k_Street Consulting, LLC Blog

Some businesses have a hard time admitting that they don’t have someone skilled enough to perform certain tasks. Plus, IT management and maintenance isn’t something that you want an inexperienced worker handling. The truth about situations like this is that outsourcing is, in fact, a valid option, and one that shouldn’t be dismissed - especially for small businesses. Sometimes small organizations don’t have the time to deal with routine maintenance, while others have trouble attracting top talent. Both scenarios inevitably lead to technology that isn’t cared for properly, and will eventually break down.

Plan Ahead to Replace Your Technology
Technology is no different than every other aspect of business in that it pays to have a plan. We call this an IT roadmap, which is a plan detailing what equipment needs to be replaced and at what time. A typical IT roadmap takes into account your company’s technology needs over the next one, five, or even ten years. The advantage to having an IT roadmap is that it’s easy to come up with an IT budget so you can set aside money for the equipment you need, instead of running your equipment into the ground and having to replace it when you least expect to.

Businesses are volatile entities that can change drastically at any given moment. All it takes to eliminate data and cause disaster is an unexpected natural disaster, like a flood or fire, or a hardware failure that wipes out mission-critical data. The fact remains that your organization could face significant downtime from data loss, and the future of your business could hang precariously in the mix.

Mobile devices have grown extraordinarily popular in the workplace. Organizations find them to be of considerable value for staying connected and getting work done while outside the office. This trend has presented a serious risk in the form of network and data security. How can businesses support mobile devices in the workplace, without compromising on the security of the device and the data it holds?

Thanks to the advancements of virtualization and cloud computing, many businesses are hosting key parts of their IT infrastructure off-site. While this move is great for mobility and productivity, it makes operations extremely dependant upon a working Internet connection. If this scenario describes your organization, what’s your plan to stay productive should your Internet connection fail?

Hackers of all shapes and sizes use brute force attacks to gain access into accounts and infrastructures, but do you know how they work and what your business can do to protect against them? Failing to understand brute force attacks could put sensitive information in the crosshairs of hackers, and leave it vulnerable to ongoing attacks.

The traditional telephone system has been a staple in the office for decades. However, your typical landline telephone system hasn’t aged well, and has been left relatively useless in the wake of better, more flexible solutions, that are designed to save your business money. Voice over Internet Protocol, or VoIP, is a great tool that can be used to improve your business’s ability to grow.

If you’re like every other business in the world, you rely on a set of software solutions that you use to ensure that all work gets done properly in your office. In order to effectively use this software, though, users have to purchase a software license, an agreement with the developers pertaining to the use of the software. Without having the proper licensing, your business can no longer access mission-critical applications, which could result in downtime and other risks to your infrastructure.

Your business stores a ton of data that you access on a daily basis, and therefore, you require adequate data storage space. Should you go with solid state drives (SSD) or hard disk drives (HDD) for your primary data storage needs? We’ll discuss the various strengths and weaknesses of both types of drives.

Not too long ago, businesses would seek out technology professionals for help in resolving difficulties. Nowadays, the way companies go about IT maintenance has been turned on its head. Instead of reacting to major hardware failure, businesses are finding it more economical to proactively maintain their technology, preventing major issues from happening in the first place.

You implement technology solutions to keep your network safe from hackers, but what would you do if your systems were bypassed and infiltrated? Every business owner needs to consider this scenario, because even the best of us can fall victim to hacking attacks when we least expect them. Approaching such an event in a reasonable way is your best chance of making it through in one piece.

In an infamous 2012 survey by Wakefield Research, the ignorance of the general public regarding cloud computing was revealed: 51 percent believed that stormy weather interferes with cloud computing, and 29 percent thought that the cloud was an actual cloud. Furthermore, what may elude many computer users is the fact that a process known as virtualization is actually what’s behind cloud computing (not atmospheric conditions).

Security is a top concern for anyone that utilizes the Internet. The problem for businesses is that the average employee probably doesn’t care much for your security practices, and it can be challenging to get them to comply without upsetting them.

Business owners know all too well how painful it can be to manage technology. In addition to making sure that your business functions properly, you also need to keep your technology in working order. Many organizations that rely on technology in order to stay productive free up valuable time and resources by outsourcing their needs to third-party providers.

