EZSM-like management company

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Posted by rsferreira, 06-19-2009, 12:58 PM
We've used easyservermanagement.com the last 6 years and, although their service level decreased in the last few years they're still a good management provider. Are there any other management companies comparable to EZSM or that have the same old EZSM level? Our main concerns are: 1. Proactive security management (software upgrades when needed for security issues etc). 2. Proactive service monitoring/restoring. BTW: we run centos/cpanel servers only.
Posted by Dougy, 06-19-2009, 11:36 PM
Steven from Rack911 is one of the best in the industry.. give him a ring.
Posted by Scott.Mc, 06-20-2009, 02:38 AM
Just have a quick question (not actually seen anyone who still uses ezsm in awhile) but regarding the service decreasing is this since they were sold about a year or two ago? Which is the reason many left them awhile back, so just wondering if that is the case with you and you just decided to see if it improved over the last year or so.
Posted by rsferreira, 06-20-2009, 07:39 AM
Yes, we noticed the service level decrease after they were sold, but we never found another company in the same level EZSM used to have. They're still far better then most management companies (some famous, like PlatinumServerManagement). In fact, we rarely use their "support" services. We just want to know that the server is proactively kept secure and that, if something bad happens (let's say Exim or Apache is down and won't restart by monitoring scripts) they will proactively login and fix it in a timely manner. And they still do this, although not as it used to be. I've tried PSM, but they only monitor HTTP and SSH. If something else fails, you have to tell them it failed. If there's a security patch for a software, you must tell them to update. They're good doing what they advertize, but their management model is too much reactive and "mass default procedure" oriented. Can't compare (in my experience, and regarding optimization, security and failure reaction on our servers) servers managed by EZSM with those managed by PSM. Those who migrated from EZSM, where did they move to? Dougy: Steven is one of the best. We've used his services in the past to hot OS upgrades (and the guy KNOW what he's doing), but AFAIK he won't provide 24/7 monitoring and reactive human action to failures. Last edited by rsferreira; 06-20-2009 at 07:46 AM.
Posted by ServerManagement, 06-20-2009, 08:03 AM
As you said, we are good doing what we advertise, and that's the most important thing. But we do not make our customers tell us what to update, all you have to do is open a ticket simply saying "please check my server and do what should be done" which gives us authorization to proceed and we'll take it from there. Anyway, you can't fairly say EZSM does everything proactively and we don't, because they charge 7 times more than we do. EZSM charges a $99 setup fee, and $99 per month, with a limit of only 5 hours per month of support tickets. We do not charge any setup fee, and are only $29 per month, and include unlimited support time. There is a huge difference. You should be comparing EZSM with someone that charges in the same price range as they do, not someone that charges 7 times less. We don't even consider EZSM a competitor because their pricing puts them in a completely different class. The average host can not afford $200 to get support and then $45 for each additional support hour. Their target audience is completely different than ours. If their price is within your budget and you need the level of service they provide, then go for it. There's plenty of other providers you can look through at http://www.webhostingtalk.com/wiki/Server_management Last edited by ServerManagement; 06-20-2009 at 08:09 AM.
Posted by rsferreira, 06-20-2009, 09:13 AM
That's exactly what I mentioned as "telling you to update". Never said "telling you what to update". The point is: the client must open a ticket. Sure, a client can weekly ask you to check the server softwares. But if the client is out for a week and there's a patch for a severe disclosed security breach, the patch will only be applied when the client come back and ask you again to check the server softwares. Yes, I can fairly say that. What I can't fairly say (and that I didn't say) is that you SHOULD be doing that charging so much less (not 7 times, as you mention, but from $29 to $99 there's significant difference indeed). You guys do a GREAT job considering how much you charge. I'd say it's a miracle! I'm just sharing my experiences. Of course I could not (and I did not) expect the same service level. But I've read so much praise threads in WHT that we decided to try and check your services (optimization, security updates, monitoring etc). I won't disclosure more then needed here, but let's say pricing should not change what in a cPanel server could be considered "optimized" or "updated". I need an optmized server (not counting default my.cnf files regardless the available RAM, for example), an updated server (with softwares updated when needed for security even if the cPanel autoupdate scripts aren't, for some reason, doing it - and we know it happens a lot) and services kept running. Doesn't sound like an impossible mission or ultra-high requirement. I know. But we'd better ask those using their services. That's why the thread was opened, as on WHT I've only read good comments about PSM (and I already tried that ), and no other management companies. Let's be fair: PSM does a WONDERFUL work for the price and deserves the praise it gets on WHT. If what PSM advertizes is ok for a host, I'd highly recommend them. But for true optimization, critical services monitoring (not only HTTP/SSH), proactive security updates, I think there's no company that is a reference in the market today (as PSM is a TRUE reference in its segment and EZSM used to be). Again, are there any other management companies comparable to EZSM that provide those services and have the same old EZSM level?
Posted by Steven, 06-20-2009, 01:15 PM
Unfortunately I fit all of your requirements but the monitoring. I try to provide 24/7 monitoring and can in 95% of instances but that may not work for you. I remember those os upgrades Last edited by Steven; 06-20-2009 at 01:21 PM.
Posted by ayksolutions, 06-21-2009, 06:11 PM
I'd like to recommend a few that we have used: www.supportpro.com, www.got-management.com and www.servaxnet.com. All 3 are terrific and well priced. All do proactive securing as well as monitoring.
Posted by MOO-Dave, 06-22-2009, 05:27 AM
Not sure what happened with EZSM management now ... for the time being you can redirect the ticket to ANDY... I am an X employee of EZSM. Thanks Cyrus
Posted by rsferreira, 06-24-2009, 09:38 AM
After checking several companies, we've found out EZSM is still the best option for high level server management and services monitoring. There are other outstanding guys out there, but that won't provide services monitoring and reaction 24/7. Many are one man companies, so if the guy gets sick, you'll need to wait. Other companies have monitoring services and 24/7 reaction, but do not cover all critical services (SMTP/HTTP/DNS etc) and/or do not use high level techs and do not provide true optimization/security. EZSM is the only one I found that 1. is a real company, 2. has true 24/7 operations, 3. monitor and reacts 24/7 to all critical services, 4. has high level techs. Being there the last 6 years, I've seen their ups and downs. But for those requiring high level services, EZSM is still the best in its segment. Thanks for all your inputs!
Posted by supporter, 07-02-2009, 12:38 PM
The service decreasing is this since they were sold about a year or two ago and many employees left them awhile back. New EZSM Management, Outsourced the server management work to third party probably that could be the reason. The average host can not afford $99 to get support, you might even get the same service level even less than $50 .
Posted by Srv24x7, 07-02-2009, 02:22 PM
EZSM is sold long back and the support is outsourced in India. Glad to hear they are still the best as they were 4 or 5 years back.
Posted by rsferreira, 07-02-2009, 08:52 PM
It's clear that some services were outsourced. What's not clear is that someone can find that service level for less than $50. In fact, even considering other providers that charge around $100, it is hard to find the same support & monitoring level. As stated earlier, there are amazing guys out there, but that won't monitor services and react the same way.