Strike a Balance Between Brand Loyalty and Brand Agnosticism

Posted on June 14, 2013 by Bruce Campbell

When choosing which manufacturers’ technologies to use for your company’s Information Technology (IT) infrastructure, there are two competing schools of thought.Brand Loyalty

The Case for Brand Loyalty
If your company has been using certain vendors’ products with good success, why not stick with those vendors?  The advantages are:

• Familiarity with the technology
• Possible buying power when concentrating on fewer vendors
• Better interoperability with a homogenous environment
• Lower support costs with a homogenous environment

The Case for Vendor Agnosticism
Isn’t it best to formulate an IT strategy first, then choose vendors whose products will help you realize that strategy?  Advantages of this approach:

• Less likely to miss out on new technologies
• Greater range of choice of technologies
• Design your IT infrastructure around your needs – not your favorite vendors’ products

These two philosophies sound like they are diametrically opposed – but you can combine them to your strategic advantage.

First, determine your company’s strategic goals, then determine the technological capabilities you will need to reach those goals.  Next, find vendors to deliver these capabilities.

For pricing, support and interoperability, try to zero in on a solution with fewer, rather than more vendors.  Failing that, research interoperability issues with the combination of vendors before buying.

To really effectively strike this balance between the products you need to accomplish your goals, and creating a dependable, supportable IT environment, an experienced IT consultant will be extremely helpful. They will have already seen many differing IT infrastructures and that experience, coupled with long-term relationships with IT vendors will you make the right choices and get them implemented properly.

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Law Firms Have Unique Needs When It Comes to Technology

Posted on May 31, 2013 by Bruce Campbell

All offices are not created equal. Even offices of similar sizes will have certain needs specific to the vertical industry they serve. Take law firms, for example.IT Support for Law Firms

At first glance, a law office with 25 workers looks like most other businesses of that size. Desk, cubicles, phones – all the stuff you’d expect. But the nature of the legal profession demands certain capabilities when it comes to technologies. Here are three examples.

Data Protection and Data Integrity
Like most modern business, a law firm’s data is extremely valuable – it’s the lifeblood of the business. But lawyer-client communications are extremely sensitive. For that data to be lost, or its security breached, could bring irreparable harm to the firm. Not only would such an occurrence damage the relationship with any clients involved, the firm’s reputation would be damaged. Law firms need to protect their data, and they need to be able to assure clients that it will always be secure, accurate and avalable.

Remote Access and Mobile Computing
Attorneys are often on the move, and they need to be able to access their firm’s data and technology tools whenever they need to, no matter where they are. Couple this with the aforementioned need for data security, and it presents a challenge – they need to access that secure data from anywhere, at any time, and the technology they use to do so must be fast, secure and reliable.

Converged Technologies
The legal profession is fast moving and very competitive. Law firms need for their clients to know their needs are being addressed all the time, no matter what. This means attorneys need to be able work seamlessly across distances, through a multitude of technologies, and the process needs to be rock solid. Phones have to communicate with computers, faxes need to be sent to email, and vice-versa. Voice mail needs to find the recipient quickly, the recipient has to be able to view and respond. It’s a lot of moving parts!

This is not a comprehensive list, of course. There are needs for rapid deployments of new offices, onboarding of new legal and para-legal staffs, technology refreshes – it goes on and on. The best way to keep a busy legal firm’s technology running smoothly, securely, and reliably is to use an IT Consulting Services firm. They are equipped and qualifed to handle the day-to-day Information Technology (IT) infrastructure, and provide the tech roadmap to ensure their IT keeps up with their growth.

Posted in Article, Changing Technology, Cloud Computing, Converged Networks, Data Storage, Disaster Recovery/Business Continuity, IT Consultants, IT Consulting, IT Network Management, IT Network Services, IT Security, IT Security Assessment, IT Storage, IT Support, Managed Service Provider, Mobile Computing, Network Security, SAN, Security Assessment, Virtualization | Leave a comment

Four Cloud Strategies to Ensure Business Benefits From the Cloud

Posted on May 17, 2013 by Bruce Campbell

It’s easy to get excited about the things “cloud computing” offers. But the term can mean a lot of different things – and every business is different. It takes a cogent strategy to ensure your business gets real benefits from moving part or all of its computing to “the Cloud”. Where do you start?Cliud Strategy

