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Is Your Business Data Truly Safe In The Cloud?

Cloud Computing Safety

Are you considering transferring all or portions of your network “to the cloud” but concerned about cloud computing safety and who is able to gain access to your information? You’re not the only one – Many security specialists, software firms and cloud companies alike, accept that cloud computing provides a safer solution to keep computer data. Actually, the US government’s cyber security consultant Howard Schmidt, had asserted that cloud computing safety would permit companies to catch up on security difficulties.

That’s mainly because the majority of small businesses lack security procedures and lack correct password security plans, firewall administration, and back-up strategies. The same company owners who verbalize their worry regarding placing their data in the cloud are backing up their whole network to a tape drive, as well as leaving this copy in their automobiles over-night,  or are employing “not so strong” passwords for essential access areas to their systems that are much bigger security concerns compared to keeping it in a well protected, extremely redundant cloud solutions. That’s similar to stating you’d rather stash your cash into a mattress at your house than keep it in a bank because you’re unsure who is able to see and handle it.

Is cloud computing safety that important?

Listed below are the top five security questions you should know the responses to if you’re planning to “send” your files to the cloud

1. Who apart from my company users, have a way to access my data?
2. What cloud computing safety procedures will be in place whenever a mobile gadget or laptop is missing/stolen?
3. With what frequency will my information be backed up (in addition to exactly where will it be backed up)?
4. What will happen in the event my cloud provider is out of business? What’s the plan?
5. Where is my information “really” located?

Obviously, with all data storage, even on-site, there are risks and there’s no way to totally ensure complete protection. That being said, the majority of cloud providers are considercloud-computing-safety-ably more diligent regarding cloud computing safety and spend huge amounts of money into making certain that all areas of protection are as rigid as possible.

We have invested plenty of time researching numerous cloud alternatives and as well as providers for our customers.

Need more details on cloud computing safety and what to search for?

Get our no cost cloud computing guidebook now – “5 Crucial Elements All Business Owners Should Know Before Moving Their Data To The Cloud“. Download this zero cost manual immediately by clicking here or call our office at 210-263-3810.

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5 Smart Tips To Know Before Moving Your Data To The Cloud

Moving Your Data To The Cloud

Cloud computing is all the rage these days, and while some companies are moving their whole IT infrastructure to the cloud, many others are choosing to streamline their businesses by moving individual business applications.

If you are considering moving your data to the Cloud and any of your company’s software applications, make sure to consider these 5 tips BEFORE pulling the trigger:

1. Back It Up!

Migrating data to any new location is a mess, and anything can (and usually does) go wrong. Therefore, make sure you have good, recent backup copies of everything before you make the move.

 2. Maintain An On-site Copy

At first, moving our data to the cloud can be a bit scary. What can help mitigate the risk (and the fear) is keeping a local, on-site copy of your data and network image on an NAS (network-attached storage) device. That way you have a local on-site copy in addition to the working cloud copy.

 3. Have A “Plan B” To Access The Internet

One of the biggest questions about moving your data to the cloud is “What if the Internet goes down?” To mitigate that fail point, have a business-class Internet connection as your initial and main way to connect, and then also have a second Internet connection service as a backup. If Time Warner Cable is your main connection, you might consider keeping a  AT&T wireless account as a backup.

 4. Use It As An Opportunity To Do Some Housekeeping

You could just copy and paste your files from your local machines into the cloud, but why not take this as an opportunity to reevaluate the structure and organization of that data? Here are some ideas:

– Reevaluate and/or update your file-naming conventions and file organization. A good file-naming policy will make it much easier to find files and information. Also, consider reorganizing all the folders into smarter, more efficient categories.

– Consider who will be using what and what levels of permissions are required to access files. Revisiting your permission levels will help keep sensitive data from falling into the wrong hands.

– Look at old files and consider deleting them or archiving them so they aren’t cluttering up your server and costing you money for storing and backing them up.

 5. Phase The Move 

Don’t try to migrate everything all at once. Create a transition plan and implement it. Make sure you move your files in bite-size pieces so the changes are easy to digest for your clients, employees, partners and everyone else involved. This also gives you the opportunity to test the water before taking the plunge, and it allows you to put out one fire at a time instead of having all systems down or broken.

Free Cloud Readiness Assessment And Cost Analysis Gets You Started

As a prospective customer, you are eligible for this FREE Cloud Readiness And Cost Analysis.

