Monthly Archives: February 2013

Backup and Disaster Recovery Driven By Global Climate Change

You can’t avoid reading about the extreme weather conditions. Flooding in Queensland, Australia’s Sunshine Coast, record snow storms in North America and searing heat driving wild fires, all point to global climate change. If your business is in the path of severe weather, would your applications and critical data be protected?  This begs the question, have you seen your backup lately?  In other words, do you have a Backup and Disaster Recovery Plan?

Having a local onsite backup isn’t enough when a disaster strikes. You may not be able to access your facilities due to travel restrictions and your local backup of critical application data may be lost forever. It is imperative that your business has an offsite backup or online backup of your data to aid in a disaster recovery scenario.  Here are some considerations for business continuity planning.

Cloud Backup/Remote Backup for Backup and Disaster Recovery

Cloud Backup/Remote Backup provide small businesses with enterprise class infrastructure as an affordable option for backup and disaster recovery. High Speed Internet connectivity, data de-duplication technologies and cloud-based Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) make Cloud Backup/Remote Backup a safe, secure option for backup and disaster recovery planning.

Cloud Based Software as a Service (SaaS)/Hosted Applications

Cloud based Software as a Service (SaaS)/Hosted Applications provide an offsite alternative to premise based applications. SaaS applications store data in the cloud and are accessible across the Internet from multiple devices including, Desktop and Laptop computers, tablet computers, smart phones and other mobile devices. After a disaster you will be able to access your SaaS applications, even when you can’t access your office facility.

Virtualization for Redundancy and Failover as Part of your Backup and Disaster Recovery Plan

Virtualization allows you to create an instance of your business on a shared hardware platform. Virtualization will provide your business an affordable option to maintain a redundant image of applications and their data stored in the cloud and is fully available without a need for data recovery.  This method can provide the ability to bring your entire business back online and recovery quickly from a any natural disaster including those from climate changes.

Match your risks of data loss from a natural disaster with the disaster recovery method appropriate for your business needs. Your industry regulations, compliance and security requirements should be considered in all cases. Contact your IT Support Professional for consultation on cloud, security and the compliance needs of your business.

Should I Run my Business in the Cloud?

If you are still foggy about Cloud Technology, don’t feel too badly. According to a recent survey of one thousand adults by Wakefield Research over 50% of respondents believe that weather patterns have an impact on Cloud Computing! The reality is most of us are using the cloud whether we know it our not. Cloud Computing is a cost effect way for companies to have access to enterprise class infrastructure they may not be able to otherwise afford. The Cloud can lower capital expense for your business while helping you upgrade your IT Infrastructure.

So What is Cloud Computing and How Can Cloud Computing Help my Business? Here are a Few Ways you May Benefit.

Software as a Service

Software as a Service (SaaS) is a popular cloud based model for getting access to enterprise applications. Instead of having dedicated software running on your company premise you can opt for a cloud based version of your software running across the Internet. In most cases the Cloud option has the same features and performance as the “on premise” counterpart. There are many applications available in the Cloud including Customer Relationship Management (CRM), Sales Force Automation (SFA), Email and even Office Productivity Applications (e.g. Word, Excel, Powerpoint).

Cloud Backup

Cloud Backup or Remote Backup is another option for your business. Many companies rely on tape backup for their business. Cloud Backup provides an additional option for offsite backup and storage. Your application data, files and other important IT assets are stored across the internet using Cloud Backup. In many cases Cloud Backup Technology can back up as quickly as your local backup with the benefit of being stored off site in the event of a Disaster Recovery Scenario.

Virtual Servers

Virtual Servers are another way your company may benefit from the Cloud. A virtual server can be used for additional storage, file sharing, application hosting or for creating an image of your critical applications as failover for Business Continuity purposes to bring your entire company back online in a disaster recovery scenario. Virtual servers may provide the same performance as a dedicated server on premise with less hassle and overhead.

If you are still foggy about the cloud or not sure where to start, contact your IT Service Professional to discuss your business needs.