Future bright for cloud computing

06/09/09

The definition of cloud computing can be nebulous. Some call it utility computing, some refer to it as software-as-a-service, still others call it grid computing (which was actually its first name, denoted by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology). Gartner defines cloud computing as "a style of computing where scalable and elastic IT capabilities are provided as a service to multiple customers using Internet technologies." Sound simple enough?

Lose your data, lose your business – What's behind door No. 3?

04/28/09

Disasters, by definition, strike with little or no warning. Whether it's an extended power outage, a devastating storm, or some other unforeseen disruption, the most nerve-wracking part of owning a business is the unknown. But good news: we can prepare effectively to weather even the worst of storms. A solid disaster recovery (DR) plan can mean the difference between a business bouncing back from a catastrophe or closing for good.

Creative ways to fight data leaks

04/27/09

Data leakage has become a hot topic in information security. But what if you can't afford the tools that are specifically designed to keep employees from intentionally or mistakenly leaking private or valuable corporate data to the outside? It turns out there are some creative ways to use what you have (or can easily get) to tackle the problem.

Unified communications is here to stay

03/31/09

CDW's recent unified communications tracking poll found that 53% of businesses, government agencies and healthcare and educational institutions are either actively implementing or planning to implement UC solutions. In addition, of the organizations in the UC planning and implementation phases, 70% expect to complete their adoption within two years, despite the weak economy.

Is your business playing Russian Roulette with system availability?

03/06/09

Every year, I hear dozens of horror stories from customers about server and network outages and the resulting loss of data and productivity. For a brief moment, some network users may find an outage a bit charming, as older colleagues lean back and reflect, “This is the way it was back in the seventies – no Internet, no e-mail, not even a fax machine. Just typewriters, phones, and Uncle Sam’s mail.”

VPN security -- Do you know where your keys are?

02/25/09

Demand for mobile and remote access to small- and midsized business (SMB) networks has increased dramatically. Even the most basic VPN technologies are so accessible and affordable that there is no good reason for failing to utilize them. That said, the real question for SMBs is which type of VPN to implement: Standard IPSec or SSL?

Surges, outages, and blackouts -- oh my!

01/12/09

Ever been relaxing at home, in front of the television or working on your computer when suddenly the power went out? It's annoying to miss a favorite show or lose a project, but what is merely an annoyance in our personal lives can be costly and even fatal to the livelihood of small and midsize businesses (SMB).

Drive the goblins out of your converged network

10/30/08

Small businesses converging voice, video and data traffic sometimes end up with haunted networks, but you can exorcise the demons.

Disaster-recovery planning: Business insurance you can't live without

09/18/08

In our daily lives we try to protect ourselves from the worst. We buy insurance for our cars, homes and health and we safeguard personal information. Shouldn’t business owners and IT managers treat their networks and critical infrastructure the same way?

Do you WANt to optimize?

09/05/08

The explosion of corporate data and rich media has strained LANs and WANs alike, but with the latter it can be particularly costly to accommodate the new demands. That fact has given rise to a host of new WAN optimization technologies.

What servers and your clothes dryer have in common

09/04/08

With prices for many everyday goods on the rise, small and medium-size businesses are always looking for ways to cut costs and increase their return on investment (ROI). Even if “going green” hasn’t earned a spot on the IT staff’s priority list, there’s an easy solution to cutting power and cooling costs – and it’s no further away than the electrical outlets in your server room.

Complying with payment card security requirements

05/22/08

Compliance is one of those words that send chills down the spine, inspiring nightmares that involve blood-thirsty lawyers, courtrooms and large amounts of money. Handling customer credit card data is a serious responsibility with some attending requirements that are well worth understanding, but it needs not be all that scary for small retailers.

Bring me a password. Now bring me another and another ...

05/19/08

Chew on this statistic: Worldwide spending on identity and access management reached almost $3 billion in 2006, according to a 2007 IDC study of the authentication technology market. That's $3 billion to bridge the Internet Age moats around our castles, but it does not include the cost of aspirin for headaches that password issues cause network administrators and users alike every year.

Video teleconferencing: "Meet me half a world away – in five minutes"

05/09/08

Travel has become the bane of many companies' existence, thanks to escalating fuel and travel costs, unpredictable and increasingly frequent air travel delays and metropolitan gridlock. A face-to-face meeting can cost thousands of dollars and several hassle-filled days, yet small businesses often have customers at great distances.

Tighten your e-mail security

02/13/08

E-mail: we hate it, but we love it and need it. More than 80% of small business owners believe e-mail is a key to the success of their business, according to a recent survey by SurePayroll, an online payroll service.

A comprehensive data strategy will keep you out of the data swamp

01/17/08

As with everything else in business, data management requires a strategy for success. Developing a good strategy will save you time, money and heartache. Simply stated: it will make your life a lot easier.

Techno-sugarplums: IT’s holiday wish list

12/21/07

On the 12th day of IT, I gave to my boss: 12 workers whining, 11 computers crashing, 10 printers printing, 9 Windows updates, 8 phones a-ringing, 7 servers hanging, 6 vendors nagging, 5 worn out mice, 4 failing drives, 3 dead phones, 2 power spikes, and a bigger budget for IT.

Virtual IT is emerging reality for small businesses

11/26/07

Virtualization is a six-syllable (and very-high-Scrabble-value) word meaning “make the most of your IT hardware,” which is exactly what every small business wants to do. Until very recently, however, virtualization has primarily been a strategy for big organizations with large data centers, large IT budgets and -- especially -- the expert resources to implement it.

Unchain your computing power: Develop a wireless network plan

11/05/07

Computers empower today’s employees to do things that no individual could have accomplished a generation ago, but desktop technology does tend to chain workers to their desks. Small businesses are discovering that providing employees with mobile computing power increases the value and productivity of information technology and the employees themselves.

Options in optimizing

10/22/07

Ask business executives what tools they are focused on and eight out of 10 times they’ll say server optimization. It is little wonder why. Most servers are grossly underutilized, processing at a fraction of their potential capacity, while still eating up a nice chunk of your IT budget. By optimizing those underachieving servers, you can harness that capacity more effectively either to increase the business return on your IT infrastructure or reduce the investment and expense required to maintain it.

SSL VPNs a good option for remote access

10/08/07

Companies of all sizes recognize that remote access has the power to drive productivity, improve customer service and add agility to the corporate business model by allowing users timely and secure access to valuable resources regardless of location. Consider SSL VPNs.

Why tomorrow is too late to think about business continuity

09/26/07

Designing and implementing a functional business-continuity plan is a multimonth process. Here's what to consider.

VoIP update: What small and midsize businesses should consider

09/17/07

 Although the self-anointed tech-savvy often deride them, late adopters of technology sometimes have a distinct advantage in that they are working with proven, mature technologies. The key step for late adopters is knowing when the pendulum has swung from business risk to lost advantage and cost savings. For organizations yet to consider VoIP, please note that in this area, the pendulum is moving toward the latter very quickly.

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