Deciding If an Online Backup Service Is Right for You

As the world continues to increase the number of items they store digitally, it becomes more and more obvious that digital is easier. In many cases, you can access your digital information from almost any device that is able to access the internet. You can send and share files between multiple computers, users, and devices. However, there are a few drawbacks to everything being digital.
If you are like most people today, you rarely print out every document that is sent your way. This means that your only existing copy is on your computer. So, if your computer crashes, is destroyed, or stolen, unless you have taken the proper precautions, the files are gone forever.
But let's say that you did print off every file and document that was sent to you. Then you're safe, right? Wrong. Fires, flood, mildew, and more can happen to even physical documents. There really is only one way to make sure that your important files and documents are kept safe: backing them up.
Types of Backup
Whether you realize it or not, you probably know of at least one way to backup files. Most of us remember the old floppy disk. A backup method, very similar to the floppy disk, still exists today. These types of backup come in CDs or flash drives. And, while they can be an effective means of storing your important information, you have to realize that you are still at risk for losing the files. The very same incidents that can happen to physical documents can happen to these storage devices.
Online backup is different. Instead of using a physical item to store your important pictures, documents, and files, you store your information online. With an online backup service provider, your files and documents are stored at a remote location. The files are encrypted so that no one else can access them without your code, access to your files will be denied. Some providers even double encrypt your information, increasing the security.
How Online Backup Works
Essentially, you choose an online backup service provider that suits your needs. You choose whether or not you want your computer to perform a backup on scheduled days, which is the recommended method. However, you can send files and documents over individually, if you don't receive or store information regularly.
If your computer is damaged, stolen, or lost, there are no worries. Since your information is on a remote server, all you have to do is access your information from the server with your code. You can then download the files to your new computer, having the most up-to-date information that you sent.
Why Online Backup is So Popular
The biggest reason that online backup has become so popular is because you never have to worry about whether or not your information is safe. It can never be stolen. It cannot be damaged or lost. Even if the remote site experiences a disaster, most backup service providers have a secondary site, just in case.
However, there are other reasons that many have turned to online backup. It is both affordable and convenient. Unlike a disk storage system, you never have to remember to perform a backup. You simply set a schedule up and your computer performs the backup automatically. You can do this as often as daily or as little as you want, depending on your special needs.
Finding the Right Online Backup Service Provider
Since online backup has become so popular amongst computer users, more and more online backup service providers have surfaced over the years. Now, there are just too many to count. This can make choosing one seem like an impossible task. And, while you could try to compile a list of different providers and the specifics of their services, you may not even know what you are looking for or where to begin.
Your best bet may be to consult one of several online backup review sites. These sites summarize and compare the various backup providers all in one place. They have taken the time to do the work of comparing backup services for you. They have selected the top online backup service providers and compared them, side-by-side.
Learning How to Decide Which Online Backup Service Provider is Right for You
Even with all of the information standing side-by-side, you still may not know exactly what you are looking for, especially if you have never heard of online backup services. Everything may sound the same or you may not understand the benefits of each service provided by the individual companies. The experts at Remoteonlinebackup.net do more than just review the different online backup service providers and list their information. They take the time to explain the decision process. They help you recognize which factors are important when choosing an online backup service provider.
Factors like cost, ease of recovery, program specifications, ease of recovery, ease of use, and security should all be considered. You'll also need to consider your own needs and how to determine your backup schedule.
Jason Kay runs a small home business and backs up all his files remotely. He recommends using a Carbonite offer code to save 10% off the cost of service.

Lost Data Recovery? Do It With Online Tools and Software

Deleting files by accident, whether accompanied by negligence or simply because of unintentional circumstances, does not happen all the time. But the thing is, it does happen. Most people have committed the mistake of accidentally deleting important files, causing them a great deal of alarm, panic and worry.
Good thing there are now many tools for disc recovery you can use in order to retrieve the files accidentally deleted. You don't have to be a data recovery specialist or a computer technician in order to accomplish lost data recovery. You don't have to look far; right here in the worldwide web you'll find what you're looking for.
There are countless of websites put up precisely for the reason of helping people like you who need solutions to potential technological fiascos. With the tools these websites offer, as well as the series of tips you can also find online, you can complete a much-need hard disk data recovery with ease and confidence.
A good hard drive recovery software package can go a long way. This is exactly what can save the day when you've suddenly or unexpectedly lost files stored in your precious computer by any of the following ways: emptying the recycle bin, reformatting the hard drive without performing the necessary changes that are crucial to keeping the files (such as saving the files or moving them to a new location), virus and other malware attacks, improper shutting down of your computer (which may be due to personal fault or power failure), the existence of bad tracks in the hard drive (which prevents the computer from reading that part of the drive where bad tracks exist), overwriting of the hard drive, and many others.
The data recovery products you can find circulating the Internet these days usually cost somewhere between $27.00 to $100.00 Tools or software packages falling under this price range are already considered fair game, services that you can trust. Of course, not all programs are the same as far as their effectiveness is concerned.
It's best to check out all the available features of the software packages that tickle your fancy before finally deciding on that one product to go for. Every tool has its own share of pros and cons, so it's only fair to read reviews from real users and avail of trial periods in order to know which one really works for you and your computer.
Getting a software package that can do lost data recovery is not always a good thing. You really have to do your share of the homework, which is to find out which among the products and services being sold online can be relied on to deliver their promises.
It's better to be safe than sorry, so they say, so make sure to spend time (even if it takes a lot of effort) to browse through the web and do some background research on the tool you're vying for. This way, you can keep yourself away from possible scams that will not only disappoint you but steal your money.
There is a whole lot more information about recovery tools and software. Just visit http://getdatarecoverytips.com/ and see all of the FREE information on data recovery today!

How To Retrieve Lost Word Files

Sometimes you may delete a file accidentally but after that you realized that you need that file. Searching in the recycle bin gives no result; in that case you feel very bad or get angry with yourself. A Word document offers user flexible and customizable features. Word files are used by people for different purposes. Its flexible features allow users to create projects, reports, dissertation and other such documents easily and smoothly. There are some situations when users are not able to access some particular word file format, shows some unreadable text,.doc file is not found or missing etc. In such cases users get confused what they should have to do and fears to loss data. But you need not to worry about your data which you have lost or inaccessible. Word documents corrupt due to many reasons among them some are virus attack, template corruption, fast saving files, complex nested tables, improper shut down of your system or power failure. Avoiding such situation and saving your word document you can properly access and keep word document safely inside your system.
It is better to keep a backup of your important files to minimize the risk of lost. But we do not want to do so because people getting too busy now a days. So in our busy life we sometimes forgot to keep a backup of these files and finally when files gets corrupt we search for some believable and affordable word file recovery software. These tools are specially used to recover deleted, corrupted and inaccessible word files. The word recovery software is so effective and reliable that you can even recover your word file which has been deleted long time ago. Word file recovery software repairs your damaged or corrupted files and safely brings your lost/ corrupted and virus infected files in original working state. It is advisable that select that software which one is easily compatible with your Operating System as well as MS word.
There are some characteristics that should include in a word file recovery software:
User-friendly: User-friendly interface is one of the most important characteristics of software. Software should be easy to use and accessible by common people.
Usability: The software should be useful for users so that for which purpose they are buying, it can fulfill their motive.
Reliability: It is the potentiality of a computer program to accomplish its intended operations and functions in a system's environment without testing failure.
Security: the software should securely recover your corrupted or lost data in the original format.
There are so many file recovery software are available in the market but it is most important for you which one will best suit to your system. Before purchasing data recovery software users should download the demo version from the software vendor's website. If the software best suit to your system and can recover your desired word file, step ahead and buy the full version of it.

MS SQL Backup

MS SQL backup software is a must for today's global business especially one that features preset functions. Businesses demand massive amounts of data and communication recording which are crucial for company operations and processes. This is needed to avoid system problems. However, expertise is needed in this matter. SQL server offers three full and simple recovery methods. Wise choice on the best method to use that will fit the needs of any business is required. How does one identify the right backup method?
The best way is look for one that backs up MS SQL is with the aid of Microsoft API. More advanced than ordinary database backup, this allows for very accurate backup of data-views, stored procedures and indexes and stored user data. Before making a software purchase, the right software that complies with the necessary requirements must be selected. This should backup the MS SQL server version that the company is currently using.
The software should also be able to backup MS SQL without the need to stop its services to allow for continuous business flow. MS SQL operations must continue to assure continuous income. It must be noted that this software that requires stoppage of services could lead to income loss which must be avoided. Optimal program features must include data compression, encryption, scheduler, automatic MS SQL recovery, running MS SQL backup in Windows service mode, and tools for data recording in different types of storage media such as HD, DVD and Blu-Ray.
Backup Exec 2010 offers top practices for Microsoft SQL Server. Backing up the whole server, excluding all database files from anti-virus scan, running consistency checks before or after backup and after every SQL restore are some of these best practices. Ask for quotes from the different suppliers of SQL Backup to enjoy the best backup quality at the lowest price. An optimal MS SQL service backup program is a must especially for small companies that have just started running their server on their own.
Company data should be preserved and protected at all costs, and making use of the best software is the greatest means to achieve this. One that assures ease of usage, simplifies restoring of data and stores backups in remote locations is the best tool. Whatever happens in the office location be it a storm, fire, water damage, theft or virus attack, this will give the best protection. In the end, lawsuits, customer dissatisfaction, employee grievances will be avoided.
Discover which MS SQL Backup has the "Must Have" features. Visit http://www.druva.com/ and find out what features are needed before you purchase any backup program.

