Uncategorized – Computer Support, IT Consulting, Network Services – Dutchess, Putnam, Westchester County, Hudson Valley, NY region and Connecticut

True Story: Why A Disaster Recovery Plan is Essential for Business

Most organizations and individuals understand the importance of performing backups of their data. In the event that disaster strikes the device that contains it, the data is protected and recoverable. However, in most cases, the ability to restore business operations when disaster strikes your IT infrastructure requires more than recovering data from a backup. Especially when a business-critical system, such as a file or application server, suffers an unforeseeable, irrecoverable problem. Recently, one of our customers suffered a true disaster. The incident affected their primary file/application server, which hosted all of their business-critical databases, files, and software. Due to the nature of the incident, it was not possible for the server to be brought back online. Being a multi-million dollar business, having a recent backup of their data was simply not enough… the company needed their system back online. Because they had a disaster recovery plan in place, which included a backup file server located off-site, we were able to restore all business operations within hours of problem diagnosis. It’s important to note that this organization relies on their database servers to function. The amount of data, software, and number of users require that a server be used. Therefore, it was not possible to deploy any of this, even on a temporary basis, to a regular desktop PC. Furthermore, the server that malfunctioned was only 4 years old, and all pre-cautions and best-practices were implemented. Although incidents like this are extremely rare, they can still happen. Most organizations rely more on their IT assets now than ever before. Therefore, it is imperative that an adequate plan is in place that will enable not only the recovery of critical data, but also the operation of your [...]

RIP Windows XP

Windows XP had an incredible run. Despite being released over 12 years ago, there are many who have grown so fond of it that they are still using it today. It’s understandable, considering how widely used it became and also how difficult it can be for some to learn new software. However, if you happen to be one of these people, you should know that Microsoft is officially ending their support for Windows XP on April 8, 2014. Because of this, it is now more important than ever to upgrade your old computers. Security is at the top of our priority list and this is the biggest reason to replace Windows XP. After April 8, Microsoft will no longer provide new Windows Updates that are used to combat security risks on XP. This makes it much easier for your system to become infected with viruses and spyware. In addition, many of the newer, more secure versions of the programs you use are no longer compatible with Windows XP. If someone finds a way to exploit the old software for malicious purposes, it is unlikely that a patch will ever be made to fix it. Newer operating systems such as Windows 7 and Windows 8 may have a less familiar interface, but they have a large advantage in security, networking, compatibility, performance, and maintenance. Also, those who have a hard time adjusting to the new look can customize it to function much like their older systems. Technology changes can be difficult, but are often necessary. Contact us today and let us help plan your next upgrade and keep your computers secure.