Outsource Hetzner Server Maintenance: How We Handle Operations, Updates & Monitoring for Your Infrastructure
Looking for professional maintenance for your Hetzner servers? WZ-IT takes over operations, updates and monitoring of your existing infrastructure. View our Managed Hetzner Services or directly request a Server Audit.
Hetzner is one of the most popular hosters in Europe for good reason: The hardware is powerful, the network excellent and the prices unbeatable. But Hetzner is strictly "Unmanaged". This means: Once the server is provisioned, you are responsible for everything.
For many companies and agencies, this becomes a problem. The server is initially set up, but there's no time for maintenance in day-to-day business. Updates are postponed ("Never touch a running system"), backups aren't verified and monitoring often doesn't exist.
This is exactly where we come in. We take over professional maintenance of your existing Hetzner servers.
Table of Contents
- The Problem: Managing Servers "On the Side"
- The Solution: Managed Operations (Server Adoption)
- Our Services in Detail
- Special Case: Proxmox & Legacy Systems
- How Does the Handover Work?
- Our Approach at WZ-IT
The Problem: Managing Servers "On the Side"
In many companies, the lead developer or CEO manages Linux servers "on the side". This is risky:
Security vulnerabilities: An outdated kernel or unpatched Docker version are gateways for ransomware.
Flying blind: Without professional monitoring (24/7), you often only notice that the disk is full or the RAID controller is throwing errors when the server is down.
Vacation risk: What happens when the server fails while the only "admin" is on vacation?
The Solution: Managed Operations (Server Adoption)
We offer a managed service on your infrastructure. This is what sets us apart from traditional managed hosters:
The server stays with you: You keep your Hetzner account, contracts and full commercial control.
No migration needed: We take over ("adopt") the server where it is. Whether AX-Line, EX-Line or Cloud Instance.
Transparency: We work via SSH on your system. You see exactly what we do.
Our Services in Detail
When we take over maintenance, we handle the stability and security of the operating system (Linux):
1. Proactive Patch Management
We apply security updates for the operating system (Debian, Ubuntu, AlmaLinux) and system services (Nginx, PHP, Docker) promptly. We close critical vulnerabilities immediately, and schedule regular updates in maintenance windows to avoid downtime.
2. 24/7 Monitoring & Hardware Health
We install our monitoring agents. We monitor not just "Is the server up?" but deep metrics:
- RAID & Disk Health: We see SMART errors on NVMe SSDs often weeks before they fail and coordinate replacement with Hetzner support.
- System Load & RAM: We detect bottlenecks before your application slows down.
- Backup Status: We check daily whether your backups were successful.
3. Managed Backups (Hetzner Storage Box)
A backup on the same disk is not a backup. We set up encrypted offsite backups – usually using the affordable Hetzner Storage Boxes. We use tools like BorgBackup or Restic that encrypt and deduplicate data before transfer. Even if the server is hacked, these backups are secure.
4. Firewall & Security Hardening
We configure the Hetzner Cloud Firewall (upstream) and local firewalls (nftables/ufw) to open only absolutely necessary ports. SSH access is hardened (Key-Only, Fail2Ban).
Special Case: Proxmox & Legacy Systems
Do you have a Proxmox cluster or use older software (legacy)? We manage that too.
Proxmox: We handle updates, Ceph storage health and complex network routing on Hetzner (vSwitch, failover IPs).
Legacy: If you're still on Ubuntu 18.04 or older PHP versions, we take over operations, secure the system and plan the safe migration with you in the medium term.
How Does the Handover Work?
The process is standardized and secure:
- Server Audit: First, we conduct an inventory (security check, log analysis) to assess the condition.
- Onboarding: We set up our monitoring users and SSH keys.
- Operations: From now on, we take care of it. You receive monthly reports and have access to our support for emergencies.
Our Approach at WZ-IT
When taking over existing servers, we proceed systematically:
- Inventory: Which services are running? Which versions? Are there known issues?
- Risk assessment: Where are the biggest gaps (outdated packages, missing backups, open ports)?
- Prioritization: Critical security issues first, then stability, then optimization.
- Documentation: We document everything we do – for transparency and in case you no longer need us someday.
We see ourselves as an extension of your team, not a black box.
Conclusion: Focus on Your Business
Hetzner delivers excellent hardware. We deliver excellent operations. Save yourself the late nights and the uneasy feeling with every update.
Want to put your servers in professional hands?
Check out our Managed Hetzner Services or start directly with a Server Audit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to important questions about this topic
No. We specialize in taking over existing systems ('brownfield'). We analyze your existing setup (whether Debian, Ubuntu or CentOS), conduct security audits and integrate the server into our monitoring without you having to set everything up from scratch.
Yes, unrestricted. Unlike traditional managed hosting providers, there is no contract change with us. The server remains in your Hetzner account rent-free. We only need technical access (SSH key) to perform administration.
Our managed service includes proactive security updates (OS & services), 24/7 monitoring of all vital signs (disk, RAID, CPU), firewall configuration and incident response. Optionally, we also handle encrypted backups.
It's a risk, but not an obstacle. We also take over servers with older systems (e.g. Ubuntu 18.04 or Debian 9). We secure these systems as best as possible ('hardening') and strategically plan the upgrade or migration to a current Hetzner server with you.
We preferably use Hetzner Storage Boxes as an external backup target. We configure modern tools like BorgBackup or Restic that encrypt your data client-side before it leaves the server. Through special configurations (append-only), we protect your backups even if the server itself is compromised.
Our monitoring often detects hardware errors (e.g. defective sectors on NVMe drives or RAM errors) early. We handle communication with Hetzner technicians, coordinate component replacement and subsequently perform necessary steps like RAID rebuild.
Yes, this is one of our core competencies. We configure Hetzner vSwitches for the cluster network, set up failover IPs for high availability and monitor Ceph storage to keep your private cloud running stable.
Let's Talk About Your Idea
Whether a specific IT challenge or just an idea – we look forward to the exchange. In a brief conversation, we'll evaluate together if and how your project fits with WZ-IT.
Trusted by leading companies
Timo Wevelsiep & Robin Zins
CEOs of WZ-IT