January 2009

IT Resolutions for 2009

1. I will Go Green: The internet, VPNs, VOIP and teleconferencing make it possible for most office workers to telecommute from home or a Remote Office Center near their home. Reduce costs in power and coiling with Virtualization. Reduce paper usage by duplex printing and moving your margins out. Adopt power management. Reference EPEAT and EnergyStar when purchasing equipment. Look into software as a service.
2. I will reduce complexity: The average organization manages four or more different data protection methods to meet backup and recovery requirements. Implement a simplified data protection approach that reduces the management of your backup infrastructure, increases reliability, and provides the resources to maximize your investment.
3. I will maximize my IT resources: Businesses are challenged with limited resources to manage rapidly increasing amounts of data, which can lead to increased data security risks, more downtime, and less regulatory compliance. Use and manage network and server resources more effectively with a Network Operating System that will improve data availability, recovery, and storage utilization.
4. I will stop wasting my server space: Many organizations are experiencing a strain on their existing servers. Consolidate space and lower costs of virtualization.
5. I will minimize my risk of downtime: Create and implement a business continuity plan. Smaller organizations will embrace Software-as-a-Service solutions to help mitigate possible downtime due to a disaster or employee mistake.
6. I will not let threats compromise my network: Today’s businesses face a threat landscape that involves stealthy, targeted, and financially motivated attacks that exploit vulnerabilities at the endpoints. Look to new threat protection technologies to manage and secure your endpoints.

Contact your PC Professional Account Manager to set up a free 2009 New Years Resolution IT meeting.

Why Increased Security is Critical in 2009

2009 is expected to be filled with uncertainties. And against this backdrop of economic uncertainties, environmental pressures and tighter budgets, it is more important than ever to implement solid security solutions within your organization. Here’s why…

Data Leakages

With the financial crunch expected to stretch into 2009, companies are cutting back on manpower resources and more mergers and acquisitions are anticipated to take place, so we can expect higher employee churn next year. Disgruntled, laid off employees may siphon customer information, patented products and other business critical data to get back at their boss or make quick money. Security solutions will help guard your corporate reputation, image and brand by ensuring that your sensitive business data and intellectual property is guarded from unauthorized access.

Cloud Computing

Cloud Computing is growing in popularity due to its cost and space savings, as well as the greening of IT and reductions in organizational carbon footprints. However, it has been predicted that there will be a substantial rise in Trojan activity in 2009, particularly targeting the cloud computing environment. SaaS arguably puts data at greater risk, since it hands over IT security control to someone outside of the company's carefully controlled network.

Internet Popularity

As the internet and email continue to be important business tools, people are also beginning to use them more and more for personal use. Those who have been retrenched may start looking for jobs or put up their credentials on social networking sites to seek alternative jobs. With the economic slowdown, more people are going on the Internet to earn their living and to connect to their friends and relatives. Web threats have become more targeted and focused on individuals, including 2009’s top threat – Botnets – which are predicted to increase 10-15% this year. Internet users ought to be aware of next-generation smart protection solutions that can block threats before they even reach the individual and an organization’s network.

Remote Monitoring and Management

With the existing economic crisis, unplanned downtime can threaten your business and cost you your job. Remote Monitoring and Management is a cost effective way to monitor your business critical equipment 24/7 to protect against potential issues surrounding data storage, data backup devices, virus attacks and outside access to the network. We offer both remote and on-site preventative maintenance and same day response to correct critical network issues.