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How Your Outdated Network is Slowing You Down


We have learned over the years that business owners and executives generally don't think about their networks, or networking equipment, until it becomes a problem. New servers or data packages aren’t items anyone is eager to add to a yearly budget, and few business-minded people want to dig into the technical details of their hardware and software all that often.

Put these factors together and it’s no wonder we often find ourselves dealing with outdated networks that cause big problems behind the scenes.

If you have an older network it could be slowing your company or organization down – both literally and figuratively. To help you understand why, let’s look at a few issues that tend to creep up when you haven’t updated your technology for a while…

 

Poor Connection Speeds

If you routinely find you get faster connection speeds through your phone or tablet then you do the actual computers in your office, that could be a sign your network is outdated or severely overtaxed. Slow connection speeds aren’t just annoying; they can lead to timeouts, unsubmitted forms, missing emails, and a host of other issues that cost you money.

 

Insufficient Bandwidth for All Devices

Some older networks have equipment that can only handle so many devices comfortably at once. That can be a big problem, even in a small office. Once you start adding workstations and laptops to phones, printers, and even web-connected smart devices onto an aging router (for example), some employees or tasks are going to suffer. This might even lead to random dropped connections, or just slow connectivity throughout your business.

 

A Lack of Proper Online Security

Emails that won’t send and printers that go offline are annoying but survivable. Behind-the-scenes, though, a slow and aging network might not be properly configured to help you fight off criminals who want to steal your data or hack your website. That’s partly because they might not have the right encryption or firmware, and partly because they may not be compatible with newer cloud platforms or virus protection systems. Either way, your business and bottom line are at risk.

 

Incompatibility with Newer Hardware and Software

We all know that the world of technology moves quickly. If you’re still using equipment or operating systems from years gone by, then it will inevitably cause conflicts with newer hardware and software. In other words, if you don’t keep up with the times then the devices and apps you spend money on won’t work the way they are supposed to (and might not work at all). To keep your business lean, efficient, and competitive you can’t afford to waste money on new tech and not get the benefits of upgrading.

 

Small Aggravations and Productivity Problems

While we have largely focused on the large issues that come up with an outdated network, the reality is that living with old servers and service plans is like dying by a thousand cuts. They’re just so many ways your business is affected, from online research that takes longer than it should to VOIP calls that never come through clearly. The end result is a business that’s slower than it should be, and customers who wonder why you don’t seem to be as sharp as your competitors. That’s a big price to pay for holding onto an outdated network.

 

Need Someone to Review Your Network Setup?

Want to know if your network is causing you problems, or if there are cost-effective ways to use technology to solve your biggest business challenges? Contact the experts at Kinetik IT in Phoenix today. We can schedule a consultation and show you exactly what is and isn’t working with your current IT plan.

What Can Happen When You Don’t Back Up Your Website?


As a leading web design firm and IT provider, we always advise our clients to back up any sensitive data they need to run their companies. This applies especially strongly to websites, copies of which should be made regularly and stored on a secure and remote server.

Unfortunately, many business owners and executives don’t have someone reminding them to back up their websites. And even when they do, they don’t always follow this good piece of advice.

With that in mind, today we want to take a look at what can happen when you don’t back up your website regularly. Here are just a few of the possible consequences…

 

Your Content May Permanently Disappear

If your website isn’t being backed up, then it’s entirely possible that the only layout, content, and collected information might live on a hosting server somewhere. Although it doesn’t happen often, these servers can crash or suffer hardware failures. And, they can be targets for hackers.

Should any of these events come to occur, you could lose access to everything that has been written and designed for your company. That could set your marketing plan back years.

 

Sales and Leads Might Grind to a Halt

Once your website goes down without a backup copy ready to use, you won’t just be facing the pain and expense of rebuilding your web presence from the ground up. That’s because you’ll probably miss out on lots of sales and leads in the meantime.

Imagine what would happen to your bottom line if your most powerful source of new revenue suddenly dried up. Why risk that when it’s so easy to put backup copies of your website in place?