Free of charge (a $497 value), one of our expert cloud computing engineers will walk you through our 3-step Cloud Readiness process: 

a) Cost Analysis and Inventory. We’ll look at your current network hardware, software, data and applications. We’ll also compile an IT cost assessment to reveal your total spend on IT, including Internet connectivity, support and other fees. Our goal is to find ways we can significantly lower your overall IT costs while simplifying and improving your workflow.

b) Cloud Readiness Assessment. After looking at the above areas, we then look at how you and your employees work and see how well your applications or processes will move to the cloud to improve ease of use and lower costs.

c) Cloud Action Plan. When the assessment is complete, we’ll give you a comprehensive plan that shows how we can save you money and resolve a number of workarounds and problems you have been experiencing to date. Even if you decide not to hire us, this third-party assessment will give you a good idea of what you are able to do with the power of cloud computing.

Get yours FREE today at www.123onit.com/it-services/cloud-services/  through Spring 2015! Phone: 210-263-3810


Areas Covered

We have the tools for Moving Your Data To The Cloud. Besides that we provide a wide range of Data Backup Solutions and Cyber Security services in San Antonio as well as, cloud services, computer IT support, network services and data retention plans to get rid of computer problems to businesses throughout south Texas and Schertz, Seguin, Boerne, Canyon Lake, Stone Oak, Universal City, Pleasanton, Castle Hills, Leon Valley, Converse, Shavano Park, Cibolo, Olmos Park, Live Oak, Timberwood Park, New Braunfels.

Moving Your Data To The Cloud is easy with our streamlined technology process. Cloud computing and Data Backup Solution management in San Antonio with local experts who can help and visit your business to resolve computer problems: Cloud services, IT Support San Antonio, Stone Oak IT Consulting, Leon Valley Network Services, San Antonio Data Backup Plan and Disaster Recovery, Stone Oak Information Technology Consulting and San Antonio Anti-Virus and Data Security.

 

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Cloud Computing for Small Businesses

Cloud Computing for Small Businesses

Everyone is talking about cloud computing at the moment. It really is the latest trend in the world of IT…

– it’s in almost every technology article and news item that you read – but it is also an extremely functional technology that is paving the way for the future of IT.

The arrival of cloud computing is changing the way we do IT and it is opening up an entirely new world for enterprise computing.

For those of you who aren’t familiar with the concept of cloud computing, it is basically the provision of computing services via a pool of servers rather than a single computer. To the end user the concept simply means that they are able to use many services from anywhere in the world with very little hardware requirements. For the enterprise, it means the cost of infrastructure is coming down whilst its functionality is increasing – computing is becoming less reliant on expensive hardware and more reliant on software meaning that systems can be easily and cheaply scaled out to any level as required.

How can Small and Medium Businesses afford this?

Where IT was once about expensive hardware and steep and constant learning curves for the IT professionals managing it, this move towards software defined computing is actually extremely beneficial for small businesses.

A look at how email for business is evolving would give a great example of this. Traditionally email services in the enterprise would run on Microsoft Exchange which would need to be installed on site using expensive hardware in the form of an exchange server.

This equipment and software is very expensive, especially for small businesses and also comes with a requirement for constant maintenance and management which also comes at a cost.

Cloud computing has seen the introduction of Microsoft office 365 which is the same enterprise email functionality, running on exactly the same Exchange based server systems, but provided via “the cloud” with no on-site hardware or software requirements and at an extremely low monthly cost.

For small businesses this means exactly the same enterprise functionality with none of the upfront costs, on-going maintenance or upgrade of physical servers and/or software.

Cloud Computing In Other Areas

There are of course many other areas of cloud computing – there are lots of software as a service (SaaS) solutions that can replace existing systems as well as DaaS (desktop as a service) environments that can help to modernise the small business IT landscape, increase functionality dramatically and also reduce capital outlay and on-going maintenance and upgrade costs.

If you are interested in finding out more about how cloud computing can help to modernise your IT and also reduce capital expenditure please contact ONIT Technology Solutions for any Cloud Services in San Antonio.


 Areas Covered

We provide a wide range of Cloud Computing solutions in San Antonio as well as computer IT support, network services and data backup plans to get rid of computer problems to businesses throughout south Texas and Schertz, Seguin, Boerne, Canyon Lake, Stone Oak, Universal City, Pleasanton, Castle Hills, Leon Valley, Converse, Shavano Park, Cibolo, Olmos Park, Live Oak, Timberwood Park, New Braunfels.

Cloud Computing and data security management in San Antonio with local experts who can help and visit your business to resolve computer problems: Data Theft Protection, IT Support San Antonio, Stone Oak IT Consulting, Leon Valley Network Services, San Antonio Data Backup Plan and Disaster Recovery, Stone Oak Information Technology Consulting and San Antonio Anti-Virus and Data Security.

