Category: Remote Support Articles

Protect Your Business Data with Data Backup

December 3, 2009

remote data backupDisaster can strike anytime and anywhere, and when it does, whether natural or man-made, it will do so without remorse, destroying virtually anything that stands in its way. When a calamity strikes, it could also destroy your business’ critical asset; your company’s data and network system.

Because of the uncertainties brought about by natural and man-made disasters, you, as a small business owner, should ask yourself whether your company’s data is disaster-proof. Data and network systems are some of the most mission-critical assets of small businesses. Unfortunately, many companies take for granted the all-important task of proactively protecting their companies from data loss, simply because disasters occur only every once in a while. However, one in every five businesses experience data loss due to sudden power outage as a direct result of natural disasters. This underlines the importance of data and disaster recovery systems for businesses.

How will disasters affect your business?

The impact of disasters to any company, big or small, can be devastating. Today, data and other IT systems have become completely indispensable to small companies. One disastrous blow to a company’s data facility could disrupt their entire operations, leading to a loss of opportunity, additional expenses incurred for repairs and data recovery, a significant drop in productivity level, stalled cash flow, and because of this, it is of utmost importance to create a solid plan that will prepare your business for any disasters that could strike anytime in the future. Sufficient and proper planning on recovery strategy should be carried out so that your business will be able to get back on its feet after a disaster.

Just how important are data backups?

Implementing a backup system is a sure way to keep your business’ important data safe in the event of a critical systems failure. Backups are very important for a quick recovery or restoration of lost or damaged data. Because of this, a solid plan for data backup should be prepared and implemented before it’s too late.
Once a backup system is in place, it is important that businesses conduct at least weekly backup operations in order to minimize data loss and enable faster data restoration. The frequency of doing backups is determined by the volume of data that a company stores in its servers. The bigger the volume of data the company deals with on a regular basis, the more often the data backup should be done.

Preparing your company’s data recovery

When planning for your business’ data recovery strategy, initially, your company should conduct a business impact analysis in order to identify the physical and non physical effects of disasters on your business’ operations. This way, your company will be able to have a greater insight on recovery priorities and develop a solid IT strategy for recovery. This sort of analysis will also help your business identify the vulnerable areas of your IT network, a very essential step in building a strong recovery strategy.

The benefits of outsourcing

As companies become more dependent on virtualization and as IT infrastructure becomes a vital component of small business, nothing can be more disastrous than when these aspects are completely devastated by disasters. And because most small companies do not have the budget for an in-house IT staff to take care of their data and network systems, the best practice is to turn to a reliable IT services provider that will not only help you significantly save cost on IT maintenance, but also help you prepare and deploy an effective and comprehensive recovery solution.

To learn more about how to look for the right IT solutions company for your IT needs, visit AllCovered.com or call 866-446-1133.

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The Benefits of Unattended Remote Support

May 26, 2009

“IT Support” – a phrase that causes a sinking feeling somewhere around the location of your check book. No one likes it, but everyone needs it. Fortunately, IT support can be an affordable part of your business plan.

What it is

Unattended Remote Support is IT system support that is done from a location other than your physical business site. It is done by a trained technical systems engineer that will access your computer network through an internet connection and the use of a specialized and secure software program such as LogMeIn.

How it Works

During a physical IT support visit, a systems engineer will install a client on your servers and other necessary computers. This program will create the connection between the engineer’s computer and your IT network. Then, a monitoring program will be installed. This program will babysit your system and notify the engineer about any possible problems on your network. If problems occur, the engineer can quickly fix them through the connection made with the client.

Efficiency

Because your system is constantly monitored, problems can be fixed before you even have a chance to discover them yourself.

But Wait, There’s More…

Setting up unattended remote support on your IT network will also be helpful when you need immediate IT help. It’s inconvenient at best to have to wait for a systems engineer to call and give your phone support or drive through rush hour traffic to recover the important document your computer ate. Once a remote connection has been established, a technician can find your lost document and you can get on with running your business. No more waiting and wasting time and money. To learn how your business can benefit from unattended remote support, please call All Covered.

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IT System Maintenance Through Remote Support

May 20, 2009

When your IT systems need maintenance, you don’t always have to have an IT engineer visit your worksite. Instead, consider the benefits of remote support. Remote support is defined as IT systems maintenance that is done to your computer systems by an engineer who, instead of physically working on your machines, will access and support them from an offsite location.

What Can Be Done Remotely?

Most support that is traditionally offered at your worksite can be done remotely by engineers that access your servers and workstations through an internet connection. Examples of common remote support tasks are:

  • Fixing application errors where a user can’t get a program to operate the way it should. “My Word document froze up and I haven’t saved it yet.”
  • Repairing or establishing connections between computers and printers.
  • Installing application updates such as service packs and patches that are frequently offered from software vendors.
  • Restoration of lost and deleted files. “I don’t know what happened to the presentation that I created. It’s just gone and I need it in ten minutes.”

How Is It Done?

Remote support is available as long as your computer system will start and it has an internet connection. The IT engineer will use the internet connection to gain access to your IT system through a software application. Once access has been established, the engineer can work on computer as if he were sitting in front of it.

How Secure Is It?

Remote support is extremely secure. It uses advanced encryption that protects the internet connection and your computer from viruses and other malicious attacks. “LogMeIn” and “RDP” are two tech industry preferred remote access applications.

How Does It Save Time?

Remote support is flexible, allowing regular support to be scheduled for your convenience. It also guarantees that your immediate computer problems can be addressed in minutes. You won’t have to wait for an engineer to travel through rush hour traffic to fix a printer problem. With remote access, the engineer can fix your problems remotely and in less time than it would take you to brew a pot of coffee.

Is Remote Support Affordable?

Remote support is an affordable solution for standard support and for unscheduled computer emergencies.

Is Remote Support Right For Your Business?

Remote support can be part of your IT maintenance program or it can be the complete program. If your IT network is stable, complete remote support is an excellent option. For IT systems that require customized care, remote support can be a great way to take care of system updates and minor problems while also saving money. To learn more about how to include remote support in your IT plan, please contact All Covered.

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