Do Backups Matter When You're In The Cloud?

Are you assuming your data is safe in the cloud? Despite what you may have been led to believe, a robust and diversified backup plan is the best way to keep your data totally secure.

If your data is stored in the cloud, do you think another type of backup is necessary?

It’s a good question. Most people assume that by the nature of the cloud, any data stored therein is safe from harm.

Unfortunately, that’s not the reality…

Is Your Data Actually Secure?

Data loss can happen without notice.

Many businesses assume they’ll be fine without a robust data backup. Whether they think they’re too small to be a target for cybercriminals, or they believe that since they’ve never lost data before, they never will, the end result is always the same—data loss.

Consider the facts:

5 Threats To Your Organization’s Data

Hardware & Software Failure

Hard drives fail every day for a variety of reasons. While some failures occur simply because the hardware becomes worn out, others fail prematurely due to external factors like:

Human Error

Every day we create, update, save and delete files; it's just part of our everyday business life. It's no wonder that sometimes, we delete files or overwrite files by accident. It’s just the cost of doing business.

Computer Viruses And Malware Infections

There are new viruses that pop up every day that put your data at risk. While being connected to the Internet has its benefits, it also comes with a number of risks that just have to be accepted—malware, viruses, phishing, etc.

Natural Disasters

The fact is that mother nature doesn't care if you backed up your work or not. A server room flood, vital infrastructure being knocked out by winds, and even worse during a major weather event can quickly erase both local and offsite data reserves if your backups aren't far enough away from your offices.

Hackers

Data loss is often the result of poor digital security; without the right defenses, cybercriminals can easily infect an IT system with ransomware or other types of malware and compromise company data.

Ransomware is likely today's biggest threat to cybersecurity. You hear about it everywhere, along with a range of possible solutions, most of which are defensive ways to keep the intruders out before they encrypt your files and send you the ransom note.

The Cloud Is Not Invulnerable

According to the Cloud Security Firm RedLock and its Cloud Security Trends report, more than 50% of businesses that use cloud services like Amason Simple Storage Service (S3) have unintentionally exposed at least one of these services to the public.

This growing trend of unsecured cloud configurations is due to businesses neglecting known vulnerabilities in the cloud, or failing to properly assess their cloud environment to discover unseen security risks.

These researchers found that:

Cloud Platforms Are Not The Same As Data Backup Solutions

It’s important to understand that just because you’re using a cloud platform doesn’t mean your data is actually backed up according to industry standards.

Take Microsoft 365, for example. Do you know if your Microsoft 365 data is backed up? All of it?

Your first thought is probably, "yes, of course it is"… but you need to be sure. If you haven’t checked, then it may not be backed up as comprehensively as you’d like.

Here’s the key consideration: whereas Microsoft 365 offers “geo-redundancy”, this is not the same thing as a data backup. Geo redundancy ensures your data is protected against system failure. For example, if a component of the infrastructure crashes, you and your team can maintain access to your Microsoft 365 data.

Backups, on the other hand, are a historical copy of data that is stored in a separate location. This ensures that, in the event that your local data is deleted, encrypted by malware, or otherwise affected, you can recover your data from the secondary location.

The bottom line is that Microsoft 365 does the former and not the latter. That’s why, without arranging for a third-party data backup, you could be unknowingly exposing yourself to a number of unnecessary risks…

What You Need To Know About Data Backups

There are three primary types of backup solutions, each of which has its own advantages and disadvantages:

BACKUP TYPE PROS CONS
LOCAL Immediate access to data Vulnerable to ransomware
CLOUD Secure from local threats Large datasets require extensive bandwidth
HYBRID System-wide capabilities, secure from local threats

The fact is that a hybrid approach is the best way to properly and comprehensively protect your data. While there are online-only options that will keep you covered, you need to be sure they offer the full extent of backup capabilities you need, and that you have the necessary bandwidth to make use of them.

Do you know how to select a viable data backup solution?

N-Tech Consulting Will Help You Find The Right Cloud Backup Solution

Due to the benefits it provides, the adoption of cloud computing solutions is anticipated to accelerate in the coming years.

