This project was carried out to increase reliability, performance, and efficiency of Ruswin’s infrastructure. This customer also migrated to a cloud-based system, which allows for accessibility of data and information across all of their sites.
This project was completed over two weekends, outside of the business’s work hours, so they were ready to begin the working week without interruption.
This project was carried out to increase reliability, performance, and efficiency of Ruswin’s infrastructure. This customer also migrated to a cloud-based system, which allows for accessibility of data and information across all of their sites.
This project was completed over two weekends, outside of the business’s work hours, so they were ready to begin the working week without interruption.
If you’ve ever experienced a fire or destructive flooding or a burglary, you know the importance of protecting your vital documents.
In running your business, you keep essential business documents in a fireproof safe or in a locked cabinet. Likewise, you must keep your business data well protected, and data backups are crucial to this.
A data backup is defined as “a digital copy of your important data.” Data backups are necessary for business, especially small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), which are likely cyberattack targets. Data backups are a must so you can:
This can happen due to hardware failure, software corruption, or cyberattacks. A backup is your insurance in case something happens to your original data.
Cyberattacks can be devastating for any business. In such a case, a backup can reduce your downtime. You can restore your data and normalise your operations faster.
There are data protection regulations for businesses to comply with. Doing backups can demonstrate compliance, such as aligning with The Essential 8 baseline security measures.
Losing your customers’ data can lead to loss of trust in your business. Backups can help protect your business reputation by ensuring that your customers’ data is safe.
If you lose your data, you may have to pay to recover it or rebuild it. A data backup can save you money by preventing a total data loss.
Having backups lessens your worries. You can focus better on running your business rather than having doubts about the safety of your data.
Some common methods for backing up your business data are:
This involves backing up your data to a storage device, such as an external hard drive or a network-attached storage (NAS) device (linked to your local network). On-site backups are easy to set up and maintain.
This means backing up to a device in a remote location or via a cloud storage service. Cloud and off-site backups are less vulnerable to local disasters, such as fire or theft. Cloud backups have the advantage of being accessible from anywhere.
This involves backing up your data to an on-site device and then copying that data to an off-site location. Hybrid backups offer the best of both worlds: they are easy to set up and maintain like on-site backups, and they are as secure as off-site backups.
The best backup method for your business will depend on your specific needs, budget, and technical skills. If you want a highly secure strategy, you could consider the 3-2-1 backup solution.
The 3-2-1 data backup is similar to keeping a spare house key under the doormat and another with a trusted neighbour. It’s called “3-2-1” because:
While no foolproof backup method exists, the 3-2-1 system works well because it decreases the chance of total data loss and multiplies your protection. It is also easy to implement even for small businesses.
Here are the steps to doing a 3-2-1 cloud data backup:
First, all critical data must have backups. Critical data is any information that is vital to the operation of your business, such as:
You also have various files and folders that are used by your employees daily. Which of them do not need a backup? If a file is retrievable from official sources (e.g., installers, media), then you don’t need to back it up.
Overall, the questions you need to ask about each item are:
The original copy of your data is your master copy. Choose where to keep your second copy, preferably on a different media or device like:
The value of the second copy is in the speed of recovering and restoring the data, since it is kept in the same location as the original.
Your offsite data backup storage options can include:
The value of the third copy is in being in a location that will not be affected by events that might happen at the master copy location.
A cloud data backup is stored in a remote server in the cloud. Your data is stored off-site, where it is meant to be safe from disasters or cyber-attacks.
Cloud backups are very useful to businesses that have limited resources to manage their own backups.
With the various cloud backup options, it is best to consult an IT services expert.
You can always reach out to us about cloud backups and the 3-2-1 backup rules:
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These tips can be useful whether you do any kind of data backups:
Some back up their critical data daily. You could do it hourly or once a week or every month. The frequency may depend on how often your data changes and how important the data is.
Make sure that your backups are working properly. You can do this by trying to restore your data from your backups.
Make sure your onsite backup is kept in a locked that drawer or cabinet. For cloud backups, you could make your backup “immutable” (not modifiable while in the cloud).
Data backups are important to protecting your business from disruptions and their consequences. Backups should be integral to a Disaster Recovery Plan (DRP) if you want to minimise unplanned downtime, reduce costs and losses, and protect your assets and your reputation.
Discover more about a DRP and how it can work for your business.
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You may also book a free consultation with our friendly security experts.
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No investor likes money pits. Business owners do everything to avoid them.
So why are some businesses still relying on the break-fix method of resolving IT issues when it is, in fact, a money pit?
In this article, we explain why that is no longer the preferred IT solution and show how managed IT services is now the way to go.
