Data backup solutions your business needs
No one likes to think about losing data. But whether it’s due to cyberattacks, disgruntled employees, human error, equipment failure, or natural disasters, a data loss incident is always possible. The best way to avoid losing valuable customer and company information is to have a reliable backup solution. Here are some solutions for your consideration. Tape drives Tape drives are the oldest backup solution still in use today because they offer high-capacity data storage and are very cost-effective. Modern tape drives come with 114 TB native capacity and 360 TB compressed capacity, which is larger compared to most hard disk drives. In addition, well-maintained tape drives can store data for over 30 years. Other devices, such as hard drives, become less reliable overtime. Also, tape drives are stored offline, which means they’ll be safe should your business fall victim to an online attack. External hard drives An external hard drive is a portable hard drive that can be connected to a desktop or laptop through a USB port. External hard drives come in varying storage capacities ranging from 1 TB to 18 TB. For companies that can’t afford multiple servers or cloud storage, external hard drives are a cost-effective way of backing up valuable data. External hard drives are portable and let you access your files even when you’re offline. When using external hard drives, however, you need to update your backups regularly to include new files. Also, there’s a risk these devices can be misplaced or stolen if they are not stored in a secure location. USB drives USB drives are an inexpensive and simple data backup solution. While they don’t have the capacity of external hard drives or tape drives, newer flash drives can store up to 1 TB of data, making them the ideal option if you’re not planning to store a huge amount of files. And because USB flash drives have a compact design, they are easy to carry around. USB drives are compatible with both PC and Mac devices as long as they have a USB port. Modern ones are designed with transfer speeds of up to 4.8 GB per second. This allows you to copy files faster compared to hard drives which only have a transfer rate of 150 MB per second. The only drawback with USB drives is that they can be misplaced easily, so be sure to store them in a safe and secure place after use. Cloud storage Cloud storage allows you to back up your data online. This reduces the need for physical storage, helping you cut down on hardware maintenance costs and office space. And since your data is stored online, you can access your files from anywhere with a stable internet connection. This makes file sharing easier, thus facilitating remote and hybrid setups, which became the norm during the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, most cloud providers offer encryption services to ensure only authorized personnel can access the stored data. Keep in mind, however, that there are still providers out there that do not have sufficient security protocols in place, exposing sensitive data to cyberthreats. So before you decide to use cloud storage, make sure the provider you choose is familiar with data regulation laws and uses the latest cybersecurity protocols to ensure the safety of your data. Data backup may seem like a chore, but having copies of your files offline, off premises, or in the cloud will ensure the continuity of your business in the event of a disaster. Call our data backup experts today to learn more. Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.
Here’s how SaaS can benefit your business
The IT sector relentlessly comes up with new business solutions that cut costs and increase efficiency. One such innovation is Software-as-a-Service (SaaS). In this post, you’ll learn more about what SaaS is — and why you shouldn’t miss out on it. What is SaaS, and what does Software-as-a-Service even mean? Just a few years ago, the main way for computer users to get software was to either buy a physical CD or download the software from the internet. The software needed to be installed in users’ machines, which meant that those machines had to have sufficient storage space and processing power for the software to work. Moreover, the license to use the software copy is usually limited to one machine. Therefore, the user had to buy another copy of the software if they wanted to install the software on another machine. In business settings, software delivery was streamlined so that on-premises (on-prem) servers held the software programs, and users accessed these programs via the company’s intranet. The user’s own device became a medium for entering input and displaying output, but most, if not all, of the processing was done by the on-prem servers. In this setup, economically priced license packages allowed a single software copy to be used by tens or hundreds of users at a time. Today, SaaS essentially allows users to go online, “borrow” the machines of a service provider, and use the software applications installed on those machines. Since the user only has to access the internet to access SaaS apps, they can use portable devices like laptops and smartphones and use the software wherever there is internet connectivity. This gives users more flexibility since they don’t have to go to the office to work. Should I stick to on-prem IT infrastructure or switch to SaaS? SaaS is an ideal solution for businesses that want to reduce upfront costs. With on-prem software, you first need to buy on-prem hardware, which you will then need to maintain. Next, you need to purchase a software license and pay yearly support fees, which can amount to 22% of the license fees (ouch!). With SaaS, you don’t need to buy your own servers to host the actual software. Moreover, you pay only a monthly or annual subscription fee that covers licenses, support, and other fees. This lets you spread out costs, which is more manageable than buying expensive lifetime licenses and paying huge maintenance bills annually. How flexible is SaaS? Will it be able to fulfill the particular needs of my business? Traditional on-prem solutions used to have two advantages over SaaS: the former granted more functionality and allowed full customization. However, SaaS vendors now continually introduce more and more features that users ask for. Moreover, businesses can often integrate SaaS apps with other apps to suit their needs. That is, if one app is missing a particular feature, it can be integrated with another app that has that needed feature. How safe will my data be? Organizations often cite data security concerns as reasons for not adopting SaaS. Will the company’s data be safe? Who will own such data? What if the SaaS vendor’s business goes kaput? These are all valid concerns. But you should know that the average SaaS vendor invests more in cybersecurity, backup tech, and maintenance than the typical small- or medium-sized business. This is the vendor’s line of business, and they can’t afford to lose their clients’ trust. Moreover, they’re subjected to strict security audits, especially those that are covered by data regulations like HIPAA. Additionally, when your organization takes on a SaaS vendor, both parties sign a service level agreement (SLA). This SLA has clauses specifying who owns the data inputted into a program and the output produced by the program, and the vendor’s obligation to grant you access to your data even if they suffer economic setbacks or business failures. For more information on SaaS, send us a message today. We’ll help you determine if utilizing SaaS is best for your business. Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.
