Don’t Let Data Backup Concerns Hold Your Business Back

IT Engineer Installs New HDD Hard Drive and Other Hardware into Server Rack Equipment. IT Specialist Doing Maintenance, Running Diagnostics and Updating Hardware.

Your business is not unique in the sense that it stores and transmits data during its day-to-day routines. Whether it’s financial information for your clients or employee records, it is more than likely that your business holds some kind of critical data that your operations rely on throughout the workday. Would your operations be able to recover from a sudden loss of data?

While imagining this worst-case scenario might seem intimidating and downright scary, failing to do so is even worse for your business continuity. You owe it to everyone who works so hard to keep your business going to do all you can to protect it as best as possible. To work toward this goal, we recommend a solution that all businesses should utilize: data backup and disaster recovery. Data backup is one of those things that you don’t necessarily realize its true value until you need it most, and failing to have it could put your future on the line.

Data Backup vs Disaster Recovery

Data backups are copies of your business’ data that you can restore in the event of a disaster that destroys the original. These are particularly useful when you suffer a data loss scenario or security breach. Data backup has been done with tape for years, a process that involves setting the tape, running the backup, and storing the tapes in a place off-site in the event they are needed.

Tape is on its way out, however, due to issues that are prevalent in the way that it is fundamentally designed. Modern technology has addressed these issues, such as slow implementation and deployment speed, user error, and storage space. The cloud makes everything involved with the data backup and disaster recovery process so much easier by eliminating the possibility of user error, speeding up the process, freeing up on-site storage, and fully automating the process.

Data backup is only one part of a successful disaster recovery solution. You also need to make sure that you are actually able to deploy these backups when they are needed most. Since disasters can disrupt operations so profoundly, you want to have your backups ready to go in the event of data breaches, natural disasters, or user errors. Failing to have these data backups available puts your operations in jeopardy not just from an operational standpoint, but also from a cost perspective when you factor in downtime and lost productivity.

Your disaster recovery solution should aim to minimize downtime through the use of a cloud-deployed backup to temporary hardware. It’s not meant to be a permanent solution; it just keeps you in business while you work to replace it. A common rule you might hear about is the 3-2-1 rule of data backup. You should have three copies of your data ready to go at a moment’s notice: one on-site or on-network, one located in the cloud for ease of restoration, and one in a secure off-site data center. This redundancy makes for an ideal solution and certainly one that minimizes downtime and data loss.

Implement BDR Today

A data backup and disaster recovery solution like BDR is the best way to approach your business’ continuity concerns. AE Technology Group has the knowledge and expertise to walk you through this process every step of the way, from determining your specific backup needs to the deployment of solutions. To learn more, reach out to us at (516) 536-5006.

Aiming For a Healthy Workplace Dynamic: Understanding the Value of Respect in the Workplace

aiming for a healthy workplace dynamic understanding the value of respect in the workplace

A company’s success is not only determined by the quality of its products and services or customer metrics. Personal relationships and perceived behavior among employees in the workplace also have a significant effect on company productivity. With global conversation shifting towards diversity and inclusion, employee pools are now filled with differing perspectives, personalities and work style. A healthy workplace dynamic can determine if your greatly diverse employees perform optimally or contribute to a dysfunctional work environment.   

All employees, whether high in the hierarchy or low on the totem pole, want to feel respected and valued. People in the workplace want to know their feelings, ideas and presence, are respected by their colleagues. A recent study showed that globally, nearly 20,000 employees ranked respect as the most vital leadership behavior.

Being respectful in the workplace is not limited to employees alone. Employers must lead by example, also exhibiting acceptable conduct and a good attitude, as well as treating all employees fairly. Employers must be careful to find a good balance between showing owed and earned respect, with the former being accorded to all employees, while the latter is earned by those who have excelled in one way or another.  