We get asked all the time, “What’s the best way to back up my company’s files?” For businesses, we give the same answer every time: a Backup and Disaster Recovery (BDR) solution. BDR is far superior to any other data backup solution on the market, as evidenced by these three awesome features.

The purpose of your company’s information technology is to create, access, and share the data that your business needs to get the job done. One challenge that stems from exchanging such valuable information is the chance of it getting intercepted by the prying eyes on the Internet. Taking advantage of a Virtual Private Network (VPN) is the best way to safeguard your organization from this risk.

How does your business handle technology problems that come with using servers, workstations and other solutions in the workplace? Do you solve problems as they come up, or do you take a proactive stance to keep your tech under control? Either way, the fact remains that break-fix IT is an inefficient and wasteful way of approaching your technology solutions, especially with managed service providers changing the way SMBs implement technology.

Once upon a time, in a long lost era known as the 1990s, traditional phone systems ran rampant throughout the workplace environment. In-house workers were limited to using landline telephones to make outbound calls on a limited number of phone lines. Nowadays, thanks to the advent of the Internet, Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is making leaps and bounds in the business environment, allowing for greater flexibility and functionality for a fraction of the cost.

Did you know that some of the most successful hackers actually know very little about computer coding? In many cases, a hacker simply tricking someone into handing over their personal information works out even better for them. This is a tactic known as social engineering, and the only way to defend against it is to stay one step ahead of the hacker’s devious plans.

Your business relies on constant access to its data and information systems in order to maintain operations. Businesses that become victims of data loss disasters and are unable to recover their data, will more likely than not go out of business within one year of the incident, making it more important than ever to ensure that you have a plan in the event of the worst-case scenario. Would your business be able to get back on its feet following a data loss disaster?

Your business is no-doubt reliant on your email solution as a critical communications component. Without it, your organization’s operations could be significantly hampered, forcing you to improvise in order to reach out to internal and external parties. As an important part of any business’s communications, it’s crucial that your email solution is as efficient as possible, but managing an email server can be challenging for the average business owner.

Have you ever been in a situation where you’ve had your computer shut down randomly or lose power, only to lose progress on a file that you’ve been working on for countless hours? If you haven’t recently saved the file, you might panic and assume the worst. How can you prevent this catastrophe from falling upon your business?

New technology has a profound effect on the modern workforce, increasing its connectivity and response time. This improves productivity, but it also presents a unique challenge that businesses need to overcome: providing quality solutions that won’t restrict the ability of workers to do their job properly. For some business owners who have an antiquated view of technology, this will require a new approach.

By now, you’ve probably heard a thing or two about BYOD (Bring Your Own Device). This is an IT trend where employees bring their own mobile devices to work and connect them to the office network. Due to the prevalence of mobile devices, this trend is here to stay. Here’s why you’ll want to embrace BYOD, and how to avoid some of the associated security risks.

2016 is well underway, but how are you approaching your company’s IT? If you’re using the outdated break-fix model, then your calendar might as well read 2006, or even 1996. Essentially, every year brings new technologies, which means new challenges for your IT network. To handle this influx, you’re going to want an IT maintenance solution that keeps up with the times.

Has your business adopted the cloud and used it to fully leverage your technological assets? The cloud is an exceptional tool that allows businesses to deploy and access information in never-before-seen ways. While the cloud is great for this purpose, these lessons can be applied to parts of your in-house IT infrastructure.

Voice over Internet Protocol, or VoIP, is a voice communication solution that’s grown exceedingly popular in the workplace environment. One of the reasons it’s preferred is that it cuts costs on your cable bill, and allows for maximum mobility. Unfortunately, even a solution as reliable as VoIP can have a few minor kinks that will need troubleshooting. Here are two ways your business can optimize your VoIP solution.

One of the most valuable assets of your business is its data. Hackers know this; it’s why they choose to go after those who fail to protect their information. Without your data, you’ll lose valuable time and expenses that can potentially result in the complete and total destruction of your business. This is why it’s so crucial that your organization understands how to integrate a proper data backup solution that optimizes business continuity.