How to tweak and maximize Windows 11 on your laptop
Windows 11 is available as a free upgrade for Windows 10 users, and many people — including laptop users — are taking advantage of this new operating system. If you’re one of them, then you need to know how to properly tweak Windows 11 features on your laptop so you can make the most of Windows 11. 1. Set up how your device checks for updates New laptops usually automatically check for updates, but you can also manually do this. Click the gear icon above the Start button to go to Settings, choose Windows Update, and then click Check for updates. You can also type “updates” into the search box and click Check for updates. 2. Create a restore point It is ideal to set up your laptop’s restore point, which is the backup of your entire operating system. Doing this can save you a lot of time, effort, and even money in case something goes wrong with your device. To set up a restore point, simply type “restore” into the search bar and click Create a restore point. You’ll be taken to the System Protection tab of the System Properties window. From there, you can choose what you want to be included in the backup. Click the Configure button to apply your choices. Enable “Turn on system protection” if it’s not already on. Finally, choose how much disk space to reserve, which is ideally not more than 2–3% of your total disk space. 3. Choose a power plan To help prolong your laptop’s battery life, you can choose from Windows 11’s Power Saver, High Performance, and Balanced power plans. Type “power plan” in the search button and choose either “Edit power plan” or “Choose a power plan.” Choosing the Edit power plan option allows you to set when the laptop display will be automatically turned off and when it will go to sleep. When you pick “Choose a power plan,” it will take you to a page where you can create and customize your power settings. The default recommended plan is Balanced, but if you want to create your own, click on the “Create a power plan” option on the left part of the screen. You can choose from three options depending on how you plan to use your laptop: Balanced, Power Saver, and High Performance. After selecting your preferred plan, give your new power plan a name, then click Next to set the display and sleep settings for your laptop. Once done choosing your preferred power settings, click on Create and you’re good to go. 4. Set app installation tolerance level For added security, you can restrict which apps can be installed on your laptop. Do this by going to Settings > Apps > Apps & features. From here, you can configure the “Choose from where to get apps” settings. You can choose whether to permit installations from only the Windows Store, any app installations (with a warning), or unrestricted app installations. 5. Remove bloatware Some vendors package new laptops with bundled apps and software, which are mostly unnecessary and unwanted programs called bloatware. Windows 11 offers an easy way to see which apps are installed on your new laptop and a quick way to uninstall those you don’t need. Head to Settings > Apps > Apps & features and peruse the list of installed apps. If you don’t want an app and are 100% certain that your computer doesn’t need it, click on the hamburger menu to the right of the app, then choose Uninstall. 6. Activate anti-ransomware Ransomware is a form of malicious software that locks all your data until you pay a ransom to hackers. To minimize the risk of ransomware attacks, type “Windows Security” into the search bar at the bottom of your screen and click on the Windows Security result. Go to Virus & threat protection, click Manage settings under “Virus & threat protection settings”, and go to “Controlled folder access”. From there, click the Manage Controlled folder access option and enable Controlled folder access; this protects you against ransomware attacks. By default, the Desktop, Documents, Music, Pictures, and Videos folders are protected, but you can add other folders that you’d like to be protected from ransomware. There are myriad ways Windows 11 can be configured for optimization and security. This article barely scratches the surface of Window 11’s security and efficiency settings. Call us today for a quick chat with one of our Microsoft experts about taking your operating system to the next level. Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.
