If your new years resolution isn’t to upgrade your IT infrastructure, it should be (especially if your computer looks like the one in that photo). It’s that time of year to start thinking about your budget and planning to upgrade where needed.
Not sure where to get started?
Well, you better watch out, you better not cry, better not pout, and I’ll tell you why (and how to upgrade)! More
Story time: Imagine you’re at your desk, trying to get a bunch of work done, and your computer doesn’t work because it’s older than the new guy two cubicles over from you.
Little too real? Don’t worry, you’re not alone! The amount of old computers in the workforce is way too high! It’s something I see all the time, and it can get pretty frustrating. More
Keeping your network safe should be a high priority for your business or organization. Wombatsecurity.com kept statistics on 2017 security breaches. To summarize these frightening statistics, there was a whopping 1,120 network reported breaches total last year. The number of records exposed? Get this: 171,611,916. Yeah, that’s a TON of data stolen.
How was it stolen? Every breach is different because of the software used and the code written to bypass it. Meaning, there is no one way to hack something or someone. Although it feels inevitable, tightening down your network can significantly help your chances of not being hacked. How? Let’s get started!
That’s right – a brick wall of technology. Here are the bricks that, combined with great security software, stand between you and the jerks trying to steal your info.
Your router is one of the biggest contributors to keeping your business safe. Even if you’re a small store that displays something, you should avoid a ‘Walmart grade’ router. Having a better router can be critical in protecting your data.
When helping a company upgrade their network, I always go to the same brand router. The brand I previously mentioned in our 33 IT Brands You Can Trust More Than Gas Station Sushi blog is Zyxel. Within the Zyxel router, you can purchase more security than what is already on the device. We highly recommend each of our clients purchase the extra security subscription. Alongside the extra security, you can configure an app patrol, content filter, and groups based on your company’s different divisions.
Finally, you can check your router’s logs to see how many times it has been attempted to be logged into. This will give you an idea as to what ports they may be trying to infiltrate, so you can double check to make sure they are closed!
These are the bread and butter of every modern-day company. They’re everywhere: Your office, your house, in your car, even in your pocket. Any and all computers and devices on your network should have some sort of anti-virus on them. Having a good antivirus shouldn’t even be a question. If you believe in the saying “you get what you pay for,” then you’re on the right track.
When it comes to a network’s antivirus, going cheap isn’t necessarily the best option.
keep your computers regularly updated, as Windows comes out with new security updates. Speaking of keeping updated, you should be on a 3-5 year replacement plan to keep up with the current operating system (OS).
Much like your computer, you need to keep an updated version of an antivirus running on the server. Again, like your computer, you should be keeping updates rolling in as you may miss critical updates to your security.
On your server, you have the ability to open and close inbound and outbound rules from your domain. Keeping your server firewall on is crucial. Yes, you may run into some complications if your firewall is blocking a program. However, you can always go in and allow it through.
Generally speaking, you should always keep a variety of unique and random passwords, but this is a great rule of thumb when dealing with your servers. If you have multiple servers running, you don’t want the password to be the same.
Ever wish you could just monitor your entire network easily? Well, good news: You can! There are several third-party software systems that allow you to monitor an entire network from your computer. The network monitor I use is SolarWinds, formally known as GFI Max. With this service, I am notified of outages and other network abnormalities. If you don’t currently have one in place, I would suggest it as you may just spot something before it becomes a security hazard.
Keeping your network safe can be a lot of work. You could ultimately spend a lot of time on ensuring you are safe before and after a breach. Trust me, spending a lot of time in the preventative stage will always outweigh the time and money spent on the recovery process after a breach. Stay safe, and don’t become another statistic.
Designing a network to fit your company’s needs can be tough. It doesn’t matter if your business is big or small. Just because one setup works for a company, doesn’t mean it’s the right setup for yours. Getting it wrong can cause a series of very expensive, time-consuming fixes that your company likely can ill afford. Getting it right can make you look like the Don Juan of information technology.
Multiple steps must be taken in order to successfully design a network. Whether you’re looking to upgrade or you have eyes set on starting a company with the perfect network to serve it, let’s get you going in the right direction!
This may seem like a daunting task. So let’s look at network design as a common-sense, step-by-step process.
First things first: What is your purpose? Are you a mid-sized manufacturing company? Or are you a storefront linked to an online store? With your goal in mind, you can start to compile ideas for your network design.
Different operations call for different applications. Chances are, you don’t need for a server if you’re only running one or two smaller programs. However, applications aren’t the only deciding factor when it comes to needing a server. Knowing what exactly a server can do can also help determine the need for one.