 

Your Credibility Takes a Big Hit

Obviously, a website that’s offline can’t generate online sales, leads, or walk-in visits for your business. However, it’s worth pointing out that a missing website sends a bad message to potential customers or colleagues. How likely would you be to contact the company if you visited them online and found nothing but an error message or a “coming soon” page?

Even worse, with no existing website in place it could take weeks to get back online. That means a lot of lost sales and some business opportunities you might not ever get back.

 

You Could Lose Access to Email

In some cases, a hosting plan might be tied in together with an email server. In other words, if one disappears, or has to be reinstalled, you could lose access to the other.

What this really means in the real world is that an issue with your website could lead to an unexpected email outage. For that reason, a good IT provider will ensure your email messages are being backed up along with any content on your business website.

 

You Start Your Next Web Design from Scratch

As we’ve already mentioned, losing your website without any backups can mean wiping out all the pages, blog posts, and updates you’ve worked to create over the years. That creates headaches because it means your next web designer has to start from nothing, while Google may ignore you because your website appears to be broken.

There’s never a good time to begin from nothing online, particularly when you've already devoted time and money to building up your online footprint. Don’t throw away the progress you’ve made simply because you don’t have backup copies of your website in place.

Want to learn more about protecting your website and data? Contact the Kinetik IT team in Phoenix today so we can help you find the first steps you’re looking for.


5 Signs Its Time to Call for Help With IT Networking



There are times when it’s obvious you need help with networking from an experienced Phoenix area IT team. When you’re staring at a pile of hardware that’s covered in water and giving off smoke, for instance. Or, when you try to load up your computers and see nothing but error screens.

However, when it comes to network maintenance and security, there are also more subtle indications you could use professional technical assistance. Sometimes, these little signals are clues that bigger (and more expensive) network problems are on the way. In other cases, they could simply be slowing you down and causing endless aggravation.

Either way, you don’t want to ignore serious network issues. They may get better on their own for a little while, but you’ll almost always end up with bigger headaches – not to mention IT repair bills – at a later date.

To help you understand why, let’s look at five clear signs that it’s time to call us for help with IT networking…

 

#1 Your Network Goes Down for No Identifiable Reason

If your network is unreliable, going off-line at irregular times and for no identifiable reason, it’s important to figure out what’s causing the issue. That’s because whatever problem you may have, it’s likely to become more prevalent the longer you wait.

Generally speaking, when a network isn’t as stable as it should be, it’s because there are hardware problems or conflicts in the configuration. In other words, you have a piece of equipment that is wearing out, or multiple devices or apps that don’t work together the way they are supposed to.

That might not seem particularly dire, but consider what happens when equipment fails altogether and causes more serious failures or data loss. Imagine that suddenly you can’t process credit card transactions, access account information, or save files you need to complete your projects. Why face that kind of situation when you can see it coming ahead of time?

 

#2 Your Network Performance is Slow at Times

A network that runs slowly from time to time might not seem like a big concern. After all, as long as it isn’t always happening, and performance turns back to normal, do you really need to worry about something that’s a minor inconvenience?

You probably should, if you want to get the most from your technology. Slow networks can be a sign that some of your hardware is on the verge of failing. Or, it could simply indicate that you have bottlenecks that are holding up the flow of data during peak periods of usage. It might even be a sign of compatibility problems between newer and older devices or software packages.

None of these common IT issues should cause you too much stress on their own, but they can lead to larger difficulties. For instance, if your network is too slow, it might prevent backups from occurring normally. Or, you could find that software updates can’t run the way they should, leaving you with security issues.

As a rule of thumb, it isn’t difficult to repair a slow or lagging network. Put it off for too long, though, and you might end up with a bigger issue than the one you started with.

 

#3 You Aren’t Sure if Your Network is Being Backed Up

No matter how big or small your organization might be, and what kind of hardware software you’re running, regular data backups are crucial to your long term profitability. That’s because you’ll eventually run into a situation where your primary storage devices fail.