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Exactly How Cloud Services Can Help Your Small Business In San Antonio

Cloud Services Can Help Your Small Business In San Antonio

Cloud services computing is a concept that could save your business quite a bit of money on software, hardware, upgrades and services. Instead of purchasing hardware and software for your office, with cloud computing you put your programs on a highly secure “super-server” online. All you need is an Internet connection to your office and you’re in business.

Here are 9 reasons why “cloud services computing” has caught on FAST with small to medium businesses, and why you might consider it too: cloud-services-san-antonio

1. Create An INSTANT Virtual Office. Access and work from any secure PC, laptop or device. If you have employees who travel, are in remote locations or ever need to work from home, this is an ideal solution.

2. Save Hard Dollars On Software, Hardware And Support. Never purchase, install or maintain servers or other network equipment again.

3. Less Downtime and Fewer Problems. Software in the cloud runs on extremely fast and reliable systems that include some form of redundancy. Compare that to your own server going down; until you get it fixed, you’re unable to work.

4. Automatic Disaster Recovery. If we’ve said it once, we’ve said it 100 times: make sure you back up your data. But when your data is hosted in the cloud, the backup is done automatically for you and accessible from anywhere you work.

5. Less Expensive To Scale Up Or Down. With cloud computing, you pay only for what you need and increase or decrease storage or resources when necessary.

6. Hassle-Free Software. All of your software is loaded on a server in a datacenter and then shared over the Internet. There are no software disks to manage, organize or file.

7. Environmentally Friendly. Cloud computing uses significantly less power in your office. You also won’t have to upgrade your hardware as often, which means fewer PCs, laptops and other components piling up in landfills.

8. No More Expensive Software Upgrades. Networks in the cloud benefit from automatic software upgrades; best of all, they are done FOR you.

9. Reduced Maintenance. When your software is in the cloud, patches are automatically applied, meaning fewer reboots and downtime for maintenance. It’s all taken care of for you.

Free Cloud Readiness Assessment And Cost Analysis

At no cost or obligation, our highly trained team of IT pros will come to your office and conduct a comprehensive Cloud Readiness Assessment to help determine if your business could benefit from moving to the cloud.

Get yours FREE today at
www.123onit.com/cloud-test through May 31st!

 

Areas Covered

We provide a wide range of complete cloud services, computer IT support, network services and data backup plans  to businesses throughout San Antonio, Schertz, Seguin, Boerne, Canyon Lake, Stone Oak, Universal City, Pleasanton, Castle Hills, Leon Valley, Converse, Shavano Park, Cibolo, Olmos Park, Live Oak, Timberwood Park, New Braunfels and throughout Southern Texas.

Local experts who can help and visit your business on-site: Cloud services, IT Support San Antonio, Stone Oak IT Consulting, Leon Valley Network Services, San Antonio Data Backup Plan and Disaster Recovery, Stone Oak Information Technology Consulting and San Antonio Anti-Virus and Security.

 

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What is Cloud Computing? The Nebulous Truth About Cloud Computing

Just a little over 1 year ago, my aunt Edna called to ask if I considered she needed to relocate the family computer into the cloud.

It’s very hard to blame her for the misconception. In the end, the entire technology sector appropriates the expression for virtually any and all sorts of internet activity. “Cloud” is now a shortcut motto that we’ve all regarded as a “complicated technical stuff made simple that you’ll comprehend eventually when you’re more mature.” Well… today is that day. We’ll find out exactly what the cloud really is, in addition to review some small background and look at a number of its features. Let’s begin with exactly how it got here:

How the Cloud Originated

As you may may remember, during the mid to late nineties, online technology organizations were virtually springing up over-night in what grew to become known as “the dot-com bubble.” In order to keep their services working, these businesses needed to buy a lot of computer hardware -everyone was wanting to be the next Amazon. This, however, was no affordable strategy. To account for erratic spikes in visitor website traffic, a great deal of that equipment sat idling for the majority of of the time. It was the same as purchasing an automobile for a two-day business trip and then leaving behind that car at the airport terminal because you may need to take a flight back in half a year.

The commercial practice of virtualization transformed that. In general, virtualization is the concept of using one computer and sectioning parts of it to simulate many scaled-down computers. Though the concept of virtualization has been around since the sixties, it took a number of improvements in technological innovation and the obvious need of a less expensive way out of advance virtualization to the level of financial viability.

With virtualization on their side businesses didn’t have to purchase and maintain massive mainframe computers to manage the web traffic. They could subscribe to a service that would afford all of them as much or as little computing resources as they required and just charge them for what was really used. Therefore came into existence The Cloud. In a nutshell, a Cloud computer is any kind of pool of computer resources that can be instantly partitioned and customized to suit the needs of a particular user.

http://onlinebusiness.volusion.com/articles/what-is-cloud-computing/

 

 

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What Is Cloud Computing And Why Should You Care?

