Blade servers: Big power for small businesses

03/26/12

Many small businesses with larger server needs are turning to blade servers to pack big power into a small space. But what exactly is a blade server, and how do you know if it's right for your small business?

Unified communications: Now mobile and in the cloud

02/27/12

Effective communications, many would argue, is the key to business. But finding the appropriate technologies to support effective communications can be challenging for IT professionals. Unified communications is a concept that encompasses a variety of technologies, all capable of working together, and, yes, while communication is a human process, technology can enhance and improve it.

Into the cloud -- securely

01/18/12

Companies are on the path to cloud adoption. According to a recent report, 28% of U.S. organizations are using cloud computing today, with 73% reporting their first step was implementation of a single cloud application. Yet while 84% of organizations say they have employed at least one cloud application, most do not yet self-identify as "cloud users" who are "implementing or maintaining cloud computing."

As cyberattacks grow, take security seriously

11/29/11

No company wants to be the subject of the next headline about a cybersecurity attack or critical data loss. Losing business data or customer information takes a toll on your business' reputation and its pocketbook. While it is impossible to entirely avoid an attack, there are steps you can take to mitigate the effects.

Keys to successful data center consolidation

10/13/11

Data center consolidation continues to be a hot topic, and with good reason. It has proven to be an effective way to reduce costs and complexity, setting organizations on a course for more efficient IT management. But while the benefits are proven, the path to success takes careful navigation.

SAN/LAN convergence can pay dividends today

09/07/11

Today's workers want faster computing speeds and more storage, management wants it all under budget, and IT professionals are scrambling to save money and improve productivity. The tools of choice to achieve these goals are typically virtualization, cloud computing and data center consolidation, but IT may be overlooking a simple but effective fix: storage area network (SAN) and local area network (LAN) convergence.

Easing the juggling act with client virtualization

08/04/11

In IT's never-ending search for efficiency improvements, client virtualization and its subsets -- presentation, application and desktop virtualization -- must be considered.

Getting started with document management

06/14/11

Time is money, and time spent searching for lost paperwork is money down the drain, as is money spent making unnecessary copies.

Define, educate, prevent: Avoiding data loss is easier than you may think

05/18/11

Most organizations believe they aren't in danger of losing data, but as recent news demonstrates, the threat is real and no organization is immune.

To boost data center efficiency, consider UPS consolidation

04/18/11

In data center upgrade planning, backup power is often among the last considerations and the first budget item redlined. Many companies purchase an uninterruptible power system (UPS) only as they add equipment -- what we call a segmented approach. Before long, data center managers can find themselves with an inefficient power system that is difficult to maintain and daunting to improve, yet doing so can offer big returns.

Strengthening your core with network infrastructure upgrades

03/07/11

Many organizations are cautious when investing in anything new -- especially technology. Familiarity often leads companies to stick with what they know or have always used. Holding on to the past, however, can be costly. Stepping out of your comfort zone is crucial if you want your IT department, and your organization as a whole, to stay competitive in today's business world.

Energy efficiency -- no longer an afterthought

01/24/11

Modern energy efficient technologies are becoming the norm, and most businesses understand that implementing "green IT" helps the environment and the bottom line. But many IT professionals lack a tool that is critical to understanding the full impact of energy efficient practices.

Ensuring your business's safety

12/08/10

In the 1995 film "Hackers" the lead character downloads sensitive information to a floppy disk. Today, of course, advances in technology have yielded equally advanced security threats. Consider news reports in the past year about computers compromised by botnets. Businesses face daily threats from these and other cybersecurity dangers that are further enhanced by increased reliance on new business communications and computing tools.

New legislation and rising confidence create encouraging outlook for small business sector

12/01/10

With the ink still damp on the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010, small business owners are already feeling more confident as this difficult year draws to a close.

Got ROI? Payback drives boom in unified communications

11/01/10

While many businesses tightened their IT budgets during the recent recession, a growing number of organizations are deploying unified communications solutions -- integrated voice, data, messaging, conferencing and collaboration services over converged networks -- as confidence creeps back and budgets expand.  The driver?  Return on investment.

The ABCs of VoIP

09/29/10

Given the importance of telephone systems, refreshing the technology can be daunting. However, for small and midsized businesses who consider upgrading from a PBX to VoIP, the benefits are clear and, with proper planning, the implementation is not very frightening. Consider these three steps:

Getting videoconferencing right

09/21/10

Videoconferencing has gone mobile. Anyone who has seen the recent iPhone commercials can attest that you no longer need "an app for that" – it's built in. But while individual consumers now have videoconferencing at their fingertips, many small and midsize businesses (SMBs) are still relying on different modes of communication.

Making smart IT decisions: Simple steps small businesses should take for smart IT investments

09/09/10

According to a recent report from Forrester Research, IT spending in the United States is expected to ramp up in the second half of the year with an estimated 19% increase in computer equipment spending, 11% growth in software spending, 7% hike in communications equipment spending, and 6% uptick in consulting services.

Don't get burned – Put some SPF 50 on your business continuity/disaster recovery plan

08/13/10

On vacation, forgetting your sunscreen may lead to a painful burn, but forgetting key components of an organization's business continuity (BC)/disaster recovery (DR) plan hurts a lot more. Overlooking even one item can weaken your entire network and mean significant losses in revenue and productivity.

Not just a passing fad: Improved productivity looks good on your business

07/29/10

Technology, like fashion, evolves constantly, but one thing that is always in fashion is saving money.

A day in the life of an IT professional: What you've told us about yourself

07/19/10

IT is an integral part of all organizations and we understand firsthand that people who work in IT are a unique, diverse community of individuals who do great work on the job, but also leave time for individual hobbies and pursuits. We thought it would be fun to take a look at your interests on a broader scale, so we recently surveyed 500 IT professionals to find out more.

Making sense of client virtualization

07/12/10

Not long ago server virtualization was IT's New World, inhabited by a relatively few courageous souls who dared to break the framework of one server per application and one application to server. The others stood faithfully by rooms filled to capacity with servers, cabling, cooling equipment and hotspots.

Increased mobility, increased risk

06/30/10

The mobility and remote-access boom is technology powered but business driven. As small and midsize businesses (SMB) increasingly look toward technology to help them rebound in 2010, improved mobility solutions, greater employee productivity and a growing social media presence are all key strategies. Empowering employees with remote access can help SMBs thrive -- allowing them to improve customer service and add agility to their business model.

Energy efficiency – The hidden treasure in your IT operations

05/24/10

When does green technology move from feel-good marketing-speak to something more actionable? When it turns into the kind of green that feels good in your wallet.

Don't give up on tape yet

04/07/10

DLT, SuperDLT, LTO, 3480, 3490e, 3590, 3570, TK50, 4mm-DDS, 8mm, AIT, QIC, and 9-track, these are a few of my favorite things. Not exactly how the old song goes, but rest assured that what you have on your old data tapes – regardless of the format – has more staying power and value than your old audio cassettes.