Remote Data Backup Services Could Save Your Business

The best and most cost effective way to recover from any disaster is to back up your data religiously. Regardless of the size of your organization, there is no disputing that without a skillfully deployed backup strategy even a small incident can seriously harm your company. If disaster does strike and you are not backing up properly, recovery will be difficult, expensive and in some cases impossible.
Your primary site is most likely where your data is both stored and backed up -- and though maintaining this structure does serve a purpose, it may not be useful should a site disaster (eg. fire, flood, power outage, etc.) occur. Consider instead that managed data-center-based solutions (cloud) are often 5-7 times more cost-effective than traditional services, it makes perfect sense to adopt an enterprise-level back up to the cloud for at least your critical data. Should disaster strike, a completely secure and separate recovery site (designed to be disaster-proof) has your data protected and ready to be redeployed. Another interesting notion is that the stored data can be redeployed anywhere, so if your servers or premises is out of commission, data can still be accessed over the internet. Business may not be as usual, but it can continue.
Besides the fact that costs for data storage is becoming more and more accessible, through an IaaS model, you need only pay for what you use. For example: if 25 Gigabytes of storage will suffice for your organization then that’s all you need pay for; whereas a neighbouring business may require 10 Terabytes of cloud storage to meet their business needs. This managed service model is much more cost-effective for many organizations because it eliminates high costs associated with acquiring and maintaining dedicated infrastructure and management of the data-centre as well.
Through elimination of tedious manual steps and processes, a powerful over the internet synchronization can ensure that every one of your critical files is backed up and stored for recovery when you need it most. Storage of data to the cloud through managed services is so affordable that the peace of mind it brings to you and your organization is well worth adoption.

The Case for Hybrid Computing

The world of Information Technology has changed--reverting back to a model built in the 1950s--and we have the world’s biggest network to thank.
The Internet has afforded us unparalleled access to information and application services, in addition to the opportunity to more efficiently manage a technical foundation for our organizations. This trend of centralized infrastructure and information management will continue to grow into the foreseeable future.
It is clear by the growing number of “cloud” service providers (us included) of infrastructure and software, that choosing cloud-based services makes a great deal of sense for all organizations. However, there are still numerous reasons to maintain a more traditional onsite network environment for many businesses. The best advice is to adopt--or at least consider--a hybrid model: moving towards an Internet model for some business activities, while utilizing a local network for other activities that don’t work quite as well in the cloud yet.
Sharing large files across the Internet is just not practical regardless of the value of data-centre computing. Any applications which require large files to be shared among co-workers are still far better in an on-premise model where gigabit speeds are the norm. The perspective of value in this case must be from a position of performance over redundancy, cost and scalability. Not an easy ROI model to detail, but one that can usually be proven or disproven with a practical demonstration.
As bandwidth improves, the opportunity for pure cloud models to suddenly be the only model is plausible. However, costs for the kind of bandwidth required, particularly in this country, are well out of reach for most of us. And, unless this point improves either through legislation, cheap technological advancements or real competition in the space, maintaining a hybrid network will be the only viable option for many businesses.
There is something to be said for a tangible environment. One that an operations manager can see, feel and physically move. It’s like comparing a ride on the subway from Kipling to Kennedy station vs. driving an Audi R8 to cover the same distance. It may cost a heck of a lot more, but what a great way to get to the finish line! The example may be extreme, but it does illustrate how onsite infrastructure appears to have more intrinsic value than its cloud sibling.
Considering performance expectations and regulatory restrictions, the need for on-premise networks is still a reality. So get your head out of the cloud and start by focusing on managing your own private onsite network.

Network Security - 4 Ways to Improve Your Business Network

RSA, a global leader in security products for computer networks, recently found out the hard way that one of the greatest threat to security breaches is the user. 

The attack was not orchestrated through RSA's very hardened infrastructure but through more accessible means: their associates. A group of RSA associates were targeted and found through social media. Once their targets were identified, the hackers simply crafted an email that seemed legitimate enough for one of the associates to retrieve it from their Junk folder and open the attachment. Once that file was opened, it was already too late. A virus was released into the RSA evironment and a great deal of company and customer data was compromised.

