Technology

Security & VPS – 5 Questions You Should Ask Your VPS Provider

As we have seen lately, information and files stored on the Cloud are not as secure as many companies claim. Hacks are becoming more sophisticated and more common and while theft of information is still a big concern the recent WannaCry hack has shown how potentially lucrative and effective ransoming information can be. This is why we should take a closer look at Virtual Private Servers (VPS). Once you acknowledge the importance of keeping your operations safe, you will have to determine which VPS service better suits your needs. For instance, you will have to choose between a self-managed Windows VPS or a cheap Windows VPS. Considering that the last one is the best option for those who are not familiar with it.

[pullquote]For small business owners, protecting their assets includes protecting digital information either on site or stored in the cloud.[/pullquote] VPS have the advantage of alleviating the need for physical hosting for your computer network but can increase the security risks if they are not maintained correctly.

Whether you are a current VPS user or are thinking of taking the plunge, there are some security questions you should raise with your provider. The answers could determine the direction your company takes.

1. Do You Offer Managed VPS?

The debate between managed and unmanaged VPS servers is vigorous and useful, but for security concerns, managed VPS takes the responsibility off your company and puts them squarely on the server providers. If the company offers managed VPS, whether it is right for your company or not, you should know what steps they take to keep their servers secure.

If you do want managed VPS, you will know what the provider feels is an appropriate level of security. If you want unmanaged VPS, you will have an idea of where to start your own security protocol.

2. How Secure Are Your Servers?

If the VPS provider has been hacked before, what were the steps they took to prevent it from happening again? There is a lot of less-than-useful information about hacks and cloud security floating around that obscures the valuable information you need. Primarily, what is the provider doing to maintain their security?

3. Are You Familiar With How Hackers Gain Access To Data?

In addition to wanting a secure server, you want the provider to have experts on how to recognize and stop attacks on the servers. Whether it ever comes to needing that expertise or not, it is comforting to know that your VPS provider is using that information to keep your data safe.

4. How Much Experience Do You Have With VPS Security?

The longer a company has been in business the more they will know. Hacking attempts grow more sophisticated with each year and being conversant in current as well as past hacking methods makes it easier to defend against them.

5. What Kind Of Guarantees Do You Offer?

This can be a tricky question because many guarantees are ephemeral. They apply to current hacking methods but don’t cover unknowns. Since hacking methods change all the time, there is usually a window of opportunity for hackers to spring a new method on targets before the targets have a way to fight back. However, backups for data and insurance against lost information should be a standard part of the provider’s services.

According to a representative of Accu Web Hosting, “Security is a huge concern and one we share with the customers. Our managed VPS systems have robust and up-to-date security, but there is always the question of what is next.”

Knowing what you are protected from gives you and your company a starting point for adding security to a VPS. Most managed server companies will offer the best security that is available but it comes at the cost of not controlling all aspects of your VPS and not being able to choose the security methods to keep your data safe. Unmanaged VPS systems drop those security concerns right in your lap.