A lot of business owners and executives fail to understand just how common it is to lose access to important data when it matters most. Something as simple as an electrical surge, hard drive failure, or an improper setting in the wrong place can all lead to years and years worth of files disappearing within moments. When that happens, you’re going to want the data you’ve been sending back and forth through your network to be accessible as quickly as possible.

If you aren’t sure where your data is being backed up, how often those backups are being run, or whether that backup data itself is being secured, now is the time to get the answers you need. Even a network that’s functioning perfectly at the moment can experience problems. That’s just a fact of life in the digital age. Whether such an event causes minor hiccups or major problems for your business will largely be dependent on what you have stored in the event of an emergency.

 

#4 Network Security Feels Like a Bit of a Mystery

It almost goes without saying that network security has become a top priority for businesses of all sizes in the past few years. For every high-profile hack and cybercrime that has made the news – and there have been dozens – there are dozens of other smaller companies affected by online theft and malware.

In the same way that locks, alarms, and cameras can help keep a retail business safe from shoplifters and break-ins, basic networking security protocols can prevent unauthorized third parties from snooping in on your files and communications. If you don’t have the right tools and procedures in place, though, you’re practically inviting thieves to see what they can steal.

A good IT team will ensure your network is as safe and secure as it can be. However, if you haven’t had a professional looking after your systems in the past, now might be a good time to ensure you aren't an easy target for hackers.

 

#5 You’re Opening a New Location and Want to Install Networking Equipment

Expanding your business is a sign of prosperity, not IT problems. But, it can also present some logistical headaches. Do you need to buy new networking equipment? Is what is available on the market compatible with your existing hardware and software? Are you sure your new network will be reliable, and connect seamlessly between offices or locations?

Your IT partner can help you make sense of all of these questions. That’s because a technical team that knows your business can help you choose the right hardware at an affordable price, set it up correctly, and test it for both performance and security. In other words, they can ensure you are ready to step in and get to work from the first minute your new office or location opens.

We deal with bad network configurations every week. Usually, they come about because a company was in a hurry to get things set up and didn’t do enough planning. That leads to persistent (and expensive) networking problems that go on and on for months and years. Do yourself a favor and hire an experienced IT partner who can set your systems up correctly the first time.

 

Networking and IT Support Done Right

Most networking issues, if they are caught early enough, are easy enough to fix. That’s because a team of trained technicians can identify simple issues with routers, servers, and backup media pretty quickly. Additionally, these kinds of components are generally inexpensive to repair or replace.

On the other hand, once you get into a situation where your network is failing, the costs can spiral out of control quickly. If you’re dealing with issues like malware or corrupted data, the problem can spread from one drive or device to another. And of course, it’s worth pointing out that you and your team aren’t being as productive as you could be when you can't communicate with customers and each other.

Consider these details together and it’s easy to see why networking problems should be dealt with sooner rather than later. Luckily, we have a team of trained, experienced, and inexpensive technicians that can get you back online and working quickly. So, if you’ve noticed one of these five signs affecting your network, contact Kinetik IT in Phoenix today so we can get to work for you!

‘Bad Rabbit’ Ransomware Epidemic Starting To Infect Computers


Reports have started to surface that a new strain of ransomware is spreading through Russia and Europe. This ransomware is called Bad Rabbit, and first surface up in Russia and the Ukraine, however is starting to spread through Turkey and Germany, but it’s not fully known how far this virus has spread.

Some targets that have been attacked and infected by Bad Rabbit so far include Ukraine’s Ministry of Infrastructure, Kiev’s public transportation system, along with the Russian news groups Fontanka.ru and Interfax.

Bad Rabbit appears to be attacking news and media outlets, along with corporate networks – a method similar to the ExPetr attack. Yet, it cannot be confirmed if the ExPetr and Bad Rabbit attacks are related.