Hackers are notorious for exploiting technology for their benefit, but users often forget that mobile devices are exploited just as often as desktops and workstations; perhaps more so, due to their higher exposure to wireless networks that may not be secure. One of the greatest threats to mobile devices is the botnet, which is designed to enslave a device and have it turn on its owner (and the entire Internet).

With cloud computing on the rise in the business environment, it’s becoming more clear that organizations need to know what type of cloud solution will best benefit their business model. With the private cloud gaining much attention, it’s important to know what attracts businesses to it. Why should your business implement a private cloud solution, and how should you go about doing so?

Your network’s firewall plays a vital role in protecting your business’s mission-critical assets from external threats. As one of the most basic PC security layers, it would be silly to function without one. Granted, having a firewall and knowing what it protects you from are two different things entirely. To maximize your business’s data security infrastructure, you should pay close attention to how each individual part of your security solution works, including your firewall.

You know that you need a complete IT infrastructure in order to maximize the profitability of your company’s technology. Yet, you may have doubts that you’ve got it in your budget to afford all the necessary equipment and software. Thanks to the many “as a service” offerings of today’s market, virtually any business can afford to get their hands on the technology they need to succeed.

We live in a society where everything is always growing more powerful, and in turn, everything grows more complex. Nowhere is this more true than the technology industry. It’s easy to lose track of how much new technology you’ve added to your IT infrastructure over the years, but you know what they say; the more basic your infrastructure is, the better, for the sole purpose that it becomes much easier to maintain and manage. That said, redundancy actually makes things easier on your business continuity plan, instead of complicating it.

“The call is coming from inside the house!” This memorable quote is from the 1979 horror classic When a Stranger Calls. In the movie, this chilling information is presented to a woman after she has her call traced to locate the whereabouts of a stranger who was harassing her. To be sure, this would be a scary situation for anybody to experience; it would almost be as frightening as a network security breach--originating from inside your IT department!

When it comes to connecting to your business’s network, remote workers have a lot more problems to deal with. There’s significant concern over the security of data that’s accessed across an insecure Internet connection, which could unnecessarily put your business’s data at risk. Therefore, it’s critical that your business has a solution to this predicament, like a Virtual Private Network (VPN).

It’s a well-known fact that cybersecurity is a major pain point for all businesses, but some organizations spend vastly more money on it than others. Considering how the Internet is full of threats that are waiting to attack at any given moment, it’s not surprising that some organizations invest heavily in their security. Large businesses with over 1,000 employees spend around $15 million annually on security, so you need to make sure that your business is also spending the appropriate sum on network security.

If you allow your team to bring their mobile devices to work and use them for work purposes, you’re aware of the challenging nature of integrating devices like smartphones and tablets into the work environment. They allow employees to keep up with their email and stay productive while away from their desk, but they also present a security challenge that’s not so easily fixed. How can your business address the potential issues regarding these devices?

Cloud computing is sweeping the technology industry, and it’s easy to see why. It provides an immense versatility and productivity that we could only have dreamed of ten years ago. However, some organizations are still hesitant about implementing this game-changing concept into their technology infrastructure. One of the most common reasons is because businesses don’t actually know what the cloud can do for them.

Finding the kind of IT management that your business deserves isn’t always easy, especially for the small or medium-sized business that works with a limited budget. Sometimes it might feel like you’re paying an exorbitant amount for the services you’re receiving. Well, it’s actually much easier to get the prices and services you deserve, all thanks to the advent of managed IT services and technology as a service offerings.

We don’t need to explain how dangerous the Internet is. Behind a veil of deception is a horde of malicious entities that are practically begging you to make a mistake and allow them access to your infrastructure. If there’s one thing you should be sure of, it’s that a single mistake is all it takes to allow dangerous entities into your organization, like ransomware, viruses, malware, or even spyware.

In order for an organization to maintain operations, a strong network that’s capable of handling internal traffic is necessary. These networks handle the deployment and access of mission-critical data, applications, and other important tasks that businesses depend on. Sometimes, however, a business can push their network too hard, which can have a profound effect on its functionality, and an even greater effect on that organization’s ability to continue operations.

