A server crash doesn't wait for business hours. Whether it's a Windows Server blue screen, failed RAID array, VM that won't start, or an unresponsive domain controller — we respond fast, diagnose the root cause, and get your business back online.
Server emergencies look different every time — but the impact is always the same: business stopped.
Server won't boot
Black screen, logo loop, or immediate crash on startup — hardware or OS-level failure.
Blue Screen of Death (BSOD)
Critical Windows error with STOP code — often driver, memory, or storage failure.
Applications refusing to start
Line-of-business software, ERP, or database that fails to launch or connect after reboot.
File shares inaccessible
Staff can't reach shared drives — server online but SMB/NFS shares not responding.
Domain controller down
No one can log in. DNS failing. Active Directory unavailable — full network paralysis.
RAID array failure alert
Degraded array, failed drive, or rebuild stuck — data integrity at risk.
VM host unresponsive
Hyper-V or VMware host not responding — all virtual machines unavailable.
Backup failure + server crash
The server failed AND the last backup is corrupted or old — worst-case recovery scenario.
Database corruption
SQL Server, MySQL, or application database showing errors — data may be at risk.
Most server outages trace back to a handful of predictable failures — many of which are preventable with proper monitoring.
Failed hard drive, overheated CPU, dead power supply, or degraded RAM. Physical components eventually fail — the question is whether your backup and monitoring catch it first.
A bad patch or cumulative update can leave Windows in a broken state — boot loop, driver conflict, or registry corruption after forced update installation.
Crypto-ransomware actively targets servers — encrypting shares and databases, and often deleting volume shadow copies to eliminate recovery options.
When a system drive or data volume fills to 100%, Windows Server can freeze, stop logging events, and crash services — a completely preventable failure.
Power interruptions during updates, failed migrations, or improper shutdowns can corrupt the Windows boot configuration — requiring recovery tools to fix.
Backups that stopped working months ago — or never tested. When the server fails, there is nothing to restore from. We see this every month.
Speed matters — but so does not making it worse. Here's how we approach a server emergency.
Triage and initial assessment
Remote connection or phone-guided assessment within minutes of contact. We determine severity, scope, and whether data is at risk before taking any action.
Protect what can be protected
If data is accessible, we initiate an emergency backup before any recovery attempt — protecting against further data loss during the repair process.
Root cause diagnosis
Event log analysis, BSOD stop codes, RAID status, VM host logs — we identify the exact failure before attempting recovery.
Recovery execution
Whether it's a WinRE repair, restore from backup, RAID rebuild, or hardware swap, we execute the appropriate recovery path — and keep you updated throughout.
Validation testing
We verify that all services, applications, file shares, and user logins are fully functional before declaring recovery complete.
Root cause report + prevention plan
After recovery, we deliver a written summary of what caused the failure and what monitoring or infrastructure change would prevent recurrence.
Emergency response gets you back online — proactive management keeps you from going down in the first place.
24/7 server monitoring
Alerts on disk health, CPU load, memory pressure, and service failures — before they escalate to outages.
Automated backup & recovery testing
Daily verified backups with monthly restore tests — so recovery is a known quantity, not a hope.
Patch management
Controlled update cycles that test patches before deployment and roll back automatically on failure.
Hardware lifecycle management
We track drive health using SMART data and flag aging hardware before it fails — giving you time to plan a replacement.
Ransomware protection
Immutable backup copies, EDR on all endpoints, and network segmentation that contain a ransomware infection before it hits the server.
Storage capacity planning
Proactive alerts and regular capacity reviews so a filling volume never becomes a server freeze at 2 AM.
NVT supports businesses across Maryland — Annapolis, Baltimore, Eastern Shore, and surrounding areas. Remote response within minutes. On-site when needed.