How to Improve Business Data Storage

Most businesses, whether large or small, rely heavily on their ability to manage data effectively. Without it, they simply cannot provide an effective service. In today's world, we are becoming more and more data-reliant, and businesses need to keep pace with this. So, how can businesses improve their data sharing and storage to meet the needs of modern business?
The answer seems to be cloud computing. Standard IT infrastructure in most businesses involves the use of a server connected to multiple clients, with applications and software bought and licensed for all the users in the network. This works well, but it has a few major drawbacks. Firstly, there is often costly hardware and software to be maintained, taking up staff time and money. It can also be inflexible, as to access files saved on the network, users need to be able to access it directly. It can also overload if too many users try to access the same application at once.
Many of these problems can be overcome by using cloud services instead. Cloud services aren't perfect, but they do help to solve many of the issues that using more traditional methods of data storage can present. Cloud services are inherently flexible, giving users the freedom to access data on the move, from laptops and mobile devices, or from their home PCs, easily. They allow easy sharing of data, which helps staff co-operate and can increase productivity.
To make the most of cloud services and their ability to improve data storage, businesses should tread carefully initially. There are some ongoing security concerns about many cloud services. They may be especially vulnerable to attack, and data protection laws have not yet kept up with the new technology. However, the potential is huge - so it's certainly worth dipping a toe in. A wide variety of different types of cloud applications are available from various suppliers, so it really is just a case of seeing what is available and trying things out. Eventually, businesses could move to an entirely cloud-based network, but they don't need to do so immediately. Some businesses could take advantage of cloud software for particular functions. For example, a cloud-based customer relationship management system helps sales staff communicate faster and more efficiently. A cloud based accounting system helps businesses ensure that all accounts are up to date and that they are always working from the same, correct, information. Across the board, cloud data storage can help businesses become more efficient and responsive.
Next Connex specialise in bespoke data centre solutions, desktop virtualisation & cloud services for businesses throughout the UK, leading the way in the next generation of data storing and connectivity. For more information on the range of services available from Next Connex visit http://www.nextconnex.com/

RAID-5 Data Recovery Depends on Doing This, Not That

In many cases that eventually come before a data recovery lab, the essential information for a small business, a school district or an organization is stored centrally on a black or silver box in some dim room filled with whirring fans, colorful cables and little blinking lights. The box itself may say something like Buffalo DriveStation, Seagate BlackArmor, or Western Digital ShareSpace, but in any case, it is often a RAID-5 storage device that is trusted with holding the network's data.
Most RAID devices were designed and built for data reliability. RAID stands for Redundant Array of Inexpensive Disks (or later Independent Disks). And the technology, which was developed at the University of California, Berkeley, allows enough redundancy of the data that if one hard drive in the system fails, the information it contained can be reconstructed from the remaining hard drives.
RAID-5 devices not only offer this redundant data reliability, they spread the data in such a way that it can be read and used faster. In terms of hard drive technology, they are high performance machines, offering both greater speed and greater resistance to data loss.
But they have their limits. The cases that come to data recovery labs widely varied, but for the sake of example, let's say the read/write heads of one of the drives in a RAID-5 device can no longer detect the magnetic rails that would guide them along the tracks of data, so they instead click back and forth uselessly. Because of the clever redundancy built into the device, the machine can keep limping along, running in a degraded state as it reconstructs the failed drive's data by logical analysis of the remaining drives. Perhaps some people notice that things aren't as quick as before, but this situation persists for months until a second drive burns out the chip that controls its drive motor.
Now, the IT person in charge of the network is in a panic, since none of the data is accessible. In the repair efforts that ensue, a new hard drive is inserted into the device, a remaining drive is reformatted, and all the hard drives have been taken out of the device and put back in the wrong order. Meanwhile, a whole organization's most important data is inaccessible. It's a horrible situation.
At this point no one, obviously, wants to hear about what would have been the best solution - which is prevention by automatic remote data backup. So it's off to the recovery lab in the desperate hope that what was lost can be recovered.
If you are in the cold-sweat inducing stages of data loss on your RAID-5 systems, there is some useful advice, provided it's still timely. First, if your data is not accessible, you should never rebuild the array; this will not repair anything. It will take the current state of affairs and make it permanent. Another common mistake is to force drives back online after an observation that only one of three drives or two of four drives are up. The RAID controller took these drives offline for a reason. They're probably failed drives. When you force these drives online, data on the healthy drives likely will be corrupted. Worse, file system repair utilities will start seeing this mess and will start "repairing" all recent data. The effect is that the most critical data on the healthy drives will be gone. The best thing to do when your RAID-5 fails is to back out of that dim room with the blinking lights and the colorful cables and call a recovery lab.
At the few top data recover labs in the country, engineers and computer scientists have pioneered techniques for RAID recovery cases. Successful RAID-5 recoveries depend on reassembling the logical structure of the file system, which is necessary to get meaningful data back from a failed RAID device.
In the example above, after replacing the damaged read/write heads and calibrating them to read the platters, they would create full binary copies of all the drives in the system. They would look at each drive independently with a binary hex editor, which shows where the 1s and 0s lie, to determine how the data was being divided or striped among the drives and in what order. Each RAID controller is different, and it's a logic puzzle to determine how the data was being handled and what the file structure was before the system failed.
It would be crucial to determine which drive failed first. As mentioned earlier, RAID systems depend on a logic calculation to store their redundant data. It's called an "exclusively or" binary operator. You might intuitively expect that if you had four disks full of data that you'd need another four disks to have a redundant copy. But the "exclusively or" binary operator is a clever way to allow four disks to have their data redundantly stored on one disk. But to reconstruct data using this operator, it's necessary to understand in what order the disks failed and exactly how data was being written to them.
Only after all this analysis, and a correct diagnosis on the drive failure order, could data recovery experts begin to write the code that would rebuild this data system. They would then test their hypothesis by checking the integrity of a large recent file and proceed to reassemble all the pieces in the puzzle into one contiguous physical volume.
RAID-5 systems have a lot of appeal: speed, reliability and ease of use. Many organizations trust them to hold up the entire network's data without employing an automatic remote backup system. That puts a great deal of faith in the idea that your RAID-5 device will never fail. If it does, don't let panic complicate matters - there is good reason to hope for a successful RAID-5 data recovery with the right data recovery lab.
Lee Sensenbrenner is a former journalist and speech writer in Madison, Wis. with technical expertise and a background in math and works in the data recovery industry.

How Cloud Services Are Changing the Way Businesses Work

Cloud services are a flexible way for businesses to develop, maintain and scale services without the need to invest in physical equipment or infrastructure. Both small and large-scale businesses are able to use cloud computing to change the way they work, opting for a more flexible and cost-effective alternative online.
What Cloud Services are available?
Cloud files
Store documents and media files in the cloud to share with others or as a backup. Files and folders can be kept private or made public and shared instantly. Large files no longer need to be sent to a recipient, they can be shared online and the recipient chooses to view the document in the browser, or download it directly to their computer.
Cloud server
A Cloud Server allows businesses to have root access to their server and run any program they want, without the restrictions placed on shared servers. A new server can be set up within minutes rather than having to wait for new equipment to arrive. When no longer needed, the server can be deleted and payment stopped.
Cloud Platform
Businesses can develop their own applications and services to run in the cloud, benefiting from the ability to get the product to market faster, and scale the product or service as demand changes.
The benefits of Cloud Computing
Scalability
Businesses can adjust their requirements quickly and easily according to changing business needs, paying only for what they use.
Ease of access
Sharing files with employees, colleagues or customers in different locations can be done securely online. The files and documents can be accessed via a computer, mobile phones, iPad etc.
Cost savings
Businesses do not need to invest in new equipment which becomes redundant when business volume decreases and staff costs are reduced. Furthermore, maintenance costs are eradicated having no internal hardware required in order to store and share data within a business.
Maintenance Free
The provider of the cloud services, not the business, is responsible for maintaining and upgrading equipment.
Mobility
Employees can access information from anywhere, at any time of the day or night. Employers can offer more flexible working arrangements and telecommuting positions, or hire remote workers who are able to access the necessary files online.
The very nature of cloud computing provides a number of advantages so that it can be used exclusively, or in combination with existing, physical infrastructure. It gives end users more control with faster, more cost-effective solutions to their computing needs.
Cloud services are a flexible way for businesses to develop, maintain and scale services without the need to invest in physical equipment or infrastructure. Both small and large-scale businesses are able to use cloud computing to change the way they work, opting for a more flexible and cost-effective alternative online.