The Internet is chuck full of malicious activity, but sometimes the difference between legitimate and illegitimate websites is so fine that it’s nigh impossible to discern the two. Well, we might be in luck; as it turns out, around 95 percent of the dangerous websites on the Internet can be identified by the top-level domains they use.

In order to perform their jobs to the best of their ability, your staff need to access mission-critical data in a moment’s notice. One of the best ways you can help your employees work their best is to ensure that any information they need to do their jobs is immediately available. Do you make this a priority, or deal with this issue as the problems arise?

One of the greatest advancements in Software as a Service (SaaS) offerings is in cloud computing, and for good reason. The modern business is capable of expanding their operations to epic proportions, and it’s all thanks to the cloud. Have you considered integrating a cloud solution, and if so, do you know how it will affect the management of your IT?

As a business, the data that you collect from both your employees and your clients is absolutely essential to the day-to-day operations of your organization. If your company were to lose all of its data in an instant, what would it result in; a fallout of downtime, or a quick recovery that hardly costs your organization a few minutes?

As a business owner, you understand that there are always criminals on the lookout waiting to take advantage of the slightest crack in your defenses. They want to steal from you and see you fail. Cyber security is one of the most important avenues of defense your business should take advantage of, especially considering the fact that most threats to your organization aren’t apparent until it’s too late.

The modern business faces all sorts of challenges, and IT solutions are often a great way to skirt around these issues. However, many of these businesses are also finding the management of their IT to be a major pain point, especially with a limited staff and budget. Here are the top five challenges that a business faces when attempting to make changes to their IT infrastructure.

Over the past several years, cloud computing has really taken off. Whether it’s for personal or business use, the market for cloud computing continues to grow. For the growing small or medium-sized business, the benefits of instituting some form of cloud computing are substantial. With cloud computing, you’re able to reduce the large capital outlays that typically come with new technology purchases, while improving access to your data; significantly improving mobility.

It’s been known for years that virtualizing your server is a great strategy for companies that rely on their technology. It allows them to make efficient use of their computing resources as well as limit hardware and utility costs. Many business owners are not privy to virtualized desktop options, or how to properly use desktop virtualization to improve their business.

If your IT isn’t fully integrated in the day-to-day operations of your company, it can be holding your team back from achieving maximum productivity and efficiency. Granted, you have to have a dedicated IT department before they can be even remotely involved with your business. Some small and medium-sized businesses consider themselves savvy enough to get by without dedicated IT support, but they’re sadly mistaken.

People often blame technology for not doing its job in the face of hacking attacks. While this is certainly true, only half of the fault lies with the technology. The other half, whether we like to admit or not, comes from the people using technology. This brings up an interesting ultimatum; only humans can prevent hacking attacks from happening altogether. If people don’t protect their data, it’s only natural that it will eventually get attacked.

Cutting corners comes with the territory of doing business. While it makes sense to be conservative with items like breakroom amenities and super-soft toilet paper, trying to save money in regards to your employee’s technology may actually turn out to cost more than it saves. For business owners trying to save money, the latest technology solutions are worth the extra expense.

Can you remember the last time you did your company a solid and updated all of its hardware and software solutions? If your organization is still using machines from several years ago, it could be holding it back from reaching its full potential. We’ll say it again, think hard about when you last updated your technology, and we really, really hope that you aren’t still running Windows XP or machines from last century.

Does your office take advantage of unified communications solutions to communicate efficiently within the workplace? If your employees aren’t taking advantage of the mission-critical communication applications your business provides for them, not only will it be frustrating to contact them, but it might also cause miscommunication; a common cause for error. Regardless the size of your workforce, your business can benefit from a unified communications solution.

Coming up with new solutions constantly can put a strain on your business. This can take up a significant amount of time, and before you know it, implementing revolutionary ideas meant to improve efficiency can get in the way of your day-to-day operations. Wouldn’t it be nice to integrate a complete solution in a quick, all-inclusive package?

Technology helps business owners around the world achieve greatness on a regular basis, and it’s become so attached to the office that the two are inseparable. The only issue with this is that you become completely reliant on it, making technology issues feel catastrophic. Instead of paying for an on-site visit from a technology support provider, wouldn’t it be more convenient to just pick up the phone and have someone fix the issue immediately?

