significant downtime, one of the first things you will want to do is look at the server that you are using. It’s possible that the server isn’t up to par or can’t handle the amount of traffic that your website is receiving. If this is the case, you will want to upgrade your server or consider converting to a dedicated server (if you do not already have one).

When you do upgrade your server, make sure you utilize a service that will perform the upgrade with minimal downtime. After all, the purpose of the upgrade is to minimize server downtime and potential profit loss. You do not want the upgrade itself interfering with the profits of your business.

Make Sure Your Site is Optimized

A good way to avoid server slowdowns is to optimize your website for fast connections. One way to do this is through HTTP caching. When you optimize your site with HTTP caching you provide a local copy of resources so that the connections do not take as long when loading data.

You can also optimize your site by reducing the number of HTTP requests that your site receives. You can do this by simplifying the design of your site or by using combined files along with inline images and image maps.

Continually Monitor Performance

Once you have corrected your server downtime problems, make sure that you keep an eye on the performance of your site. As your website grows, your server needs will grow as well. By using a website monitoring service you can ensure that your servers are working as they should be. If you notice that downtime and slowdowns are increasing again in the future, you will know that you need to address additional upgrades at that point. Consistent attention to these details will enable you to minimize any losses that could occur due to server outages and slowdowns.