RAID Data Recovery - What You Should Know

RAID data recovery is a technology that provides increased storage functions and reliability for emergencies where data is lost. It is a form of backup, where data is copied on a series of drives so that when one fails, the data would not be lost as it could be accessed on the other drives. Originally, RAID stood for Redundant Array of Inexpensive Disks, where the data would be stored in cheap disks. However, the word Inexpensive was replaced with Independent to remove the impression that RAID was a cheap and therefore low-quality storage solution.
RAID data recovery is now used as an all-inclusive term that refers to computer data storage that use replication of data on multiple physical drives as a solution to data loss. These disks are in a RAID array, which is accessed by the operating system as one single disk.
There are two main types of damage that RAID data recovery seeks to rectify. The first is logical damage, where a problem such as a power outage cuts of a disk when data writing is midway. This will means that the pattern of data on the disk will not match the structure that is expected, thus causing problems when it comes to handling and even reading the disk. The solution in this case will involve software, where a program will formulate a way for the data to be arranged correctly.
The second type of damage is physical, where the disk is damaged on its surface. In such a case, RAID data recovery will attempt to replace the minimal amount of the disk surface so that the drive is readable. This method will mostly result in the loss of some of the data, but ultimately, it is meant to retrieve as much data as possible.
Alternatively, special programs can collect all the data which remains on the drive, including that which cannot be accessed by a standard operating system. After this the data is compiled into a disk image files that can be written to a new drive that is meant to be as close as possible to the original.
However, one big problem with the RAID data recovery system is that it works with the assumption that the drives will usually fail at effectively random times. This is not always true, and many times multiple drives will fail in quick succession in a RAID setup. This is especially so when the drives come from the same original production batch.
In addition, most people who use a RAID setup will tend not to have a rigorous backup as with drives that are not supported. This is because the costs of backing up the individual disks in a RAID setup can outweigh the savings of using RAID data recovery. This results in users depending solely on RAID Data Recovery in the event that enough disks are damaged to affect the entire system.
When you opt for a RAID data recovery service, ensure that you check the pricing structure so that you pick one that begins recovery after the price is agreed upon.
Looking for more a reliable backup email option? Check out backup email services for more details.

Security Measures for Your WordPress Blog

All bloggers want to secure their blogs from hackers. As we know that WordPress is one of the most used Content Management System (CMS), it is a main target for hackers. If your site gets lot of visitors and have many readers, then hackers will target your site and steal personal information. They may also delete all your database. So we need to take some security measures to prevent our WordPress blog from being hacked.
Below are some tips which you can use to secure your WordPress blog.
* Do regular Backups:
This is the most important tip of all. You must Backup your WordPress blog every week or two. There are many plugins in WordPress which can do the backup for you. In case, if your site gets hacked and the hacker removes all the files from your host. Then you may restore your WordPress blog easily.
* Change Passwords:
You need to change your WordPress blog's and Hosting account's Password every month or two. Choose a secure password which consists of numbers, symbols and capital letters.
* Keep your WordPress blog up to date:
As soon as a WordPress upgrade is released, take time to upgrade your blog because the new version may have some security fixes. Also keep your plugins up to date.
* Install Security Plugins:
At present, there are many plugins in WordPress which concern about your blog's security. I suggest using "Login LockDown". This plugin adds some extra security to WordPress by restricting the rate at which failed logins can be re-attempted from a given IP range. So you don't need to worry about Password guessers.
* Password Protect your WP-Admin Folder:
Many hackers can easily hack your site if you don't apply Password to WP-Admin Folder because it is the main folder which contains top secret information of your blog
To make WP-Admin Folder password protected, follow the simple tutorial below.
* Login to your hosting's cpanel account.
* Scroll down to find the "Security" section.
* Click on "Password Protect Directories".
* Click on the "WP-Admin" Folder name.
* Create a username and password and save the settings.
* Apply "No Index" to WP-Content-Plugins Folder:
You need to apply No Index to WP-Content-Plugins Folder to prevent the plugin files from being indexed.
To apply "No Index" to WP-Content-Plugins Folder, follow the simple tutorial below.
* Login to your hosting's cpanel account.
* Scroll to the bottom of the page to find the "Advanced" section.
* Click on "Index Manager".
* Click on the icon beside "WP-Content" Folder name. Don't click on WP-Content Folder name directly because it will prevent Search Engines from indexing your content.
* Now click on "Plugins" Folder name.
* Then select "No Indexing" and save the settings.
* Scan your website with Virus Scanner:
* In the same "Advanced" section, click on "Virus Scanner".
* Select "Scan Entire Home Directory" and click on Scan Now.
Did I miss some security measures? If yes, please let me know via comments and I will include them in this post.
Hi I am Naser from Best Tips For Blogging
From more tips and tricks and blogging help, visit Best Tips For Blogging.

The Rise of Cloud Services

It seems that in 2011 you cannot avoid mention of the Cloud. It is the latest fashionable development in IT and all the large manufacturers have been quick to jump onto this bandwagon. Most of the major IT companies now offer a Cloud services solution, but how many of us know and understand what is behind the hype?
What is the Cloud
At its most basic level, the Cloud is a collection of computer systems which appear as one entity to you, irrespective of locations. Most of the big Cloud computing services offer seamless access to a computing platform that uses multiple datacentres. These datacentres are often miles apart and can even be in different countries and even different continents.
The customer usually pays for the service that it uses, often in terms of processor or memory usage. Applications run on virtual machines that are independent of a physical host server, so can move quickly to other hardware or even another datacentre in the event of a problem.
The benefits it provides
Cloud services aim to allow customers to rapidly increase or decrease their computer usage, and hence costs, with demand. Many businesses, particularly in the retail sector, have significantly more computing demands at certain times of the year. To meet these demands, a company would need to have lots of computer power sat idle for most of the year or bring in computers for a short time.
Cloud services allow companies to leverage the vast computing power available from the suppliers but only pay for what they use. At times when demand increases, the Cloud services supplier allows customers to meet that demand but use less for the rest of the year.
Private and Public Clouds
Not only can you get Cloud services from a public supplier that is available over the internet, but it is also possible to build a private cloud that is only for your company. You could even sell any spare capacity to bring in an extra revenue stream for the business.
Accessing the Cloud
Most companies that use a Cloud services supplier access it over the internet or a leased-line connection to the datacentre. This allows employees and customers to access the Cloud applications from anywhere in the world. However, unlike applications that you install onto your pc or local server, any disruption to your network can prevent access to the applications and stop productivity. This can be avoided by having more than one internet connections to provide resilience - perhaps a landline and a wireless connection for an office. The Cloud services will normally come from more than one datacentre, so if one goes down completely your application and data will still be available.
Other Considerations
Many companies are queuing up to host your Cloud-based applications, but you might require technical assistance to migrate your existing infrastructure to the Cloud. The best approach might be to migrate one application or service at a time rather than do everything at the same time.
Backups and other standard datacentre services will be part of the package from the Cloud supplier. Ensure that you check over any contracts to get the level of service you require.
Migrating applications and services to the Cloud will give your resilience and protect your important data and applications without spending vast amounts of money to upgrade your existing infrastructure. The size of these suppliers can bring you additional cost savings and reduce your IT support staff overheads by doing all of the technical work for you.
Next Connex specialise in bespoke data centre solutions, desktop virtualisation & cloud services for businesses throughout the UK, leading the way in the next generation of data storing and connectivity. For more information on the range of services available from Next Connex visit http://www.nextconnex.com/

How Can Cloud Services Work for Business?