We’ve all had days where our office is bustling with activity and everyone is producing a desirable amount of work. These kinds of days are what make being a business owner so fulfilling. This fulfillment, however, can be replaced with panic and discord in a heartbeat. All it takes is a disaster or hardware failure to bring down your entire operational infrastructure. Thankfully, all it takes to make a disaster a minor inconvenience is to be proactive about disaster recovery.

In order to keep up with the latest industry trends, businesses are turning to technology management solutions that help them better leverage their assets to garner leads and optimize operations. One such technology is virtualization, which improves access to desktop infrastructures and data stored on virtual servers. In fact, you can even use virtualization to make your applications much more accessible and flexible.

The cloud offers modern businesses ways to store and run applications that couldn’t even have been imagined several years ago. While some companies have decided to go with the flow and take advantage of cloud computing, others might find that their cloud services aren’t meeting the standards set upon them. What can they do about this?

A business owner knows how important data backup is, but they might not have the time or knowledge to seek out the best solution for their business. Unfortunately, disasters can happen when you least expect it, and this unpredictability holds the future of your company hostage. Before jumping into a particular backup solution, think about where your business currently stands, and what options you have available to you.

Businesses that take advantage of outsourced IT are successfully able to cut costs on their IT budget, but did you know that there are several other benefits that can be taken advantage of by integrating outsourced IT? For instance, outsourcing IT gives you access to several skilled individuals, all with different skillsets, that your IT budget might not normally support.

As you are no doubt aware, BYOD, or Bring Your Own Device, is taking the business world by storm. This forces employers and IT departments alike to consider the security ramifications of letting employees use their personal devices in the workplace. What’s the security situation of your BYOD policy look like?

In business, you need to be competitive to experience growth. Otherwise, your competitors might catch up and surpass you when you least expect it. When your computer network is reliable, you can know with certainty that your employees are operating at optimal efficiency. For a small or medium-sized business, this can mean all the difference.

Small business owners, beware. On July 14th 2015, Microsoft will stop supporting the aging server operating system, Windows Server 2003. If your business is still operating servers using this outdated OS, you need to upgrade away from it before the end-of-support date. If you don’t, you run the risk of hacks and security discrepancies.

Technology is vital to the success of any business, but even the most common issue can prevent users from accomplishing their day-to-day goals. Even technology that’s known to be reliable can fail at any given time. This is especially true for the notorious hard disk drive, which is required for the average workstation to function properly. In order to get the most out of your technology, and to avoid data loss, look for signs of hardware failure before the deed is done.

As technology grows ever more complex, the average garden-variety threats grow exponentially. As such, security measures grow more comprehensive to battle the myriad of new threats that appear every day. If you’re not protecting yourself by maximizing your network security, you could be weak and vulnerable.

We’ve been known to discuss the importance of proactive IT solutions and handling issues before they become problems. However, the difference between the two isn’t always as clear as it should be. The true value of our managed IT services can only be understood if the difference between the two can be distinguished.

When it comes to your data infrastructure, accessibility and mobility are two of the top necessities. Many businesses take advantage of a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to meet this requirement. A VPN has the ability to extend your company’s network virtually over the Internet, allowing remote users to access your infrastructure. However, considering the popularity of the cloud, it might be time to reevaluate your VPN solution and make sure it’s still relevant.

A common occurrence in the business world is the employee who wants to use their sweet new smartphone for the purposes of work. The average business owner might be ecstatic that the employee wants to get more done in the day, especially when the device isn’t on the company’s dime. However, some professionals forget that these smartphones aren’t immune to being misplaced or stolen.

Hardware virtualization is an increasingly popular trend in the workplace, and it’s easy to see why. However, another viable option to save on electricity and operation costs presents itself with thin clients. With the advent of virtual desktops, it’s easier than ever to take advantage of thin clients in the office, but are they right for your business?

With new technology being produced every day, it’s only natural that the IT industry grows alongside it. Due to this, you might have a lot of unused junk lying around from continuous upgrades. A lot of this old technology might still be perfectly usable, if a bit old; but it’s important that you know when to say “goodbye” and replace your IT equipment.

