Tag Archives: access
Disaster Recovery – Planning for the Worst
No matter how well prepared, every business is susceptible to disaster. Malicious fire, flooding or theft can leave a business in a precarious position, not to mention the potential danger of modern cyber-threats to an organisations infrastructure. So what can be done to ensure business continuity in the event of disaster?
Data Management and Recovery
The widespread access to cloud computing is a recent technological development that has hugely benefited the business world. This is where data is stored in a managed network online, allowing anyone who is affiliated with the network to access their files remotely, from any location with internet access.
If your business has not started using a cloud system, the time to start is now. Using cloud computing allows for data to be stored securely online, meaning there is no danger of losing data through hardware failure, i.e. computer crashes, theft or hard drive damage.
In addition to this, if the worst happens and a business is forced to close its office doors, those with broadband at home (74% of adults in the UK) can continue to work, minimising disruption as much as possible.
Disaster Recovery Software
However secure a companys cloud network is, data should always be backed up in several locations via a fully managed data backup service. One of the most common methods of backing-up data is the use of disaster recovery (DR) servers.
In cases where data has been lost, recovery is key. Remote data centres can replicate and store data as it is created, allowing for a back-up to be instantly available in the event of an outage. DR servers can be fired up within minutes allowing instant access to important files when they are needed.
Business Continuity Strategies
Every business should have a plan in place for the unlikely event of a fire or flood damage, and there are specialist providers who can help to plan for such an occurrence. If your organisation is currently with a managed service provider, with an MPLS network and cloud access, then a disaster recovery strategy should be a standard consideration. Some of the arrangements that can be made include:
Flexible staff resourcing – Shared functions (receptionist, call centre, help desk, etc.) can usually be resourced from any office. If there is an outage at one location, staff from another office can immediately cover duties, and there will be minimal interruption in service to customers.
Hot desking – This is where, through unified communications, staff can move between offices and log in locally if their office is out of action. So if one office suffers an outage, an alternative location able to accommodate the extra volume of staff can be utilised.
Home working – As previously mentioned, it is entirely feasible for staff to work from home, providing they have the access to data that they need. A common solution is that employees can be provided with a VoIP home phone at low monthly cost, which allows them to work from home, as they would in the office.
With data at the heart of every business, a solid disaster recovery strategy in not just advisable, it is essential. Not only for the benefits of business continuity, but for the financial security of employees and owner alike.
Disaster Recovery – Planning for the Worst
No matter how well prepared, every business is susceptible to disaster. Malicious fire, flooding or theft can leave a business in a precarious position, not to mention the potential danger of modern cyber-threats to an organisations infrastructure. So what can be done to ensure business continuity in the event of disaster?
Data Management and Recovery
The widespread access to cloud computing is a recent technological development that has hugely benefited the business world. This is where data is stored in a managed network online, allowing anyone who is affiliated with the network to access their files remotely, from any location with internet access.
If your business has not started using a cloud system, the time to start is now. Using cloud computing allows for data to be stored securely online, meaning there is no danger of losing data through hardware failure, i.e. computer crashes, theft or hard drive damage.
In addition to this, if the worst happens and a business is forced to close its office doors, those with broadband at home (74% of adults in the UK) can continue to work, minimising disruption as much as possible.
Disaster Recovery Software
However secure a companys cloud network is, data should always be backed up in several locations via a fully managed data backup service. One of the most common methods of backing-up data is the use of disaster recovery (DR) servers.
In cases where data has been lost, recovery is key. Remote data centres can replicate and store data as it is created, allowing for a back-up to be instantly available in the event of an outage. DR servers can be fired up within minutes allowing instant access to important files when they are needed.
Business Continuity Strategies
Every business should have a plan in place for the unlikely event of a fire or flood damage, and there are specialist providers who can help to plan for such an occurrence. If your organisation is currently with a managed service provider, with an MPLS network and cloud access, then a disaster recovery strategy should be a standard consideration. Some of the arrangements that can be made include:
Flexible staff resourcing – Shared functions (receptionist, call centre, help desk, etc.) can usually be resourced from any office. If there is an outage at one location, staff from another office can immediately cover duties, and there will be minimal interruption in service to customers.
Hot desking – This is where, through unified communications, staff can move between offices and log in locally if their office is out of action. So if one office suffers an outage, an alternative location able to accommodate the extra volume of staff can be utilised.
Home working – As previously mentioned, it is entirely feasible for staff to work from home, providing they have the access to data that they need. A common solution is that employees can be provided with a VoIP home phone at low monthly cost, which allows them to work from home, as they would in the office.
With data at the heart of every business, a solid disaster recovery strategy in not just advisable, it is essential. Not only for the benefits of business continuity, but for the financial security of employees and owner alike.
How Remote Access Keys and Clusters Benefit a Dedicated Hosting Company
Dedicated Hosting refers to a type of internet hosting service, exclusively leased to an individual or business entity. Therefore, dedicated servers supply the service solely to the one purchasing customer. Furthermore, the buying customer does not share the server with anyone else. In consideration, the task of acting as one of the dedicated hosts for new clients can potentially become overwhelming. In response, remote access keys help to save you time by automating the process.
Understanding Remote Access Keys and Clusters
One of the advantages of using remote access keys with your Dedicated Hosting service is how it makes it so that you no longer have to do anything during the times that someone creates a new account. Therefore, this gives dedicated servers the capacity to give a new client instant activation when they set up a new accounts. One of the largest benefits surrounds around how the people no longer have to wait for you to do anything in order for them to start setting up their website.
Where to Start and Who Can Benefit
Any Dedicated Hosting business can start using remote access keys by requesting them from their hosting company. Another option is to access this features through your dedicated server control panel in order to create the key automatically. When you generate the key, you will see a long paragraph of encrypted information, which you then can add to your script in order to automate the process of signing up with your company. Generally, most of the businesses that use this type of script are resellers.
How Remote Access Keys Work
In some cases, your Dedicated Hosting company may provide you with a sample of an automate script in which you can use for the sign up process. In most cases, you can modify the script according to your needs. One thing to consider is how you should contact your dedicated server for more information if you are unsure on how you should write this script.
Furthermore, after you have your remote access key, you should never share it with anyone. One of the main reasons has to do with how it allows access into your Dedicated Hosting servers control panel. Therefore, sharing this type of information could jeopardize the security of your server if the wrong person got a hold of it. In any case, when people on signing up for a new account, your keys encrypted, which helps prevent any types of problems.
Understanding DNS Clusters
At one time, a DNS Master referred to the system that we now know as a DNS Cluster. The DNS Master however, became rapidly outdated, leading to a newly revised system. These new revisions increased the amount of ease for webmasters with their capacity to monitor and access all information pertinent to their DNS zones within one area.
Not all Dedicated Hosting companies give you the option to use DNS clusters. For those that do, it makes it easy for you to synchronize your records with more than one server. Therefore, this is a useful feature for webmasters using more than one dedicated server.
Even so, a company or individual should not use this feature with a single dedicated server. In general, a DNS clusters designed primarily for advanced users and useless for the Dedicated Hosting business type. In spite of this, it is still appropriate to have an understanding if you have plans to add on another dedicated server or find that your company is quickly growing.