Cloud Computing San Antonio

There’s a good chance that MOST of the software applications you use every day are now SaaS applications, or “software as a service.” In other words, you don’t have to install them on your server or PC – you simply access it as a pay-as-you-go model for only the licenses, space and features you use. This gives you the ability to access highly sophisticated software and functionality at a fraction of the cost – or even for free – and without long-term commitments.

For example, Google is a massive, free cloud application – the power required to search billions of web sites and content in seconds and deliver the relevant results to your screen far exceeds the capacity of your PC. Facebook is another free cloud application that allows you to post pictures, play games, and connect with your friends in real time without having to install those applications on your computer. Of course, there are also the applications such as Salesforce, Constant Contact, SurveyMonkey, etc., that you pay to use.

With the recent introduction of cloud-based office applications like Office 365, Google Apps and thousands of other SaaS applications, it’s becoming unnecessary for some businesses to purchase and maintain an onsite server. Now companies can host one or more of their applications, data, e-mail and other functions “in the cloud.” That simply means it’s stored offsite in a highly secure, high-availability “utility” company that has far more power and resources than you could ever logically have onsite as a small business. And with devices getting cheaper and Internet connectivity exploding, cloud computing is suddenly a very smart, viable option for small business owners.

What Are The Benefits Of Cloud Computing?

Eliminates the need for expensive server upgrades and allows you to use cheaper devices (PCs, etc.) to get the same work done.
Frees you to access applications from any device and any location. All you need is an Internet connection.
Built-in disaster recovery and business continuity.
Only pay for what you need and use (utility pricing).

Is Cloud Computing Right For You?

While there are a ton of benefits to cloud computing, it’s NOT right for every company. Some applications don’t play well in the cloud. You need commercial-grade Internet connectivity, and some functions, like working with big graphics files, are better kept local or the slowness will make you crazy. However, in almost every case, parts of your computer network (functions) can easily be put in the cloud to save you money and give you better service. So before you donate your server and sign up for Google Apps or Office 365, it’s important you talk to someone who can honestly assess your unique situation and tell you the pros and cons of making the switch to cloud computing.

Sign up for a Free Cloud Readiness Assessment to see if your company can benefit from this technology that is revolutionizing the business world.

 

 

Cloud Computing, Lower the Costs of IT Upgrades, Maintenance and Support

What Is Cloud Computing And Why Should You Care?

There’s a good chance that MOST of the software applications you use every day are now SaaS applications, or “software as a service.” In other words, you don’t have to install them on your server or PC – you simply access it as a pay-as-you-go model for only the licenses, space and features you use. This gives you the ability to access highly sophisticated software and functionality at a fraction of the cost – or even for free – and without long-term commitments.

For example, Google is a massive, free cloud application – the power required to search billions of web sites and content in seconds and deliver the relevant results to your screen far exceeds the capacity of your PC. Facebook is another free cloud application that allows you to post pictures, play games, and connect with your friends in real time without having to install those applications on your computer. Of course, there are also the applications such as Salesforce, Constant Contact, SurveyMonkey, etc., that you pay to use.

With the recent introduction of cloud-based office applications like Office 365, Google Apps and thousands of other SaaS applications, it’s becoming unnecessary for some businesses to purchase and maintain an onsite server. Now companies can host one or more of their applications, data, e-mail and other functions “in the cloud.” That simply means it’s stored offsite in a highly secure, high-availability “utility” company that has far more power and resources than you could ever logically have onsite as a small business. And with devices getting cheaper and Internet connectivity exploding, cloud computing is suddenly a very smart, viable option for small business owners.

 

What Are The Benefits Of Cloud Computing?

– Eliminates the need for expensive server upgrades and allows you to use cheaper devices (PCs, etc.) to get the same work done.
– Frees you to access applications from any device and any location. All you need is an Internet connection.
– Built-in disaster recovery and business continuity.
– Only pay for what you need and use (utility pricing).

Is Cloud Computing Right For You?

While there are a ton of benefits to cloud computing, it’s NOT right for every company. Some applications don’t play well in the cloud. You need commercial-grade Internet connectivity, and some functions, like working with big graphics files, are better kept local or the slowness will make you crazy. However, in almost every case, parts of your computer network (functions) can easily be put in the cloud to save you money and give you better service. So before you donate your server and sign up for Google Apps or Office 365, it’s important you talk to us so we can honestly assess your unique situation and tell you the pros and cons of making the switch to cloud computing.

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You can find more information on this important matter by downloading this Free Report:

data-backup-san-antonioInformational Guidebook to Finding An Honest, Dependable and Experienced Cloud Services Company

 

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