You start with a thorough assessment of your company’s needs. These needs should be compared against the company’s existing Information Technology (IT) infrastructure, and available services in the cloud. Your Cloud Strategy should definitely consider these four areas:

Consider Your Current IT Investment
Is your existing in-house technology still being paid for? If the answer’s yes, then the timing’s probably not right for the move to the cloud and the promised CapEx-to-OpEx benefit of cloud computing won’t apply to your company. Moreover, the parts of your current IT infrastructure that seem poised to meet your needs for the next 24 months should be left alone. Remember: the whole impetus for a move to the cloud is to save money or gain efficiency. If the move doesn’t address those concerns, it may be best to wait.

Evaluate Your Security Needs
If your business has regulatory requirements regarding data security, encryption, and storage, then make sure your cloud solution will meet those requirements before embarking on a move to the cloud.
You should be satisfied that the level of security for your assets in the cloud is as good as the level of security for your in-house assets.

Determine Which Applications are Cloud-Ready
A critical component in the success of any cloud strategy is determining whether the applications the company is planning to run in the cloud are actually cloud-ready. While some applications are designed from the ground up specifically for use in the cloud, others require some re-tooling before being deployed. There are tools that can be used to evaluate how well applications will run in the cloud, and also how much bandwidth will be required to ensure good performance across the enterprise.

Build Flexibility and Regular Reviews into the Strategy
Nothing is static in technology. Decisions are made based upon current conditions and your strategy should allow for periodic reviews to see if emerging technologies warrant a re-examination and revisions in the overall plan with regards to cloud deployments.

It all boils down to keeping the Big Picture in mind as you tackle the notion of moving parts of your IT into the cloud. Every move should be a solution to a problem. Every move should be timely, and every move should have the overall business benefit in mind. An IT Consulting firm can be invaluable in assessing your company needs, capabilities and potential benefits from cloud computing.

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Tips for a Disaster Recovery Plan That Will Actually Work

Posted on May 10, 2013 by Bruce Campbell

Very few business owners would dispute the wisdom behind having a Disaster Recovery plan.  This doesn’t stop many (if not most) businesses from having an outdated,  Disaster Recovery Planineffective, incomplete or untested plan.

One reason for this is, like insurance, folks like the peace of mind knowing they have a Disaster Recovery plan, but they never really expect to use it.  As a result the plans are frequently slipshod in design, and execution.    A Disaster Recovery plan should have these elements, at a minimum:

Data and Image Backup
• Back up images AND data (without your line-of-business applications, data alone won’t get your business up and running quickly after a disaster.
• Store backups onsite AND offsite – local backups are great for quick recovery from minor issues, and offsite (preferably automated) will ensure that the disaster that affects your office won’t also affect your backed up data and images.
• Perform frequent and regular test restores of backed up data.  If you think a disaster feels bad – discovering your backed up data is corrupt is insult upon injury.

Communications Considerations
• Have a plan to notify employees how, when, and where they can work if something happens to your facility.
• Have a plan to notify suppliers if a disaster affects your place of business.  Alternate contact info, and expected duration of downtime will help your supply chains adapt to your circumstances after a disaster.
• Have a plan to notify clients if a disaster affects your business.  They will need to know how fast you will be able to resume operations.  Lack of communication along these lines will cause them to assume your business is in dire straits and may cause them to take their business elsewhere.

Drilling and Testing
• Test backups and conduct drills frequently, and ensure you can restore a downed server from your data and image backups.
• Document procedures for conducting all the phases of your Disaster Recovery, and have that documentation in the hands of your key personnel.
• Don’t assume your IT person will be available after a disaster  -  make sure more than one person knows how to restore your systems.
• Store important information offsite – a list of phone numbers to call after a fire, won’t do any good if it burns up in the fire.
• Update the plan at least annually.  Personnel change, phone numbers change, suppliers change and technology changes.  A Disaster Recovery plan that hasn’t been changed in 2 years may be nearly useless if a disaster strikes.

You will still hope to never need to use your Disaster Recovery plan, of course, but when you need it, your business will need to be able to resume operations as soon as possible.  Clare Computer Solutions offers Disaster Recovery Plan Assessment – contact us now, and rest easy knowing you have a workable plan in place to keep your business running – no matter what!

