How to Choose Right Data Backup Option for Your Business?

Recognizing the right backup and recovery solution for your business is as essential as protecting your data.

Imagine, how you would react if you woke up to realize that you have lost your data. Obviously, that would be a nightmare for you as a business owner. Data is the backbone of your company as all the major decisions related to sales, customers, admin and services are heavily relied on that.

So, here we have come up with the backup strategies helping you choose the right backup solutions for your business. Read More

However, you should consider factors like agreements, security, application awareness, data retrieval and data centre distributions before switching to the third party cloud.

How to Choose the Best IT Service Management Model for Your Unique Business Needs

When it comes to improving the quality of services and the level of customer satisfaction within organizations, IT Service Management (ITSM) is the most effective tool. However, you can’t expect to get results unless you have the right ITSM model that best suits your type of business in place.

Here is how you can choose the best ITSM model for your unique enterprise:

Identify Your Requirements

The first thing is to identify what exactly you want from IT Service Management. For example, when ITSM is an integral part of your business operation, where in your business would you like to use its principles and processes the most.

You’ll find it easier to select between traditional outright ownership model and Software-as-a-Service when you know what aspects you want to improve on. Whatever your requirements, however, your choice will come down to the two major factors ultimately –availability and resource capability.

Understand the Difference between ITSM Models

Each ITSM model has its pros and cons, so it’s up to you what you want to opt for and what not. And yes, remember that you won’t find a solution with a one-size-fits-all approach. Take time to study and compare the available options and choose the one that best meets your business requirements.

In the last couple of years, SaaS has gained huge popularity as a service management delivery model. It is faster than outright ownership and consumes less time, money and effort. Also, it is a more elastic and scalable solution that allows you to add more users when required.

Know What You Can Afford

There are many differences between traditional IT support and the latest managed IT services. Where in-house solutions require you to have your own infrastructure and hardware, on-demand professional services take the entire burden of managing things all by yourself off your shoulders.

If you want less burden, SaaS is always a better option. Your service provider will be fully responsible for managing the entire IT aspect of your business. Plus you’ll be paying for only what and as much you've used. That means it’s based on the pay-per-use system and is more cost-effective. 

Ways of Adding Value with Cloud Computing

As the wave of Cloud computing gathers speed, companies, big and small, are acknowledging the fact that various economic benefits can be entailed by using services of Cloud providers. The economics of IT is changing, and perhaps what is heartening for people choosing to go the Cloud way, is that the trend shows little signs of slowly any time soon. It is believed that, or rather theoretically proven that the trend of Cloud is slated to grow and manifold with the benefits increasing exponentially. As a result of the economic value that Cloud provides, soon money could be thrust into other areas of concern for large economies thereby ushering an era of change through IT alone.

Some of the value adds that Cloud can provide to your business are:

1. Elastic consumption

If you have implemented cloud in your company, you are probably no longer doing manual tasks that you used to before. Cloud introduces the automation of most practices in a company which make it flexible for the financial investors in the firm to save some money. As a result, significant capital expenditure is eliminated and a company enjoys the privilege of pay-as-you-go services. Migrating to cloud eliminates risks that are usually associated with static IT projects, thereby allowing the business to maintain its agility. This elasticity, offered by Cloud services enables a company to take on infrastructural challenges that their own in-house IT department would not be able to support. Consequently, the bedrocks of your business become elastic enough to be scale a company both ways, with immense ease, and without compromising on maintaining continuity and growth.

2. The economy of its scale

Most companies according to a recent study by Microsoft are only just waking to the realization that Cloud implementation can significantly cut costs. According to the analysis the scale of economics as was significantly low, as compared to the latest findings. The current trend suggests that cloud could one day deliver computing strength at costs 80 percent lower than the current prices. This trend has been predicated on three factors: the supply side, where Cloud can purchase and operate with cheaper infrastructure; demand-side, where these purchases can be utilized efficiently by pooling users; and multi-tenancy, which allows the sharing of resources, thereby sharing cost. For companies to foster and take complete advantage of the Cloud computing trend, it is essential to understand the underlying economics as well.

3. It promotes innovation
One of the more romantic advantages for implementing Cloud is that it frees your resources for other tasks. Most companies, especially the smaller ones bank on keeping their heads above water, by at least keeping the office and their infrastructure in place. Maintenance alone, of this infrastructure can eat away into a company’s revenue stream, thereby leaving little scope for investment into noble initiatives, or even new user and in-house change requests. This is where Cloud would provide stakeholders a breather. By freeing resources, that were previously pillaring the company’s foundation, can also contribute towards experimentation and genesis of fresh ideas. Resources that are freed, as a result of Cloud implementation can prove to be more productive as compared to earlier times.