It's important to identify which applications and services should be migrated to the cloud. Migration isn't always easy and should be managed by an IT professional that is experienced in cloud migration services. Furthermore, to fully benefit from cloud computing, organizations should develop a strategy that complements their operational goals.

Need expert assistance getting started?

N-Tech Consulting will manage your cloud backup for you, ensuring you always have access to a recent copy of your data, no matter what happens.

Get in touch with the N-Tech Consulting team to talk about cloud-based backup.

Do You Know All The Benefits Microsoft 365 Has To Offer?

Do You Know All The Benefits Microsoft 365 Has To Offer?

Over the past few years, productivity suites have become more and more popular with businesses of all sizes, in a wide and varied range of industries. It's the type of solution that has something to offer everyone.

Cloud-based technologies, in general, are changing the way users like you view the capabilities of their technology—especially Microsoft 365.

What Does Microsoft 365 Offer You?

Access Your Apps Conveniently

You need to be able to use your tools from anywhere, any device, and Microsoft 365 gives you that flexibility. Access your email, meetings, and other services online.

Create, edit, and share Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and OneNote files online and stay up to date with everyone’s changes in a file.

Microsoft Teams

This chat-based workspace brings users together to collaborate, communicate, and share content, helping them work as efficiently as possible whether in the office or operating from a remote workplace.

Team members and business contacts can stay connected and share work through the suite of Microsoft solutions they’re most accustomed to.

Microsoft Teams gives you the ability to host real-time meetings, staff training, connect with clients, all in a direct video meeting format.

Whether your staff is working remotely or maintaining contact with a key client from out of town, Teams’ video meetings provide a convenient and personal way to communicate, without having to make the commute.

Robust Security Features

Microsoft 365 uses a defense-in-depth approach to provide physical, logical, and data layers of security features and operational best practices.

The Microsoft 365 Cloud App Security provides insight into any suspicious activity in the program. You can investigate situations that could pose a risk and if needed, take action to address them.

You'll receive notifications of triggered alerts for any unusual activities. Then you can view what data is being accessed and used and suspend any user accounts that exhibit suspicious activity. Afterwards, if you authorize, the user can log back into Microsoft 365.

Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) is another way that Microsoft 365 keeps your data more secure. MFA requires the consumer to utilize two methods to confirm that they are the rightful account owner. By setting up these types of verification, you add an extra layer of security to your business’ Microsoft 365 accounts.

Microsoft 365 uses several strong encryption protocols, and technologies including Transport Layer Security/Secure Sockets Layer (TLS/SSL), Internet Protocol Security (IPSec), and Advanced Encryption Standard (AES).

Encryption technology is a great way to protect important data. By making data unreadable to anyone who isn't supposed to have access to it, you can secure files stored on your systems, servers, and mobile devices, as well as files sent via email or through file-sharing services.

Built-in Mobile Device Management in Microsoft 365 Business allows you to manage access to your data securely. The built-in Mobile Device Management (MDM) lets you secure and manage your users' mobile devices like iPhones, iPads, Androids, and Windows phones. You can create mobile device security policies, remotely wipe a device, and view detailed device reports.

Automatic Updates

Enjoy the latest versions of your preferred apps like Microsoft Word and Excel, thanks to automatic patches and updates. No need to pay for version upgrades—updates are included in your subscription. New features are rolled out to Microsoft 365 customers regularly.

Pay As You Go Pricing

Using Microsoft 365 is often more cost-efficient than alternatives, as you pay a low cost per month for access to the desktop, mobile, and cloud-based applications you need.

This tends to be less expensive with no upfront costs. Plus, upgrades are automatically released so there’s no need to pay for new software.

Flexible And Customizable Plans

Custom fitting your Microsoft 365 plan to your individual needs is easy with the flexible plans offered. There is no need for an IT overhaul, as you can easily fit the new services into your existing software stack.

Could You Be Getting More Out Of Microsoft 365?

As the leading name in cloud business productivity software, Microsoft 365 offers a range of services and features designed to help you and your employees do more each day—but only if you know how to optimize your experience.

N-Tech Consulting offers Microsoft 365 support geared to address the needs of today’s businesses. Our Microsoft 365 solutions are based on a tailored approach to workflow—ensuring that you have the correct version, setup, and integration of Microsoft 365.