The new IT buzzword on everyone's lips at the moment is 'cloud computing'. Cloud services, we are told, will eventually completely take over from traditional forms of data storage, for both personal and business users. But what is cloud computing, and how can it meet the needs of modern business?
Cloud computing is touted as a replacement to standard local area networks with a client-server set-up. Most businesses use client-server set-ups to ensure that all their users have access to the files and applications that they need to do their jobs. Ever-faster internet and a general move towards the use of online services has led to the development of the term 'cloud computing', to mean any online service that allows people to store and share data anywhere they like, rather than being reliant on accessing a particular network or PC. Services like Google docs are effectively cloud computing on a simple level. A particular user's cloud will include anything they store in online networks (from personal data to social media updates), and will connect to others' clouds.
What about cloud services for business? Many of the cloud services intended for personal users are not always useful to business. That's where specialist business cloud services come in. Eager to capitalise on this brave new world of cloud computing, IT companies are developing a whole raft of cloud applications for business data storage and sharing. The advantage for businesses of using cloud applications over traditional applications is that they are available from anywhere, at any time, without the need for any physical software or severs. In other words, they meet the needs of an increasingly mobile, globalised workforce perfectly.
Of the most use to the majority of businesses are storage and backup services. These vary, but they are intended to allow users to store and back up all their files to the cloud, so that they can be accessed at any time by anyone. A member of staff who works from home would be able to access them just as easily as someone in the office would, just as they might log in to a webmail account. They should allow businesses to personalise privacy options and set up automatic synchronisation and emergency backup. Specialist applications are available too for particular business functions, such as finance applications and CRM systems. Each business can cherry-pick the applications which are right for them, creating their own personal cloud in just the same way as a home user would.
Next Connex specialise in bespoke data centre solutions, desktop virtualisation & cloud services for businesses throughout the UK, leading the way in the next generation of data storing and connectivity. For more information on the range of services available from Next Connex visit http://www.nextconnex.com/

What Are Cloud Services and How Can They Help Your Business?

Cloud services provide an alternative means to managing your IT infrastructure in-house. They allow you to manage your data storage and archiving, web and email hosting, databases, software applications, document storage, email, training videos and much more online.
Traditionally all this information and activity was stored and managed on your server or hard drive and you needed to install software applications onto individual computers to allow you to access them. Cloud computing takes away the need to invest in more hardware as your business expands, employ the services of IT technicians or manually install and upgrade software on individual computers.
Put simply the 'cloud' relates to the internet. By investing in cloud services you pay for space in the cloud to manage your computer data. You, and your employees, can then access the cloud as you need to, only paying for the services you use, accessing applications as you need them, and increasing or scaling down your capacity as you need to. End-users no longer need to have the technical expertise to manage, monitor, maintain or support IT.
The advantages of cloud services are that you can access your data and software applications from any computer, laptop, smartphone or other device wherever you are in the world, as long as you have access to the internet. Because cloud services work by pooling computing resources, there are reduced costs and you are no longer limited to the expertise of your own IT department or hardware capacity.
Another important advantage is disaster recovery. By storing your data in a geographically remote environment you are reducing the risk of losing it should anything happen to your business premises or server.
However you need to read service level agreements very carefully to ensure you understand what services you are paying for. There may be hidden costs for example for data transfers, meta data functions or copying and deleting files. You must ensure your cloud services provider can guarantee the necessary levels of security, privacy and data compliance for your company. Once the agreement has been terminated, what happens to your files? Who is responsible for removing the data?
Cloud services are an increasingly attractive option for small to medium sized businesses as they allow them to invest in just the right level of services they need with flexibility for growth, however for larger businesses the long-term value of pay-as-you-go services needs to be balanced against investment in in-house services.
Next Connex specialise in bespoke data centre solutions, desktop virtualisation & cloud services for businesses throughout the UK, leading the way in the next generation of data storing and connectivity. For more information on the range of services available from Next Connex visit http://www.nextconnex.com/

What Is Network Attached Storage?

Network attached storage (NAS) is a means of storing large computer data while being attached to a network of different computers. Network Attached Storage has increasingly been becoming more popular in recent years with its convenient and effective way of centralizing stored data and sharing computer data between a myriad of computers.
Years ago, floppy drives were more commonly used for mobile data storage. However, as the world progresses more into the digital age, even an average person's requirements for electronic data storage can no longer be contained in a floppy disk. Not even several floppy disks. The advent of both personal and work files, copies of pictures, MP3s, downloaded movies had definitely pushed floppy drives into irrelevancy due to their small storage capacities. And this is just for your average Joe on the street. So imagine the data storage requirements of medium-sized companies employing several computers across how many floors.
Need had always been the mother of all inventions, and as such NAS was developed and crept its way to our doors. NAS offered an alternative to the traditional file server approach by providing an effective system which is especially made for storing large amounts of data. Furthermore, NAS is sometimes referred to as a computer appliance - a computer specifically set up from the bottom up for storing files. NAS usually does not have a keyboard or uses a display. It is controlled over the network, normally by using a browser. NAS systems can contain one or more hard disks that are logically arranged. It can also contain redundant storage containers called RAID arrays. Computers in the network access data stored in NAS over an Ethernet connection. The IP address of the head device appears as a single node in the network. NAS systems aims for smooth, dependable operation and usually includes safety features such as disk space quotas, automated email alerts if there are errors detected, sometimes it may also contain secure authentication. NAS can store almost any types of data that are in the form of files. Files such as web content, email boxes and remote system backups. In a way, NAS pretty much provides the same services as that of traditional file servers.
NAS is not only useful for industrial uses in the office. In recent years, as the prices of NAS went down, NAS for home use had also been increasingly popular. As previously mentioned above, data storage requirements of a person has drastically increased in recent years. In addition, a typical household now contains more than one compute. These days, homes usually have a 1:1 ratio computer/laptop ownership. This allows NAS another avenue for its services. In any case, NAS is not just for standard centralized storage. Via its huge storage-providing services, NAS can also pave the way to enable much lower cost systems. This can include, but is not limited to, fault tolerant email and web-server emails. The best NAS in the market also well-suited for home-use is usually built upon PowerPC, ARM, or MIPS processors that usually run under an embedded Linux operating system.

The Flexibility of Cloud Services

A true breakthrough in business IT solutions, cloud services are steadily being adopted by a growing number of businesses wishing to benefit from their flexibility, accessibility and cost effectiveness. The ease with which they can be integrated with existing IT infrastructures has been an influential factor in their widespread implementation.
Many large and long established businesses have understandably kept their existing in-house servers, unwilling to completely change their business IT infrastructure, while utilising storage for specific tasks. Rather than replace their existing storage network, businesses have turned to the cloud as a way to complement their existing storage network, which it can do in a number of ways.
Cloud storage is particularly useful for data archiving. The huge amount of sensitive data a business must handle securely and efficiently calls for an excellent data archiving and storage system. Cloud storage within a private cloud is a great choice with a reputable provider as it is the external provider who takes control of the data archiving, backup and protection.
Having the data stored securely offsite means a reduction in the hardware upgrades and expansion needed to handle the ever growing data files in-house. This makes storing data within a cloud very cost effective, removing the cost of maintaining on-premise storage capability and capacity. Cloud services also free up time for IT department s to focus on in-house issues.
Of course, cloud storage can also be used in the reverse way to the example given. A business may elect to store their most sensitive mission critical data using their in-house server, while archiving the less crucial and sensitive data using an external cloud storage provider. There really is complete flexibility regarding the integration of cloud storage with a business' existing IT infrastructure.
As with cloud storage, cloud computing can be integrated with existing legacy computing systems, with only selected applications being delivered by the external service provider, such as business email for example. Again, the more mission critical applications can be entrusted to a reputable service provider, or they can be kept in-house while the service provider delivers less sensitive and important applications.
Having applications requiring enhanced accessibility, such as business email, delivered by an external cloud service provider is a sound decision, as the online cloud platform can easily be accessed using a wide range of hardware from anywhere across the globe.
Cloud services are here to stay and every forward thinking company should consider how cloud storage or computing could benefit their business.
Next Connex specialise in bespoke data centre solutions, desktop virtualisation & cloud services for businesses throughout the UK, leading the way in the next generation of data storing and connectivity. For more information on the range of services available from Next Connex visit http://www.nextconnex.com/

What Is Important to Your Business?