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Make Replacing Aging Technology Part of Your Business Plan

Posted on May 6, 2013 by Bruce Campbell

When someone calls me and says, “I think my computer has a virus because it’s running so slow.”, the first thing I ask is how old the computer is. If they say it’s five or more years old, I say “Get a new one!” Trying to Make Old Computers Work

It’s one thing when you try and squeeze a half dozen or more years out of your home PC (I’ve been guilty of that, myself), and you might be trying to cut corners, which is OK at home.

However, a business can’t afford to resort to patching things together or investing in maintenance for an office full of old PCs. The support required to keep older PCs working costs more than replacing the machines.

Buying 25 or more PCs isn’t cheap, but it’s cheaper every time you do it.  And it’s cheaper than the parts and expertise to coax old machines to work reliably.

One good strategy is to create a phased technology refresh cycle for your office.  Replace a third of the PCs every year, and after three years, you start over again. Build the cost for the hardware into your technology budget, purchase perpetual licenses for your software, and you will discover that an office with consistently newer machines will pay for itself in the support cost reduction.

Estimates for annual maintenance on a PC range from $500 to $1800. Splitting the difference, call it about $1000 a year per PC. If having newer machines cuts that cost in half, you’re saving $1500 per machine over three years – more than enough to pay for the technology refresh.

Technology refresh cycles are just one example of how a cogent technology policy can prevent productivity loss and save money. The plan serves two vital roles: Keeping costs down and putting up-to-date technology tools in the hands of your staff.  Clare Computer Solutions provides expert IT Consulting that helps companies leverage the power of technology to compete and grow in the marketplace.

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Malware: What Does It Look Like And How To Prevent It

Posted on April 30, 2013 by Bruce Campbell

by Frank Wright, Service Manager at TechExperts

The most common issue among users for both home and businesses alike are malware infections.

While malware is a generic term for malicious software, the fact is allMalware malware slows your computer down and brings potential security risks along with it.

Malware can be anything from viruses, trojans, and spyware to “PC Optimization” programs that really do your computer more harm than good.

While some are more serious issues than others they all have negative effects on a workstation or a server so they all need to be taken seriously.

What does malware look like? In most cases an unusual window will open up, something you do not recognize.

Many times malware looks like the speed up your pc programs or could even be designed to look as if it’s antivirus software. It is very common to see software like this requesting credit card information to purchase the software and remove the so called infections.

Do not ever give credit card information out on your computer unless you’re absolutely certain it is a program you’ve downloaded and set up.

One example is your antivirus software will sometimes let you extend a subscription that is expiring via credit card.

“How can I even get a virus, I have antivirus software installed?” This is the single most common question we have from clients that come in for virus infections on their computers.

It is a common misconception that antivirus software means you cannot get a virus. The fact is antivirus software is strictly preventative.

The way antivirus software works is the antivirus vendor makes a virus definition based off of a virus.

This definition is what allows the antivirus software to find and stop viruses from infecting a computer. That being said, someone has to get infected before the antivirus companies have an example virus to make a definition for.

Due to this everyone, whether they have antivirus software or not, is susceptible to viruses.

The difference between someone with antivirus software installed and someone that does not is that the person with it installed is not susceptible to infections after a definition has been made, while the other is.

Safe browsing habits help to greatly reduce the chances of getting a virus infection.

Do not click on ads. The most common place for someone to get a virus is the ads on websites like Facebook that are very appealing and tend to catch users eyes.

Another thing that can be done to reduce the chance of infection or at least the severity of it is to use a standard user account. Society as a whole has a bad habit of always using the administrator account on a computer for everything they do.

The problem with this is that if a user does download a virus, the virus is now working on an account that has full privileges to the entire computer versus an account that only has permissions on a very small part of it.

Aside from having good browsing habits the best thing you can have on a workstation or a server is a high quality antivirus program. Paid antivirus programs tend to offer other features to help further protect your computer.

If you are interested in looking into a comprehensive antivirus solution to help protect your business contact Clare Computer Solutions.  We have helped hundreds of businesses devise, install and maintain a corporate anti-malware strategy.