RSA delivers security solutions to over 25,000 customers and is therefore a prime target for malicious behaviour. Hackers are tempted to infiltrate the toughest of environments; the greater the challenge, the greater the exploit. It is unclear how much information was stolen, but it can't feel very good to be RSA or one of their customers right now. In the end, RSA will be embarrassed by the event, but will most likely come out this situation with their company intact. Smaller businesses are more vulnerable and therefore have much more to lose than hurt pride.

So what does this event teach businesses about protecting themselves? Here are four initiatives that will help you avoid security breaches in your business:

1. Develop, maintain and share a Security Policy. Make sure to include non-digital information as well; Paper files also divulge information that can lead to a variety of intrusions. Be sure to also include an employee exit strategy for associates no longer with you and keep access limited to need-to-know levels.
2. Train Associates on the importance of security in the workplace. This includes safe-guarding against typical attack methods like the one experienced by RSA. A great rule of thumb to adopt for all associates is to never, ever open an email attachment from an unknown source. Common sense should prevail for other email attachments, as well. If you are not expecting an email from UPS, for example, don't open any attachments from that email without having it thoroughly checked first.
3. Ensure you have reliable, up-to-date Firewall Infrastructure for your business. Many small businesses fail in this area because they set up a poorly designed, low-end firewall and forget about it. At the very least, it is crucial to keep up to date with the firmware and security patches. Monitoring the activity is also a key determining factor of your state of secureness. The key to having an effective firewall is knowing how to manage it properly.
4. Spam and Virus Filtering is not an exact science. However, this could be the first line of defence in detecting malicious files and preventing them from even entering your network. The rule here is to trust this software but don't base your entire security around it being flawless; it isn't!

As RSA surely knows, there are no guarantees to successfully securing your business. But by implementing these four initiatives in harmony, your network security will be vastly improved.

I.T. Simplified

Kevin and I were recently discussing the future of business technology... at points the discussion became heated and deep so we decided to record it and post it for all to see. 

I hope that some of the technical jargon is easily understood.

:D

Zimbra - 10 Reasons to Love Email Again

Calling Zimbra an email server is like defining Star Wars as just a movie. Although both statments are indeed true, the simplicity of the statement doesn't begin to express the depth and complexities of what Zimbra can mean to business enterprises. 

Zimbra makes email cool again!

1. Easy to Deploy. This rock-solid application can be up and running quickly, easily and effectively. Easy on your administrator or infrastructure team means that it is easier on your pocketbook.
2. Open Standards. Built on open standards to allow for greater control of connectivity and data migration from application to application.
3. Extensible through the Wazzoo! Nearly anything that doesn't already exist within Zimbra can be extended to the application through the creation and use of Zimlets. That means that instead of a running the collaboration application, Zimbra can incorporate CRM tools, video conferencing, VoIP solutions or really almost anything your business has need of. Smart. 
4. Offline Desktop Client. The Zimbra web-client user experience is top knotch and the free desktop client matches the user experience pixel for pixel. You'll never have to fumble for a contact or search for your calendar because experiences accross two clients are not the same.
5. Outlook Connectors. Want to use Outlook? No problem, Zimbra server connects seemlessly with Outlook and synchronizes over the air.
6. It's not Microsoft. For many, weening themselves from the tight grip that Microsoft has on their business makes sense. Doing so with a superior product makes even more sense.
7. Scalability. From 1 user to 200,000 users, Zimbra easily scales to fit your organization's size with the same software stack. Costs remain consistently low and the product starts as an enterprise level application.
8. Deploys Anywhere over any Device. Whether you require an on-site or data centre deployment, Zimbra is ready to meet those needs. And, as more organizations now have a variety of different devices and platforms (Mac, PC, Blackberry, iPhone, etc.) Zimbra works perfectly accross those devices. Try doing that with Exchange!
9. Collaboration. At the heart of the Zimbra application is the philosophy that work should be easily collaborative. Each tool within the application works to make collaborating with your peers effortless and effective.
10. Lower Costs. What business doesn't want to lower operating expenses while maintaining or exceeding operational requirements. Through simplified administration, deployment and lower mailbox costs, Zimbra is one of the most cost effective solutions on the market. 