Top security tips for remote workers
Working from home is becoming popular, primarily because of the flexibility this setup offers. However, one of the biggest concerns for remote workers is how to stay safe and secure while working online. We’ll discuss some cybersecurity tips that can help you stay protected while working from home. Patch your software regularly Although installing software updates can be a major nuisance, these updates generally address critical weaknesses and protect your systems from the latest threats. Most apps now offer an automatic update feature so you don’t have to manually patch your software. Another option for your business is patch management software. These track patches on employee devices and roll out the most recent updates on a company-wide scale. Fortify your accounts When everyone is working remotely, user accounts must be properly secured. One way to achieve this is by setting at least 12-character long passwords with numbers and special characters mixed in to make them more difficult to guess. More importantly, these passwords must be unique to each account, to minimize the damage if hackers manage to compromise one set of credentials. If you find it difficult to generate and remember login details for all of your accounts, consider using password managers like LastPass, Dashlane, and Keeper. To further strengthen your accounts, you’ll also need to enable multifactor authentication (MFA). This adds another layer of identity verification — like fingerprint scans or one-time activation codes sent through SMS — to make it more difficult for cybercriminals to hijack your accounts. Use a virtual private network (VPN) VPNs are primarily used to circumvent geographic restrictions on location-specific websites and streaming services, but they’re also a crucial tool for remote workers. A reliable VPN creates secure connections between devices and networks by encrypting internet traffic. This hides web activity from prying eyes, protecting your employees’ online privacy and mitigating the risk of hackers stealing company information. Set up firewalls and antivirus software Make sure to enable firewalls in your operating systems and hardware. These provide a strong layer of protection between your device and the internet, preventing malicious programs and other network threats from reaching your device. Your managed IT services provider (MSP) may also provide third-party firewalls in case your computers don’t have any built in by default. In addition to firewalls, you’ll want to implement antivirus software to detect and remove any malicious programs that manage to infiltrate your device. Just remember to constantly update the software so it can effectively detect the newest malware strains. Secure home routers Home Wi-Fi routers are not as thoroughly secured as their business counterparts so take extra precautions to safeguard them. For starters, change the default router password immediately after setting it up because hackers can easily look up the password online once they know your router model. You should also install the latest firmware updates to eliminate any security vulnerabilities. Finally, check whether your router has Wi-Fi Protected Access 2 (WPA2) encryption settings to secure inbound and outbound traffic. If your router doesn’t have WPA2, you’re overdue for an upgrade. Back up your data Important files must be backed up regularly in the cloud and your external hard drive. This way, you’ll always have a copy of your files in case of a major data loss incident like a ransomware attack or a power outage. Watch out for online scams The biggest threat remote workers face is online scams. Phishing emails may entice you with free coronavirus test kits in exchange for personal information. Some cybercriminals may even masquerade as legitimate companies, CEOs, or friends to trick you into clicking on dangerous links and attachments. To avoid these threats, you must be critical of everything you see online. Look for any suspicious links and attachments, grammatical errors in the email body, and misspelled email addresses. Plus, you should never give out sensitive information to an unsolicited email, text message, or phone call. Working from home poses many cybersecurity challenges for businesses, but you don’t have to address them alone. If you need guidance with enabling MFA, setting up firewalls, and even avoiding scams, we can provide the IT support you need. Call us now. Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.
