Web server maintenance can involve the upgrade of the server’s software or hardware upgrades to meet with increases in storage and data transfer demands. Server side software is upgraded on a regular basis. The database structure usually MySQL or SQL, the scripting languages and even the server technology itself is upgraded by the manufacturers on a regular basis. The responsibility for server maintenance and upgrades falls into the hands of the network administrator.

Server maintenance is in many ways an automated procedure. However the smooth running of this server maintenance is down to how the server administrator configures the systems automation and understands the statistical feedback that is provided. Server maintenance involves the administrator checking server logs, hard disk space, file permissions and anti-virus and firewall settings. This server maintenance can be either on site or conducted remotely by the company that first established or installed the server. Good server maintenance that pre-empts changes in server demand or isolates known threats helps maintain the efficiency of IT infrastructure.