The way in which Bad Rabbit infects a computer, the virus first requires the potential victim to download and run a fake Adobe Flash Player installer file, that way infecting themselves. The fake Adobe Flash Player installer file is prompted to the user when they visit a compromised website, most of these websites that have been compromised with the Bad Rabbit virus are Russian news agencies.

The hackers that created the Bad Rabbit ransomware must have been fans of the television show Game of Thrones, as throughout the malware there are references to Daenerys Targaryen’s dragons and Grey Worm.

Computers that have been infected with the Bad Rabbit ransomware are then directed to a .onion Tor web domain where the user is then asked to submit a .05 Bitcoin payment which is roughly $280, this will then release all of their encrypted files and data. On the .onion Tor web domain that the user is directed to, there is a countdown timer shown before the requested ransom amount goes up.

At this point, it is not certain if the Bad Rabbit malware will decrypt all of the users encrypted files once the ransom has been received, although researchers have performed tests and believe that Bad Rabbit is unlike the WannaCry malware that will wipe all of the users data and files.

It is always recommended that anyone infected with a ransomware malware to not pay the ransom, as there are zero guarantees that once you have paid the ransom that your data and files will be decrypted and released back to you.

One way to be proactive and prevent yourself falling victim to the Bad Rabbit ransomware attack is to create a c:\windows\infpub.dat file and remove all of the write permissions. This will disallow the Bad Rabbit malware from encrypting your files if ever attacked.

The Bad Rabbit malware is bares similar resemblance to the WannaCry and Petya attacks that spread around the world earlier this year.

At this time not all anti-virus and anti-malware tools are able to detect the Bad Rabbit malware, allowing it to go undetected and continue to infect users’ computers. With this level of severity, it’s important to take proactive measures and do not download files from any untrusted sources on the internet. 

4 Things You Might Not Know About Web Hosting



While business owners love talking about web design and Internet marketing, most aren’t that concerned (or familiar) with the details of their web hosting plans. That’s easy to understand, given that servers and hosting software work behind the scenes and under the surface. They aren’t visible in the way a social media profile or prime search engine spot would be.

But, that’s not the same as saying hosting doesn’t matter. In fact, the quality of your web hosting package will have an enormous effect on the performance and stability of your business website. To understand why hosting is a bigger deal than you might think, here are four things we’d like you to keep in mind…


#1 Web Hosting Affects Web Performance

Usually, when an Internet connection is moving slowly, we think to blame our computers, tablets, or routers. However, there are two sides to any online interaction. The disc or server your website is stored on can either speed the delivery of your content up or slow it down. Those differences in speed matter, particularly when your customers are coming to you via mobile devices and are impatient to get to your site. Better web hosting means customers spend less time waiting and you end up with more conversions.


#2 Google May Ignore You if You’re on the Wrong Hosting Platform

Google uses multiple elements of web hosting (like page loading speed, for example, along with website availability and SSL connections) as search signals. That means the better your website performs, the more visible you are going to be to potential customers. Having a faster, more reliable website won’t take away the need for lots of great and original content, but it can give you an edge over your competitors. The tighter your search market is, the more important the hosting -related details of SEO can make a difference.


#3 Better Web Hosting is More Secure

Security is a big topic in web design and online marketing, and for good reason. You need to know that your HTML – not to mention customer information – is being kept safe. An easy way to do that is by using a better web hosting package. That’s partly because premium web hosting can give you availability to its SSL connections, system monitoring, and automatic backups. It’s also because the cheapest web hosting packages tend to group lots of budget websites together on the same servers, meaning your site could become “contaminated” by less ethical or careful neighbors.


#4 Premium Web Hosting is Incredibly Affordable

For all that you get from upgrading to premium web hosting, it might surprise you to know that the difference between your average run-of-the-mill shared hosting plan and a premium package could be as little as a couple of dollars per day. And, better hosting means you’ll get more from the money you spent on your website the first place. Financially, that makes it one of the smartest and most cost-effective investments you can make in your business.