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Ideas for Upgrading Your Company’s IT Network That Save Time, Money and The Environment

Posted on April 19, 2013 by Bruce Campbell

Nothing, it seems, ages as quickly as technology. The shiny new computers or servers or switches that looked so “state of the art” just a few years ago now look like flea market Tech Tipsfodder. You know you need to upgrade your IT network, but you remember the big check you wrote a few years ago, and you’re not anxious to go through that again.  Fortunately, some things change for the better. Here are a couple of things to consider.

Consolidation – Do More With Less

Virtualization technology has come a long way and is now a viable and affordable option for small to medium sized businesses. A survey by VMWare of 309 SMB IT managers using virtualization revealed that nearly 73 percent saw a significant decrease in the amount of time spent on routine IT tasks. Over two-thirds were better equipped to adapt to the changing needs of their businesses, and approximately the same number were able to significantly reduce their hardware costs.

If you have 3 servers that are getting long in the tooth, you may not have to buy 3 more machines to upgrade your Information Technology (IT).

Now you can create multiple “virtual” machines on a single host machine. Yes, that host machine needs some horsepower, but it’s still less expensive than 3 more servers. Add in the power savings, space savings, energy savings and agility in disaster recovery, and you’re not just saving your company, you’re saving the planet!

Consider Lease Options

It does hurt when the technology you buy is considered obsolete about the same day you’re done paying for it. So why own it? There are some financial options that make upgrading our technology much easier on your cash flow. Many leasing companies will allow you to roll up the hardware software AND services involved in a technology upgrade, and that can make a huge difference in your decision-making process.

If a technology upgrade will make your business more efficient, more green, more nimble or more profitable, then it’s an investment worth pursuing.

Where to Start

The first step is to identify what you have and compare it to what you’ll need to meet the growth goals you’ve set for your business. But who’s got time for that, in a busy business? This is where working with an experienced IT Consulting firm pays huge dividends. They can recommend technology, based upon your company’s needs now, and your anticipated needs over the next few years as well. Realize the power of technology and get on with your business!

Posted in Article, Changing Technology, IT Consultants, IT Consulting, IT Network Management, IT Support, Managed Service Provider, Tech Tips, Virtualization | Leave a comment

Three Often Overlooked Facts About Business Continuity

Posted on April 12, 2013 by Bruce Campbell

There are a lot of tools to help businesses with Disaster Recovery (DR), and that’s a good thing. Technologies that were once only affordable to large enterprises are now available, in some form or another, to much smaller businesses. But many businesses are getting a Business Continuityfalse sense of security – business continuity is more than just backing up your data!

Here are three facts about Business Continuity you should be aware of:

Disaster Come in All Sizes and Forms – Many DR strategies are created with large, natural disasters in mind: Big storms. earthquakes, or floods. While it’s good to be prepared for these large scale disasters, there are many smaller, more common issues that could be considered a disaster for your business (fire, theft, server crash), and you should prepare for these, too!

A Disaster is Rarely a Singular Event – If a fire affected your office, that requires some preparation to recover your backed up data. But you’ll also need a place to put that data, and some sort of infrastructure to make use of the data. You’ll also need to contact anybody affected by the fire – employees need to know if they can come to work, or if they can work somewhere else. Clients and suppliers will need to notified how they might be affected, and for how long. All these factor into a good Business Continuity Plan.

Having a DR Plan Isn’t Enough – If a disaster strikes, and you’re blowing the dust off your DR Plan binder, you’re in trouble. It’s not a static world. Your business, and everything around it is always changing, so your DR plan needs to change with it. In other words, a DR plan isn’t a project – it’s an ongoing process, and the plan will need to be updated and tested regularly.

Designing, creating and maintaining a viable Business Continuity Plan can seem like a daunting task. Having an experienced IT Services firm help with this vital part of your business ensures you will get the best plan to fit your business now – and in the future. Your business is worth this investment!

Posted in Article, Bare Metal Restore, Changing Technology, Data Backup, Disaster Recovery/Business Continuity, IT Consultants, IT Consulting, IT Network Services, IT Project Management, Tech Tips | Leave a comment

Uniformity in the IT Network Means Better Reliability and Supportability

Posted on April 5, 2013 by Bruce Campbell

The network infrastructure at most businesses was not created all at once.  Look around the office, and usually there is a varied assortment of hardware and software – different brands, different ages, and different configurations.  Most companies don’t stock PCs, for Uniformity = Supportabilityexample, so if someone gets hired, or a PC bites the dust, a new one is purchased quickly – business can’t wait, right?

