IT Support In Fort Lauderdale Could Be Helpful To You

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IT Support In Fort Lauderdale

There’s really little doubt in our minds that IT support in Fort Lauderdale could be helpful to you. You should create a plan on how to recover data in case there is a power outage.

Why does a small business need a backup plan to store files?

Is making a profit each day important, regardless of the weather or a power failure? Consumers expect a business to open at a certain time each day. Well, if an outage happens, and you did not create a backup plan, what would you do?

What is your plan?

We already know that your business needs to be up and running when a natural disaster happens. Of course, you store all the information on the premises. Keep in mind what happens to your information when bad weather occurs – like a flood. You should consider a second backup to store all the data in a cloud. You can easily recover the information due to the loss of an internet connection or any disaster.

By getting IT support in Fort Lauderdale, you’ll retain backups not only on the premises but also the information stored in the cloud.

What information should be in a business backup?

Every single document. The purpose of creating a disaster recovery plan is for you to have the ability to get back all the information. You should copy the entire computer system and place the data in a virtual environment.

To discuss this further or anything else, please Contact Us.

Windows Safe Mode: Our Computer Tip Of The Day

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In this computer tip of the day, we will talk about Windows Safe Mode. Have you ever had a problem removing a software driver? What about a software application that was stubborn to remove? This is where Safe Mode comes in. It will allow you to easily diagnose and fix computer problems that normal Windows will not.

Windows Safe Mode

What is Windows Safe Mode?

Safe Mode is a bare minimum version of Windows that you can boot into. It will load the bare minimum set of drivers and files to allow you to have more control in fixing your computer. In other words, all programs that usually start with your computer will be disabled.

How do I use it?

Using Windows safe mode is easy. Just reboot your computer and press the F8 key a few times. After powering on the computer, the system will present you with a boot menu. This menu may vary between different computers, and in most cases, it will provide you with the following options:

  • Safe Mode
  • Safe Mode with networking
  • Safe Mode with command prompt

To select an option, use your up and down arrow keys. Then, press the enter key. We recommend using the “Safe Mode with Networking” option. You’ll see lots of text scrolling across your screen as your computer boots up. This is totally normal, and soon you will be greeted with your Windows login screen.

We hope our computer tips are useful to you. If your computer is stubborn and you need help, don’t hesitate to contact us today. Bluwater Technologies will be here any time you need computer help.

How To Develop A Disaster Recovery Plan: Six Key Tips

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IT disasters are inevitable. They range from cyber attacks to power outages, and if they occur when you’re unprepared, they may cause severe losses. The best way to safeguard your business and sustain its success is to develop a strong disaster recovery plan.

disaster recovery plan

To develop a disaster recovery plan, consider the following tips:

  1. Map out your responses to different risks. Disaster recovery following a network equipment outage will look different than the responses called for after a ransomware attack. (There are also combinations of disasters to account for, such as hackers who deploy malware and launch DDoS attacks simultaneously.)
  2. Be as specific as possible. For example, name the employees in charge of different aspects of disaster recovery (such as notifying the public or overseeing data restoration). Come up with clear, measurable goals, such as the maximum allowable downtime for certain critical applications and the frequency with which you’re performing data backups. When planning how you’ll recover from a cyber attack, differentiate between different kinds of attacks and their likely effects.
  3. Conduct a thorough company review. Do you know where you’re storing all your data (the cloud, on-premises backup drives, etc.)? Are you aware of the vulnerabilities in your network? What major weather phenomena are likely to affect you? You can’t plan without this kind of detailed knowledge. You’ll also need to update your plan as your company undergoes changes.
  4. Prioritize your data and other assets. What’s your most critical, sensitive data? What other IT assets do you need to protect most strongly? This information will shape your disaster recovery plan.
  5. Make sure you’re always ready to respond. If a disaster strikes, designated employees will quickly issue communications, retrieve and restore data backups, etc. Even when disaster isn’t imminent, you should remain on alert – for example, by monitoring your network round-the-clock and regularly backing up your data. Disaster recovery depends on extensive preparations.
  6. Test your plan. Run drills or exercises to ensure that your employees know what to do and that your disaster recovery measures work as you expect them to.

For further questions, please contact us. A well-developed disaster recovery plan protects you against severe financial losses and even the possibility of going out of business. We can help you draw up your disaster recovery plan and implement it successfully.

Free Open Source Software for Business

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Free Open Source Software

Budgeting for Business

Managing budgets is quite often a crucial part of any business that is woefully overlooked, especially for startups. A key area where budgets are strained is in the software that is used. Most users are familiar with using Windows or Mac along with Office applications and Antivirus software without much regard to costs beyond their initial purchase. However, for businesses, these software costs have a long-term and continuous impact.

Software is Expensive

So when we take a business approach to software where each PC would have a typical Windows operating system, Microsoft Office program, and Antivirus software, we can see how costs can add up quickly across multiple machines. In addition to the initial software costs, you also have ongoing licensing fees and any technical support services you might need beyond software.

Open Source Software as a Business Solution

Open Source Software, like the Linux operating system, is used in billions of computing devices daily. For everything from personal computing to supercomputers. Businesses especially rely heavily on Linux as a foundation to run their systems and the best part is that it’s a free open-source operating system.

Using Open Source Software can serve a variety of needs for many forms of businesses. For the typical office setup described earlier, an alternative free setup would be:

  • Desktop Operating System: Linux Mint
  • Office application: LibreOffice
  • Antivirus: not an absolute requirement for desktop Linux
  • Software costs and licenses: $0

Free Open Source Software is Good

Now the term “Free” is not often associated with quality software products. As mentioned earlier, Linux is used in every aspect of the business. So quality is not something that should be of concern. What is of value is that these free Open Source options have matured to the point where it’s simple, stable, and compatible with other software programs like Microsoft Office. And since much of our daily computing needs center on internet browsers like Chrome, users will feel right at home on an Open Source computer.

Technology is rapidly evolving and developing software solutions that lead to more efficient budgets. This is something that all businesses can gain value from. Contact us for professional technology and support solutions.

 

Top 5 Reasons to Try Office 365

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Originally launched October 2, 2015, Office 365 is Microsoft’s line of subscription-based Office applications, including Word, PowerPoint, OneNote, Outlook, Publisher, and Access. If you’re still on the fence about signing up, keep reading to learn the top 5 reasons why you should try it.

Try Office 365

#1) Powered by the Cloud

Unlike the traditional “desktop” version, Office 365 is powered by the cloud. This means you can access your account, as well as your associated documents and files, from any Internet-connected computer. And if you happen to lose your main computer, you can rest assured knowing that your files and documents are safely stored on the cloud.

#2) Collaboration

Office 365 features an app called Planner, which allows multiple individuals to collaborate on the same document. For instance, you and other members of your team can edit the same document, with changes happening in real-time (e.g. you don’t have to refresh the document).

#3) Subscription Cost

It’s also worth noting that many small businesses will save money by choosing Office 365. Being that it’s a subscription-based service, you’ll pay a small amount each month instead of one large payment.

For pricing details, check out the official Office 365 website here.

#4) Room to Grow

Users of the desktop version of Microsoft Office often complain about the software’s inability to scale as their business grows. The new software solves this conundrum by allowing users to easily add new services, features, storage space, and more.

#5) Use on Mobile Devices

While Microsoft Office on Android and iOS supports basic editing and document creation free for personal use, you’ll need an Office 365 subscription to use the mobile app for business purposes. Furthermore, the subscription allows you to use the mobile app on screens larger than 10.1 inches.

To learn more about the software and how to get started, contact us today.