Web hosting will probably never be the first thing that comes to mind when you’re considering upgrades or improvements to your business. But, with a little bit of attention to the space where your site is stored – and a few extra dollars a month – you could gain big benefits in performance, security, and even search visibility. Knowing that, doesn’t it make sense to talk with a member of our team today to see whether a fast and inexpensive tweak could make your web presence stronger?


Why Microsoft’s next HoloLens will have Artificial Intelligence


This last Sunday, Microsoft announced radical changes to the next generation augmented reality HoloLens by incorporating an artificial intelligence coprocessor. What is HoloLens? HoloLens is essentially a holographic computer built into a headset that lets you see, hear, and interact with holograms within an environment such as a living room or an office space.

The AI coprocessor will expand the capabilities of the HoloLens allowing it to analyze visual and auditory data locally, without having to send and receive information from a cloud based server, giving the next generation HoloLens faster processing times and increased mobility.

“… and this is the kind of thinking you need if you’re going to develop mixed reality devices that are themselves intelligent. Mixed reality and artificial intelligence represent the future of computing, and we’re excited to be advancing this frontier.” Wrote Marc Pollefeys, Director of Science for the HoloLens at Microsoft, in their latest blog post.  

Previously, the current version of the HoloLens could only perform simple augmented reality tasks such as simple visual interactions and displays. However with the AI coprocessor Microsoft plans to develop, the next generation HoloLens will be able to perform much more complex interactions and tasks. Possible examples of these tasks could be displaying real time statistics on products. Since the AI coprocessor will help with tagging data in the real world the HoloLens can present overlays that are incredibly informative.

Microsoft plans of create the silicon AI coprocessor in house because they believe that is the most productive way to unlock the best uses from augmented and mixed reality environments. Google has also built its own AI processor, and Apple has also been developing its own dedicated AI chip for the iPhone. However, Micorsoft’s approach to developing its own AI coprocessor chip is to unlock the full potential of MXNet, an open-source deep neural-network framework that Microsoft supports.

With Microsoft developing their own AI coprocessor to incorporate into their next generation HoloLens, Microsoft is taking augmented and mixed intelligent reality to the next level. Removing cloud based computing to store information locally, giving the HoloLens increased processing times and enhanced real world interactions. All of these enhancements will make for faster and smarter business decisions, allowing companies and organizations to win and succeed through an intelligent augmented reality. 

Ransomware Protection: How Your Business Can Protect From a Ransomware Attack


What Is Ransomware and Where Does It Come From?

Ransomware attacks are increasingly more common these days,  making ransomware protection such an important topic of discussion. You must understand ransomware, why you need ransomware protection, how to remove ransomware before it strikes.

The entire concept of a ransomware attack is a simple one - someone takes something that is rightfully yours and demands money in exchange for it. Ransomware malware, and particularly encrypting ransomware, takes all of the existing files on your system and overrides them with encrypted copies, making it near impossible for you to recover and access your important documents. With your files encrypted, the attacker will usually demand a ransom to be paid via Bitcoin to unlock  your files and documents, hopefully. 

Once you’re hit with a ransomware attack, you will usually not know until it’s too late, then you will need to figure out how to remove ransomware. The ransomware virus will infect your computer and system, taking over any and all documents, folders, and files, and once it has completed its mission of encrypting your whole system it will then kindfully let you know it has done so, asking for payment in exchange of returning your personal assets. 

These attacks are created by scammers and hackers from all across the globe, with highly trained and skilled knowledge in computers & network programming. The malware can easily enter into a PC’s system through spam email, maybe as a PDF attachment that looks like a legitimate invoice, or through a malicious website that contains the malware code. I If your PC is connected to a network at your home or office, an infection to a single system can rapidly spread to infect the entire network, making it impossible to recover those files held hostage. Not only do you acquire a financial loss in paying the ransom, but a direct hit in loss of productivity and billable hours. That is why ransomware protection is increasingly important in today's volatile cyberspace. 

