How to Plan for Better Disaster Recovery in IT

Backup and Recovery, Best Practices, Cloud Backup, Disaster Recovery, IT Best Practices, , ,
28
Aug 2018

Due to our reliance on data technology, good disaster recovery processes have never been more vital. However, how do you plan for better disaster recovery?

It may be a challenge, but you don’t need to feel apprehensive when trying to tackle this complex problem. And when it comes to disaster recovery, planning is the most important factor. If your IT systems fail then you need to start your recovery process as soon as possible and ensure it’s as effective as it can be. The sooner you can restore normal operations, the less your productivity is affected.

So, if you want to make sure your disaster recovery procedures are finely tuned, make sure you incorporate the following tips. They could be the difference between no IT infrastructure and one that can keep your organization functioning.

Have a Plan

The first step towards having a better disaster recovery plan is to have a plan. Unfortunately, many organizations find themselves too busy to worry about potential disasters and, instead, concentrate purely on the present. While this may help you with your immediate business objectives, it’s not going to help you in the case of an emergency. Therefore, starting work on a disaster recovery plan needs to be sooner rather than later.

Cost isn’t Everything

It’s understandable that budgets are essential when it comes to good business, but disaster recovery plans for IT infrastructure are a little different. Without a fully functioning IT service, it’s unlikely your organization is going to be able to trade at its full potential, if at all. And this is why you need to be careful when looking at the technology and services required for your data recovery. Naturally, you shouldn’t spend an exorbitant amount of money that could cripple your margins, but you also need a data recovery plan which can recover your IT infrastructure quickly and effectively.

Understand Your Recovery Objectives

Key to a good recovery process is understanding what data is crucial and how soon it’s required in the case of a data outage/loss. Objectives, of course, need to be achievable, so don’t burden yourself with unattainable goals such as ‘every worker to have access to emails within 10 minutes of a data disaster’. The best way to test your objectives and measure how attainable they are is through regular testing. This should prepare you for any future scenarios and guarantee that you know how to manage their impact.

Update Your Recovery Plan

If you’re lucky, your organization will manage to operate for a long time without experiencing any data disasters. However, this can lead to a dangerous sense of inertia creeping into your recovery processes. And, as we all know, technology moves at a rapid pace. Software and hardware can be replaced on a yearly basis and these new developments may not chime harmoniously with your existing recovery plan. Accordingly, your disaster recovery plan needs to be regularly reviewed to ensure that it’s current and matches your existing IT landscape.

For more ways to secure and optimize your business technology, contact your local IT professionals.

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How to Introduce the IoT into Your Organization

Internet of things, IOT, IT Best Practices, IT Plan, ,
21
Aug 2018

 

There’s a good chance that the benefits of the Internet of Things (IoT) could make a huge difference to your organization, but how do you get started?

With around 30 billion IoT connected devices due to be in use by 2020, the IoT is clearly here to stay and the benefits in business are immense. Improved communication, enhanced automation and increased productivity are just a few of the benefits on offer. And, if you’re in business, then you’ll know that these benefits alone are crucial.

However, the IoT world is still relatively new and many organizations are apprehensive when it comes to introducing it to the workplace. Rather than leaving you adrift as your competitors surge forward, we’ve put together some tips on how to introduce the IoT into your organization.

Meet with IT Professionals and Create a Plan

The IoT may seem fairly straightforward in terms of how all the various devices connect, but the truth is that the IoT can be highly complex. Therefore, you need to speak to IT professionals. With their years of expertise in IT innovation, they will be able to recommend the correct technology and how you can begin to implement this into your existing IT network. Otherwise, you will never experience the full range of benefits that IoT can provide.

Understand Why You Need the IoT

If you want to embrace the IoT then you need to understand what it can do for your organization. There are, as previously stated, many benefits on offer from adopting the IoT into your operations, but not all of them will apply to your needs. And that’s why you need to identify the key problems within your business that the IoT can solve. Perhaps it’s increased productivity, perhaps it’s enhanced data processing. Either way, in order to implement the IoT correctly, you have to understand these problems from the very start.

What Can Your Current Setup Provide?

Introducing the IoT doesn’t mean that you have to start from scratch when it comes to your existing IT infrastructure. Many business owners, however, worry that the costs will spiral out of control, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. Sure, there may be the need for certain upgrades to be made to accommodate IoT technology, but plenty of your existing technology will be able to provide a seamless transition. Carrying out a full analysis of your equipment and understanding its capabilities will allow you to identify the areas which need updating.

Establishing Good Staff Training

As with any new form of technology, the IoT will require a certain level of training for your staff. Their existing knowledge of the IoT and the level of interaction they will have with the IoT in your organization will vary, but training is essential. This can be offered either in-house or by external training courses that specialize in training in IoT practices. Once your staff has received the relevant level of IoT training required you’ll find that the integration process is as hassle free as it can be.