When additional support is needed, our team of IT specialists are able to provide troubleshooting assistance or strategic advice—enabling clients to leverage the power of Microsoft 365 to their benefit.

What Our Team Of Microsoft Experts Will Do For You

Migration Management

If you’re not sure which plan is right for you or how to migrate all of your workstations over, we’ll walk you through the entire migration process—handling each step of the way to make sure it goes smoothly.

Comprehensive Support

We offer onsite and remote support to help you resolve any sort of configuration and/or troubleshooting issues right away. If we’re not able to remotely resolve the issue, we’ll come onsite to help you out.

Employee Training

A vital component of the success strategy of any software offering is the ability for a business’ employees to understand it well enough to utilize it to its fullest potential. We’re here to walk your staff through any new features or applications.

Want To Harness Microsoft 365’s Benefits?

Don’t settle for a sub-par cloud experience, and don’t think you have to be the one managing it. The N-Tech Consulting team can take that off your plate for good, allowing you to take advantage of its optimized user experience and focus on your work.

Don’t Be Afraid To Ask For Help

It’s possible to handle a migration of this scale on your own—but it won’t be easy. As you can see, there’s a lot to consider, and this doesn’t even take into account the time and money you would spend on handling the process independently.

It’s much wiser to simply enlist the assistance of an IT company like N-Tech Consulting. We will be able to offer the experience and skills necessary to manage the migration end to end and avoid the common pitfalls.

Get in touch with the N-Tech Consulting team to enjoy every benefit Microsoft 365 has to offer.

Should You Get A New Server Or Move To The Cloud?

Should You Get A New Server Or Move To The Cloud?

The cloud has a lot to offer businesses like yours. Contact the N-Tech Consulting team to start the discussion about what the cloud will do for your business.

Key points in this article:

The cloud can play an important role for business owners and their staff members in the modern world.

It has replaced traditional business operations with digital alternatives that help to lower costs and allow for data integration and analysis, resulting in higher efficiency.

N-Tech Consulting offers expert support for cloud technologies, geared to address the needs of today’s businesses. Our cloud support services are based on a tailored approach to workflow, ensuring that you have the correct version, setup, and integration to do what you do better.

What Is The Cloud?

The cloud is a network of technologies that allows access to computing resources, such as storage, processing power, and more. That's where the data is—in these data centers all around the world. Which data center your data is in depends on what cloud service provider you're working with.

What Does On-Premise Mean?

On-premise refers to IT infrastructure that is stored, managed, and accessed directly on-site at your business. If you host a server in a server room at your business, then your systems are considered to be “on-premise”.

The Problem With On-Premise Servers

In a nutshell, they’re expensive and time-consuming to maintain.

The server is the backbone of an IT environment. While many businesses today have opted to outsource their server needs via the cloud, hosting your infrastructure onsite is still a requirement for many organizations.

That’s why servers need to be taken care of. Careful maintenance, management of updates, and tracking of its lifecycle are critical for an organization’s uptime.

Failing to take care of your server will eventually lead to total server failure. A poorly maintained or aging server can present a number of serious risks to organizations. Without proper management, a faulty server can cause a lot of problems:

What Are The Benefits Of Moving From On-Premise To The Cloud?

By moving your data and apps off-premise through the cloud, you gain a number of key advantages for your business:

Seamless Multi-Site Data Access

One of the most significant benefits of the cloud is that it connects multisite businesses for simple and secure data access. Staff members at different locations can access and share client information regardless of the physical location to which the client goes.

Automatic Updates

Did you know that one of the most common ways cybercriminals get into a network is through vulnerabilities in out-of-date software? That’s why your apps and programs need to be kept up to date.

In an on-premise system, managing patches and updates can be a lot of tedious work. With your apps hosted in the cloud, however, your updates are run automatically. This boosts your apps’ security and functionality, without requiring you to take on any extra work.

Simplify Third Party Management

Working with third-party vendors is often necessary for today’s businesses, but doing so isn’t always easy. Many will require a direct connection to your physical on-premise infrastructure.

The cloud simplifies this arrangement; third parties can be given fully authorized cloud access to the data they need to fulfill their role.