Why You Need Ransomware Protection 

An encrypted malware attack without any ransomware protection can be a silent and deadly killer. These viruses encrypt all of your important and essential documents and render them completely inaccessible to you. You can pay the ransom and get your files back, right? Hopefully, but paying the ransom cannot guarantee you’ll get your files back. 

Earlier this year there was a large scale ransomware attack called Petya, which was very similar to the WannaCry attack that  galvanized the IT community. Petya infected over 230,000 computers and systems worldwide, encrypting their files and demanding a $300 ransom to be paid via Bitcoin.  What the victims didn’t know was that Petya’s hosted email exchange server was shut down, thus preventing them from paying the $300 ransom to unlock their files! 

Even though ransomware attacks are on the rise, there are techniques and ways in which you can protect yourself and your organization from these sort of attacks. So what can you do?

Cloud Storage for Ransomware Protection

The best and number one defense against a ransomware attack is not to be vulnerable to these attacks in the first place. This can be done  with remote offsite backup in the cloud to store your entire system documents, folders and files. So if there is ever a ransomware attack on your personal PC or your company's  network, you won't be forced to pay the ransom to see your critical files and assets ever again. 

Even if you or your company has anti-malware, decryption software, or an on-site IT support staff, all in the event of a possible ransomware attack, the amount of time invested in restoring an entire system with these methods can take hours, days or even weeks. That’s why having a daily backup of your entire system in the cloud can leave your critical assets unaffected during the time of an attack, and restoring your system from the cloud may take only minutes, bringing your organization back to full production as soon as possible. 

The Best Protection Is Prevention 

With ransomware attacks on the rise, having a solid ransomware protection plan in place to save you and your organization from any disruption is crucial. Even when you're hit with a ransomware attack,  there is no guarantee paying the ransom will unlock all of your files. Even if you do get them restored, the amount of time lost can be insurmountable in comparison. By having a ransomware protection plan in place with anti-malware software or by bringing out the big guns and backing up your system remotely in the cloud, you  can keep your computer and your organization running efficiently and smoothly even when the waters are rough. 


4 Reasons You Might Need (and Want) to Upgrade Your Company’s Server

Companies call us for IT help all the time. When they do, however, they hardly ever ask for a new or upgraded server – instead, they talk about slow networks, missing emails, and even persistent error messages.

That’s probably to be expected. Not a lot of people from outside of the IT profession know the details of their company’s server configuration. And, most of the men and women we work with don’t think or care much about servers until they stop working the way they are supposed to.

Still, outdated servers can lead to big problems within your business. To show you why, here are four reasons you might need (and even want) to upgrade your company’s server:


#1 Your Company’s Server Has Important Work to do

If you aren’t familiar with your server, it’s essentially a computer within your office that has a very specialized set of tasks. Instead of having a keyboard, a monitor, and graphics cards (like other computers and workstations), it typically features a heavy-duty CPU and lots of storage space. That’s because your server has a lot of jobs, which may include managing printers, keeping databases, and coordinating email and other network functions.


#2 There are Lots of Reasons to Upgrade Your Server

Naturally, the older your server is, the more likely you are to have performance issues or component failures. But, it’s rarely a good idea to wait until your server is on its last legs. That’s because newer servers bring faster performance, better security, and the ability to manage more users at once. Conversely, older servers may be dependent on out-of-date software that can’t be replaced.


#3 A Growing Company Often Needs a Growing Server

Imagine for a moment that your company is growing. As part of that process, you might expand to a bigger location, invest in new phone lines, and even put up a new website. Doesn’t it make sense that your server should be upgraded at the same time? It’s an easy detail to overlook, but remember that your existing server was probably designed for a much smaller team. It can easily become a performance bottleneck without improvements or replacement.


#4 Server Upgrades are Best Handled by IT Professionals

Because servers are so critical to the day-to-day operation of your business – and because upgrading servers requires backups, file validations, and much more – it’s the kind of job you shouldn’t try to handle on your own. A qualified IT professional can help you choose and install your new server quickly. Bypass their help, and you might find yourself wondering what happened to your data, or your in office network.

