Are you having a difficult time finding network services in South Florida?  Chances are, you’re not.  Finding network services in South Florida, simply performing an internet search term, makes it seem like finding network services in South Florida are a dime a dozen.  And to an extend, they are.  Unfortunately, even though there are many IT network service companies out there, not all of them can compare to Connections for Business.

There is no harm in giving us a call and finding out more, is there?  We definitely do not think so and we’re more than happy to tell you all about the many services we offer and how we believe we can help your business grow.

The old saying, “Pack your own parachute,” comes to mind when I think of data backups or, more specifically, data RECOVERY. However, how many people actually know how to pack their proverbial data backup “parachute” and instead rely on someone else – be it an employee or vendor?

If that’s you, read on. Since the absolute WORSE time to check your backups is AFTER a data disaster, all company CEOs ought to know the answers to the following questions NOW so they aren’t unpleasantly surprised later when data gets erased and they’re scrambling to get back up and running:

1. Where EXACTLY is your data being backed up, and how do you get access to it? If it’s being hosted in a remote place, you ought to have the account information and a direct contact you can call if your vendor or employee goes missing with this information. Ideally, it should be in your network documentation that is kept in your operations manual or somewhere you can easily access it if necessary.
2. Who’s responsible for monitoring the backups to make sure they are working? When data is lost, the finger pointing starts. It’s not uncommon to hear, “Well I thought (they/he/she) was in charge of our backups!” only to discover that this person (be it a vendor or employee) actually has no idea that they had such an important responsibility. Keep in mind that many offsite backup companies allow you to store your data there, but they won’t agree to ANY responsibility for whether or not the data is being backed up correctly, completely or in a format that can be restored.
3. How often do you run a test restore? The only way to know if your backups are working properly is to conduct a test restore or “fire drill” of your data. We recommend running this once a quarter at a minimum to verify that you can actually restore from your backups in an emergency.
4. If your data is lost, what’s the process required to restore it? Some business owners don’t realize that their raw data backups would take a LOT longer to restore than they imagine. If you are not “imaging” your data (a process that takes a snapshot of your server as is) you will have to reload all of your software, set up the network, reconfigure your settings and THEN restore the data – a process that can take the better part of a week PROVIDED you still have your original software discs and licenses.

I do a about three network assessments each month. In the last year, I only found one company who’s backups were being done properly! That’s a scary fact. If you’d like to have us check whether your backups are being done, just ask and we’ll be happy to check and report back.

Admit it; you have some bad habits when it comes to maintaining the security and “health” of the high-tech tools you dearly depend on. Since it’s a fresh, new year, we thought it would be appropriate to point out the top 5 bad habits you should work on fixing this year.

1. Not backing up your data.  Funny how most people start their confession of not backing up their data with the words, “I know it’s bad, but…” If you know, then why are you still doing it? There’s absolutely no good reason to let this one continue. Call us and we’ll hook you up with a solid backup plan that will make sure you can be back up and running again FAST.
2. Relying on tape drives to backup your data. This is almost as bad as bad habit #1. Why? Because tape drives have an average failure rate of 100% – and that’s not a typo. It’s not a matter of “if” but “when” is your tape drive going to fail. Trash ’em and get a better system in place!
3. Using weak passwords. If you’ve ever used the word “password” as your password, we’re talking to you! A good password should contain a combination of numbers and upper and lower case letters.
4. Not installing the latest security patches and software updates. Once a new patch is released by a software vendor, it acts like a green light for hackers who instantly implement viruses and scams to take advantage of those individuals who don’t regularly update (patch) their system.
5. Printing and storing paper documents for everything. The cost of installing a document imaging (also called document management) solution has come down dramatically, and it is now easier than ever to implement. Plus you get the added benefits of saved storage space, saved time in searching for documents, instant access to any paper file via the Internet, fewer lost files, less chance of losing critical documents to fire, water, or wear and tear, AND a cost saving on paper and ink. With all these benefits, why on earth would you still stick to your Stone Age paper filing system?

Want help in breaking any of these bad habits? Call today for a no-obligation, no-pressure consultation on how we can help you break these bad high-tech habits for good! 

One of the New Year’s resolutions I often have is to get more organized and better manage my time. After all, who doesn’t want to get more done?  But a big mistake many people make is thinking ONLY in terms of “more” when it comes to getting things done. Why is this a mistake? Because chances are your plate is already full of to-do items; if you want to accomplish MORE, you’ll have to actually start thinking about what you are going to STOP doing in order to fit in the more important tasks that move you closer to your goals.

As we all know, only about 20% of the things you do deliver 80% of the results you want to achieve. Therefore, in order to “get more done,” you have to clearly identify what that 20% is and focus on doing more of those activities, and delegating or ignoring the 80% of time-wasting “stuff” we all get caught up in doing. What are some big time wasters?

•  Not having a plan for your day and reacting to whatever shows up.
• Constant texting or online surfing. For many, this is a huge addiction and distraction that can waste HOURS.
• Checking e-mail every 5 minutes.

 Last year, I turned off my email alerts in Outlook as I found each time I heard the chime, I was distracted and drawn into my email. Instead, I look at it three times a day. A friend also introduced me to a book by David Allen called Gettings Thing Done. In it he outlines a fantastic way to bring a basic structure to your ToDo list, allowing you to empty your mind of all the “things” you are worrying about and actually GET THEM DONE! I’m still working through the process, but for the short time I’ve been doing it, the results have been amazing.

To help you right now, one thing you can get off your plate is to stop worrying about your network. We’ve got an entire team of skilled and passionate people who will become your complete IT department, for an incredibly affordable cost. Frankly, you owe it to yourself to find out more about this service!

While many companies think the federal Red Flag Rule applies only financial institutions, if you invoice customers for your goods or services, it applies to you, too.

Regulations designed to minimize identity theft went into effect in June of 2010. Are you complying with them?

The federal government’s so-called “Red Flag Rule” requires all businesses that are potential identity-theft targets develop plans to spot red flags and prevent theft. Red flags include suspicious photo IDs, unverifiable addresses and Social Security numbers, and questionable account activity, to name just a few.

While many companies think the Red Flag Rule only applies to financial institutions, it actually applies to all creditors—with creditors being defined as “businesses or organizations that regularly provide goods and services first and allow customers to pay later,” according to a Frequently Asked Questions guide prepared by the Federal Trade Commission, which will enforce the Red Flag Rule.

In other words, if you invoice customers for your goods or services, you’re a creditor—and the Red Flag Rule applies to you.

How can you comply?  You’ll need to have a written policy that specifically addresses how you will prevent and handle identity theft. Other recommendations include data encryption, annual updates of your written policy, and staff training.

While this may seem onerous, you don’t want to ignore the legislation. Fines are $3,500 per violation—and the threat of a lawsuit from customers whose identity has been stolen.

Understanding the complexity of a computer network, and how to deal with preventing identity theft is a key service we provide to all of our ConnectCare clients. If you’d like us to help you, please don’t hesitate to call us at 954-920-9604 or just ask us to help you prevent identity theft.

Related articles
Do You Comply with the FTC’s Red Flag Rule?
Fighting Fraud with the Red Flags Rule: A How-To Guide for Business

 Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.