XFER Blog

Not too long ago, businesses would seek out technology professionals for help in resolving difficulties. Nowadays, the way companies go about IT maintenance has been turned on its head. Instead of reacting to major hardware failure, businesses are finding it more economical to proactively maintain their technology, preventing major issues from happening in the first place.

In an infamous 2012 survey by Wakefield Research, the ignorance of the general public regarding cloud computing was revealed: 51 percent believed that stormy weather interferes with cloud computing, and 29 percent thought that the cloud was an actual cloud. Furthermore, what may elude many computer users is the fact that a process known as virtualization is actually what’s behind cloud computing (not atmospheric conditions).

Security is a top concern for anyone that utilizes the Internet. The problem for businesses is that the average employee probably doesn’t care much for your security practices, and it can be challenging to get them to comply without upsetting them.

Business owners know all too well how painful it can be to manage technology. In addition to making sure that your business functions properly, you also need to keep your technology in working order. Many organizations that rely on technology in order to stay productive free up valuable time and resources by outsourcing their needs to third-party providers.

You implement technology solutions to keep your network safe from hackers, but what would you do if your systems were bypassed and infiltrated? Every business owner needs to consider this scenario, because even the best of us can fall victim to hacking attacks when we least expect them. Approaching such an event in a reasonable way is your best chance of making it through in one piece.

We get asked all the time, “What’s the best way to back up my company’s files?” For businesses, we give the same answer every time: a Backup and Disaster Recovery (BDR) solution. BDR is far superior to any other data backup solution on the market, as evidenced by these three awesome features.

Once upon a time, in a long lost era known as the 1990s, traditional phone systems ran rampant throughout the workplace environment. In-house workers were limited to using landline telephones to make outbound calls on a limited number of phone lines. Nowadays, thanks to the advent of the Internet, Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is making leaps and bounds in the business environment, allowing for greater flexibility and functionality for a fraction of the cost.

How does your business handle technology problems that come with using servers, workstations and other solutions in the workplace? Do you solve problems as they come up, or do you take a proactive stance to keep your tech under control? Either way, the fact remains that break-fix IT is an inefficient and wasteful way of approaching your technology solutions, especially with managed service providers changing the way SMBs implement technology.

The purpose of your company’s information technology is to create, access, and share the data that your business needs to get the job done. One challenge that stems from exchanging such valuable information is the chance of it getting intercepted by the prying eyes on the Internet. Taking advantage of a Virtual Private Network (VPN) is the best way to safeguard your organization from this risk.

Your business relies on constant access to its data and information systems in order to maintain operations. Businesses that become victims of data loss disasters and are unable to recover their data, will more likely than not go out of business within one year of the incident, making it more important than ever to ensure that you have a plan in the event of the worst-case scenario. Would your business be able to get back on its feet following a data loss disaster?

Your business is no-doubt reliant on your email solution as a critical communications component. Without it, your organization’s operations could be significantly hampered, forcing you to improvise in order to reach out to internal and external parties. As an important part of any business’s communications, it’s crucial that your email solution is as efficient as possible, but managing an email server can be challenging for the average business owner.

Have you ever been in a situation where you’ve had your computer shut down randomly or lose power, only to lose progress on a file that you’ve been working on for countless hours? If you haven’t recently saved the file, you might panic and assume the worst. How can you prevent this catastrophe from falling upon your business?

Did you know that some of the most successful hackers actually know very little about computer coding? In many cases, a hacker simply tricking someone into handing over their personal information works out even better for them. This is a tactic known as social engineering, and the only way to defend against it is to stay one step ahead of the hacker’s devious plans.

With cloud computing on the rise in the business environment, it’s becoming more clear that organizations need to know what type of cloud solution will best benefit their business model. With the private cloud gaining much attention, it’s important to know what attracts businesses to it. Why should your business implement a private cloud solution, and how should you go about doing so?

Hackers are notorious for exploiting technology for their benefit, but users often forget that mobile devices are exploited just as often as desktops and workstations; perhaps more so, due to their higher exposure to wireless networks that may not be secure. One of the greatest threats to mobile devices is the botnet, which is designed to enslave a device and have it turn on its owner (and the entire Internet).

One of the most valuable assets of your business is its data. Hackers know this; it’s why they choose to go after those who fail to protect their information. Without your data, you’ll lose valuable time and expenses that can potentially result in the complete and total destruction of your business. This is why it’s so crucial that your organization understands how to integrate a proper data backup solution that optimizes business continuity.

Voice over Internet Protocol, or VoIP, is a voice communication solution that’s grown exceedingly popular in the workplace environment. One of the reasons it’s preferred is that it cuts costs on your cable bill, and allows for maximum mobility. Unfortunately, even a solution as reliable as VoIP can have a few minor kinks that will need troubleshooting. Here are two ways your business can optimize your VoIP solution.

Your network’s firewall plays a vital role in protecting your business’s mission-critical assets from external threats. As one of the most basic PC security layers, it would be silly to function without one. Granted, having a firewall and knowing what it protects you from are two different things entirely. To maximize your business’s data security infrastructure, you should pay close attention to how each individual part of your security solution works, including your firewall.

You know that you need a complete IT infrastructure in order to maximize the profitability of your company’s technology. Yet, you may have doubts that you’ve got it in your budget to afford all the necessary equipment and software. Thanks to the many “as a service” offerings of today’s market, virtually any business can afford to get their hands on the technology they need to succeed.

“The call is coming from inside the house!” This memorable quote is from the 1979 horror classic When a Stranger Calls. In the movie, this chilling information is presented to a woman after she has her call traced to locate the whereabouts of a stranger who was harassing her. To be sure, this would be a scary situation for anybody to experience; it would almost be as frightening as a network security breach--originating from inside your IT department!