How to organize Android apps
Is your Android device’s home screen packed with randomly arranged apps — including those you’ve never used before? A cluttered screen makes it difficult to find the app you want to use. One way to access these apps quicker is to organize them in folders, and this guide will show you how. Creating a folder in Android This process is fairly similar across most Android devices. Just follow these steps: Go to the home panel where the apps you want to organize are located. Press and hold the icon of one app and drag it over another app you want to group with the first one. This will automatically create a folder with both apps inside. Renaming a folder in Android Some devices will automatically assign a folder name depending on the apps that are grouped together. If you want to use a custom name for a folder, do the following: Press and hold the folder you want to rename. Choose Rename from the menu. Type in the new name of the folder, and press OK. Alternatively, you can follow these steps to rename a folder: Tap on a folder. Tap on the current folder’s name and change it. Adding more apps to a folder If you want to add more apps to the folder you created, follow these steps: Locate the app you want to add to the folder. Press and hold the app icon, and drag it onto the folder. The app should now be in the folder you created. Removing apps from a folder If there are apps in the folder you no longer need and want to remove, this is how to do it: Tap on the folder where the app is located. Press and hold the icon of the app, and drag it outside of the folder. Another way to do this is to long-press the app icon and choose Remove or Uninstall from the menu. Deleting a folder in Android If you want to delete a folder on your device, there are a couple of ways to do it: Tap and open the folder you want to delete. Drag the apps out of the folder. Once this is done, the folder will automatically disappear. Another way of deleting a folder is to press and hold the folder icon and select the Remove option. Take note that deleting a folder will not delete the apps in it. The apps will still be installed on your device unless you remove or uninstall them manually. Folders are a perfect way to keep your apps organized and your device’s home screen clutter-free. Get in touch with our specialists today if you want to learn more about organizing your Android apps Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.
Mac keyboard shortcuts you should be using today
Keyboard shortcuts can enhance users’ productivity and save time, but not everyone knows about them. If you own a Mac, these are the keyboard shortcuts you need to start using now. Minimize or dock the front app window: Command + M If you have several open apps, browsers, and Finder windows, use this shortcut to minimize the front window to the Dock. And if you want to minimize all active windows at the same time, use Option + Command + M. Close an active window: Command + W With this keyboard shortcut, you can close the front window. If you want to close all tabs but do not want to downright quit the program, just use the shortcut Option + Command + W. Quit a program: Command + Q Clicking the red X button on an open window does not actually let you quit the program. Rather, it simply docks the app. To fully quit the app, use the above shortcut. Force quit a program: Option + Command + Escape Sometimes, an app may become unresponsive, disrupting your productivity. This shortcut shows you all your open applications, which you can then shut down by hitting Force Quit. If you need to switch to another app, you can do so by using Command + Tab. Press Command + Shift + Option + Escape to close an active app. Hide apps: Command + H This shortcut hides an active window and is particularly useful when you want to quickly conceal what’s on your screen. You can also use it to declutter your screen by keeping only one app active. Open folders in Finder: Command + Shift + A/U/D/H/I With these keyboard combinations, you can quickly view folders by pressing the appropriate letter. In particular, you can view the Applications (letter A), Utilities (letter U), Desktop (letter D), Home (letter H), and iCloud (letter I) folders without having to click several apps. Shut down your Mac: Control > Option > Command > Power button or Control > Option > Command > Media Eject If you want to quickly turn off your Mac, this shortcut shuts down everything, including apps, the operating system, and power. Take a screenshot Screenshots are useful for record-keeping and when you want to show others what you see on your screen, among other reasons. You can easily capture an image of your screen using these shortcuts: Command + Shift + 3 lets you take a snapshot of your entire screen. Command + Shift + 4 turns your cursor into a set of crosshairs that make it easy to select specific areas of your screen. Command + Shift + 4 + Spacebar takes a screenshot of your current window (e.g., browser window, Notes app, etc.) without changing its dimensions. Other shortcuts you may not know about These shortcuts can spare you from having to look for and click on the right buttons or icons: Command + Spacebar opens the Spotlight Search bar on the upper center of your screen, which you can then use to search for files or programs on your device. Command + Option + D hides the Dock. Command + Shift + [ or ] lets you cycle through multiple tabs in Safari by pressing the bracket buttons (“[“ when moving right and “]” when moving left). Command + Shift shows you all the open tabs in an active browser. Command + , (comma key) opens the active app’s settings. Command + Shift + T opens and shows you the last closed tab in the active browser. Everyone should use hotkeys to work faster and more efficiently. To enhance the usability of your MacBook, iMac, MacBook Pro, or any of your business devices, get in touch with our experts today. Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.
