In a previous blog, we looked at what payment solutions providers must/should have to maximize time and best serve the needs of their business clients. However, there is more to the equation. Businesses themselves need to implement a technology infrastructure and set of best practices that foster consistent high levels of uptime, allowing them to efficiently meet demands for top-caliber customer service and bolster the bottom line.
Let’s look at the best ways to get the job done.
Preserve server capacity.
When a technology infrastructure incorporates just one server, the likelihood of taxing server capacity increases—along with the potential of an entire system to go down (and usually at the most inconvenient times); by contrast, having multiple servers decreases the potential for server overload. A load balancer can help here by functioning as a proxy device between the multiple servers and distributing data evenly among them.
Conduct regular infrastructure checks.
Malfunctioning hard drives, operating systems crashes, or other hardware/software glitches can lead to widespread systems failure and downtime. Regular infrastructure checks allow such problems to be proactively identified and headed off at the pass, at least partially.
Update devices promptly.
Driver software, apps, and enterprise apps should be updated immediately after patches and build become available. Neglecting to complete such upgrades can open doors for severe performance lag or, even worse, a complete systems failure. Conversely, the more attention paid to prompt updates, the more increased the device functionality and the fewer unforeseen interruptions.
Put backup procedures into place.
Sudden system crashes, malware attacks, and other unpleasant occurrences can result in significant data loss. Use backup—for instance, cloud backup—so that you have one or more copies of your data and no bad consequences of data loss.
Set up safeguards and protocols.
Anti-virus software is not sufficient to protect systems against compromise—and the downtime that follows. Adding such safeguards as multi-factor authentication—using a combination of what users have (e.g., a key or ID card), what they know (e.g., a password), and a physical attribute (like a fingerprint)—is a better approach.
Augment preventive measures with corrective ones.
One example here is “reboot to restore” software, which reduces downtime by “freezing” a snapshot of a computer’s desired configuration and settings as defined by the IT administrator or department. Any unwanted or unauthorized changes are completely erased from the system, restoring it to its previous state.
In closing, working with a Payment Solutions Provider that prioritizes and takes steps to preserve uptime—one such as E-Complish—is an important strategy for businesses of all types. Companies that also implement their own measures to support uptime stand to fare better in an increasingly competitive environment.