Start by identifying the kinds of information you would probably store on your network. I foresee a client list, proposals, contracts, documentation, work-related pictures, and financial data. All this data probably resides on one computer and if you have a file server, you would probably store the data there.
I advocate backing up mission-critical data offsite. This protects the data in case a theft, fire, or other disaster physically strikes your office. If that happened, you could restore the data and resume operations elsewhere.
Natural disasters happen. It's time for a quiz. Which disasters happened after January 1, 2000?
· A tsunami strikes Indonesia.
· Two hijacked airplanes crash into New York City.
· A hurricane and levee failures destroy New Orleans.
· A chemical plant in Massachusetts explodes. Buildings within a half mile are knocked off their foundations.
· A power failure in the northeast U.S. affects 40 million people.
· A fire closes downtown San Diego.
· A flood closes Nashville.
The answer: all.
Nobody is isolated from natural disasters. I am in California gold country. I hope fires won't sweep down the Sierra Nevada foothills. My friends to the west hope the dams won't break and flood Sacramento County. Backing up offsite gives you one less thing to worry about if a disaster were to happen and if it did, you could easily retrieve your data.
Intentional disasters happen.
Sometimes disasters are intentional. A local business in a prestigious business park was victim to a theft. Somebody broke in, took their large-screen TVs, computers and backups, and left. This company did not have any offsite backups. I learned of this theft when sheriff's deputies asked the victim's neighbor, a customer of mine, for any outside video surveillance recordings. I do not know if that business remained in business.
Accidental disasters happen
Sometimes disasters are accidental. I once overwrote my QuickBooks company file, which holds several years' worth of financial data. I realized this mistake quickly. I merely renamed my defective QuickBooks company file, connected to my offsite backup provider, and restored a previous version of that same file. There was no need for prayer; there was no profanity involved.
I have a customer where a man with 10% ownership of the firm deleted nearly one billion bytes of data from the server and then walked out. Without backups of this data, they could have been out of business within a month. I simply connected to the customer's server and then restored the data from the firm's offsite backup provider.
Pay or free offsite backups
Offsite backups are a growing field. I use a service that charges $5 per month for each billion bytes of data. This is equal to a 50,000-page book. I've also seen some offers for free offsite backups. I have never enrolled a client in one of these services.
Would you trust your valuable business data to a free backup service?
That is what many unsuspecting small and mid-size businesses are doing these days. The promise of unlimited space for a backup at little to no cost in some instances seems too good to be true, and it is. There are many companies out there promising to back up your data for free. Now, as a small business owner yourself I ask you, what would happen if you gave away your products and services for free? You would not be in business for very long.
While some of these companies are promising to back up your data for pennies, there are other companies out there offering online backup software for a bit higher of a price, and some people just can't seem to figure out why there is such a difference.
As businesses have been seeing a rise in the need for more efficient backup and disaster recovery policies, the market has seen a number of companies rise up to help fill this void. How do you choose which company to back up your valuable business data?
Here are a few things to look for when selecting an online backup service:
Protecting data and technologies onsite. With technology there will always be a need for technical support. You need to be sure that the company you are doing business with offers technical support both over the phone and through e-mail. Although many of the cheap/free services say they offer support, good luck getting any when you need it. I know of some that back up data to Vietnam. Good luck calling them. The service I resell is the second online backup company I've used. The first could not keep track of my accounts. I was their largest reseller in California at the time...I took my business elsewhere and found a service that has proven to be very reliable.
Security. Security comes into play with online backup in many ways. First and foremost, you need to make sure that the company you choose to do business with offers high levels of encryption. Encryption can come into play when the backup is started on the end user side; it should be sent to the company using an SSL connection and the company should not keep a copy of your encryption key. You will be safest with a company that is upfront and tells you that they DO NOT keep a copy of your encryption key. This insures that they are within compliance and that nobody can access your data unless they are authorized to do so by having your encryption key. Many of the cheap or free services will maintain a copy of the encryption key within their servers, which is not considered secure at all.
Redundancy. If you are choosing a company to back up your data, wouldn't you expect that company to practice what they preach? For maximum security and protection, you should be sure that the company you have backing you up is backing up themselves. As a backup company, one data center-or in some cases, a couple of servers-in their closet is simply not enough. If you want to be sure that your data is available to you when you need it, you should work with a company that backs itself up. The service I use has redundant servers near Boston and Los Angeles.
Data retention. What would happen if you accidentally deleted a file on your computer that you were backing up and didn't realize it until a few weeks later? If you are working with a viable online backup company you would be able to get that file back. However, with many of the cheap/free online backup services, if you were to delete a file on your end, they would delete it within their servers in as little as a few weeks and sometimes days. Because these cheap services have very little revenue coming in to support the cost of doing business, they need to find ways to keep the usage down on their servers. A service that might cost a little bit more will retain data on their end until you tell the backup software it is time to delete the files.
Bandwidth utilization. Bandwidth (speed potential) has a cost. In the instance of the cheap online backup services, they limit the amount of data and speed of uploads and downloads in order to minimize cost. With a legitimate online backup service, you will be allowed to transfer as much data as you need without incurring any slowdowns or penalties.
SQL and Exchange. Many businesses today are using SQL servers and Exchange servers and require that this vital part of their business is backed up. Some services will charge additional fees for SQL and Exchange and some will not even offer them as options. You will need to find a service that supports backing up of both SQL and Exchange without additional cost.
You Need to Know When Backups Are Working
Most online backup providers these days send notifications of backups. Notifications arrive in my e-mail and look like this:
This is an automatic message from your backup service.
Username: markgermanos
Computer ID: 0000
The "Poweredge Backup" backup finished.
Files In Set: 5706
Files Backed Up: 42
Data Sent: 48.72 MB
Start Time: Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009 (10:00:00 PM)
End Time: Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009 (10:22:51 PM)
Runtime (h:m:s): 00:22:51
Thank you,
This simple notification tells me:
· The customer's site has power.
· The server is up and running.
· The backup software is working.
· The Internet connection is alive.
· The backup was successful.
If you are the customer, you receive the same notifications
You Need to Know When Backups Are Not Working
Seeing these successful notifications day after day, week after week, month after month, you may fall into the habit of assuming backups always work. Not so. You also need to know when backups are not working. Fortunately, the service I use also sends notifications of failed or missed backups. I think they are more valuable than the successful notifications I just finished discussing. One of these messages looks like this:
Dear Joe Smith,
This is an automatic email notification about your Online Backup Service Account: joesmith. We are writing to inform you that it has been 42 days since your last backup.
As many of our customers use our service as an archival service, this may not indicate a problem. However, if you believe your account should be performing backups at regular intervals, we recommend...
Thank you,
This tells me something is wrong. Maybe the server does not work. Maybe the company has gone 42 days without Internet access. In this case, somebody who did not know what he was doing decided to remove the backup software from the server. The company was lucky they did not need to restore any data during that time span.
How Will You Respond to a Disaster?
That's why you need a reliable solution. I've been advocating online backups for years. Here are two opposing responses to disasters.
At one customer, one of the partners said, "I blew up my database. I lost a month's work of billable work. Oh well, I have some cash." He had no backup strategy. I do not know if he is still in business.
At another client, the office manager wrote me a testimonial: "I just wanted to thank you for your quick response when I discovered that my boss had corrupted the data in our [billing] program. Thankfully, you were able to restore our data from that night's backup and we were up and running in about 2 hours. I can't imagine where we would be if not for the reliability of our backups. The service was a lifesaver. Thanks again.
Mark Anthony Germanos is a business author and speaker. He wrote Escape the Cubicle: How to leave your corporate or government job for something better after leaving corporate America and becoming happily self-employed.
He shares traits that he sees in successful businesses and bad habits he sees in those barely surviving. He helps people get over the fear of becoming self-employed. He helps people make better decisions with SWOT Analyses, utilize social media to attract customers and decide where they should focus their time, energy and attention.
For a SWOT Analysis workbook (at no charge), send an e-mail to mark@markanthonygermanos.com. Mark can be reached at http://www.markanthonygermanos.com/. You can also call 530-677-8864.

The Advantages And Disadvantages Of Online File Storage

Nowadays, many people rely on online file storage to keep important files and documents safe should anything happen to the computer. Online file storage services have now taken over where external hard drives left off as the most effective and convenient way of keeping documents safe. Whilst online file storage has a number of great benefits, it is also important to be aware that by storing your files online you can make the information vulnerable to hackers. Depending on computer usage and needs, many people opt to use a combination of online and physical storage systems.
With online storage, you can access your data from any computer meaning that if your computer is ever lost or stolen then you can still access your data. It also means that it doesn't matter what country you are in or what computer you use, you will still have access to important information whenever you need it. All you need is your log-in details and you will be granted access no matter where you are!
One of the best things about using an online system is that it makes backing-up your information automatic. With other traditional forms of backing-up you need to manually save each document which can be extremely time-consuming and frustrating. With online file storage all you need do is to select the items you want backing-up and the service will do it all for you automatically.
Online file storage gives you the peace of mind that your important documents are safe and secure in the event of an accident. The files are stored in a secure, remote area which is far removed from your location. If anything should happen that damages your computer you can rest assured that your files will be safe.
Conventional methods of storing information meant that you had to physically store disks or CDs away somewhere but with online file storage the problem of storage space is solved. The cost of online file storage varies but many services offer up to 2 GB for free and after that a low monthly fee is required. Many of the services on offer these days have redundant systems so even if one of the storage facilities are damaged, your data will still be safe.
However, the main issue with storing your files online is that the data can sometimes by accessed by hackers if the security levels are not high enough. However, this can also be true of any data on your computer when it is connected to the internet, but physical back-up disks can't be accessed remotely.
Another possible problem with online file storage is the cost. Some online file storage services may charge monthly or annual fees that when paid over time can add up to much more than the cost of a physical back-up device. You also need to make sure that you remember your log-in details otherwise you won't be able to access your information.
If you are a home user or a student with lots of important files that don't take up much space then a free online storage system is a perfect way to make sure all your files and photos are safe. Businesses will almost certainly benefit from the convenience of automated online storage systems as well. Make sure you assess your own needs and requirements before making a decision about online file storage.
Save money when setting up online storage by using a carbonite offer code.