Remote Work Capability

This cloud feature allows you to hire remote working employees to handle back-office and admin tasks. That means you can outsource the office work to capable team members without needing them to work onsite or having to expand your infrastructure to host them at your business.

What Else Can You Gain By Moving To The Cloud?

High-Level Support

IT doesn't just mean hardware and software—you need the right people too. With the cloud, you benefit from an expert team of technicians to ensure the cloud services you rely on are functioning properly around the clock.

Enhance Your Cybersecurity

By storing your data offsite in a data center, you access a vast range of digital and physical security measures to ensure they're safe from all threats.

Managed firewall, antivirus, antispam measures, onsite security personnel, and more to ensure the security of your server information so that you can do your work without having to worry.

Enhance Business Continuity

By storing your hardware off-site, you gain a valuable contingency against any on-site emergencies.

Power outages, malware attacks, or other disasters can strike your business at any time, but by having your IT infrastructure managed safely off-premises, you have one less thing to account for during an emergency.

Find The Perfect Cloud Solution For Your Business

If you’re still undecided or would like help in your evaluation, please feel free to reach out to the N-Tech Consulting team.

We help our clients evaluate their options and determine which solution best meets their needs. It's never been easier to start moving your business to the cloud, and the benefits are clear: gain secure and seamless data access to improve the quality of care you offer your clients.

Call us to schedule a complimentary consultation with the N-Tech Consulting team to determine which cloud solution is the right fit for you.

How to Use Microsoft OneNote Effectively

Your Guide on How to Use Microsoft OneNote Effectively

Microsoft OneNote is a practical, free online tool for capturing digital or handwritten notes into Notebooks, Sections, and Pages. That's what most of its users and businesses use it for. The application also allows users to add images, audio, diagrams, video, and other content, making it the ideal application for organizing essential data.

If you have multiple tasks to complete, sudden (clicking) ideas to capture, or other essential things to recall at a later date, you should try Microsoft OneNote. This post provides a comprehensive overview of OneNote and how you can use the application to enhance your productivity.

Microsoft OneNote Guide

What is Microsoft OneNote?

Microsoft OneNote is a free digital note-taking application used by businesses and for personal use to gather and store information in Microsoft's Office 365 Cloud. The OneNote desktop application is part of Microsoft 365 and Microsoft Office 2019, but users can also download it as a standalone app.

Users can take notes, make drawings, record audio commentaries, capture screen clippings, and share this data on the OneNote platform. It features an entire Office ribbon interface that can be shown or hidden until needed.

OneNote allows users to make real-time collaborations over the internet or through a network to edit the same document simultaneously. Edits appear immediately, though syncing delays may sometimes occur due to different factors.

OneNote allows you to organize your content in one location and is optimized for consistent performance across multiple operating systems. So long as your device can connect to the internet, you can access your content anywhere.

Why OneNote?

OneNote allows you to organize all your notes and thoughts into one platform. You can use it to organize your notes into separate notebooks, sections within notebooks, and pages. Users can pin different multimedia documents as the application is compatible with different digital formats, including:

The application also makes it easier for users to use other programs on desktop and mobile devices. Other features that make OneNote a versatile tool is that businesses can use it to:

How to Use Microsoft OneNote

Whether you want to use Microsoft OneNote for work, classes, teaching, in teams, or project management, this segment provides you with the basics of how to use OneNote for maximum productivity in the workplace and at home:

1.     Create a Quick Note

Quick Notes help capture thoughtful ideas on one device (this can be a phone) and then retrieve them on another device (your computer) while working in the office or while traveling. You can use Quick Notes to jot down ideas and thoughts that come to you instantaneously, just like Sticky Notes.

This section explains how to create a Quick Note on the OneNote application:

When creating a Quick Note, it is saved as Unfiled Notes in the Quick Notes notebook. OneNote uses Quick Notes and your username to sync notes to OneDrive, allowing you to access them from any device connected to your Microsoft account.

2.     Create a Notebook

OneNote also allows users to create multiple notebooks for different projects or subjects. This section explains how you can create a Notebook on the OneNote application:

That's it; you have your new Notebook ready to populate with data.

3.     Open Your Notebooks

Apart from creating Notebooks and Quick notes on the OneNote application, you can also open Notebooks created by other users and shared with you. Here's how:

NOTE: confirm that you are signed in with the account where the Notebook is stored if you do not see the Notebook you're looking for.

