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Network Connections
April 2011
Productivity Key
Burgess Computer
101 Centre Street
Bath, Maine 04530
800.498.8642
What is "Cloud Storage"?

 

Cloud storage means different things to different people depending on how it's implemented. The most common implementation is a 'public cloud', which is essentially storage capacity accessed through the internet or a wide area network (WAN) connection, and purchased on an as-needed basis. Users can expand capacity almost without limit, by contacting the provider, which typically operates a highly scalable storage infrastructure, sometimes in physically dispersed locations. 

 

This expansion ability drives a common expectation that cloud providers have massive storage infrastructures. As a result most cloud storage hardware and software systems developers have also focused on scalability and ease of management. A grid architecture is common, with storage being made up of clusters of individual servers or nodes that are coupled together to present a single storage area or single management point.

 

The interface to the cloud storage is what the storage manager or the user will see. This is typically some sort of appliance or software application that runs locally and then sends data to the cloud. It can be as simple as presenting a file interface to the cloud storage area, meaning that it looks like a network mounted drive or it could be integrated into a backup or archive application. 

 

Cloud storage is a new distribution model, however, with the potential for economies of scale. Aside from cost, its benefits are outsourced operation, simple, unlimited growth and 'enterprise' features for smaller users - like high availability, security, data protection, etc .

 

Finally, there is a lot of discussion about the second implementation, internal or 'private clouds'. This essentially is taking the capabilities of a public storage cloud, like scalability and cost effectiveness, and bringing them to the large data center. The use case could be to create a cloud storage-like service for the organization that can be accessed from anywhere or it could be as simple as leveraging a cloud storage solution to build a highly scalable, easy-to-use NAS. 

 

With the infrastructure in place the next logical question is "what are the best uses for this storage platform - archive, backup, collaboration?"

 

4 Reasons to Consider Cloud Storage

Cloud Storage

STORAGE - If you need additional storage consider connecting up with a cloud provider who can deliver Infrastructure as a service. Rather than buying another expensive box for your storage, you can begin placing your data securely in the cloud.  And one of the best things is that it will be available to you at a lower cost than you can imagine.  All you'll need is a connection to the cloud providers' data center to begin reaping the benefits.  Make sure the data center is a SAS70 compliant organization - this means that they have the certifications to support you with your HIPPA, SOX, and PCI requirements. 

DISASTER RECOVERY - If you've been looking for an easy way to back up and mirror your critical information at a location that's 200-300 miles+ away from your primary site, look to the cloud for this.  All you need is a connection to the provider and they can back up and mirror your data at (in many cases) one of their data centers that's a state or two away.

SURVIVABILITY - All things being equal, most cloud providers will have strict requirements at their data centers.  Rarely built in flood plains, or susceptible to wind storms or tornados, these data centers are built to last and protect your data better than you or I ever could.   Setting up a private cloud which is behind your firewall and accessible only by you and your staff is a great way to insure that even if your primary data center is taken out, your network isn't.

 REDUNDANCY - Many of the large carriers are now in cloud computing and can do a phenomenal job at helping you, but going with a provider which is carrier neutral (agnostic) is a better option in our opinion.  Partnering with a provider that has relationships with all the carriers allows you as a business or local government  to use the carrier you already have to add an additional port for your WAN (Wide Area Network).  In many cases these same groups can provide you a multi carrier connection to the Internet to act as your primary connection or a redundant connection to what you're already using.

 

What are your thoughts?  Can your company find additional benefits with cloud services?  Let Burgess Computer help you find out. Call us today!

CompTIA A+ Started April 12

CompTIA Security+ Starts April 29
 

CompTIA A+ IT Technician certification training is great for people who want to enter the IT field or existing PC support professionals who want to augment their knowledge with appropriate IT support methods. 

 

The Network+ class is an excellent way to upgrade your technical skills to design and support business network infrastructures. 

 

The Security+ class trains IT Professionals in proper security methods.

Here is a list of upcoming classes:

CompTIA A+ - Started April 12. The next class starts September 13th.

CompTIA Network+ - Starts September 17th
CompTIA Security+ - Starts April 29. The next class starts November, 2011

Don't miss out!

 

Enrollment forms, course objectives, and further information about requirements, costs, and materials can be found on the Burgess Computer training site at www.burgesscomputer.com/training 

 
What You Can Connect To
What is Cloud Storage?
4 Reasons to Consider Cloud Storage
CompTIA Classes Starting!
Why Organizing Your Server Room is a Good Idea
Office 2010 Training
Your Data is Critical...Are You Backing It Up?
Why Organizing Your Server Room is a Good Idea

 

The server room. Its often the little nook in the corner of the office, or perhaps it doubles as the janitors closet. Maybe it has files or office supplies there too. And while it's not considered prime office space, its often the most important space in the company. It houses the electronics that support your business.

