Linux

What we manage on Linux servers

On Linux we configure and maintain servers for web hosting, containerised Docker environments and virtual machines running production workloads, mainly on Ubuntu Server and Debian, chosen for update stability and long-term support cycles. We set up SSH access with keys instead of passwords, disable unnecessary services and document the configuration of every server, so a future intervention does not depend on the memory of whoever installed it.

We also manage full application stacks on Linux: web servers such as Apache and Nginx, MySQL, MariaDB and PostgreSQL databases, reverse proxies and load balancers such as HAProxy for high-traffic sites. On every server we set up resource monitoring and available security update tracking, with alerts when a critical patch needs action, instead of finding out after an incident.

• Ubuntu Server and Debian for hosting, containers and VMs
• SSH key-based access, hardening of exposed services
• Apache/Nginx, MySQL/MariaDB/PostgreSQL, HAProxy stacks
• Resource monitoring and scheduled security updates

When Linux pays off, and when Windows Server is still right

Linux pays off when you need to host websites, Dockerised applications or services that do not depend on Windows-native software: licensing costs are low or nil, and the granular control over the system allows custom configurations that are hard to achieve on closed platforms. It is also the natural base for development and test environments, where the ability to clone a configuration quickly speeds up technical teams' work.

It is not the right choice if your business depends on Windows-native management applications, an existing Active Directory domain or on-premises Exchange Server: in these cases Windows Server remains the reference platform, and we say so clearly even when a client arrives already leaning towards Linux out of habit. The real solution is often mixed, with Linux for web services and Windows Server for business applications.

How we work on your Linux servers

We start by analysing the software that needs to run on the server and your business security requirements, then choose the distribution and version with the longest support cycle compatible with that software, steering clear of distributions nearing end of life. We document every configuration with a reproducible script, so a server can be rebuilt identically after a serious failure, without reconstructing every setting by hand.

Installation is tested in our Melzo lab whenever it involves physical hardware, and always tested on site again before going live. After go-live we keep following the server with ongoing maintenance: scheduled security updates, backup verification and monitoring of critical services, so an issue is caught before it turns into production downtime.

Security, backup and end of life for Linux servers

We plan security updates in agreed maintenance windows, testing on a non-production environment first when the application requires it. We back up Linux servers to a dedicated NAS or to Proxmox Backup Server when the server is virtualised, with jobs that are scheduled and verified periodically, not just installed and forgotten. For businesses in scope for NIS2 we support the security adequacy work on the infrastructure.

When a distribution nears the end of its support window, we plan the upgrade or migration well ahead of time, because a Linux server out of support stops receiving security patches and becomes a silent risk. The physical hardware these servers run on has its own lifecycle: we offer Dell, HP and Lenovo servers on operational rental too, with warranty and out-of-warranty support managed directly by us.