March 30, 2011
Even FEMA Suffers From Poor Disaster Recovery Plan
Even FEMA Suffers From Poor Disaster Recovery Plan
Disaster recovery is often forgotten about, resulting in huge damage to a business, both financially and in assets. This is a fact that hit home with FEMA, the organization whose whole purpose is to be ready for massive disasters.
The government agency suffered a data loss last May when one database server malfunctioned. The issue didn’t seem like a big deal initially; FEMA has a back up plan, and was able to restore the data relatively quickly. However, the back up software that did such a great job only was intended to bring the data back online, not actually read the data, and the software that was needed to do that was apparently on the same disk as the lost data.
That means that extensive data that FEMA had stored and cultivated on past disasters and lessons learned was inaccessable. The fact that a back up plan was in place but that the back up software was only part of the solution meant that all of the information was missing. This ought to serve as good good wake up call that if even a company devoted to disaster management had this type of oversight, it can and does hurt companies daily world wide. Having a solid back up software such as ShadowProtect by StorageCraft is just one important part of an overall model of protection, planning and loss mitigation. This means taking a thorough look at every single part of what you and your company should have to really make the entire organization work from day to day. When the company is operating smoothly, it can be so easy to overlook so many little things that are taken for granted. Figuring out all of the moving parts that are in use in the event that it all has to be rebuilt from scratch is not easy. However, it’s far easier than trying to start over or recover from massive data losses.
The truth is that data loss prevention shouldn’t be thought of as an ideal, something to ‘get around to’. It’s a vital, critical business operations necessity that will be a major disaster if not addressed. Being hit with a data or system disaster can blow a hole in a company’s economic condition, and for smaller businesses, this absolutely can put them in dire financial straits. It’s far better to worry about it long before it happens.
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Filed under Ecommerce And SEO News and Tips by phpvine
January 22, 2010
The Utlimate Data Recovery Questionnaire
Data backup and recovery is one of the most overlooked parts of a company’s information technology. If your company does not have an adequate backup system, you are putting your digital assets at great risk. There are affordable backup and data recovery systems in every price range, so even companies with limited budgets can afford an elementary system at the very least. Also many computer services firms now offer backup and data recovery systems as integral parts of their managed IT services.
Some things to consider when thinking about your backup and disaster recovery solution(s):
1. What do I do if I delete a file I need?
2. Where is my email stored and is it backed up?
3. What if my computer crashes? Even if my data is backed up how long will it take me to rebuild my computer to a working state?
4. Is all of my backup data located in the same physical location?
5. Will a catastrophe wipe out my backup solution i.e. a flood?
6. Does my business count on any one system for business critical functions? How long can my business operate without a functioning system? Does my current backup solution accomodate that expectation?
7. Does anyone I work with know how to recover information if I need to use my backups that are in place?
8. Are my backups regularly tested so I know they are working?
9. Are my backups monitored so I know if they are ever failing?
10. Is the backup data media (i.e. hard drives or tapes) transferred in a secure, controlled manor since it contains all data for my entire business?
These questions covers about 1/4 of the questions that you should review when it comes to a practical backup and disaster recovery system so if you haven’t asked yourself these questions, start today! If you are overwhelmed, contact a local computer services provider which should be able to assist your company.
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November 29, 2009
Top 10 Technology Basics for Internet Marketing Businesses
Technology is an important consideration for any online marketing business, however, often beginning internet marketers don’t have a good understanding of what kind of technology is needed or how it will impact their company.
The following ten suggestions ought to help you get started well. Try to set up systems and processes that integrate easily, and are accessible all of the time to sustain purchasers and prospects.
Build an automated system if you want to make your life easy and your wallet full.
1. Computer & Peripherals
If you’re going to conduct affiliate marketing, you’ll need a computer - hopefully one of your own, a desktop computer or a laptop. Get one with plenty of memory and processing speed. A broadband connection is preferred over dial-up. You’ll also want a printer. Get wireless capabilities for both.
2. Your Own Domain
Be sure to purchase a website name that you’ve purchased, so that you can set off~start} to develop your own brand. Moreover, some providers won’t allow you to include an affiliate website, but only a website name that you own. A good domain name will be concise (30 characters or less), sensible when either heard or seen, and representative of your product or service. The best names end in “.com” and those are favorite for most internet marketing companies, when available.
3. Communications
One more basic tool is telecommunications, including an ISP and a phone - either land-line, cellular, or VOIP, with or without headset - as you prefer. It should have both local and long distance capabilities, and if you intend to hold conferences for your downline, the ability to handle conference calls. If you’re going to do workshops, etc., you’ll almost certainly want to obtain a teleconferencing service that can manage many, perhaps hundreds or even a thousand, calls at the same time.
4. Hosting Services
You’ll need a web host to provide a “home” for your website. There are many such services on hand to meet the needs of small businesses and internet businesses. Their offerings do differ, as do their prices, so make sure to comparison shop before deciding.
5. Systems & Info Precautions
You’ll also want good protection for your software and online records. This includes physical security, plus software such as firewalls, and security applications like McAfee or Norton.
6. Systems & Info Backup/Restore Processes
One more need is for backup of your locally stored programs and info. Despite other security measures, there will probably come a time when you suffer a system crash, with either some or total loss of information and required programs. Therefore you will also need a healthy backup and restore capability.
7. Goods
You’ll want one or more products to sell - products that you have developed yourself, or ones that have been created by other people. If you offer your own products, then you’ll also have to worry about all the associated back office capabilities. If you get your products from others, then you’ll have to work at supply relationship management, order fulfillments, customer satisfaction and that you get properly paid.
8. Affiliate Program Network
If you’re intending to sell multiple affiliate products, you’ll most likely also want to participate with one or more Affilate Program Networks (APNs), such as ClickBank, Commission Junction, or LinkShare, etc. to handle your commissions, sales statistics, and other back office functions for you.
9. Web 2.0 Capabilities
The internet is very dynamic, so if you want to succeed in today’s internet world, you’ll want sites and services that support blogging and interactive communities (i.e., ones that use Web 2.0 to support a whole host of interaction, using the web as the network platform).
10. Technical Support
Finally - again a commonly overlooked necessity - is the need for first-rate technical support - for both your local hardware and software, but even more importantly, for any of your customer-facing websites and product systems.
If these go down and you are unable to get fast technical support from any/all your vendors, the ensuing downtime can effect your advertising campaigns, you can lose or alienate potential buyers, and ultimately, your profits will suffer (and your reputation, as well).
Technology is the lifeblood of an internet marketing business, and given Murphy’s Law, you have to to prepare for the ultimate downtime and computer crashes that occur as well. Implementing all these basic technologies will help ensure the success of your affiliate small business.
I’m taking my own advice and running my own affiliate marketing company. Take control of your future and your financial security by launching an internet marketing operation. Get the FREE MaxPro Report and CD to learn how.