Not sure if you need to be compliant or not? Check out our blog 5 Network Upgrade Questions You Can’t Ignore. Staying within your compliance regulation can have a huge impact on the way your network is set up. Not sure where to look for your law abiding network devices, don’t worry, we got you covered.
Yes, you read that right. Actually, draw your network out. Not sure how to get started? Check out this simple network layout.
Now that you have a rough idea as to what it will look like, let’s go over what it all means. Starting with the Internet. The Internet is obviously the sweet nectar that you are trying to get from all this mess. The rest is how you get there. You can’t reach the internet without a modem from your Internet Service Provider (ISP). To be able to use your modem, you need to have a router. Your router is what creates your network, its handles your IP Address range, it can handle your DHCP (what gives out IP Addresses), you can configure a Virtual Private Network (VPN), set up a wireless network. After the router is your switch. We could get into the logistics of switches and hubs but we’ll save that for a rainy day. A switch’s main function is to allow multiple connections (ethernet cables) to connect to your network (hardwired) while maintaining the maximum speed you have got. The rest is explanatory. The PCs are your computers, the server is your server if you have one. The printer is…well, your printer. Finally, the black lines are what tie it all together, cables. Each line represents a cable running to your switch to access the network.
Alright, you have the layout you want/need, and it’s time to start shopping. Unfortunately, this isn’t like a trip to the mall for a new Nike polo. You can’t try on the equipment before you buy it. DO YOUR HOMEWORK!!! It’s always recommended to get a professional opinion if you aren’t sure exactly what will fit your needs. If you feel confident you have the specs you need but just need to price shop for the best deals, check out these resellers.
Disclaimer: Your devices will need to be configured for your network. They are not plug-and-play devices.
This is where things can get tricky. Refer back to your network layout. In the example given, you can see that it all starts with the modem provided by your Internet Service Provider (ISP). From there we need to connect that to your router. From the router, you will connect your Local Area Network (LAN) port to your switch. From there, it’s simple. Run cable to all the locations where there is either a server, printer (if it’s a network printer) or a workstation.
Designing a network on your own can be a little much to handle. If you don’t feel comfortable doing it yourself, get some quotes and pick the brains of consultants while you can. (P.S. – I know a few good ones!)
Houston, we have a problem: It’s 2018 and we haven’t transitioned to the Cloud yet.
If you aren’t sure what exactly the Cloud is yet, no worries, I’ve got you covered. Check out our Cloud starter blog. If you’re a little more technologically advanced and want to know some more possibilities with the Cloud, strap yourself in and hold on, it’s about to get nerdy!
We will start off a little easy and get more advanced as we go along.
We briefly touched on using the Cloud as a file storage in part 1, but let’s look a little deeper. Cloud storage can either be hosted on-site (at your organization) or in a remote location. Before you pull the trigger on where to host your files, make sure you’re asking the right questions!
Not sure where to start asking? Check out our blog 5 Network Upgrade Questions You Can’t Ignore. Based on your needs, your data is stored in virtualized pools of storage hosted by a third party (i.e.: Microsoft, Google, etc.)
When you pay for online storage, typically, organizations are only paying for the actual amount of storage they are using without the hassle of the maintaining the storage infrastructure.
When I say backup, I don’t mean that flash drive you have in the top drawer of your desk, or even that “backup” folder you have on your server in the dungeon you dare not travel to. I’m talking about pushing your data automatically to any location across the net. When comparing it to the previous methods, cloud backups offer more security, availability, and scalability (endless size limit). Until you need a backup, you can now set it and forget it.
Yes, we still have disasters, as advanced as technology has become. Like backups, the Cloud offers much cheaper and reliable disaster recovery options. Disaster recovery and backups are basically one in the same. To summarize them both and how the cloud can help, check our blog on Azure Site Replication.
If the word hybrid alone doesn’t get you intrigued as to what you can do, then hopefully its use will! When using a hybrid Cloud solution, you can test your programs, as well as develop them. When testing, you can monitor your speeds, availability and the overall user-friendliness of the program. The best part of using a hybrid Cloud is you aren’t stuck with paying for a Cloud solution that doesn’t work, should it fail. Even more, if moving to a hybrid Cloud works for you, but you see potential growth, you can take advantage of their pay-as-you-go for additional space.
Inbound marketing agencies use both structured and unstructured data to capitalize on gaining business growth. With Cloud solutions, you can watch buyer patterns, what attracted them to your site, even where their eyes were on the page that got them to click (aka heat mapping). Imagine knowing exactly how to gain qualified leads to your website, and making a sale just because you know what the people want. Don’t have a marketing department? Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered there too, check out my talented friends at protocol 80, Inc.