How to fix common printer problems
Printers are great equipment for enhancing productivity. When they break down, however, fixing them can be frustrating and time-consuming. Fortunately, most printer problems can easily be repaired by following the troubleshooting steps below. Jammed paper A paper jam is the most common and probably the most frustrating problem when printing documents. There are various reasons for printers to jam, but some of the most common ones include a misaligned tray, an overfilled tray, and loose foreign particles inside the printer. These simple guidelines will help fix such problems: Avoid overfilling the paper tray. Make sure the paper tray is aligned correctly and that paper is loaded properly. Remove wet, ripped, and wrinkled paper from the tray. Avoid loading the paper tray with paper of different sizes. Check for small objects that could have fallen into the printer. If you’re unsure how to open the printer, look up the steps in the manual or have a specialist check the printer for you. Slow printing speed Printing speed largely depends on the type of printer used and the desired print quality. Documents with high-quality images will print slower compared to those containing only text. But a significant decrease in printing speed could be caused by: Incorrect printer settings Printing on both sides of the paper Printer driver issues Slow printing speed can be fixed by following these tips: Print on one side only. Print documents in standard, normal, or draft mode to save time. Don’t print high-resolution images, unless necessary. Update printer software and drivers. Wi-Fi connection issue Wi-Fi printers are convenient because they allow you and your team to print documents from your mobile device. But when you can’t connect to wireless printers, it can negatively affect your productivity. Follow these steps to resolve this issue: Turn off the printer and the devices connected to it. Unplug the Wi-Fi router for at least 30 seconds. Plug the router back into the wall socket, turn the printer back on and allow it to detect and connect to the router. Make sure any firewall and antivirus software is not preventing the printer from connecting to the router. If the printer is still not connecting, contact the manufacturer’s support team. Low-quality prints Printed images can sometimes appear blurry or faded. This is due to problems with a printer’s printhead or ink nozzle, incorrect print settings, and the type of paper. Here are ways to deal with these problems: Faded images – Some printhead cartridges are sealed with tape to prevent ink from entering the printhead. Removing the tape and using the “Head Cleaning” feature on the printer will clear up particles blocking the printhead. Check the manual of your printer if you’re not sure how to clean the printhead. Blurry images – When printouts are blurry, this could be because of the type or quality of paper and the print settings used during printing. To avoid this problem, make sure to use the right type of paper. For example, laser printer paper isn’t ideal for use in an inkjet printer. Additionally, the correct print settings should be applied before printing. Using low-quality print settings on premium glossy paper will lead to blurry images. Another common cause of low-quality prints is cartridges running low on ink or toner. To replace ink and toner cartridges, it’s best to read the printer’s manual or consult with a specialist. Printer problems can’t be avoided, but most of them can be fixed easily. Give our experts a call today if you want to learn more. Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.
5G: What you need to know about the future of business VoIP systems
Fifth generation technology, or 5G, will significantly enhance the performance of your business’s Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) systems. That’s because 5G networks have much higher speeds, greater capacity, and reduced latency than 4G LTE networks. This means that businesses can enjoy crystal-clear voice quality and low call latency no matter what device or where they make calls. Here are three ways to take advantage of 5G for your VoIP system. Explore VR and AR With 5G network speeds, virtual and augmented reality can become more common for many small- and medium-sized businesses (SMBs). 5G easily surpasses 4G’s Gbps (gigabits per second) limit, which is currently holding back businesses’ adoption of virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) applications. VR and AR need to process significantly more data because of the visuals they must process as users move, and this puts an enormous strain on mobile networks. 5G is set to ensure a better user experience by facilitating smoother connections and preventing network delays that can affect your bottom line. Improved video conferencing One of the major hindrances to smooth web and video conferencing is slow network data transfer. Fortunately, innovations like Web Real-Time Communication and 5G networks can enhance VoIP for businesses by providing open and stable streaming as well as sufficient transfer speeds. These will allow businesses to view higher-quality videos, even those at 4K and 8K resolution. Beyond improved streaming quality, 5G networks will also be able to support video calls with a larger number of participants, which is timely, considering the current shift to remote working. Utilize mobile VoIP VoIP calls heavily rely on sufficient download and upload speeds. For example, mobile VoIP users may experience unstable and poor call connectivity and clarity when their 4G networks are limited to 12 Mbps upload and 2 Mbps download speeds. These limitations could also lead to packet loss. Packet loss happens when one or more “packets” of data traveling across a computer network fail to reach their destination, which is typically caused by network congestion. Packet loss reduces audio/video quality and can even cause calls to be dropped, leading to a poor VoIP experience. But thanks to 5G’s greater speed, packet loss can be prevented. Moreover, 4G network providers set a fixed amount of bandwidth for every direction it transmits a signal to. But unlike 4G, the 5G bandwidth can be adjusted on the fly. This means that 5G network providers can allocate bandwidth to mitigate congestion. In practical terms, businesses could reach their customers even if the latter are in crowded places that normally max out 4G mobile network capacity constraints, like in football stadiums or airports. When your business decides to adopt the up-and-coming 5G network, you can expect to see significant VoIP improvements. If you’re looking to set up a VoIP system for your business, call or email us today. Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.