Upgrading servers is often an easy decision once you understand why the change is needed, and what kinds of performance and security gains you can get in the process. Have you been putting off replacing one of the most important pieces of computer hardware that your company depends on?

Did you know that you can have the Kinetik IT team assess your server, and other technology, to look for security risks and cost-saving opportunities? Contact us today and see what we can do to help.


5 Great Tips for Avoiding Data Loss

When news breaks that mega companies like Target and national banks had been the victim of a huge cyber security breach, business owners and executives around the country immediately started to wonder how vulnerable their companies were. 

That's a good question, and an extremely important one in the digital age. It goes without saying that very large businesses, and those with extensive e-commerce operations, need to have multiple security layers in place to protect customer data. But, even if you don't have millions of customers, or billions at stake, there are a handful of important tips you should follow to prevent data loss and theft:

1. Back up everything, and back it up often. Regardless of whether the data loss comes from a hacker or power surge, you should have backup copies of your most important files in place and ready to use.

2. Update your hosting software frequently. The kinds of cyber attacks that affect most small businesses aren't sophisticated. Instead, they rely on known exploits in software packages like WordPress. By updating yours frequently, you can often close the door to would-be opportunistic thieves.

3. Change passwords regularly and don't use obvious words or phrases. We've all heard this advice before, but it still holds true. In the same way that you shouldn't make your pin number "1234" (something that nearly one out of 10 people do), your company's passwords shouldn't be easy for automated software to guess.

4. Restrict access to trusted personnel. In a lot of small businesses, anyone borrowing the owner’s or manager's password can get access to anything on the company website, or in databases. That's a prescription for disaster. Set different security levels so that employees can access what's needed, but not more.

5. Keep an eye on your technology. Often, you can prevent digital break-ins before they happen, simply by paying attention to things like the number of failed logins to your website or server. The closer you’re watching things, the less opportunity thieves have to catch you napping.

Feel like your company’s online security isn't what it should be? Talk to a member of the Kinetik team today to see how we can help.


3 FAQs About Cloud Computing and Data Centers

Forget being the biggest IT trend of the past decade – cloud computing might be the most important evolution of business and technology to come along since the initial Internet boom.

Even though cloud computing is seemingly everywhere, it’s something a lot of business owners and non-IT executives don’t quite understand. And so, next to the excitement they have about saving time and money, many of the men and women we meet with are a little bit confused and nervous when it comes to understanding the finer details of “the cloud.”

To help clear up some of the confusion, here are three frequently asked questions about cloud computing and data centers:

 

1. Does It Matter Where My Data Center Is Located?

 There are a lot of data centers out there, from facilities located here in Arizona to others situated halfway around the world. Generally speaking, it doesn’t really matter where your data center is located, so long as you have a strong, secure web connection. However, things like climate, politics, the availability of trained engineers, and language barriers can all come into play if you ever have an issue. For that reason, you’ll probably want a local IT team coordinating things, regardless of where your data center is located.

 

2. Is It Safe to Send Files Into the Cloud?

 Business people often worry about transmitting their files to a remote data center, fearing that sensitive information will be stolen or compromised. While it’s good to think about cyber security and all its aspects, the reality is that reputable data centers use bank-level encryption, and your files are very, very unlikely to be seen by unauthorized parties. In fact, they are probably much more secure being sent and stored at a good data center than they could possibly be in your own office or facility.

 

3. Should We Use Local Backups Along With Our Data Center?

Although some business people feel more comfortable having local copies of their most important files, a good IT partner is going to set you up with a reliable remote backup system that’s fast, secure, and effective. In most cases, keeping files around your own office is actually a liability, as it entails an extra expense and your backup drive can be stolen by thieves or vandals.

With cloud computing and data centers, most worries about security are unfounded, and having the right one is a great way to save your business time and money. However, not just any data center will do – you need the right IT partner on your side to enjoy these benefits and the reliability you deserve.

Contact Kinetik IT today to learn more about our data center services and see how they can save you money every month!