If you’re using an IaaS, wouldn’t it be pretty sweet to have a pay-as-you-use service to save money on the maintenance of the infrastructure? If you’re looking to gain speed on developing ready-to-use applications, PaaS might be what you are looking for!
Moving to the cloud can be scary, I know. It can also be rather confusing if you don’t know exactly what you are doing. If you want to get involved in moving to the cloud, but aren’t sure if it’s right for you, book a meeting with me and we’ll have you and your company on Cloud 9.
Let’s face it, being alive today is an exercise in insanity. Every day, a barrage of new terms are thrown out there and new inventions hit the shelves. Most times, you don’t even know what they’re for, much less how to use them.
I see this a lot in the technology field. If you don’t keep up with it, chances are you’re going to fall behind the curve and miss out on advancements that can keep your business running more smoothly, economically, and efficiently.
Today, we’re going to cover Cloud basics. I understand there is a lot of confusion when discussing the Cloud with my clients. I hear questions like:
If you have similar questions, stick around! Trust me, by the time you finish you’ll be on Cloud 9 – woah, see what I did there?! – and ready to actually strike up a conversation with your IT guy next time he’s working on your machine.
Disclaimer: If you’re looking for a little more in-depth questions about the Cloud, you can skip ahead to Part 2. (Don’t worry, it won’t hurt my feelings any.)
Simply enough, the Cloud is another term for the internet. Meaning, if you hear the phrase: “It’s in the Cloud” they are basically saying, “It’s stored on the internet”. Before, we thought the internet was just a giant place that has tons of websites and group chats. With the infinite space on the internet, we are now able to channel off sections and store even the most sensitive data.
When you think of the technical term “Cloud”, think of the scientific term “cloud”. Let me explain. Unless you were never a little kid, you probably laid on the ground with someone and each described what you think the clouds looked like. Same concept with the technology Cloud. Except, in this example, the different shapes is represented by different uses. The Cloud is where you store your data. Whether that is photos, videos, software, etc.
There is no one way to get to the Cloud. For instance, the Cloud includes popular apps such as iCloud, DropBox, Google Drive, Microsoft OneDrive, even something like Spotify. If you have any of these programs, you probably know how to access your stuff without being told. Guess what, you’re on cloud 9 because you have been using the cloud this whole time and didn’t even realize it!
Like the last question. There is no one answer to this question. I could lay out all the different options to you and have their prices with it, but I would rather hear what you are trying to do first then make a suggestion. P.S. call me. Or check out this Cloud Storage Price Check. To answer the question, the cost of the cloud is dependant on the vendor you are choosing.
Cloud computing is the can help keep your business running smoothly and efficiently. With cloud computing, we may never have to leave our houses again. With Amazon drones, cloud computing, FaceTime, and PostMates, we may someday live in an era where human interaction no longer exists.
A network upgrade can be rather… complex. You may not know exactly what you are talking about and what you are getting yourself into. If you don’t have an assigned IT department, you are probably asking around your social network as to who the trusted IT firms are.
Here are 5 questions to keep in the back of your mind for your next network upgrade Rest assured, after this, you’ll be asking the pros questions they may not have even thought of themselves.
I wanted to start with this question because I too often go into new situations where I notice the backups and data security is not compliant with the terms the organization has to abide. Not sure what compliance requirements your business must follow? Check out this article. The 2 most common compliances I see neglected are Hipaa and PCI. From the very start, make sure your provider is aware of all compliances you must follow.
For a more in-depth layout of which equipment gives you the best ROI, check out my blog: 5 High Priority IT Infrastructure Upgrades (That Also Provide Great ROI). If you’re going to be investing a good chunk of change into your network, you’re going to want to make some in the process. Make sure the equipment you’re purchasing returns the favor!
As much as I would like to say I don’t run into this situation, it definitely happens. There aren’t many types of network upgrades that don’t involve some sort of downtime. The bigger the overhaul, the longer the downtime (typically). Anytime I have a network upgrade, I ensure the client that their downtimes will either be during the lunch hour or their slowest time (established by the company itself). If there is no way around a prolonged period of downtime, you may just have to bite the bullet and pay the IT company’s weekend rates.
If you haven’t established a good relationship with the company doing your install, they may try and take advantage of you. I know no one would like to admit they know this is a common problem, but it is. Even if you have to go through every single quoted piece of equipment and ask what its role is in the grand scheme of things, do it! Better be safe than sorry!
I can’t stress how important this is! I saved this for last because it is the most important piece of the network upgrade puzzle. Doing some research before you reach out to a company, during, and after is a must. Personally, to ensure the client I am not nickle and diming them, I put the part number for every piece of equipment in the quote, along with the percent of my markup, and the sales tax (if applicable). The more you know, the less likely you are to get taken advantage of!