Data Backup and Restoration Tips for Small Businesses

In today’s data-driven times, one of the major reasons for small businesses to collapse is data loss. In fact, any enterprise will grind to a halt without smooth and consistent data availability.

Despite knowing this, most small company owners let their data safety and backup plans linger on their to-do lists for unusually long. It is exactly in this gap that downtime and outages hamper productivity and overall turnover.

So, it is important that you implement a foolproof data backup strategy before it’s too late.

The following tips will become your practical guidelines as you head out.

Map All Your Backup Needs

Generally, data backup needs vary from business to business. Spend some time assessing your unique backup needs, for your ignorance will make it complicated, if not completely unfeasible, to decide on data backup methods.

Issues such as data type, size of files and frequently used files can create problems while backing up data. Proceed strategically and have patience if it the assessment process takes time.  

Know Where Your Business Data Is Kept

You can expect to protect your data unless you know where it is, and in what form. Talk to your IT support company and try to learn how much data and information you have. Ask them if your data is kept on a backup server or simply in corporate offices. You can also take advice on which new data safety and backup measures can be more helpful.

Choose the Right Data Backup System

Ways to backup important data are numerous, but it remains vital to consult a professional having years of industry experience. Generally, the best way to protect data is using multiple backup methods. This prevents data loss even if one of them fails completely.

The best options to opt for are:

1. Online Backup: Data backup through cloud is the most cost-effective option, regardless of how big or small your business is. Choose a reliable provider of online backup services, preferably the one that uses multiple backup locations in order to keep crucial data completely secure.

2. Server Backup: Small businesses that have servers to run all business activities and tasks should opt for sever backup. Most cloud storage companies offer server backup services to prevent data loss in events of system failure.

2. Disc Backup: You can use CDs and DVDs to backup all your important data and store it in a safe, offsite location later on. Another way is to use an external storage device like a USB flash device or hard drive. Disk imaging is an equally effective method of backing up data or a whole PC operating system. 

5 Ways to Protect Your Data on Your Mobile Device

Using phones for shopping and surfing socials sites are making them vulnerable to attacks. We trust our phones more than our best buddies on some occasions, so it’s high time we took some steps to protect them.

The first thing that we all must pledge is to not to go to the aftermarket next time we need APPs. Protection will not cost money at all, but getting out of a mess can be a torrid affair.

Follow these steps and make your phone your friend for life:

1. Keep It Locked

Always feed a code in your phone and don’t share it will all. In case if it is stolen, you will buy time to save your data on the phone, while the swindler tries to break in.

2. It’s A Phone Not a Safety Vault

Just because it sleeps with you, doesn't mean it has to keep all your secrets. Limit confidential information on a phone. It should not be the default location for all sensitive information, especially not data that you cannot lose at any cost. Be smart - use a secure server or a hard drive for that.

3. Beware of an Espresso Attack

Before you plug into an open Wi-Fi in the coffee shop next time, first read about the risks. An unsecured network is a hacker’s playground. In an airport, in a multiplex there are people snooping for passwords and other data all the time. Always use a VPN and open mails in secure options only. But if you really want to out run them avoid important work in the public.

4. Be an Apps guru

Always download your favorite Apps from a trusted source like Google Play or App store only. You can be assured that once you get it from them, it comes with inbuilt safety features and will have guards against malicious attacks. The biggest mistake you can make is to download them form a third party source.

5. Have an Updated Antivirus in The Phone

People who come with the foresight of an antivirus program for the phone stand to benefit in the long run. Besides Apple users, who feel no need for it, other phone users stand to benefit by installing one today. An added layer of defense never hurts anybody.

6. Take a Trip on Remote Protection Apps

Besides taking a backup of your data, installing an anti theft APP can make you sleep peacefully at night. These APPs make it very difficult for any spamster to break into your phone. They also pin point the exact location of the phone and allow you to delete all information remotely.

Online Data Backup - Store All Your Files on the Web!

Gone are the days when people used tapes, DVDs and other such conventional methods to backup important business data. Smart companies now make use of online storage options and the reasons to do so are pretty obvious.

Taking Online Backups is Very Easy

Yes, taking online backups is easier than ever. You need not be an expert to do that.

If you know how to use Facebook, Google and other such websites, you can start using an online backup website in as little as one hour.

