Tag Archives: power
What Firm Owners Need to Recognise About Cloud Computing
The Desktop Computing era has put computing power into the hands of the users, but left them still contingent upon IT to provision the back-end infrastructure such as networks, servers and firewalls. Maintenance on in-house infrastructure tends to be daunting and very costly. Whats more, disaster can ensue at anytime from drive failures, viruses, corrupt databases, server patches and the list goes on. You also need to pay for all the hardware and a team to manage it. Since application servers tend to be driven by departmental budgets, IT infrastructures often finish up as over provisioned mishmashes of equipment, processes and technology entailing overstated cost and large inefficiencies with servers operating at 15-25% of capability. Cloud servers, on the other hand, run at 75-90% of capacity. This results in less office space, hardware, staff and power necessities saving a lot of money, and the environment.
Fundamental to the Cloud Computing argument is that software is rented rather than purchased outright. Finance directors will immediately draw a comparison between the two routes and demonstrate that after typically 2.5 or 3 years, the rental payments on exactly the same resources would look to exceed the capital cost: it would thus make little sense to accept a rental agreement.
While that break-point may be right at first view, Alex Parker of Commensus reasons that there are noteworthy considerations to be taken into account. “It assumes that any equipment bought is being fully utilised from the outset. If a company has acquired IT solutions with the capacity to take it forward three or five years, for instance, it is paying for resources on which it cannot generate a return on capital. Changed circumstances may mean that the capacity is never fully taken up.”
Cloud Computing offers the chance of moving most IT expenditure from the balance sheet to the profit & loss account. This in turn removes capital expenditure, cutting operational expenditure and gives small firms the budget predictability they need. IT departments can then concentrate on the front-end issues that will enable business survival and development.
With Cloud Computing, instead of making one capital commitment to buy the hardware and another to acquire pricey software, companies effectively rent both the hardware and the software, paying only for the resources that are really employed. So you dont pay anything when services are not necessary, doing away with unnecessary overprovision of resources to appropriate for occasional spikes in requirements. Businesses can go from 20 workstations to 80 and back to 50 again in the time it takes to authorise the online paperwork. This “pay-as-you-grow, save-if-you-shrink” model works out much cheaper in the long run.
In the past, it might take a business six to eight weeks to commission an application server. Now, computing power and storage space is becoming a commodity, bought when needed and scaled up when required. This dynamic resource management is enabling organisations to react faster to market shifts and acquire an advantage over their competitors. It is this agility and scalability that persuades most companies to venture into the cloud.
But Cloud Computing is more than an IT deployment. Moving into the cloud is a cultural shift as well as a technology shift. For IT staff, and particularly the chief technology and chief information officers, it requires a rethinking of their roles. 70% of time previously wasted on operational maintenance and upgrades is then available to spend focusing on business strategy. This allows a company to take advantage of new opportunities to innovate and grow.
The Importance of Solid and Secure Computer Data Storage
Are you thinking about computer data storage yet? Because with the rainy season approaching, your backup computer files might be the only thing between secure records and utter chaos. And if youre thinking thats a well-placed bit of exaggeration, try asking the residents of Freehold, NJ how many of their personal emails, financial records and pictures they wish they still had.
But what happened in Freehold is an excellent reminder of why computer data storage is so vital. When you dont backup your computer files, you run the risk of losing everything during power outages not just because the power is out and your computer wont run but because the surges in power can corrupt your files and hard disk. There are ways of protecting your computer at home a power strip is a good idea, and saving files to a thumb drive is smart but theyre not comprehensive enough for people who use their computer for more than just creating documents or updating social media. Offsite backups are a far better idea for keeping your most important files safe and sound.
So: what can you do to keep your files safe in the wettest season of the year? Weve compiled some ways of protecting your computer and its contents so that you dont end up with a very expensive paper weight the next time a hurricane rolls through town.
Offsite Backups: There are a number of reputable companies out there who can help you protect your information. Outside computer data storage facilities will store your information (for a fee, which can be nominal or not depending on the company) at their facility. Be Things to watch out with this so be careful of where your data is and how secure it is. That will be another article.