What to Look for in a USB Flash Drive

What is a USB flash drive? What specifications do you need to out look for when buying one? A flash drive is a plug and play, portable storage device or portable data storage plugged to the PC for the retrieval and storage of electronic data. The function is rather similar to the old office supplies like the floppy disk or CD ROM, only the flash drive is smaller physically and capable of storing several gigabytes of data.
Physically, a USB flash drive involves a miniature circuit board implanted with the sophisticated circuit essentials to work with the computer's operating system. The device is integrated with a USB (Universal Serial Bus) interface compliant to the computer port. As a computer peripheral device, a flash drive is small (less than 30g in weight); typically removable and data can be deleted or rewritten over with new data.
The selection of a USB flash drive compatible to the computer operating system is primarily influenced by capacity in gigabytes, along with other features that provide convenience in the transfer of information such as stored data security protection, physical size and the longevity of stored data particularly when device is unplugged from the computer for an indefinite period of time.
Capacity in Gigabytes. Due to the absence of moving parts, more storage capacity is available as compared to floppy disks that have been phased out since 2005. USB devices are available with capacities ranging from about 65GB to over 200GB, in corresponding range of prices with cost tied up to capacity in gigabytes.Information Security Protection. Password protection is a feature added to some USB drive models and integrated with drivers to expand compatibility even with older systems. What makes a USB flash drive different from other portable data storage devices is that the user need not reboot once the device is attached to the computer port - and no external power is needed as well.Convenience in the Transfer of Stored Data. Data files from a PC or laptop are retrieved, rewritten and stored in the USB drive. Transfer to another computer is done by simply plugging the USB drive pulled out from the previous PC and data can be accessed or stored automaticallyPhysical Size. Most flash drives available in the market are really so small. These are typically electrically insulated and encased inside plastic, metal or even rubberized casing that it can be carried along in a pocket or secured by a key chain. Moreover, the USB connector comes with a removable cap that is designed to retract into the body as a form of protection, although damage could not likely happen even if left bare.
USB flash drives are now necessary peripherals that must form part of the workplace office supplies. Remember, to look for the features that can enhance storage capability when looking for portable data storage for the computer.
Being in top level management for over 10 years, Greg Nowak understands how important it is to cut costs and manage office supply expenditure as effectively as you can. That is why Greg recommends Northland Wholesale for your wholesale office supply requirements.
Get fast shipping times and great prices; plus you can find all the office products you need in one convenient location online that is northlandwholesale.com.

Understanding the Challenge of Preserving a Data Center

Given that a data center houses all the important records of the company, its maintenance is definitely not as simple as it seems. The facility needs to be guarded at all times so as to prevent unauthorized access from unscrupulous people who aim for its destruction. This makes the job quite a challenge considering that business rivals are pretty much after your crucial applications and data.
The series of responsibilities involved in operating a conventional data center include the management of servers, databases, power distribution, cooling, and networking. Monitoring the functions of each requires a considerable amount of effort and time. You have to be very careful so as to immediately identify possible problems that might occur in any of the elements. That is why you have to acquire a particular technology effective enough to guarantee the efficient handling of the entire facility. Allow me to introduce DCIM or Data Center Infrastructure Management.
In case you have no knowledge yet about DCIM, this post will let you understand the basic definition of the technology and exactly how it can be useful in addressing the major concern of handling a this particular center. This technology carries a number of features that you basically need to ensure the security of company information while reducing costs at the same time.
Data files and applications increase in number overtime as the business continues to operate. However, you cannot simply dispose any of them to minimize the clutter. Instead, what you can possibly do is obtain a reliable data center that can store these files in a secure location for a longer time period. This is what a report emphasized about proper administration of data center considering the purpose it serves for your business. If you examine the functions clearly, you will notice that a data center does not solely function as storage but it supports efficiency in operations generally.
Setting up a data center entails large sums of cash therefore it is best to take full advantage of this facility. As much as possible, you have to check the condition from time to time so as to preserve the amazing performance. You do not have to worry about the expense since the purchase can give you satisfaction and confidence in return. Meeting competition is rather difficult so you must grab the specific assets which can offer your business a boost or edge over the other players in the field.
Pinky Lu is an AT&T master solution provider who specializes in helping customers make the most out of their communication and network needs. She works tirelessly to provide powerful, efficient and cost effective solutions, such as Data Centers and XO Colo, to address clients' communications needs.

Thinking About Disc Recovery? Find Out the Benefits of Using Data Recover Software!

Data recovery is one of the most overlooked aspects in a number of businesses. Business owners need to understand that recovering date is a way of bridging the gap between them and their customers. Indeed, disc recovery is an extension of customer service as well as support. Once this part of the job is neglected, services may be perceived as poor and, ultimately, customers will ignore the business they used to patronize.
In order to keep both parties happy, the business owners and the customers, it is imperative for the former to take advantage of data recover software. These days, there are many software packages that cater to the data or disc recovery needs of businesses, whether big or small, old or new. With such packages, business owners or operators can make their service more customer-friendly and personal, allowing them to create a better relationship with all of their patrons.
If you own or operate the business and are not yet using software for the purpose of recovering data, you'd do well to read the rest of this article and find out some of the reasons why you should seriously consider downloading the right tools for data recovery as soon as possible.
Bring in the ka-ching!
Of course, you want to generate a more significant revenue and profit. By investing in reliable software for harddrive data recovery, you can do so without putting in much time, money, and effort. You can earn the incremental revenue you've long wanted to gain without incurring further market development costs - and without making further investments in major or capital expenditures.
Bring a smile to your customers' lips
As earlier mentioned, the use of software for data recovery has the power to improve ties with loyal customers. By including hd recovery in your service, you can become your customers' single contact for replacing or repairing their precious data storage, helping them keep track of their files for future reference.
Software can really cement your relationship with your customers, making you more than just a business transaction but a potential trustworthy friend in the eyes of your patrons. The more customers you please, the better for your business; this sort of thing makes its rounds in society by word of mouth, so with a software package that works, you're sure to tap a bigger market.
Bring leverage and control into your business
With reliable data recovery software, you can make your business even more comprehensive, one that complements your products and/or services. Integrate or include recovery services into your transactions, such as warranties, agreements, etc. By giving your customers the satisfaction, not to mention the peace of mind, they so desire, you can maintain control of your industry, eliminating potential threats coming from competitors.
With all these wonderful benefits, you'd be crazy not to look for data recovery software. Browse through the web now and choose from a vast selection of tools designed to retrieve, find or recover deleted files. Don't forget to read reviews and compare features before deciding on one particular software package.
There is a whole lot more information about data recovery software. Just visit http://getdatarecoverytips.com/ and see all of the FREE information on data recovery today!

Online Backup Service - Use It Or Lose Data

"I can't turn my computer on". The phone call that all computer troubleshooters or repair people will recognise.
If the power supply has simply failed, you all breathe a sigh of relief. Power supplies can be replaced, or the hard drive removed and read on another machine. Phew.
If the hard -drive has failed then it's a different story. Often the disc has been failing for weeks, if not months, and the user has just repeatedly restarted the machine, whilst maybe telling themselves that perhaps they should think of buying a new one. Once the hard-drive has become unusable it is difficult and sometimes impossible for a sensible price to retrieve the data stored on it.
How many people do you know who enjoy taking photos with their camera or phone and who store them all on their computer? What will happen to those photos if the computer is lost, stolen, damage or just simply breaks?
How many school and college students do you know who store their schoolwork on their laptop and/or a memory stick? How many memory sticks has your child lost? What will happen if your child's computer is stolen or lost? What will happen to their precious course work?
How many people do you know that run small businesses from home? How many store all their client information, orders and booking records on their laptop? Most won't have backup paperwork - many orders or enquiries are dealt with entirely online. If the business computer is stolen or damaged, what will happen to those business records?
I'm a computer troubleshooter and I know the answers to all the above questions from long experience. It's best summed up in a single word. Panic.
I regularly see clients who want to "tidy up" the filing system on their computers. I had just such a client today, which is why I'm writing this. She had most of her photos on DVDs, so she was going to delete them from her computer. I remained calmed and explained that this wasn't a good idea.
Backups. I'll say that again. Backups. Everyone needs them and you can't have too many.
What Backup isn't
Backing up your computer data doesn't mean copying it to a DVD, external hard-drive or memory stick and removing it from your computer. That isn't a backup - you only have one copy of the data. DVDs, memory sticks and external drives can break, get lost or stolen.
What Backup is
Backup means having at least two copies of your data, and preferably more. Then if one copy is lost, stolen or strays you have another copy to fall back on.
What will you do if your computer is lost, stolen or damaged along with it's accompany backup media? Many people keep their backups in their laptop bag, computer desk or office computer drawer.
If the whole lot disappears you are in trouble.
There is a solution to this. Use a remote backup service. An online, external, off-site backup service that stores all your precious documents in a remote location. You can access your stored data from any computer, anywhere at any time. So if your own computer dies, is destroyed or stolen you have peace of mind, knowing that your data is safe.
I practice what I preach and I don't think I would sleep at night if I didn't know that my computer is being constantly backed up to my online backup service.