Sign up, fill in your personal details, choose your online backup plan and start uploading files with easy to use features including drag-and-drop. Getting started is easier than you think.

Plenty of Free Options Available
If you want to secure all of your business critical files on an online server, you can go for a premium online data backup package. However, if you just need some online storage to store pictures, songs, etc., you can make use of free services.

Many websites provide up to 10 GBs of free online storage.

You Can Automate Backups

If you wish to have all of your important files copied to a remote online server at routine intervals, you can use backup-sync or auto-scheduling features.

 

So the next time you copy a new file to a designated folder on your computer, its duplicate copy would be created automatically on an online backup server.

In case you need to create large backups (100 GBs of data, for example), you can just schedule the task. So when your employees are not in office and you can use all of the bandwidth for data transfer, backups can be created without affecting day to day business operations in any manner.

Access Data Backups from Anywhere, Anytime

Many businesses want to store their data online primarily because they want mobile access. They want their team members in field or employees working at different locations to be able to access data in a hassle-free and secure way.

Online data backup services provide exactly that.

When you backup data on an online data backup service website, it’s stored at a remote location. Multiple copies of data are stored on different servers and therefore, you can be assured of the fact that you will never lose your data in the event of a natural calamity, accident, theft or other such incident.

Why You Should Go For a Remote IT Support

Modern day technology has enabled managed IT support services to assist customers using online software tools. These applications are quite similar to onsite visits by a technician and aid the consumers, 24x7. A series of state-of-the-art technology enables a direct intervention into the file system of the remote computer. The process of remote IT support is followed by an easy setup and offers numerous benefits such as file transfer, desktop sharing and process synchronization. By cutting down all the transportation expenses involved in onsite visits, a remote IT support service benefits both the service provider and client.

Given below are some pointers describing how the remote IT support is benefitting SME businesses in Singapore and elsewhere.

1. No Need of In-House IT Help desk

In the past, IT support services in Singapore were provided by visiting customer site to investigate the system malfunction. Nowadays there is no need for personal visits as bugs can be fixed online. This has eliminated the need to take away the device for fixing it later. Using teleconferences and video chats, the system can be made operational in the quickest possible way. Now there is no need for SMEs to hire IT teams as help is just a hand away.

2. Business Savings

Remote IT support not only lowers the costs, but also helps to save precious business time. Temporary glitches can be corrected and faulty systems can be restored by having a conversation over the phone or through live chat facilities.

3. Diagnostic Services

Cloud applications and remote IT support tools have made it easier to diagnose software as well as hardware faults in a few minutes. The softwares used to run diagnostic services at the client’s end using remote desktop service are capable of running various services such as keyboard test, memory test and scanning the hardware changes. This is all done remotely using existing network without requiring any manual assistance. More often than not, software errors are fixed remotely while hardware repairs may require onsite visits.

4. Get in Touch Anytime

The 24x7 support service of a managed IT Service provider helps clients to overcome any situation. The employees of an IT service company who specialize in the IT field are always ready to help your business, defying geographical barriers.

5. Virus Protection

IT service companies are capable of installing antivirus software on your desktop using the remote IT support feature. This helps to eliminate the possibility of data loss to any organization. It also prevents your systems from all range of malware threats that today are present in every aspect of the business.

The Vital importance of Backup System

Although, latest operating systems are being embedded with enhanced features for system resonation and backups, chances are there, you might suffer a system crash or an attack on data costing, which will meet out your business with a tragic lose. 

Therefore, it’s important to understand the significance and benefits of a backup system.

Cloud Based Backup Solutions

This is preferably the most reliable and guaranteed backup solution, which is advocated by experts around the globe. The explanation to its prestige is the protection it offers against different sorts of threats like system crashing, cyber attacks and even natural mishaps. Moreover, the solution offers essential advantages of designing the solution as demanded or required by the business.

Secured Protection

Cloud based backup solutions are probably the most secured. They ensure on time recovery of all the different kinds of data. Moreover, you can customize such solutions to suit your needs.

Effortless Use

With cloud based backup solutions, users can effortlessly learn to work with numerous types of interface and management systems, which are easy to set up and operate. This indeed helps emerging businesses to enhance their services without worrying about the threats of data loss.    

Quick and User Friendly

A crucial aspect of cloud based backup solution is that it is equipped with configuration and setup wizards that ensure development of systems rapidly. Moreover, these solutions are designed to deliver off-premise data storage alternatives and great options for eco-conscious individuals.    

Top Online data backup & Synchronization Tools

Many IT companies have been offering online backups as dedicated and supplementary services for years. They offer few GBs worth space for free and require users to pay a subscription price for additional features or more storage space.