The choice is often driven by cost and availability rather than suitability or compatibility.  The same decision making process often extends to most of the other parts of the network as well (switches, hubs, routers, or even servers).

Decision making based upon short-term thinking leads to a variety of problems.   IT networks that resemble a technical grab bag are more expensive to support – problems may be related to any of the myriad of hardware, software or interplay among unique combinations of factors.

By contrast, picture an office network where every workstation/PC fits a defined company-wide specification with regards to brand, chipset, video cards, NIC cards and RAM, operating system and productivity software.  Picture an office IT network environment where all the switches and routers meet defined company-wide specifications. The number of potential problems is greatly reduced, and costs for network support go down.  Technology addition and refreshes are orderly and predictable.  Deployments of new equipment are quicker, and easier.

But how do you get there?  Here are some steps:

• Define the Standards for the Company’s Technology – Outline standard criteria for key elements of your network.  What brand(s) have you found to be cost-effective and reliable?  Define standards for minimum RAM, disk size, CPU speeds, operating system(s).

• Make a plan – If you have the budget for a widespread overhaul of your company network – great.  If not, you can apply your standards to all future purchases of technology.  Your plan should also include a technology refresh cycle – replace old hardware and software to avoid computer crashes, rather than dealing with emergencies.

• Maintain and update regularly – Nothing stands still in technology, so monitor disk and CPU usage, and make sure software patches are evaluated and applied.   Review the standards you developed at least annually – minimum requirements will always adjust upward, and new software versions and operating systems emerge.

Who in the heck has the time to step back from the busy day-to-day activities of their business to do this?   Almost nobody!   But you can engage the services of an IT Management Consultant to implement and maintain this type of plan – the investment in this type of service will pay for itself many times over in greater productivity, reliability and performance of your company’s Information technology (IT)!

Posted in Article, Changing Technology, IT Consultants, IT Consulting, IT Network Management, IT Network Services, IT Project Management, IT Support, Managed Service Provider, Network Maintenance, Tech Tips | Leave a comment

Three Ways Your Data Backup Plan Could Fail You

Posted on March 29, 2013 by Bruce Campbell

Most established businesses have in place some sort of disaster recovery plan. At the very least, most companies back up their critical data, and have a list of emergency numbers.   But disasters come in all shapes and sizes, and often, well-intentioned disaster recovery Failed Backupplans fall short when they are needed the most.   When it comes to planning for a “digital disaster” (loss of company data), we often see plans fail on these three key areas:

Are You Backing Up Data AND Computer Images?

Of course your data is important – that’s why you back it up.  But in the case of a real disaster, you’ll need access to your data, but you’ll also need the systems that use that data.  This means you’ll need to back up computer images as well – this will enable you to restore your critical systems that utilize your data – and that’s vitally important!

Are Your Testing Your Backups?

Backing up data and computer images isn’t enough – you have to be able to restore from them.  Many companies fail to test this critical aspect.   You test for two reasons: One to make sure you know how to do it (how could you know if you never try it?) and regular testing ensures the integrity of your backups and your methods, are sound.  Testing restores should be done routinely – and if a problem with a backup is found, you’ll need to work backwards to determine where your last good backup is.

Are You Backing Data Up Locally and Offsite?

If you only back your data up locally – to a storage device in the office – what happens if there’s a theft or fire?    If you only back up data remotely, then how quickly can access it in the event of a crashed server or even an accidentally deleted file?  A data backup scheme that employs both local and offsite backup provides quick access for restoring files (or even machines) from localized problems, and provides business continuity capabilities in the event your office facility is rendered unusable for any reason.

An effective Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity Plan is vitally important – but many companies don’t give it enough thought.  Clare Computer Solutions can help companies devise a plan that meets their needs and budget, and changes as the company grows.  A Disaster Recovery Plan Evaluation can find the weak parts of your existing plan, and recommend ways to address them, too.

Posted in Article, Bare Metal Restore, Disaster Recovery/Business Continuity, IT Consultants, IT Consulting, IT Storage, IT Support, Network Security, Tech Tips | Leave a comment