4.     Create Sections

This feature is for OneNote users looking to organize their notes. The user can create topical Sections for better organization and customization by allowing users to arrange notes by topic and date. Follow this guide to create a section on Microsoft OneNote:

5.     Switch Between Your Open Notebook

OneNote also allows users to open several notebooks simultaneously and switch between open notebooks to maximize productivity. Here's how:

6.     Sharing and Collaboration

Users can immediately share their notes with friends, co-workers, and team members.

To share a notebook, navigate to File> Share and select the required share options. OneNote provides users with three different ways to share notes, including:

TIP: Microsoft OneNote allows you to edit or remove access to shared Pages, Sections, or Quick Notes from the "Manage Access" settings.

Use Microsoft OneNote to Be More Organized

The Microsoft OneNote application is a powerful tool that allows you to get more work done in the workplace, school, home, or while moving. The deeper you dive into OneNote's features, the more you discover what the app offers, allowing you to maximize your and your team's productivity.

If you are considering setting up your Microsoft OneNote application, get in touch or email us at sales@ntech.io for more information.

What is Microsoft Cloud App Security and why is it important?

Microsoft Cloud Security

Moving applications to the cloud presents organizations with the flexibility to operate virtually anywhere. While this is an excellent thing for many organizations, it also offers an opportunity for those looking to target them.

With over 200 million active Office 365 users reported in late 2019, it’s easy to see the importance of securing the platform as it continues to grow.

So, what has Microsoft done to help?

Well, they have offered the Cloud App Security suite!

Cloud App Security is more than just a catchy title; it is a cloud-based security suite designed to work in tandem with Microsoft’s offerings, such as Office 365, Azure Active Directory, and other business-critical items.

For a business, Cloud App Security offers increased protection by intelligently monitoring and analyzing the use of various cloud applications. This monitoring gives IT administrators better visibility into the business’s standard practices. It allows them to setup custom alerts for anything out of the ordinary that could be potentially malicious.

What kind of alerts are we talking about here?

Items like suspicious email forwarding, impossible travel activity, and suspected malware are just a few of the things that Cloud App Security keeps its eyes on.

For example, Bob in accounting just left for lunch 15 minutes ago, and all of a sudden, an alert comes in, notifying that he’s just logged into his account from a device located in Jamaica. Bob may be fast, but he’s not that fast. These alerts give IT staff the opportunity to quickly react and use the platform’s toolsets to change his password, initiate a sign-out across all devices, and review the account for any damage that could have been done.

The move to the cloud isn’t slowing down, and unfortunately, neither are hackers. Recent data suggests that 89% of business users are using at least one form of a cloud application each day, and roughly 44% of all attacks are targeted towards these cloud apps. Microsoft’s Cloud App Security suite provides a simple and effective way to secure part of your business, so why not give it a try?

Why is Backing Up Data Important?

When saving data on a device, it normally doesn’t cross our minds to back it up, meaning to have a duplicate copy in case the original is damaged. Most of us believe that saving data once means that it's safe and could never be lost. This is not the case! Even though some of us may question what the odds are that it happens to them, what we don’t realize is all the possible ways it could be lost. A computer infected by a virus, hard drive failure, or even having a bad installation of a program are a few causes for lost data. Backing up all the data files on a computer is extremely important just in case something goes wrong.

An operating system and its applications can be reinstalled, but it might be difficult to recreate the original data that was lost. That’s what makes data the most important part of your computer. Your important, personal, or critical information should always be backed up with a plan for recovering just in case a system failure happens. Sometimes losing data may not even be because of a virus or a system failure, but from a personal mistake. 

We are known to make mistakes from time to time. One of the biggest causes for lost files is because of our own doing. There has probably been a time where you’ve accidentally deleted a file, not saved your changes, lost a disk, failed to update anti-virus, or even spilled a drink on your computer. It happens, we all make mistakes. You could bring it to a computer repair specialist and see if they are able to recover your deleted files or destroyed ones, but it’s not certain that they will actually be able to recover them. Backing up your data beforehand will make you rest easier and save you money when something like this occurs.