The benefits of Microsoft 365’s Bookings feature
Microsoft 365’s Bookings feature is an incredibly useful tool for organizing tasks and events. If you often struggle to keep track of your schedule, then this feature is definitely for you! Read on to learn the basics of how Bookings works and some tips on how to get the most out of it. Visibility Bid goodbye to the days of scribbling on Post-its and frantically going through your schedule to find out where you’re heading for lunch. Bookings provides you with a unique scheduling app that is compatible on both desktops and mobile devices. Here, customers can select times and dates based on current availability — simply enter the contact information and then book it. The system then fully automates the process of managing your appointments. No more rain checks Cancellations and missed appointments mean wasted time slots unless you’re able to fill them up with new bookings. Avoid lost income by controlling how much advance notice is required to make a cancellation. With Bookings, appointments appear immediately in staff calendars and can be added or revised by customers in their own personal calendars. Additionally, a confirmation email is automatically sent to the customer, followed by another automatic email reminder before the appointment time. The web page also offers a rescheduling service: customers can simply click on the link on the confirmation email and pick a time that’s better for them. Synchronization Once completed, the booking is then synced to a centralized calendar where businesses are given the option to reschedule, cancel, or reassign the appointment to other staff members as they see fit. Should you decide to reassign a booking to staff members, Bookings offers a nifty feature known as “split view.” This shows which staff members are booked at which times, and lets you compare everyone’s schedules side by side. The appointments are synced not only to your calendar but to the staff members’ calendars as well. Moreover, this versatile system accommodates Office 365, Outlook, and even Google Calendar, so clients and staff can keep whatever calendaring service they prefer. Double duty Appointment setting might be the primary function of Bookings, but the system can also be utilized to build your company’s customer list. Once customers input their information into the system, it automatically creates contact entries for those customers. The contact card contains personal information such as your customer’s name, address, phone number, and email address. And as your company grows, you can add more staff members as well as create additional booking pages for free. Furthermore, staff members aren’t required to have Office 365 subscriptions to be a part of the service. Efficient tech resources aren’t enough to maintain a successful business anymore. To really stand out from competitors, you need comprehensive appointment management. Give us a call if you need any questions answered or issues addressed. We’re more than happy to help. Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.
5 Tips to prevent cloud solutions from breaking the bank
The cloud is a great way for small- and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) like yours to save on IT costs. However, not all business owners are aware of the hidden costs associated with using cloud technologies. In this blog post, we will discuss five cost-saving tips that will help you leverage cloud services without breaking the bank. No standalones Cloud services come in various forms, including standalone platforms with rates that increase over time. If you’re looking to save on costs, it’s best to choose a cloud service provider that offers a suite of products that all work together. This option is often less expensive than investing in several standalone products. Another benefit of working with a cloud provider is that you’ll have a single point of contact to quickly and effectively resolve any issues that you may experience. Partner with experienced cloud providers Make sure to hire a trusted and experienced integration consultant to help facilitate a smooth transition. This is essential as integration mishaps can cause serious downtime and also cost a lot of money. Define and prioritize backups Unnecessary or inefficient backups waste cloud storage space. Review your cloud storage data by asking yourself the following questions: How many versions of this data do I need to store long term? The more versions I store, the more it will cost me. What regulatory demands do I need to meet? Some data may need to be accessible for up to three years, while other data can be deleted after 30 days. How quickly do I need to access my backups? If it can wait for a day or two, I can archive data to a less expensive service or offline at the provider’s data center. Regulate users It’s common practice for cloud service providers to charge per user. If you neglect to regularly manage the list of users, you may end up paying for people who are no longer part of your organization. It’s ideal to schedule a regular audit of users and implement processes that remove them when they leave the company to ensure your cloud user list is always up to date. Monitor proactively Ask your cloud provider whether they can proactively monitor your account and notify you of potential issues before these escalate into major problems. This is especially important if you have a pay-as-you-go license that charges based on resource or storage consumption. Utilizing the right technology resources is vital to your business’s success, and so is knowing how to prevent such resources from racking up an overwhelming monthly bill. Give us a call if you wish to enjoy all the benefits of cloud computing without going over your budget. We’ll be happy to help. Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.