Not sure if the “brand name” equipment is trustworthy or not? Check out my blog on 33 IT Brands You Can Trust More Than Gas Station Sushi. Or, if you want a second opinion on your proposal before you sign it, give us a call or email and one our techs will gladly go over your situation with you.
(Nate’s bonus tip: If you need a trustworthy IT company, I know of a good one right here.)
My IT professor in college always told me that printers will be the biggest networking issue I will have to deal with in the real world. At the time, I just laughed and thought, “How hard can it be to maintain a network printer?” Well, you’re reading this blog for a reason. Something’s goofed up, and your printer’s on the fritz again.
Unless you’ve lived under a rock your whole life, you have probably experienced the mind-numbing confusion of a printer that didn’t do what you wanted it to. To quote Forrest Gump: Printer issues are like a box of chocolates – “you never know what your gonna get.” Every printer has its problems and not every solution is the same. Don’t worry, if I don’t cover the issue you’re having here, feel free to contact us with the issue you’re having and we’ll get you printing in no time!
Let’s do this!
If I had a dollar for every time I heard that I’m pretty sure I could retire at my ripe age of 22. When a printer goes offline, it could be caused by an array of different issues.
Common Problem: Either a USB or ethernet cable is unplugged.
Advanced Problem: The printer lost its IP address and needs to be rebooted.
Double-sided printing can be either a lot of fun or a pain in the keister. If you don’t normally print double-sided, chances are your first attempt was a complete fail. Don’t worry, you’re not alone.
Common Problem: Your printer just isn’t capable of printing double-sided
Advanced Problem: Duplexing option needs to be enabled. To do that, go to your Control Panel > Devices and Printers. Find your printer, right-click, and select Printer Properties. Once your there, set the Two-Sided Duplex Accessory as installed and click OK to save your changes.
Random vertical lines through your freshly printed pages could be an indication of a couple common printer problems. No matter what the reason behind them is, they need to disappear – and fast.
Common Problem: Either your printer is low on ink, or the rollers are dirty with ink.
Advanced Problem: You’re dots per inch, or dpi settings are too low. To fix this, go to your Control Panel > Devices and Printers. Find your printer, right-click, and select Printer Properties. Once you’re there, go the Device Settings and increase your dpi.
Also known as printing ‘Hieroglyphics’. Typically, you see this upon installing or adding a new printer to your computer, and it shouldn’t happen randomly. Don’t worry, your new printer isn’t broken, you just need to update the driver that you are using. The best way to find the proper driver is by searching the printer supplier’s website. Head to their support page and find drivers and software. Use their newest driver for the best results.
A lot of my clients have industrial-sized printers on their domain. From the printer, the employees have the option to scan to a folder on their desktop that is mapped to the server. Most issues occur when setting up the file path. For steps on how to set up a scan file system without a server, check out this article on scanning network folders.
So, “Nick Burns – Your Company’s Computer Guy” would try to make you feel stupid by telling you a bunch of technical mumbo-jumbo before rudely pushing you out of the way to do fix it himself. But I’m not a comical jerk. I’m here to lead you to common-sense answers to common printer problems.
If you experience these 5 issues, the solutions are typically only a few steps away. But if you get a little lost, we’re always here to help.
(Oh, and word to the wise: When your college professor tells you a tidbit about your future that doesn’t make sense at the time, take notes.)
How many times have you watched a co-worker or family member fall victim to clickbait, fake emails, bad website links? How many times have you or a co-worker said: “I’m not running these Windows updates”? How many times have you used the same password?
If you said anything other than “never” to any of these questions, your bad practices are risking a catastrophic network breach that could drain you and your company dry. Before it’s too late and you have to make another call to your IT guy, let’s go over a few things to help boost your company’s cybersecurity.
P.S. – Our links are safe to click on 😉
Not having a secure connection could result in data theft or security vulnerability. As we grow in the era of technology, we are becoming more efficient. I don’t know about you, but what’s more efficient than working from home? (Submit answers to [email protected]). If you’re going to work from home, you need to be safe.
But how do you protect yourself in a dangerous digital realm infested with sophisticated cybercriminals? By setting up a VPN. A VPN connection gives you a secure tunnel from your home network to your work network.
(Disclaimer: You need to be safe no matter where you access the internet.)
We live in a time where not getting involved seems easier than speaking out against something that isn’t right. When it comes to your cyber security, asking questions and telling someone you don’t think what their doing is safe could have huge benefits. If you or a co-worker fall victim to a bad link or email and end up on the infected site, don’t just exit out and think you’ll be okay. Having early knowledge of an incident can save you and your co-workers a deal of stress later on.