Break-fix IT is an IT management approach where IT problems get attention only when they happen – when it breaks, the IT guy is called to fix it.
It’s like waiting for your car to break down before you do anything about it – a reactive way of solving problems.
Break-fix may have been a practical IT solution in the past, but not in today’s digital age where businesses rely on technology for everything. Some of the reasons why break-fix is no longer a suitable solution for today’s businesses are:
The break-fix solution is therefore a money pit that costs much more than if you had a managed IT service provider (MSP). Why is managed IT the better way?
Managed IT services is where a provider has a team of IT experts who manage a business’ IT system. This method can include:
You could think of it as a car maintenance plan, where you bring in your vehicle for regular checks so the mechanics can catch any potential problem before it becomes worse and, possibly, cause damage or injury.
The old adage “prevention is better than a cure” still holds true. Managed IT is a preventative approach that can give you:
If you agree that managed IT is the better alternative over break-fix, the next question would be, “So how can I find a managed IT service provider that’s right for my business?” Here are a few helpful tips:
Before you start contacting IT solutions providers, take some time to research different providers in your area. See what they offer, read reviews, compare prices, and get quotes from a few different providers.
Do you need help with network security, cloud computing, or something else? Do you need someone who has already worked in your industry? Once you know what you need, start to narrow down your choices.
It would be good to meet in person with the people behind each provider. This is your chance to ask questions and get a feel of their company culture. This is important because you need to be able to trust the people who will be taking care of your IT.
When meeting with the MSPs, be sure to ask the right questions. Here are a few examples:
Managed IT is the proactive approach most suited to today’s businesses. It also costs less than break-fix in the long run. Better still, having an MSP taking care of your IT can allow you to work with less worries and sleep better at night.
If you’d like to learn more, talk to the team at ADITS, we are a leading Managed IT Services provider in Brisbane and Townsville, and support businesses across Queensland. Take advantage of a free consultation and get in touch today.
BOOK CONSULTATION NOWFor the fifth time since 2018, ADITS has been named among the tech industry’s most prestigious managed service providers (MSPs) worldwide.
The Channel Futures MSP 501 survey has been ranking MSPs for organisational performance for the past 17 years. The ranking is based on annual sales, recurring revenue, profit margins, revenue mix, growth, innovation, and supported technologies.
Qualifiers must pass a rigorous review that ranks applicants by weighing financial performance based on long-term health and viability, commitment to recurring revenue, and operational efficiency.
Adam Cliffe, ADITS South-East Queensland Managing Director, was thrilled about the news. “We just always do our best for our clients – that’s our commitment. We invest in studying their needs so we can deliver better IT for them. The awards we receive are a testament to our own clients’ testimonials about the work we’ve been doing.”
Ashley Darwen, ADITS Group Managing Director, shared: “Every time our company is recognised, our team members recall the hard work they’ve put into every project. It makes them feel proud to be part of a business that puts customers first, consistently providing an excellent job, and working as a team… I’m proud of you all!”
ADITS started with one employee and one client in 2006 and grew into a dependable MSP with over 14,000 users in 842 organisations worldwide. The company now focuses on providing managed IT services and cyber security services. They have been described by clients as efficient, reliable, competent, and honest.
This year’s MSP 501 is said to be one of the most competitive in the survey’s history. It has transformed from a competitive ranking into a vibrant group of innovative MSPs focused on raising customer satisfaction levels.
“The 2023 Channel Futures MSP 501 winners persevered through challenging times to become the highest-performing and most innovative IT providers in the industry today,” said Jeff O’Heir, Channel Futures senior news editor and MSP 501 project manager. “The MSP 501 ranking doesn’t award MSPs solely on their size and revenue. It acknowledges the business acumen, best practices, and trusted advice they deliver to customers every day. They deserve the honour.”
Kelly Danziger, general manager of Informa Tech Channels, said, “We extend our heartfelt congratulations to the 2023 winners, and gratitude to the thousands of MSPs that have contributed to the continuing growth and success of the managed services sector. These providers are most certainly driving a new wave of innovation in the industry and are demonstrating a commitment to moving the MSP and entire channel forward.”
A special event has been scheduled to recognise the 2023 MSP 501 winners on the Channel Futures website. They will also be feted at the Channel Futures Leadership Summit on 30 Oct-02 Nov 2023 in Miami, Florida.
The data collected by the annual NextGen 101 and MSP 501 drive Channel Futures’ market intelligence insights. The 2023 MSP 501 list is based on confidential data collected and analysed by the Channel Futures research and editorial teams. Data was collected online from February to May 2023.
Channel Futures is a media and events platform for the information and communication technologies (ICT) industry. They provide information, perspective, and connection, plus insights, industry analysis, peer engagement, business information and in-person events.