Email is only a small part of what makes Zimbra great. Want to learn more, try Zimbra for yourself and discover what you've been missing?
 

Technology Consultants Trump Obsolescence

A few weeks back, Seth Meyers from Saturday Night Live said it best:
 
“You know what Apple’s really good at...making you feel really bad about your Christmast gift.” 
 
He was referring to Apple’s recent announcement of its Generation 2 iPad with new features that have many current iPad owners clamouring for the latest device and ready to toss their Gen 1’s to the curb. Apple is not the only company to render its own products “obsolete;” the entire industry is lined with improved products, and that is both good and bad for businesses. 
 
On one hand, innovative technologies help us find new ways to do or eliminate the work we currently do. Beating the competition to technology advancements can be rewarding but comes at a price. Not just a financial cost, but the more important cost of commitment. If technology is to be one of your differentiators, there is no turning back. Every new hardware feature on smart-phones, each advance in virtualization and every cloud-based solution needs to be examined to determine whether or not there is a substantial enough return on investment to adopt them company wide or to a single user.
 
On the other hand, keeping up with the latest and greatest can often be a daunting and challenging task, especially for small enterprises whose resources are already stretched thin. When new technology arrives, one is forced to assume that competitors are embracing it as a strategy for improved productivity and improved sales. This puts a love/hate relationship on technology for many.
 
The solution for those with the means is to hire expensive talent that can not only manipulate technology, but also make it connect to their business objectives. This is not always the most efficient way to achieve business technology goals, especially with the plethora of Saas, ITaaS and PaaS (Software as a Service, IT as a Service, Platform as a Service) models available. Many organizational goals can easily be met through utilization of these fully managed services. The enterprise gains the technology required, and the capital and human resource investment is minimized. 
 
Before you give up on technology as an organizational differentiator, speak to an IT consultant. You may be surprised at how cost-effective and readily available solutions to meet your specific needs are.

Collaboration Tools in a Technological Civilization

I saw this video some time ago and really liked its message, but the real message just kind of clicked for me recently and I wanted to share my aha moment.

If you don't want to spend the 10 minutes watching the video, (Thomas Thwaites: How I built a toaster -- from scratch) I'll recap it for you. Mr. Thwaites wanted to test his technological superiority to historical civilization by building a modern-day toaster without modern-day technologies. By deconstructing a modern toaster (purchased for about $10), he mined and smelted iron, made copper wiring and created a plastic-like resin to ahem, aesthetically finish the device. The result is far from attractive or functional, but the lessons are quite clear.

What amazes me is how truly ignorant and lost we really are individually. Even toaster manufacturers today, could hardly be expected to mine or smelt the iron necessary to create even the simplest of components to make a working toaster. Clearly, costs would be astronomical and the time to produce would increase exponentially. The lesson is simple, without the ability to collaborate effectively, our civilization would most surely diminish. Each of us individually has abilities and knowledge both unique and limited. It is an individuals unique capabilities and knowledge combined with someone else's that most frequently propels innovation, business and in fact, our civilization.

Designers design, smeltors smelt, manufacturers create, assemblers assemble, transportation delivers and marketers market. Each part integral to the end goal and each part often a mystery to the other. Every day technology advances; and our reliance on the infrastructure created by businesses other than our own becomes more integral and yet hidden from us. Modern success hinges on improved abilities to detect what is hidden, collaborate, share and interact with information in order to build a better toaster. It truly does take a village.

I for one, will never look at toast the same way again!

Is the Current I.T. Support Model Flawed?

I think getting involved in the traditional model of I.T. support is quite like the Bermuda triangle of business. Once you're in it, getting out requires a small miracle (and usually some cash). Typically, technology companies gravitate to a partnership model where solutions are sold, not solely on their merits for the customer, but for the biggest kickbacks and bonuses available to the selling "partner." Hey, they gotta make a living right? Right? 