The following list contains some of the best online databackup and sync tools currently available:

1. Google Drive: GoogleDrive provides 15 GB of free storage to Gmail account holders. 1TB storage space is available at monthly charge of $9.99.

2. Dropbox: Dropbox keeps all your computer files placed in a safe and easily accessible ‘My Dropbox’ folder, in sync with an online account. Dropbox is a reliable off-site backup option.

3. ADrive: ADrive offers up to 50GB of free space in cloud storage. Most of your files can be stored, edited and shared under the ADrive’s basic plan.

4. Bitcasa Infinite Drive: Bitcasa offers 10 GB worth free space to its users and unlimited storage against a subscription fee of $100 per year. Bitcasa is accessible even through smart phones, encrypting all user information.

5. Carbonite: This service provides exceptionally large backups of more than 200 GB. It offers unlimited storage (after 200GB speed slows down) at $4.58 per month.

6. SugarSync: SugarSync is a classic backup utility with advance plugins; it’s great for storing your email attachments but expensive when compared to other online backup services.

7. OpenDrive: OpenDrive offers 5GB of free storage space to clients. It provides a facility to upload individual files up to 100 MB at once, with a daily bandwidth limit of 1GB.

8. Mozy: Mozy offers 2 GB free space to its account holders. It is an automated backup solution installed at the client end. Mozy charges a fee of $4.95 per month for unlimited storage facility.

9. Microsoft OneDrive: OneDrive service under Azure platform offers 7GB of free online storage. Individual files up to 2GB in size can be uploaded to the cloud via a desktop client app.

10. CrashPlan: CrashPlan can be downloaded freely to run a backup at your standalone PC. This user-friendly software charges 44.50/ month for automating your local backup.

Top Strategies on How to Backup Your Data Successfully

Don’t keep waiting until the disaster strikes! Have you ever imagined how your operations would be affected if few data volumes (documents, multimedia files etc.) are destroyed, stolen away or rendered useless by a malicious program! The importance of hiring a professional IT support company cannot be denied but you on your own need to be aware of top strategies on how to backup data as well. Professionals can help you better if you know what you really need for your business.

Listed below are the top strategies on how to backup files and other data –

Brainstorm and Plan Early

Make it a point to discuss raw ideas for a data backup plan with system administrators and other professionals at your company. Everyone can come up with unique ideas and help in strengthening your company’s data backup strategy. If you’re living in an area where floods or hurricanes are common, make sure backups are never stored in basements. Choose at least the 2^nd or 3^rd floor. If digital data is the lifeline of your business, it’s a good idea to take online backups. Such backups are easily accessible through web interfaces and keep your data safe from all imaginable disasters including break-ins, fire accidents, floods, earthquakes etc.

Have a Rock Solid Backup Routine

Running a business successfully demands all of your focus & energy. In the process, it’s easy to lose track of backups or other such processes that are actually very important for the health of your income stream in the long run. Even if you know how to backup a computer or understand the importance of email backup, you’d still need to have a backup routine in place. Make it a part of the daily task list assigned to a system administrator or network engineer. Never count on each employee in your organization, big or small, to take backups on their own. They might do it for a day or two but eventually, they’ll stop doing it.

Have a Personalized Data Backup Strategy

The best data backup strategy is not exactly like the one recommended by an expert. It’s the ‘modified’ strategy that has been tailored to your business’s exact needs. If data on your company workstations changes every day, you need to backup hard drive on a daily basis, for example. It’s advisable to have full as well as incremental backups. For example, you can take one full backup on every Saturday and incremental (data changes) backups on week days.

Test Your Backup on a Regularly Basis

Don’t rely blindly on backup software whether it’s online or installed on a server on your local network. IT support companies (if you’ve hired one) will do it on its own but it’s important to inquire about data backup testing. Try to recover the data backup to an alternate location on your network at least once in a month to check if the integrity of data has not been lost. Also, make sure you check ‘backup logs’ at least once a week to find out if some backup operations failed.

How to Recover Deleted Files

At times, important files get deleted due to human error, viruses or malfunctioned software programs. In some cases, antivirus programs can also delete important files. The file can be restored directly from the backup, if you’ve any. If there was no backup, you can try using a freeware or proprietary software for restoration. You can also have a look out on this article regarding hidden tips to successfully restore your files.

However, If deleted data is very important, it’s prudent to have a competent IT support services company look into the matter as they’ve expertise, tools and software for data retrieval.