Top 10 alerts you need to set up right now as an MSP

As an MSP, you’re responsible for keeping your clients’ IT infrastructure working correctly. Alerts are an essential part of customer monitoring. You’ll need to set up the notifications necessary to keep you aware of problems that arise.

It’s even more ideal to have a schedule of preventive maintenance that can keep problems from occurring. You can set alarms to remind you to perform routine tasks that will keep systems running without a hitch. The following alerts can help you stay aware of what’s going on with the infrastructure you manage.

Server overheated

A server that’s too hot doesn’t perform well, so you’ll want to figure out how to get the temperature down as quickly as possible. Dust buildup can often be the culprit.

You’ll need to physically clean and inspect servers periodically to remove dust and debris from fans and circuit boards. While doing so, check that there’s enough airflow to the server cabinets.

As you’re cleaning, you can also check for any unusual wiring or connections. For example, you might find a security breach in the form of a flash drive. Alternatively, an unauthorized network cable could cause concern for data privacy.

Server down

This alert is one of the most essential because your clients depend heavily on their servers. You need to know the instant a server goes down, so you can start troubleshooting right away.

In addition to complications from excessive heat, server failure can occur for several other reasons. Server operating systems typically keep logs of hardware errors, so by studying these, you can identify potential issues before they occur.

Low server resources

Performance can suffer if the server is low on storage or using too much of its memory or processing capacity. Check the hard drive usage regularly and free up space occupied by old emails, log files, or outdated software.

Verify CPU and memory usage frequently. If they’re hovering near 100%, the server is likely overloaded. You may need to suggest that your client upgrade the device or add another to handle the extra workload.

Failed backup

Backups are essential to the protection of your clients’ data. So, if a backup fails, you’ll want to know as soon as possible to discover why and monitor to be sure the next one works as scheduled.

It’s always better to have a backup and not need it than not to have it when it becomes necessary. You can schedule a few minutes daily or weekly to check backups. You may choose to use virtual machine backups in the cloud to offer quicker data restoration.

SSL/TLS certificate expired

An expired SSL or TLS certificate can be a tremendous inconvenience and cause your client to lose business if their customers cannot access the website securely. So, you’ll want to stay aware of expiration dates and renew them in time.

You can purchase a certificate that lasts between one and five years. Thus, you may need to set a reminder so you don’t forget to purchase a new certificate before the old one expires.

If you acquire a new one early, the remaining time from the old one will migrate to the new certificate. By purchasing before the expiration date, you guarantee an uninterrupted service for your client.

Hacking attempt detected

If someone is trying to access your customer’s system, you’ll need to know immediately to investigate whether there are security breaches that make data vulnerable.

Evaluate the security policies clients have in place. You may want to enlist the help of a third-party network security tool that can test networks from the outside. Such a test may identify a vulnerability you hadn’t noticed and can help prevent attacks.

Don’t forget to keep your MSP’s security up to date, as well. A cyber assault against your business could give someone access to all your clients.

Malware identified

Viruses, worms, spyware, and more can do considerable damage to your customers’ IT systems. Make sure your client is running an antivirus program on all machines to help prevent problems. Then you can deal with the alerts from the virus scanning software.

You’ll also want to double-check your company’s malware protection. In the last few years, MSPs have increasingly suffered due to ransomware. Attackers target MSPs in the hopes of using your access to block all your clients as well. It’s worth your time to do some research on how to protect yourself against ransomware crimes.

Updates available

Updates and patches are also essential for securing your data and that of your clients. You’ll need to regularly update the control panel and server software as well as the operating system.

While some software offers automatic updates, control panel software typically requires manual updates. For this and other software packages that you need to update manually, set up alerts to remind you to review and install available updates.

Web-based applications are especially prone to breaches if not updated as recommended. If your client needs to use a specific OS that requires an older software version, try not to allow the outdated software to come into contact with the internet.

If your client has a sensitive production environment with custom software, it may be wise to test updates on a smaller scale before installing them for the whole system. In this way, you can avoid disruptions to production due to compatibility conflicts.

Network resources near capacity

In addition to limited storage space and CPU and memory capacity, servers possess a network capacity. You can use network monitoring tools to assess the status of this capacity.

When a client’s server gets close to the maximum load of the network hardware, there are a few different ways you can handle it. If they have multiple servers, you can put high-demand resources on a faster server. Alternatively, you can talk with your customer about installing upgrades.

Alerts for accounts and passwords

An enterprise password management system designed for MSPs can enable you to oversee users and passwords for all your clients. It then generates alerts related to user and administrator actions.

Such systems can help you guarantee good password hygiene and ensure that only current employees have active user accounts. They also allow you to manage account permissions. All of this keeps you and your customers safer from cyber attacks.

Conclusion

Alerts are essential to the work of an MSP. You need to know what’s going on with your clients’ IT infrastructure. You’ll want to set up alerts that tell you if the server is overheating or has gone down.

Notifications are necessary to inform you if server resources are low or if a backup fails. You need to know when SSL/TLS certification expires or if a hacking attempt or malware appears. Alerts can also remind you to review and install updates.

When network resources are at their limit, you’ll need a signal to make the necessary adjustments. Last but not least, you’ll want to set up alarms regarding accounts and passwords. These ten types of alerts will enable you to keep abreast of your clients’ IT needs.