For many companies, growth necessitates investment in technology. As you add equipment, your server room can quickly become cluttered and disorganized. While it may not seem important to organize and clean this area, part of proper system maintenance should include dedicating time to this task. The reasons are simple;
  
Troubleshooting: The internet is down. Somewhere in the tangled mess of wires, a problem is preventing you from working. An organized wiring closet makes tracing the problem much simpler. If equipment is properly mounted on a "rack" or on the wall, a technician can easily identify which device may be causing the problem, leading to a faster resolution.

 

Maintenance: Most technology devices have to be periodically cleaned. Dust can settle on the delicate internal electronics, whether through cooling fans drawing air or just settling though vents in the device. In an unorganized server room, where devices are not properly mounted and secured, simply moving a device for maintenance can cause a failure on the network (perhaps the power plug pops out of the back or a cable comes disconnected). With properly mounted and secured equipment, maintenance becomes much simpler and less likely to cause a failure.

 

Safety: Cables strung across the floor are an obvious trip hazard, not to mention a quick way to bring down an entire network. Cabling that has been "managed" (routed carefully and supported out of harm's way) can prevent this and also provides a neat and professional appearance.

 

Cooling and Power: Maine has a unique climate, it can range from 20 to 70 in the same day. For many businesses, having a dedicated server room with separate cooling is not possible. However, a neat and organized server room can help airflow, improving cooling and reducing the effect of heat on electronics. This can have a dramatic effect on equipment lifespan and reliability.
  
Burgess Computer provides rack equipment, cable management and server room build outs. Call us today for a free evaluation of your server room!

Office 2010

Are you ready? 

 Office 2010 Pro

Office 2010 is here.....and we are seeing a rise in client helpdesk calls when they upgrade from Office 2003 or 2007. The Office suite itself is similar, but  the layout of the user interface has changed. It's often difficult to find where commonly used features are now located, resulting in reduced productivity and frustrated users.

 

We have a solution - Office 2010 training! Call us today to talk about how we can custom design a class for your staff. Whether you are looking to transition to the new Office package, or simply want to get more out of the Office software, we can help.

 

Employee Spotlight

Matt Rice, CTO/Owner

Matt Rice, Owner/Account Manager, started working for Burgess in 2001, after graduating from college in Auburn. Starting as Service Manager, Matt's role quickly grew to General Manager before he purchased the business in 2006. Matt's extensive experience in all aspects of network design, evaluation, installation and support allowed him to succeed not only as a network engineer, but also provides him the tools to succeed in sales as well. He has worked with a variety of organizations to make sure that efficient, seamless business systems operations are in place. He has supported and maximized performance across a range of platforms, and has experience in analyzing and recommending preferred solutions in both the hardware and software arenas. Matt lives in Woolwich and has been a local resident for his entire life. When not at Burgess, he enjoys fishing, motor sports and adventures with his two boys ages 5 and 7.



Your Data Is Critical
Are You Backing It Up?

 

Businesses today are being asked to do more with shrinking budgets and fewer resources. With digital data continuing to grow at an estimated 80% each year and 140,000 hard drives crashing each week in the U.S. alone, backing up this data is a critical task for any business. Traditional backup solutions can be expensive and take weeks to implement, leaving your business vulnerable to revenue and productivity loss.

 

Data Graph
 

 

Remote backup has advantages over traditional backup methods:

  • Remote backup does not require user intervention. The user does not have to change tapes, label CDs or perform other manual steps.
  • Remote backup maintains data offsite. Perhaps the most important aspect of backing up is that backups are stored in a different location from the original data. Traditional backup requires manually taking the backup tapes, etc. offsite.
  • Remote backup services will maintain a list of versions of your files.
  • Remote backup services will use a 128 - 448 bit encryption to send data over unsecured links (ie internet)

 

Some services provide expert backup management services as part of the overall offering. These services typically include:

  • Assistance configuring the initial backup
  • Proactive alerting in the event that any backups fail to upload
  • Assistance restoring and recovering data

 

Many times backups fail at the client because of configuration changes or updates to the data that is to be backed up. Quite often these changes can break backups if the actual backups are not monitored. This results in a dangerous situation where the backups seem to be working fine, but the data required to actually restore the system is not backed up. This issue resulted in the emergence of the Burgess Zinc Managed Backup Service.

 

What Burgess Computer is All About

Our mission is to help our clients succeed. 

We seamlessly integrate technology in a professional, timely, and cost-effective manner. 

We provide solutions that are tailored to the needs of our clients, large and small.

We treat our employees with respect. 

We strive to be good neighbors and citizens.

At Burgess Computer, we believe in integrity, value, and dependability.

 
One Call. One Team.
 
We Keep You Working.

Burgess Computer
101 Centre Street
Bath, Maine 04530
Burgess Computer
800.498.8642
207.443.9554

www.burgesscomputer.com
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