Information Technologies is not the only industry to embrace the channel distribution model, but it is one of the only industries that blatantly flaunts it. Just look at any of the hundreds of IT support companies that feel the need to market their "partnerships" rather than their own strengths. I suppose the partner banners make them feel superior or knowledgable somehow, but these "partnerships" are usually awarded (and retained) not on expertise, but on their ability to meet sales quotas. Customers who are not technically savvy often fall victim to the Bermuda triangle business trap and it becomes very difficult to get out. 

One way out is through adoption of open-source technologies. I believe one of the reasons real I.T. geeks have gravitated towards open-source communities is to avoid "partnerships" for customers who can appreciate the value that the freedom provides. In some ways, adding an open-source product banner on marketing materials garners a great deal more respect, especially from the I.T. community. This is probably true because it takes effort and commitment to earn and retain that banner. Sadly, the respect from the non-technical business community is still derived from the big-business channel marketing and pay-offs, and that is unfortunate. 

As I.T. practioners, the lure is difficult and sometimes impossible to resist. The knowledge and know-how is there, why not make a few extra bucks by becoming a partner? 

We predict that in the end, the partner model will fail. It will fail mainly because of its short-sightedness. Preventing non-partners from choosing your product or service limits market, stifles competition and limits your own innovation. As consumers become more aware of what technology infrastructure can do and how simply it can be deployed, this knowledge will trickle down to their businesses. The realization that a partner is someone who supports business objectives objectively is what will be truly valued. 

VDI on your iPad

In all honesty, this has been a long time coming, but VMware has finally released an iPad application to access your Virtual Desktop Infrastructure.  Thanks to Nick's post from yesterday you all know what VDI is.  VMware's competitors have had iPad applications for their products for a while now, most notably Receiver from Citrix, so we've been waiting for this.  We're actually in the process of deploying a VDI for a customer so we'll have an opportunity to try it out shortly.

Here's a first look video at the product and a little about iPad use in the enterprise.

5 Reasons Why VDI is Smart I.T.

One of the things that drives me batty about the Information Technologies industry is the ridiculous jargon that comes along for the ride. It seems like everyone in the business wants to out-dual one another for buzzwords and acronym supremacy. Personally, I’d rather focus on simplification and understanding of the concept. 
 
The latest buzzcronym to enthrall the industry is VDI.

So, what the heck is VDI and how can it benefit a small business?  
VDI stands for Virtual Desktop Infrastructure and it is effective for small business because it centralizes software and data and removes an often complex layer of infrastructure -- the desktop. To illustrate this concept, imagine for a moment your favourite fast food franchise. Good franchises will ensure that the consumer experience from restaurant to restaurant is consistent regardless of location. This expectation is met through a strict centralization of: processes, food preparation, training and consistent supply.

In most small businesses today, central servers are under-utilized while desktop computers are over-utilized. This causes unnecessary strain on both the user and anyone in I.T. supporting the technology because each desktop is unique. If data lives on a desktop, so too must the software to access that data. If another desktop needs access to that same data they also need software installed on that unique computer. As the number of users increase in your business, managing the dozens of unique computers becomes more costly and complex. The solution is to centralize. 
 

5 Reasons to Centralize Computing

1. Anywhere, anytime, any device. Regardless of what computer you are using (tablet, laptop, smart-phone, desktop), your access and view of the data is always consistent and up-to-date. No more fumbling with virus software updates for every user. Update and test once to the benefit of many.
2. Managing user’s software and operating system requirements means connecting to a central server, not each individual user device. So when an update is required, all users get the update at their next login without any need to alter their individual access devices.
3. Achieving regulatory compliance and providing proof of compliance is substantially simplified.
4. Improved business continuity, disaster recovery and backup opportunities exist through centralization. Desktop virtualization creates a single-point of failure which can more effectively be addressed by redundant infrastructure either in the data centre or onsite.
5. Response to technical issues (yes, they will still occur) is much faster than the more common model because technical support can basically eliminate some complex variables and access the central infrastructure from anywhere. 

Desktop virtualization is not just for larger organizations. Small businesses can take advantage of centralization, too, by reducing the need to hire technical personnel and simply buy Information Technology as a Service (ITaaS). Buzzword or not, a much more cost-effective and long-term solution to growth exists throught desktop virtualization (VDI).