Setting up a new server can be a tricky task­, regardless of whether you’re running an on-premises or a virtual private server (VPS). You need to configure everything correctly to minimize setbacks that could undermine your server’s performance and increase your bounce rates.

If this is your first time setting up a VPS, knowing where to start can be a challenge. That’s why we’ve come up with this guide to help you prepare when launching your VPS for business purposes.

Let’s get started.

Step 1: Plan around your needs

There are clear advantages of running a VPS over other types of hosting. Those benefits include:

• Not sharing resources with other businesses,
• Having full control over your server’s configurations,
• The ability to scale based on demand.

So, when businesses choose to upgrade to VPS, it’s usually with a clear goal in mind. Perhaps it’s because your shared hosting plan doesn’t offer the resources to support your business. Or maybe you want the power of dedicated hosting, with the scalability of VPS.

The first step of setting up a VPS is determining your business goals and objectives––then choosing a plan that supports those goals.

Do you need a VPS?

First off, decide whether you actually need VPS hosting.

If you run a small business that’s getting 5-10K visitors a month, probably not. There are plenty of shared hosting plans available that can support your company. And you can always consider upgrading as your business grows.

If your current hosting plan can’t support your traffic or your growth strategy, VPS hosting is a good option. You can use it to speed up your website, scale your IT systems to match customer demand, and even strengthen your cybersecurity.

Managed or unmanaged VPS hosting?

You decided VPS is right for you. The next step is determining whether you need managed or unmanaged hosting. Let’s look at the differences between the two.

Unmanaged VPS hosting

You’re responsible for setting up and maintaining your virtual private server. When there’s something that goes wrong, you’re the one who needs to fix it to ensure your website performs as it’s supposed to.

Managed VPS hosting

Your hosting provider does the work for you. They’ll configure, manage, and maintain your VPS so that it’s always running smoothly.

As you can imagine, managed hosting costs significantly more than unmanaged hosting. You’re outsourcing the job of maintaining your server to a professional. This may be the best option if you don’t have someone on your team with experience configuring and managing servers.

Factor in your budget and your expertise when deciding between managed or unmanaged hosting. Because if you adopt a DIY approach, you’ll be the one installing things like PHP, Apache, WordPress, and so on.

How powerful does your server need to be?

One of the biggest advantages of VPS hosting is its scalability. You can easily increase your resources to accommodate your business as it continues to grow. This makes it easy to choose the right package to support your organization.

Most VPS hosts provide a wide range of packages based on the resources your site needs. Choosing the right package will ensure your site performs optimally every step of the way.

But there isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution to figuring out your server’s needs. You’ll need to determine your server power based on:

• The applications you plan to run on it
• The number of users and volume data you have

Every scenario is different. But a good rule of thumb is to choose a VPS with no less than 2GB ram and 4.8 GHz processing power. This is a great starting point for small and medium-sized businesses because it’s a good range of power and supports your immediate growth.

Step 2: Choose your operating system

Your next major step is deciding whether you want a Linux or Windows-based operating system for your VPS. This is an important decision because you’ll need to consider:

• What’s needed to support your business,
• The number of users you have,
• Your budget.

Running a Linux server is significantly cheaper because you don’t have to worry about licensing fees. Windows is a commercial operating system, so it’s more expensive to run.

But being a commercial operating system has its own advantages, including:

• Routine updates,
• A broad support base,
• Ability to easily accommodate more demanding requirements,
• User-friendliness.

Linux demands more technical knowledge than Windows, making it ideal for more experienced users. With that said, if you do have the technical know-how to run a Linux server, you may find Linux makes it easier to carry out simple tasks.  

Most Linux distributions are compatible with BitNinja’s ServerProtection suite. You can use these tools to protect your VPS against an increasing array of sophisticated cybersecurity threats. This is another advantage Linux has over Windows-based hosts.

Step 3: Set up your VPS

Now that you’ve decided which operating system you want to go with, you’ll need to set up your VPS so you can start using it.

If you chose a managed service, you can skip this part. Your provider will do it for you.

If you went with the unmanaged option, you’ll likely need to configure your VPS yourself. As your host, we give you some resources to point you in the right direction. You’ll be responsible for:

• Updating the server for the first time to ensure it performs smoothly­­. You’ll also need to perform subsequent updates.
• Creating users and assigning permissions.
• Installing a CMS on your server.
• Installing a firewall and strengthening your cybersecurity.

You can beef up your VPS security by changing the default SSH port from 22 to a more secure port. We recommend choosing any listening port between 1024 and 65535.

Also, consider generating public and private SSH keys to prevent targeted attacks.

• If you’re using Linux: You can generate these keys from the command line.
• If you’re using Windows: You’ll need to use the PuTYgen app to create SSH key pairs.

This is a lot to take in, so don’t worry if you’re unsure where to start. Check out this step-by-step guide on how to configure your Linux VPS to learn more.

Step 4: Install BitNinja

The internet runs on Linux––most of it, at least. It’s the most popular operating system for servers because it gives the perfect balance of power, stability, and reliability. If you run your VPS on Linux, consider strengthening your cybersecurity with the multi-award-winning, easy-to-use cybersecurity tool, BitNinja.

Cybersecurity is not an option anymore. It is a must!

Defending your servers against security threats is crucial in business. Cyberattacks can damage your company’s reputation and cost you a fortune in lost revenue and regulatory fees. Check out the interview below with a VPS owner, whose revenue increased by 200% after he started to use BitNinja.

BitNinja is a comprehensive cybersecurity tool that protects you from all types of cyberattacks, including:

• DDoS attacks,
• Malware,
• Phishing,
• Brute force,
• Botnet attacks and even more.

In the first half of 2021, BitNinja…

• Prevented more than 100 million malware attacks,
• Increased their malware database by 700 thousand signatures,
• Stopped more than 2,5 billion incidents from becoming full-blown cyberattacks

Check out their quarterly Cybersecurity Performance Report to learn more.

How do you get BitNinja Server Security on your virtual private server?

Ask our team for help and we will help you to get your BitNinja License key. The installation takes only 2 minutes, so don't worry. In case you need help with it, the Ninjas are always happy to help you.

Let's make the internet a safer place together!

‍