WordPress is a popular site-building platform with more than 455 million sites across the globe. It offers a wide range of free and paid features, including "plugins" that can add new functions to an existing site. However, if you use WordPress and are experiencing site slowdowns or other technical issues, one of the first things you'll want to check on is your plugin use. This is because with too many plugins (or the wrong ones) installed, your site can suffer. What makes excessive plugins an issue on WordPress sites — and what can you do to cut back on plugins to enhance site performance? Continue reading to find out. The Problem With Excess WordPress Plugins The main thing to remember with WordPress plugins is that they're all open-source; anybody can develop and publish a plugin. This is great in many ways, but it can also create some compatibility issues because

There are many different terms that tend to come to mind when thinking about website performance. Page-loading times and speed are a couple of metrics that are often focused on as a reflection of a site's overall performance and usability. What many people don't realize, however, is that these metrics are directly influenced by something known as the critical rendering path (CRP). By honing your understanding of the CRP and why it matters, you can take the steps necessary to optimize your site's performance. What is the Critical Rendering Path? Specifically, CRP refers to the exact sequence of steps that a browser follows to convert a site's coding into actual pixels on the screen. And while there can be some variation from one browser to the next, the basic CRP is as follows: Document Object Model (DOM) - Coding is scanned and bytes are converted into characters. Tokens are identified

Whether you enjoy online gaming or simply use your computer for work-related purposes, of course you want to keep it running as quickly and smoothly as possible. A big part of optimizing your computer's performance is installing updates and making upgrades as they become available. One part of a computer that many people don't realize they can update is its BIOS. By better understanding what a computer's BIOS is and what to consider when updating it, you can make a better-informed decision. What is BIOS on a Computer? Specifically, BIOS stands for Basic Input Output System. This system is stored on every computer's motherboard and is the very first system to run as soon as you turn your computer on. This chip plays an important role not only in powering your computer but in protecting it against security threats as well. Should You Update Your Computer's BIOS? A few years

If you use a Linux dedicated server, you probably enjoy the greater sense of control and freedom that comes along with this type of hosting plan. However, with more freedom comes an inherent responsibility to secure your server and follow some basic security best practices to keep your data and account safe. One of the most important things you can do to protect your hosting account and its associated data is to disable external root login. By better understanding what external root login is and why it should be avoided, you can make more confident decisions to secure your account. What Is External Root Login? On Linux servers, a "root" refers to the superuser account on the operating system itself. This account has the highest access rights on the system because it is designed for administrative purposes. Root users on a Linux operating system (OS) can do things that other

Keeping your files and information safe is a must, regardless of the size and scope of your organization. Of course, one of the most effective ways to protect your data is to have a backup strategy in place. With a data backup plan, you can ensure that there are copies of your most important files saved, allowing you to avoid total data loss in the event of a data breach or another disaster. If you don't already have a backup strategy in place, now is the time to decide on one that's right for your organization. One of the more popular data backup strategies is known as 3-2-1 backup. Below, we’re discussing this method and whether or not it could work for you. Let’s take a look! What Is the 3-2-1 Backup Strategy? The 3-2-1 backup strategy involves saving (at least) three copies of each file across two different locations

There is no overstating the importance of having a data backup plan. This remains true whether you're trying to keep your personal information safe or run an organization that deals with sensitive customer and employee data. The good news is that you can always have a copy of your most important files saved with regular backups. That way, if you fall victim to a data breach or another security threat, you can rest assured that your data will not be lost entirely. This gives you some much-needed peace of mind and protection. Still, many people struggle to figure out the best way to back up their data and how often they should be doing it. While everyone’s needs and budgets are different, some general guidelines are worth keeping in mind when deciding on a backup schedule. How Often to Back Up Your Data When determining how often you should back

In many ways, your website serves as the face of your business, providing visitors with all the information they need about your offerings in one convenient place. Unfortunately, this also means that a bad website can also leave a negative impression on visitors and potential customers. So, how can you make sure your website is serving your clients? There are a few characteristics your site should demonstrate to meet and exceed your audience's expectations. 1. Comprehensive Security With so many threats lurking around the web, having a secure website is more important than ever. This is especially vital, though, if your site collects any personal or sensitive information from its visitors. Data can include anything from email addresses to credit card numbers and billing addresses. Making sure you’ve taken every step to secure your website will give your visitors greater peace of mind and protect your business from the devastating

Why run multiple Minecraft servers on a single IP? It's been a growing trend to see customers requesting an IP for each Minecraft server they run. This is mainly due to wanting to run each server on the default port (25565), so that there is no confusion for players on how to access the server. While that is a major plus for usability and lack of complexity for new players, it does add to the operational costs. IP Space -  There are very few IP blocks left in the world, so you can expect the cost of a single IP to increase 2 to 5 times once supply dries out and demand increases. DDoS Protection - Protection is typically sold on a per-IP basis as this is how most companies asses "risk" and "usage" for their systems. So basically, the more IPs protected, the bigger of a target the server

You rely on your server to keep your data safe and secure. Unfortunately, many scenarios could render a traditional server compromised. From natural disasters to cybersecurity attacks, your sensitive data is never more than one disaster away from potential loss. The good news? There are proactive steps you can take to protect your data and ensure that it is not lost in the event of a disaster or other emergency. Specifically, more people are relying on a redundancy known as automatic failover. By learning more about what automatic failover is and how it can protect your data, you can begin using it for added security and peace of mind. What Is Automatic Failover and How Does It Work? Specifically, automatic failover refers to a practice that allows data handling to automatically be switched to another server or standby system in the event of a disaster or other emergency that could

Looking for a way to control your computers and devices remotely from the convenience of one device? If so, then you may want to explore KVM over IP functionality. This type of solution makes it easy for you to access and control every device (provided that it is connected to your server) so that you can manage them from literally anywhere in the world. What Is KVM Over IP, Anyway? So, exactly what is KVM over IP, and how does it work? Specifically, KVM stands for keyboard, video, and mouse. This refers to the equipment needed to control the other devices over an IP, local area network (LAN), or wireless Internet connection.  It is important to understand the difference between a "traditional" KVM solution and a KVM over IP. With a classic KVM connection, a KVM switch connects one computer to other devices through CAT 5 cabling. This traditional KVM