There are two kinds of people, those who keep up-to-date and those who don’t update at all. I know we are busy people and don’t have time to sit and wait for updates. However, the downtime from an update could be far less than the downtime from a slow, infected, outdated machine. So next time you get that “annoying pop-up” in the bottom right of your screen asking you to update, please don’t ignore it. Besides, Microsoft will push out the update sooner or later anyway, so why not do it when you’re ready.
If you aren’t sure what phishing means, then I just have to introduce you to a rich Nigerian prince with frozen assets. He needs your help, apparently, and is willing to pay you $15 million US.
I’m kidding! Don’t ever fall for that! Needless to say, if you think you are the recipient of an infected email, contact your IT department and they can handle it from there.
Creating a password is supposed to be difficult. That’s the point. Have you ever tried to create a password and it got denied because it was either not long or strong enough, or because it was one of your previous 10 passwords? You’re not alone, but you need to take your passwords seriously. Sharing a password via email is never a good idea. If you need to share a password with someone, have a person-to-person meeting or even a phone call.
Technology is growing and attackers are getting better and better. The war on cybersecurity is one we will never win, nor will it ever end. As long as the internet exists and continues to grow, so will the attacks. Although they will never stop, you can do your part in ensuring their life is more stressful than yours.
And, of course, when it comes to cybersecurity, there’s strength in numbers.
Manufacturing is the backbone of this county. As of 2016, there were nearly 12.5 million manufacturing workers in the United States, which accounted for 8.5 percent of the workforce. Manufacturing is expected to create nearly 3.5 million more jobs within the decade. However, because of the skills gap, they predict nearly 2 million of those jobs will be unfilled. You can find more facts about manufacturing here.
Another fun fact: By 2020, at least 50 percent of the workforce will be millennials. And there’ll clearly be a corresponding increase in the amount of technology used in manufacturing.
Manufacturing technology efficiency brings both short-term and long-term benefits. Without a smooth-running network, your industry may see downtime (or worse, a loss in production). Let’s dive into the 3 areas you should never stop improving to make your manufacturing technology more efficient.
Big operations call for big servers. Foremost, you should never overwork and underpay your server. Cutting corners in manufacturing technology is not an option. Also, while not neglecting the size and credentials your server needs, keeping your server(s) on a 5-7 year replacement plan is a must. Check out our blog on the benefits of replacement plans here. Having a new server every few years will limit your risk of data loss and downtime.
Having multiple servers on-site is never a bad idea. In fact, contrary to older beliefs, having a second server that manages a second domain controller, in the event your main domain controller goes down, is best practice.
The military taught me one thing, have your plan A, B, and even C. I have applied this concept to networks. What will I do if plan A fails? What if my back up idea doesn’t work either, what steps will I take to get back on track? Having these plans set in place from the start can be a real lifesaver in the event of a disaster.
Nothing about sitting and waiting for data to load all day says “efficient”. Having a fast internet speed is one of the biggest determining factors for efficiency. Not sure what is available to you? No problem, check out our blog: Average Business Internet Speed Costs: Which Speed Is Best for You? Typically, for any manufacturing company, I would recommend a speed no less than 100 Mbps. If your network is set up for only one building, you don’t have options to weigh out. However, if you have multiple locations within 1 area, you have a few different options as to how you want to extend your network to those locations.
Staying up-to-date can alleviate many manufacturing technology problems. With regular updates, you get the newest operating systems and software. While some of your software may be written specifically for your operations and now steadily updated, doesn’t mean you don’t have to update the ones that do have updates. (Tip: When it’s time to upgrade, consult your IT department to make sure that your software will work alongside the new operating systems!)
It’s no secret that upgrading your networking equipment can be rather expensive. To make sure you are getting the best return on investment, check out our blog on 33 IT Brands You Can Trust More Than Gas Station Sushi! Like upgrading your software, having up-to-date equipment can keep your network running smooth and efficient. (Tip: Keeping the same brand of devices on your network will reduce the risk of network drops and other network related issues.)
Don’t worry, I’m not saying you need to go out and hire a software developer to make you some elaborate security program. What I mean is, create a solution to your cyber security. Typically, a solution would contain the following:
The need for great manufacturing technology will only grow in the coming years. Keep ahead of the technology curve and keep ahead of your competitors. Great networks aren’t designed and built overnight, so take it slow and do it right the first time. You’ll avoid those stressful moments later on. As my drill sergeant once told me: “Slow is smooth, and smooth is fast.”
Words of wisdom.