Today’s technology has transformed the business world into a land chock-full of emails and text messages, where the spoken word is a nearly-lost practice. This makes phone calls even more special than they used to be, and can make or break the satisfactory customer experience. As your business grows, the costs of a legacy telephone system grow along with it. VoIP, or Voice over Internet Protocol, is a desirable solution to decrease communication costs both in and out of the office.

As you are well aware, your business’s data is one of its most treasured assets. It could be gone in the blink of an eye if you aren’t careful in defending it. If an unexpected hardware failure or power outage were to occur, would your business be able to bounce back with minimum downtime and without any data loss? Businesses must always be aware of the importance of data backup, especially in the technology age where personal or sensitive information can easily be stolen or destroyed by a seasoned hacker.

It’s important to understand that you as a business owner wouldn’t be as successful as you are today if it weren’t for the talents of your professionally-trained team. You need to understand that the complexities and time constraints of running a business put a lot of responsibility on your shoulders, and you can’t take matters into your own hands as often as you’d like. The ideal situation is one where your team’s professions encompass all aspects of your business. This is especially true for IT.

Industries are constantly trying to save money and improve productivity in the workplace. A BYOD strategy, known as Bring Your Own Device, allows employees to achieve this new level of success. With employees bringing their own devices into the workplace, you would think that this saves the business the trouble of supplying them; but there’s some controversy over whether the reward is worth the risk.

The owner of a successful business growing at an immense rate knows how difficult it is to allocate time to all necessary responsibilities. In the words of Bilbo Baggins from J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit, you might, “Feel thin, sort of stretched, like butter scraped over too much bread.” One of the things which might get pushed to the side is your company’s IT network. We feel that you shouldn’t have to take your attention away from your business to worry about IT.

WiFi connections are more important today than they’ve ever been before, especially in the modern office. The performance and capabilities of WiFi have improved exponentially within the past few years, allowing businesses the added luxury of using wireless technology in the office. Unfortunately, the more access points for your network, the more effort that’s needed to keep it up-to-date and maintained.

Your data is the foundation which your business is built upon. It only makes sense that someone should be overseeing it. If the wrong person were to handle your company’s IT, it could have disastrous consequences. Resolving common IT problems can allow your business to operate at a much greater velocity, putting an end to time-consuming and costly annoyances. Here are six common issues that managed IT services can prevent.

Business owners talk a lot about collaboration, but few organizations have the means to take full advantage of it. One way these businesses miss the mark is by using outdated technology. Ironically, most technology in the workplace is designed to improve collaboration yet businesses continue to struggle with it. By improving your understanding of your technology, you’ll pave the way for greater workplace synergy.

For a piece of technology to make it into your hands, the design is rigorously tested and QC checked. Therefore, what rolls off the assembly line should work just fine. Yet, users experience technology problems all the time. Did you know that one of the biggest reasons why technology fails is because it’s human nature to mess it up? Here are three reasons why humans aren’t compatible with technology.

Having the right technology vendor can go a long way. How can you be sure that your business has partnered with the proper technology vendor? If you’re unfamiliar with the ways that a tech vendor operates, they might even try to rip you off and weasel more money out of you. One way you can know for sure you’ve made the right decision is by having your IT provider do the dirty work.

We’re so busy worrying about hackers that we rarely think about how they acquire the tools they need to steal you out of house and home. One reason that the surge of hacking activity has skyrocketed over the past few years is because hacking tools have become more readily available, through an illegal black market known as the Darknet.

New technology brings all sorts of changes to the business world, and the modern business has to take advantage of these changes in order to stay competitive. One of these revolutions is cloud computing. While every professional has their own opinion of the cloud, Greg Walters of Walters & Shutwell Inc. has some interesting theories about how the business cloud will develop.

A business's IT infrastructure is complex and confusing. Just like a puzzle, it is made up of several vastly different pieces that come together to perform a particular function. One of the things that ties an IT infrastructure together is a KVM switch. Without a quality KVM switch, your network might fail to operate properly. Here are a few tips to help you choose the right KVM solution for your business.