For more ways to secure and optimize your business technology, contact your local IT professionals.

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4 Questions You Should Ask Before Clicking an Email Link

Cyber Attack, cyber attacks, email links, malware, Phishing, Ransomware, Security, security
14
Aug 2018

We receive so many emails in business now that they’re a keen target for hackers. As a result, your organization needs to be more wary than ever with email.

The most common way for a hacker to take advantage of emails is by loading them with malicious links. These can be used to extract personal information, activate ransomware or send users to dangerous websites. And these emails are more than likely hitting your organization every day. Whilst the majority of emails with links embedded in them are genuine, it only takes one rogue email to cause severe problems.

To help you avoid the wrath of hackers, we’ve put together four questions you should ask before clicking an email link.

  1. Do You Recognize the Sender?

Trust is crucial when it comes to dealing with links contained within emails. If you don’t recognize the sender then the link should definitely be treated with caution as it could easily be a malicious link. Emails from work colleagues should be more trustworthy, but it’s always possible that their email account has been hijacked. So, even if you recognize the sender, there are still plenty of questions you need to ask.

  1. Does the Link Look Genuine?

If you received an email advising you to visit the Ophtek website then it would look something like www.ophtek.com or ophtek.com. However, if a hacker is trying to trick you into visiting a malicious website then the link may read slightly different e.g. ophtek.org or ophteksupport.com. If you’re ever unsure about the URL listed in a link then try Googling the URL and see whether it brings up a genuine website.

The other factor to look out for is whether the link written in the email is genuine. While the link could say www.ophtek.com the actual destination contained within the link could be completely different. Thankfully, you can double check this by hovering your cursor over any email link to display a popup window that lists the genuine destination.

  1. Do You Even Need to Click the Link?

A high number of malicious links prey on our worries, so, for example, emails that claim your bank account has been hacked are very common. The email will usually contain a link that promises to start an authentication process to secure your account, but these links are never genuine. More often than not, the email will reference a bank that you don’t even have an account with, so there’s absolutely no need to click any links inside it.

  1. Why is it a Shortened Link?

Shortened links may save space in emails, but there’s no reason why they should be used in business emails. More importantly, shortened links – provided by platforms such as Bit.ly and Goo.gl – are yet another way that hackers can disguise the destination of a link. Shortened links are particularly difficult to judge as, even if you hover your cursor over them, it’s impossible to tell where they will send you. Help is at hand, though, from platforms such as CheckShortURL which can expand shortened links to show their true destination.

For more ways to secure and optimize your business technology, contact your local IT professionals.

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Don’t Make These Mistakes When Buying a Printer

cheap printers, duplex printers, large printers, Printers, single function, , , ,
07
Aug 2018

A printer is crucial in business, but getting the correct one is even more important. As there are so many available, though, how do you get the right one?

Almost every printer is different and the variance across the industry is immense. And, don’t forget, every organization will have a unique set of needs for their printer to meet. Choosing carefully, therefore, is the order of the day as the incorrect printer can soon affect your productivity. Many organizations, though, fail to choose carefully and, instead, make the same mistakes time and time again.

As we want you to get the right printer for your needs, we’ve put together a list to make sure you don’t make these mistakes when buying a printer.

Going Cheap

Budgets can be tight for small to medium businesses, but you should never skimp on costs when it comes to technology. A printer from the lower end of the price range may help your costs in the short term, but it’s more likely to go through toner as if it’s going out of fashion. And then there are the many, many maintenance issues associated with cheaper printers. Pay a few more dollars, though, and you’ll find that you end up with a more efficient printer and one where malfunctions are rare.

Buying a Single Function Printer

You can save valuable office space by investing in a multi-function printer rather than a machine which purely prints and does nothing else. For example, a printer which also doubles up as a scanner can allow you to save even more real estate by making electronic copies of documents rather than filing physical copies. Anything which makes your organization more efficient should never be ignored and a multi-function printer can make a huge difference.

Too Big

Professional level printers can be rather large and bulky items, so it’s vital that you have room in your organization to house it. Many businesses order up a printer and assume it will fit where they need it, but then find out it’s too big. All it takes, however, is a quick bit of research on the dimensions of the printer you’re buying and a tape measure to ensure you have the relevant space. This saves you valuable time in terms of sending an incorrect printer back and reduces any downtime in printing for your organization.

Not Picking a Duplex

A duplex printer allows you to print on both sides of a sheet of paper and requires no manual intervention to flip the paper over. This may sound a fairly minimal feature, but there are powerful benefits associated with it. Printing on both sides of paper allows you to save paper and energy, so the extra cost of a duplex printer will soon pay for itself. And, if you’ve ever tried, to print on both sides paper manually, you’ll know it puts a severe strain on your time resources and results in seeming endless amounts of wasted paper.

For more ways to secure and optimize your business technology, contact your local IT professionals.

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