Cloud Servers vs. Dedicated Servers: What’s a Better Fit For Your Business?

a person typing on a laptop computer
Cloud Servers

With everything moving online through SaaS like Oracle, Taleo, and Salesforce, data backup is becoming a less and less unfamiliar idea. Many companies have employees that telecommute or sell software in the field, and having established networks so people can securely access information from anywhere is becoming more and more business critical. So one of the few remaining questions is: should your business store data on cloud servers or dedicated servers?

Benefits of Cloud Servers

Data is increasingly compact even as available storage grows exponentially beyond what experts thought possible even a decade ago. All of your business’s client information, employee files, and financial records will most likely take up less than a whole server or storage array, so you shouldn’t have to pay for one.

Cloud servers let your company use whatever percentage of a server you need to run your business. They even take into account dips and surges in what you need during your business’s busy season. Backup as a service also means your data is managed by a third-party company. You can access your data in a managed virtual environment that’s easy to read and search.

Benefits of Dedicated Servers

Sometimes businesses aren’t allowed to use cloud-based servers due to stringent security requirements and classified information. Then, they need to store company information on dedicated servers that are physically isolated and protected.

Mega corporations with dedicated IT departments and highly predictable usage might also benefit from using dedicated servers. But if you have a small or growing company, managing your own data without the flexibility of the cloud for spikes or idle periods can be costly.

Cloud-based backup is quick, cost-effective, and grows with your business during its ups and downs. Start getting the data backup that fits your business in minutes with Bluwater Technologies’s back up solutions here.

Benefits of Data Backup for Small Businesses

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Data Backup

If you’re a small business, you’re operating on a thin margin against larger companies. Delays and losses in information are especially costly as you try to establish a trustworthy, notable brand, and having a network crash is even worse if you’re the CEO, the sales manager, and the reigning IT expert. Bringing in a third-party service that can store and manage your data backup for you is one of the best ways you can both protect and grow your business. Here’s how:

Cloud storage can grow with your business.

Increasing your client base is one of the primary goals of any small business, and one of the best ways to do that is to have secure, bug-free data files for your customers’ records and contact information. Local storage is a risky way to run your business, and there’s a finite amount of space you can secure. Use a storage system that scales with your business instead.

Cloud storage keeps your business mobile.

Renting an office building might not be part of your business plan; if you, your employees, and your partners are all on the go, then secure, cloud-based storage means everyone can work from anywhere without the risk of someone stealing or tampering with your data.

Fixed costs save you money in the long term.

When you’re making forecasts and setting milestones for your business’s growth, having variable costs and trying to anticipate unexpected hardware failures can make your finances uncertain. Organize your books at a low fixed cost so you can focus on revenue instead of expenses.

One of the most important assets any small business has is the unique accumulation of clients and client information. Keeping your data safe and able to grow with Bluwater Technologies data backup plans is the best way to keep that asset safe. Get started here.

Simple But Effective Computer Tip – Shut Down Your Computer

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With all the newer gadgets such as tablets, smartphones, personal laptops, and the like, it is often tempting to keep them in sleep mode when not in use.  However, when it comes to using computer equipment on the job, there are some fairly compelling reasons why a nightly shutdown of work-related equipment is a good habit to acquire.  In this post, we will discuss some of the highlights as to why sleep mode is not always ideal. Check out this simple but effective computer tip.

Effective Computer Tip

Computer Processes

Especially with legacy software, there are processes running in the background even when an application is not even open.  Over time, a PC’s memory can get bogged down with all these rogue processes and issues that begin to occur such as computer crashes, operating system lags, and programs that freeze up.  By shutting down your work computer every night, it gives your computer and its memory a clean slate for the next morning.  This reduces program issues and speeds up productivity levels.

Save on Electricity

Rare are the offices that only consist of one or two computers.  Many offices have quite a few PCs and their fair share of printers as well.  It might not save an office much money if they only have one or two PCs to shut down every night, but companies who have more than that will notice significant savings in their electric bill if the entire office shuts down their equipment at night and on weekends.