Using temporary storage devices to save data may make you believe it is unnecessary to back up data. Temporary storage is not good as a long-term solution, but it’s a good short-term solution for saving data. Numerous people lose valuable files because of trusting a temporary storage device. Imagine losing all of your data because you thought the device you were using was good enough to hold it. You can prevent this by backing up your files.

Remembering to backup all of your data may seem like a pain, but in the end it will be worth it. Work can be redone, but if you would happen to lose files that you cherish, like family photos, these would be gone for good and no one wants that to happen. When backing up your data, remember to try and back it up to a separate location, just in case of a complete computer break down. An even better place would be to back it up online, if something would happen to your computer, you would still have access to your files from any computer that has internet access. If an accident occurs to your device causing you to lose your data and you backed up your files, you will be very happy you did it.

What are the Advantages and Disadvantages of Using the Cloud?

The cloud is everywhere. That might seem intimidating, but everyone uses it at some point. You may not realize you are using it, but every time you update your Facebook or Twitter status, you’re using the cloud. Many people are beginning to believe that using the cloud is the future and some believe that the hype of it will soon fade. Companies of all sizes are beginning to follow the new trend of making the switch over to the cloud. So why are these companies making the switch? Just like any other form of technology, there are many advantages and disadvantages that come with it. Taking the time to understand the advantages and disadvantages of the cloud may help you decide if your company should make the switch.

Any place that has an internet connection can access the cloud. On top of being able to access it anywhere, you can access it on any type of mobile device at any time. This means businesses can allow employees to work anywhere. The cloud can even help save costs. Companies want to keep their expenses as low as possible. With the cloud, there is no in-house server storage and application requirements that have licensing fees. The cloud can have cheaper rates such as a one-time payment or pay as you go option. Having all of your data stored in the cloud makes backup and recovery much easier. Creating a second copy of files that can be stored remotely and then  accessed anywhere with internet connection is great if a disaster were to occur. Although everything sounds great, there are downsides when working in the cloud.

Even though the cloud is easily accessible, there is the possibility of having to deal with downtime. This means outages and technical issues may occur, which will lead to not being able to access any of your files. You may experience downtime because of the cloud service provider or if your internet were to go offline. One major concern people have is how secure the cloud is. Cloud service providers apply the best security, but it’s important to keep in mind that you do share important files to an external provider, which can be risky. Their security could end up being hacked and then your files could be stolen or deleted. Even if the provider tries to make sure everything is perfectly secure, it’s hard to be one hundred percent sure that they actually are.

Use of the cloud does not seem to be slowing down any time soon. Like everything else, there are advantages and disadvantages to using the cloud. Although there are concerns for possible downtime and how secure the cloud is, it can be accessed anywhere, save your company money, and it’s great for recovering files. If you have questions or are ready to get set up for the cloud, give us a call at (855) 711-6601 or email us at sales@ntech.io.

What is Cloud Services?

What exactly is Cloud Services?

Offering hybrid model continuity plans or strictly cloud based applications and back-up solutions, we’ll consult with you to develop a fully customized solution that fits your business. Our team ensures your cloud implementations go as smoothly as possible with all necessary applications and back-up systems in place to properly meet your ever growing IT needs.

Why is a Cloud Backup Solution important?

Having a reliable solution to back up not only your practice’s data but your patients’ PHI is essential in the event of a disaster. You would be lying to yourself if you say you've never made a mistake, especially with today's ever changing technology. It can be easy to accidentally misplace or delete important information or files. A cloud backup solution will guarantee that whether it be human error or a natural disaster, N-Tech will properly and effectively ensure that your information and data is safe. 

What can you expect with Cloud Services Solutions through N-Tech Consulting?

Offering three reliable solutions that all ensure secure backup and recovery, our Enterprise, Datto, and StorageCraft solutions will guarantee all your data is secure and accessible within your secure environment.

Datto protects your business systems and data against disaster. Our services provide automated local backups on robust hardware purpose-built for data protection and replication to the secure cloud. If an outage occurs, users can boot virtual machines directly from the local device or in the cloud.

At N-Tech, we will consult with you personally to develop a custom backup solution that fits not only your practice and business, but your current technology environment as well. N-Tech guarantees your cloud implementations are hurdle free.