Technology is a wondrous thing, capable of granting our every wish with a simple query… well, sort of. It depends on how you use it. Today’s technology is capable of expanding our productivity through the roof, or sending it to live in squalor deep in the gutters of the Internet. What can your company do to take advantage of this wondrous innovation, and avoid the pitfalls of wasteful distractions?

It seems most logical to store every byte of your data, and with the advent of cloud computing, it's more affordable than ever. While most companies tend to store a huge amount of data, some forget that they should always be willing to delete old files if need be. This is especially true if you deal with sensitive data which can leave your business liable to a possible lawsuit.

Your goal as a business owner should be to optimize the amount of productivity your office can achieve during regular operation hours, but sometimes that's a lot more difficult to accomplish than it seems. There are all sorts of variables that must be taken into account, but one big theme is always inter-office communication. In order to usher in a new era of communication in the office, try a company intranet.

Businesses are turning their attention toward the cloud more and more every day, but many of them find the cloud to be a lot of information to process. What businesses want is the ability to see how cloud services can benefit their personal and professional goals. Cloud solutions can give your company an edge on your competition, but you don't always know what the best solution for your business is.

Does your business know how much of its data is valuable and used? According to IDG Research Services, not much of it is really used for anything. Only about 28 percent has any real value to it. This means that the majority of your stored and maintained data is going unused and taking up space and resources. This information is called "dark data."

Whoever came up with the idea of BYOD sure was onto something. Employees love bringing in their own personal devices for work, but is it putting businesses at risk? BYOD was well-received by the business world, but now some companies are questioning whether mobile devices at work are putting their information at risk.

Owning and running a business means that you have to be good at making and implementing plans. Every business owner has this skill, but there's one aspect of planning that often gets overlooked--testing. It's easy to skip testing because of the amount of time it takes, but it's necessary to ensure success. The clearest picture of this is with data recovery.

Nobody likes it when something is overly complicated, and IT is no different. Keeping your operations simple can reduce the cost of doing business, minimize the error margin, and bring more people into the loop. Your IT infrastructure is the heart that pumps the life blood of your organization, and if you keep it simple, you'll find that most common business issues can be resolved much more quickly and efficiently.

Most people think that crime doesn't pay, but that's not what the numbers say. When hackers steal from others, they are leeching countless dollars from the world just to satisfy their own goals. This has worldwide effects on the economy and the tech industry, not to mention what it can do to your business.

Some businesses like to promote casual workplaces, while others are strictly professional. But regardless of what sort of office you have set up for your business, the fact remains that it is a place of work and productivity. There is always room for improvement, even if it only means a few extra moments of productivity every day, but it adds up quickly.

Criminals sit in front of their computers trying to rip off your personal data out of the cloud using their mysterious hacking skills. You don't have to know the code of the hackers to successfully fend them off. Here are a four effective tips to keep your data in the cloud safe.

Are you still hosting your own server? You know it can be exhausting, and that it takes up a lot of time and effort. It's just like organizing your housewarming party. If you're too busy making sure everything is good to go, nobody will be able to see the star of the party - you. What if we told you that you don't have to worry about all of the details?

When something goes wrong at the workplace, it could be for any number of reasons - power failure, system crashes, or even malicious software. But, before you go and assume that the problem is irreparable, check your cables for any abnormalities. Even the slightest cabling issue can cause big problems for your company's entire network.

Smell that? That's the stench of your computer burning because you ignored the hackers and viruses constantly trying to gain access to your network. It takes more than just vigilance to keep your precious data from being accessed by criminals. You need something that can take the heat in the event of an attack. You need protective software, like a firewall. The term was coined because, just like a firewall confines a fire in a building, it can also keep threats out of your system. Sometimes, all it takes is a little protection to prevent catastrophe.

There's a reason why business technology is categorized differently than consumer technology. For example, nobody in their right mind has a copy machine the size of a Smart Car sitting in the home office. More is demanded from business technology, which is why you need a professional partner to assist you with your professional technology!

You can't run a business and make money without spending money on risky activities, like advertising campaigns where there's no guaranteed return on investment. Did you know that it's possible to make money by investing in risk management? For all of you Cautious Carls out there, this might be a more preferred way to grow your bottom line.