The average PC uses anywhere from 80 to 250 watts.  If your local utility company charges a modest 12 cents per kWh, then assuming 250 watts for a PC, a company will pay over $20 a month in electricity costs to keep just one PC running 24/7.  Multiply these figures by the number of PCs in your office, add a few printers and some tablets and the total can be quite significant.

Save on Wear and Tear

The cooling fans installed to keep the power supply and CPU from overheating will get a break if users shut down their PC every night and they will last longer.  In addition, although no one should have such a messy workstation that it potentially is a fire hazard, it certainly is possible.  Some users in cramped quarters tend to stack paper, file folders, and other paraphernalia in and around their computers.  Talk to any computer repair person and they will probably have a story about someone who had a PC go up in smoke because their cooling fan overheated.  Having office staff get into the habit of shutting down their equipment every night reduces the chances of fire.

For more information on computer tips to help you work smarter and safer, please contact us.

Back Up Your Data to Secure Your Business

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A common paradox in technology security is the trade-off between convenience and security. The best password is a random 40-digit alphanumeric string, but no one’s going to remember it. The more locks on your front door, the more secure it may be, but chances are most people won’t lock all of them every time they leave. Instead, the best compromise between convenience and security is automation: making every step to secure information automatic so it’s safe 24/7 without you having to manually do so. One of the best ways to automate your stored information is through cloud backup. Learn how to back up your data.

Back Up Your Data

What is cloud backup for servers?

Typically, small to medium businesses would store information on local hardware. An office would store a server or two in an office closet near the IT department. Or you store your business’s information on a work computer. That would typically mean depending on one copy of the information. But this could spell disaster due to a hardware failure, a power outage that damages the device, a virus, or even just an inexplicable case of data corruption. You want to securely but conveniently store an up-to-date backup of your business’s information. Instead, use an online backup that sends your information to an off-site server. There it is secured and maintained by a third party.

What are the benefits of using Bluwater Technologies’ cloud backup?

The best type of data backup is automatic. Whether you schedule it to be daily, weekly, or monthly, knowing that your business data is being saved whether you remember to save it or not can be a huge weight off your mind. Losing customer contact information, financial records, and working project files can be a huge blow to your business. The risk of having them taken from you through a virus or malware is even worse. Bluwater works to make sure your data, both onsite and offsite, is secured.

Cloud backup for servers isn’t the only benefit of using Bluwater Technologies for IT support. If you want to learn more about our services and the elements of the best cloud backup for servers, browse our site here.

Computer Tip of the Day: How to Take a Screenshot On Windows 10

PowerPoint

Taking a screenshot is a great way to show people what’s on your computer screen, whether you need technical help with an issue, want to show a friend something interesting, or are trying to create a tutorial. Here is how to take a screenshot on Windows 10.

Screenshot On Windows 10

How to Capture the Entire Screen

To capture the entire screen, simply click the Print Screen button on your keyboard (which is often labeled PrtScn). A screenshot will be taken, but instead of being automatically saved, it will be copied to your clipboard. To edit and save your screenshot, open Microsoft Paint and paste your screenshot into the editing section. Alternatively, if you want to have your screenshot automatically saved to the Screenshots folder in your Pictures section, click Windows Key and PrtScn at the same time.

How to Capture Part of the Screen

If you only want to take a partial shot, use the Windows snipping tool. The snipping tool will allow you to crop your screenshot. If you want to save it, you’re going to have to manually save it from inside the tool.

How to Capture an Active Window

If you want to capture only the active window that you have open, click Alt + PrtScn. This will capture the entire window and save it to your clipboard, but it won’t be saved automatically. Then, you’re going to have to open Microsoft Paint, paste it in, and save it from there.

For more computer tips and technical support for your computer or laptop, contact us!