The Cloud: It seems strange to recommend putting all of you stuff into space, but thats essentially what the Cloud is. You can backup computer files online for free, which is great. Just be conscious that a computer hacker can wipe out those files a bit easier than s/he could if you use a company that specializes in computer data storage for your home or business.
USP: Thats an Uninterruptible Power Supply, and its a pretty cool gadget. It sends a steady stream of power to your computer even if a storm causes a power surge, giving you time to shut it down correctly. Some of them will even initiate the shut down for you, if you cant get to it yourself because you are away. Its one of the better ways of protecting your computer because it keeps the machine and its contents safe. Just make sure to “comparison shop” first, because some of them are a little pricey. Be aware that they do need to be configured properly in order for them to work the way they are meant to work.
Electricians: How good are your wires? If you live in an older home or if your area is particularly susceptible to sever storms, then all of the computer data storage in the world might not be able to save you. May be time to invest on a home generator to help keep your lights on during and after a storm. You never know how long it may take the electric company to get your lights back on. No matter what, remember to backup those computer files ASAP before it is too late.
Dont Wait to Backup Computer Files
The most important thing to remember is that sometimes believe it or not the weather reports are wrong. Some storms blow right over, while others cause levels of devastation that are almost unimaginable. (Just ask anyone from the Gulf Coast.) The best ways of protecting your computer mean nothing if you dont implement them. Thats why its so incredibly important that you backup computer files often. Offsite backups at reputable companies can keep your files necessary and precious safe when the lights go out.
The Importance of Solid and Secure Computer Data Storage
Are you thinking about computer data storage yet? Because with the rainy season approaching, your backup computer files might be the only thing between secure records and utter chaos. And if youre thinking thats a well-placed bit of exaggeration, try asking the residents of Freehold, NJ how many of their personal emails, financial records and pictures they wish they still had.
But what happened in Freehold is an excellent reminder of why computer data storage is so vital. When you dont backup your computer files, you run the risk of losing everything during power outages not just because the power is out and your computer wont run but because the surges in power can corrupt your files and hard disk. There are ways of protecting your computer at home a power strip is a good idea, and saving files to a thumb drive is smart but theyre not comprehensive enough for people who use their computer for more than just creating documents or updating social media. Offsite backups are a far better idea for keeping your most important files safe and sound.
So: what can you do to keep your files safe in the wettest season of the year? Weve compiled some ways of protecting your computer and its contents so that you dont end up with a very expensive paper weight the next time a hurricane rolls through town.
Offsite Backups: There are a number of reputable companies out there who can help you protect your information. Outside computer data storage facilities will store your information (for a fee, which can be nominal or not depending on the company) at their facility. Be Things to watch out with this so be careful of where your data is and how secure it is. That will be another article.
The Cloud: It seems strange to recommend putting all of you stuff into space, but thats essentially what the Cloud is. You can backup computer files online for free, which is great. Just be conscious that a computer hacker can wipe out those files a bit easier than s/he could if you use a company that specializes in computer data storage for your home or business.
USP: Thats an Uninterruptible Power Supply, and its a pretty cool gadget. It sends a steady stream of power to your computer even if a storm causes a power surge, giving you time to shut it down correctly. Some of them will even initiate the shut down for you, if you cant get to it yourself because you are away. Its one of the better ways of protecting your computer because it keeps the machine and its contents safe. Just make sure to “comparison shop” first, because some of them are a little pricey. Be aware that they do need to be configured properly in order for them to work the way they are meant to work.
Electricians: How good are your wires? If you live in an older home or if your area is particularly susceptible to sever storms, then all of the computer data storage in the world might not be able to save you. May be time to invest on a home generator to help keep your lights on during and after a storm. You never know how long it may take the electric company to get your lights back on. No matter what, remember to backup those computer files ASAP before it is too late.
Dont Wait to Backup Computer Files
The most important thing to remember is that sometimes believe it or not the weather reports are wrong. Some storms blow right over, while others cause levels of devastation that are almost unimaginable. (Just ask anyone from the Gulf Coast.) The best ways of protecting your computer mean nothing if you dont implement them. Thats why its so incredibly important that you backup computer files often. Offsite backups at reputable companies can keep your files necessary and precious safe when the lights go out.