Simple Guide To Creating Backups Of Your Data

There are two kinds of hard drives: those that have failed and those that will fail.
Every week, new clients come to us in crisis. The worst case scenario just became a reality: a hard drive has died. A computer has crashed with years worth of data. Immediately we ask if there is a backup somewhere and inevitably the answer is no. How did this happen? They don't know. When? Minutes ago. What have they lost? Irreplaceable pictures, financial data, emails, documents, presentations and a host of other data. Can we save it? It depends. Sometimes yes, sometimes no. Could they have saved it? Absolutely.
Some problems are completely inevitable in the world of computers. Hard drive failure is one of those problems. Unfortunately, computers don't come with a comprehensive guide that warn users of all the problems they might experience and how to resolve them. That's why our clients always seem to be surprised that this has happened to them. After all, their computer was fully functional last time they turned it on. As we talk to more and more clients we realize that the problem isn't that they didn't want to back up their data, it's that they didn't know how. In this article, we will evaluate the different means of backing up and securing your data both locally via physical devices and online via data backup services.
Before we begin, let me stress one thing: backing up your data is so much easier and so much cheaper than trying to recover it. Don't put it off!
1) What is a backup?
A backup is a fancy way of saying "a copy of your data." Backing up your data does not have to be any more complicated than copying your data somewhere. On a small scale, back ups can be made of documents that are receiving multiple edits so that you can just go back to a previous version if a new one is unsatisfactory. As a more complete solution, backups can be entire copies of the content on your hard drive.
2) Where can I make backups?
Backups should be made on a medium other than the hard drive your are trying to backup. The reason for this is that if something happens to your hard drive then your backups will also be lost. That's why backups are usually done on a second hard drive or other storage device such as a thumb drive or DVD. There are risks associated with most backup methods: a thumb drive can be lost, an external hard drive can be knocked off the desk or a DVD might get scratched. All of these things must be taken into consideration when choosing what medium to use as a backup device.
Additionally, we must plan for real catastrophes: what if your home office is damaged by a natural event and both your hard drive and backup source are damaged? While it seems like there's a lot to consider, the lessons are simple: use multiple backups and keep them in different places.
Online service providers like Mozy and Carbonite address all the issues of choosing a recovery medium by providing data backup centers that have redundant servers with additional copies of your data. While their basic services are free, both companies charge for higher data usage on a recurring basis.
3) How do I make a backup?
First, you need to choose a medium. Because of size constraints, we recommend using an external hard drive because thumb drives and DVDs are limited by the amount of data they can store. Once you have an external hard drive, simply plug it in to your computer via the usb cable. On most computers, your main hard drive is assigned the letter C: and your external device will be assigned another letter (D:, E:, F:, H: etc...). Select the folders you would like to copy on the C: drive. In most cases, you will be interested in copying your documents, music, pictures, video and desktop folders. So why not grab them all?
On Windows Vista and Windows 7, your user folder can be found at C:\Users\*Your profile*
On Windows XP, the user folder is usually found at C:\Documents and Settings\*Your profile*
Once you have selected the folders you would like to backup, right click on them and click copy. Then, navigate to your external drive by going to Start Menu -> My Computer -> External Drive and paste them there. You can create a new folder called "my backups" or a dated folder such as "07-08-2011 Back up." Voila! You've created your first backup.
Note: copying your entire profile will include copies of other folders such as your application data and local settings folders. This is where programs such as outlook store all of your email or financial data in database formats. To make sure that these folders are also copied, navigate to Start Menu -> Control Panel -> Folder Options -> View -> Select "Show Hidden Files, Folders and Drives."
4) Automating the process.
To make sure that you have current backups, we recommend using an automatic backup program to schedule when your backups should occur. These programs will allow you to set a backup schedule and select which folders are backed up and to where. There are many different products that automate backing up. However, we would like to discourage you from using a software that converts your data into proprietary archive files because you will be entirely dependent on that software/company to store and retrieve your data.
In plain English, this means avoiding a program that takes your documents and pictures and stores them as anything other than pictures and documents. Instead of having thousands of pictures, these programs will store them in a few database files such as "data001.fbf, data002.fbf" and you will only be able to open them with that software exclusively! Anti-virus providers are now tying their backup software with their anti virus software. This means you are stuck using their antivirus and paying their fees in order to keep using the back-up components of the program.
We recommend a free and easy to use program called Automatic Backups that can be downloaded from http://automaticbackup.frigerio-ar.com/
Set the frequency of your backups to a daily, weekly, biweekly or monthly schedule. The frequency depends on you. If you cannot afford to lose your day to day work, then set a daily schedule!
5) Online backups.
To further minimize the risk of losing your data, we recommend using an online service to create another copy of your most precious data. Here is a 2011 review of current providers:
http://online-data-backup-review.toptenreviews.com/
The advantage of online backups is that they are generally safer than local backups. Additionally, you can access your data from anywhere in the world with an internet connection. However, they come with a monthly cost!
Taking care of your data backups now will save you a lot of money in the long run and a few stressful trips to a computer repair shop. Don't wait!
Written by Karim Salmi, a computer repair specialist with Maryland based VitalTech.
http://www.vitalpcrepair.com/

Small Businesses and Changes in Business IT Solutions

For small businesses, getting good value for money out of IT and communications systems in vital. While large companies may be able to absorb the costs of an error in judgment when bringing in a new system, or of higher than expected maintenance costs, smaller firms often cannot. Small businesses - especially in the current economic climate - are often living on a financial knife-edge. That can make them resistant to change. However, it's important to remember that sometimes, it's important to keep up with the pace, even if it is unfamiliar, as it can lead to business benefits.
An example of just such a change is the move towards the use of cloud services, rather than standard business IT infrastructure using a server and client model. Cloud computing is perfect for small businesses, as it allows them to avoid expensive physical infrastructure and software that needs to be maintained by specialists, and it helps improve staff productivity. Cloud services are ways of sharing files or data using internet based applications, similar to webmail or social media programs, but more advanced. They allow users to communicate and share in real time and access the system from anywhere, from laptops or smartphones. Because they are not limited by the need to connect to a physical network, staff have more freedom and control over when and how they communicate.
Small businesses without the ability to invest in costly infrastructure will find cloud services affordable. They also don't have to sign up to using them for all their IT, but take on the bits that they want or need. Some businesses might benefit from particular specialist cloud services, such as project management systems or sales software. More generally, every day services such as email and word-processing can be done on a cloud. The initial outlay when buying in these services is generally small, meaning that even the smallest of firms can experiment. They can also save a considerable amount of money. Not only are the day-to-day costs of maintaining IT infrastructure removed, but the costs of dealing with unexpected problems are too. If a server breaks down or is damaged, the costs in terms of repair and potential loss of business and damage to reputation could be considerable. Because services on the cloud are maintained elsewhere, businesses do not have that worry. For a small company, that could be the difference between sinking and swimming, especially when times are tough as they are now.
Next Connex specialise in bespoke data centre solutions, desktop virtualisation & cloud services for businesses throughout the UK, leading the way in the next generation of data storing and connectivity. For more information on the range of services available from Next Connex visit http://www.nextconnex.com/

Data Storage and Recovery Through Cloud Computing

For those that were already familiar with the advantages that cloud services and cloud computing in particular has to offer, it seems like these are a logical technological step. Doubtless they will cut costs by trimming IT overheads but there are many other advantages to the whole system from improved efficiency to greater security when it comes to the question of important data.
The main concern for any organisation is keeping data safe and for an IT manager, disaster recovery systems are vital to the smooth operation of business. The practice of cloud computing fits with this requirement perfectly as the risk of losing data is eradicated by using the 'cloud' or external server. Lengthy and complicated back up procedures become a thing of the past and data in turn becomes completely safe.
As an additional benefit, employees from within the company can access information more easily no matter where they are in the world. Irrespective of whether they are using a PC, laptop or mobile phone to access the internet, company information can be used provided that device is included in the network. With easy access, working becomes streamlined and much easier for the individual employee who doesn't have to pre load information onto their system.
Storing less data on a computer also makes that individual device more productive and reduces the risk of it slowing down or even crashing beyond repair. Heavy files and photographs can be stored on the external server making company equipment more efficient and less prone to issues further down the line.
Lost data is the biggest concern for any individual or organisation but cloud computing deals with all of these issues on a permanent basis. It reduces the need for members of the company to transport sensitive information around on a laptop or portable storage device and that in turn removes any risk of theft which has become more and more commonplace.
Overall, cloud computing provides an all round solution for businesses of all sizes and those that have begun to implement it are reporting advantages across their organisations with no down sides whatsoever.
The system is flexible and highly cost effective and the improved 'up time' alone makes a business run more efficiently. When you add in the additional benefit of security then this really is a revolutionary new form of outsourcing that has pluses for a business right across the board.
Next Connex specialise in bespoke data centre solutions, desktop virtualisation & cloud services for businesses throughout the UK, leading the way in the next generation of data storing and connectivity. For more information on the range of services available from Next Connex visit http://www.nextconnex.com/

How to Store Your Online Files

Storing your files online is one of the easiest ways to make sure that you never lose them. Computers can crash, and if your files are not fully backed up, you run the risk of losing valuable work. When you work with a company that allows you to secure your files online, you have more peace of mind regarding your important media and other types of files.
Many people in particular like to make sure that they keep irreplaceable things, such as photographs, backed up with online programs. When you are choosing an online program to use for storage, make sure that you know exactly what types of files the program is capable of handling and storing.
When you are looking for an online company that will keep your files stored and saved, there are a few things that you should look for to make sure that the company is going to meet your storage needs.
The first thing to look for when you are choosing a company to work with is what type of media you are able to store with their online program. Some of the most popular types of media to store online include word files, pdfs, photographs, music files, video files, excel files, access files, photo shop files, and many other different type of files.
Another thing to watch for when you are choosing a company to work with is how much access you are going to have to the information that you store with the company. Online services should be able to give you twenty-four hour access, seven days a week to any information that you are storing on their online system. If the company that you are looking at working with doesn't give you this type of access, you might consider looking for another company that offers you around the clock access to your information.
Security measures are another concern when you are looking for an electronic document management company. Make sure that your private information is kept secure with the latest technology to encrypt and store your information.
Cost is another factor when you are looking for a company that offers an online program or downloadable software. Make sure you know what the typical industry costs are for programs that let you store your information online, and that you choose to work with a company that offers a competitive price for good and reliable service that will help meet your personal or business needs when it comes to storing your information.

Secure IT Operations With Network Backup Software

In modern IT era, it is of utmost importance to store data in the backup system or make copies of data which may be used to restore the original after a data loss event. Herein, lays the importance of the network backup software that comes as a savior to keep any organization's IT operations up and running even on the event of a system or network crash.
A good network backup software solution is therefore considered to be the key to a first-rate IT framework and subsequently to a successful business set up. Network backup software is deployed to serve two distinct purposes. The primary purpose is to recover data after its loss, be it by data deletion or corruption. And the secondary purpose is to recover data from an earlier time, as per a user-defined data retention policy, typically configured within a backup application for how long copies of data are required. For this purpose, the application needs to work seamlessly with all the users within the network, thereby facilitating smooth running of the IT operations within the network environment.
Managing the backup process and ensuring that the network backup software is working properly to capture the appropriate information from all the workstations is critical to a successful solution. And this can be achieved by setting the correct interval frequency, periodically reviewing retention times and organizing the storage space in the right manner to ensure the reconstitution of a computer system. The storage space needs to be customized as per the requirement of the customer. Again it is essential to find a balance between the backup frequencies and the amount of data to be archived.
In recent times remote backup solution has been seen gaining rapid popularity in garnering online backup support for networked environment. Online remote support works like regular data backup software, but with one difference, i.e. online network backup software sends the backup over the Internet or other network connections to respective online backup server offsite instead of sending backups to a tape drive or other media attached to the computer it is backing up. The advantage of using this type of application is that it can be fully automated on a daily basis and is more secure as data are stored in encrypted form and can be read only with user's own password.
Businesses today are highly dependent on organizational data and with such easy options to manage and control them de-risking by choosing optimal network backup software is as indispensable as the data itself. Additionally this kind of modern software ensures that your data is stored in a secured manner and it also facilitates remote access, enabling you to retrieve valuable information whenever required. Therefore let's get rid of all your mind barriers and choose a solution which lets you sleep in peace!
Jenifer Sahn, Expert in writing articles based on services like Data center Texas, Online remote support, network backup software, Technical support services, and Remote backup solution.

How to Recover a Lost Password in Microsoft Outlook 2010

The article intends to help users recover their Outlook 2010 password that they may forgotten or have lost due to accident deletion or corrupt Outlook.pst password file. The methods explained in this article are reliable and simple enough to perform. However, it is to be noted that success or failure of any method entirely depends on how correctly you follow and implement the instructions.
Microsoft Outlook 2010 has many inbuilt features like data recovery through.pst files that store all the Outlook information including emails, drafts, deleted items, contacts, and calendar entries among others. There is an individual.pst file for each Outlook folder like inbox.pst, sent items.pst, drafts.pst, and outbox.pst among others. Below are the instructions that will educate you on password recovery.
Instructions:
You cannot recover your Outlook password when it is lost or forgotten. You will have to contact your ISP (Internet Service Provider) to get your Outlook password reset. Once you have your password reset, update your Outlook email account to gain access to your Outlook information.
You can gain access to your Outlook information from the Outlook.pst files. These files are used by Outlook to store all your Outlook data including emails, drafts, contacts, calendar entries etc. Locate the.pst file(s) by going into the Control Panel and double clicking on Mail (if you don't see Mail, then click on Switch to Classic View). Click on the Data Files button, click on the file path (it would read like Mailbox - John Smith.....), and then click on the Open Folder option. Locate the.pst file and double click to open it to retrieve your Outlook information. It is to be noted that the.pst file(s) will only help you gain access to your emails etc. but not the password.
If you have password protected your.pst file(s) and have forgotten their password, then use this little tweak to release their password. Click on the Start menu and go to Run. When the Run window opens, type 'pst19upg.exe -i filename.psx' (as it is and without quotes), and hit Enter on the keyboard. This will release the password of the protected.pst files and enable you to access your Outlook information.
If Outlook is not accepting your password and the password you are entering is correct, then try this tweak. Disable unnecessary add-ins by going into the Outlook, clicking on the File tab at the top, and selecting Options. Click on the Trust Center, select Add-ins, select COM Add-ins next to the Manage List, and then click on the Go button. When the COM Add-ins window opens, remove check marks from the boxes next to the add-ins you want to disable, and then click on OK. Close Trust Center window, close Outlook, and then reopen it.
Start Outlook in the Safe mode. Click on the Start menu, go to Run, type 'outlook.exe /safe' (without quotes and as is) in the open box, and hit Enter on the keyboard. This will start Outlook without any third party service and/or programs such as antivirus, firewalls, or add-ins etc. other than Microsoft's. If Outlook runs fine, then some third party program is causing the issue. You must contact your program vendor for the support.
You can also download and install a free or paid Outlook password recovery tool from trusted websites. Save the file and run it to recover your password. However, there is a drawback to this method. If you somehow downloaded a fake recovery tool from an illegal website, then you stand to the risk of losing your critical information.
Additional Tips:
When typing password, you must ensure that the caps lock on the keyboard is off (until you have a capital letter in your password). If it is on, then put it off. Generally, most of the ISPs do not require email passwords to contain capital letters. Some ISPs mandate the combination of uppercase and lowercase letter in email passwords.
You must also write down your password on a piece of paper and keep it at the safest place where you can collect it from in case you forget your password. You can also save your password in the Drafts folder in Outlook. This will help recover your password through the drafts.pst file that you can gain access to using the above-mentioned method.
It is best to memorize your password in order to avoid losing it. We know that it is not possible as every user has so many passwords such as ATM, credit card etc. to remember that things like forgetting password happen easily. However, if you can, it will be well and good.
V tech-squad Inc. is the leading third-party service provider of certified online technical support services. Our top-class services include Microsoft product support, antivirus issues, malware issues, spyware issues, wireless router issues, printer issues, and non-computer devices etc. If you are facing problem with your Microsoft Outlook Setup and Configuration, You can reach V tech-squad online technical support at their Toll Free No +1-877-452-9201 For US/CA.US/CA.