There are several ways to demonstrate respect in the workplace. Some of these are;

  • Anger management: People in a group will inevitably rub one another the wrong way sometimes. Maintaining control during moments of anger is essential, especially in a professional setting. People in the workplace should avoid getting fixated on what makes them irritable and learn to let little issues go. They should also understand their triggers and avoid them. Looking up and learning some anger management techniques can also be of help.  
  • Proper Communication: Discourse that is laced with abrasive, belittling, dismissive or insulting language should be avoided at all times. Conversations among colleagues should always be polite, and any debates should be respectful and professional.
  • Pay Attention: Acknowledge colleagues as much as possible. Small actions like greeting them, holding a door open, and offering help are subtle clues that communicate respect and value.
  • Avoid Judging: Making hasty or unfair judgements about colleagues can affect how you talk and relate with them. Be willing to compromise and endeavor to be open to new perspectives, preferences and work styles. Most importantly, think about what you want to say or do and how it will make others feel.

Benefits Of A Workplace Culture Of Respect

The value of respect in the workplace cannot be overstated. Encouraging mutual respect in the workplace will:

Minimize stress, conflict, and communication problems

A consistent and strictly implemented culture of respect will improve communication between colleagues at every level of an organization. Such a positive atmosphere will optimize how well they work together. It will also reduce stress resulting from conflict and concern about negative perceptions.

Increase productivity

With respect to fostering mutual understanding and better communication, colleagues will be less focused on each other and more focused on company ideals and objectives. Business decisions will be suggested and respected, and tasks will be implemented eagerly. Less friction will also mean more time to improve individual growth and team productivity.

Improve knowledge-sharing

When there is mutual respect, and higher chances of positive reception, employees are more likely to exchange ideas and bounce suggestions off one another freely. This will lead to an increase in knowledge, skills, and expertise.

Decrease turnover rates

Feeling respected contributes to job satisfaction, commitment, and loyalty. Motivated employees will remain longer where they feel well treated and apply themselves diligently to their work, leading to company growth.

In Closing

Promoting a culture of respect in the workplace and improving employee dynamics will stop employees from being side-tracked by unimportant matters and enable them to unleash their full potential and remain highly productive.

At AE technology Group, we create customized and innovative solutions that foster team collaboration and build a stronger organizational culture. Contact us today!

Increase Productivity by Utilizing New Technologies

increase productivity by utilizing new technologies
New Technologies

It’s easy to get bogged down in the day-to-day operations of a business, without taking a moment to consider whether there are better and easier ways to get tasks accomplished. Over time however, when it becomes obvious that productivity or customer service levels are declining, or sales, it’s definitely time to review whether there are better ways to accomplish tasks. By doing so, companies can take advantage of the latest technologies, thus freeing up the schedules of their employees to do what they do best, which is to support and grow the company.

Produce More with Collaboration

Easy-to-use tools such as shared calendars, Skype, and SharePoint, make it easy for teams to communicate with each other and share documents and files that require group collaboration.

Cloud Computing Platforms

Are you working with a cloud computing platform that automatically updates? If not, then your employees are not able to work with the latest, most up-to-date information, and that puts them at a disadvantage against competitors. Consider also whether you are satisfied with your internet connection. There’s no question anymore — a fast, reliable internet connection is an absolute must.

Cloud-Based Telephony

Switching from landlines to VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) is a great way for businesses to cut costs while increasing productivity levels in mobile working scenarios.

Effective Management Tools

There’s little need for manual manipulation of information anymore. Whether it’s improving customer service levels with a CRM system, or having a better understanding of employee time management, there is likely an automated management tool that can provide helpful insight.

Reliable IT Support

Last but not least, having a reliable IT resource a company can count on to keep their technology processes running smoothly, as well as offer professional advice about investing in useful technologies, is really important. This type of support will only become more essential as the business environment increasingly relies on technology to retain a competitive edge. 

If you would like more tips on how to select technology tools that can boost productivity in the workplace, please contact us.

Cloud Computing – The Future of Disaster Recovery

cloud computing the future of disaster recovery
Cloud Computing

Disasters happen. Whether they be natural or man-made – hurricanes that flood your company’s headquarters or viruses that contaminate your IT department’s servers – the consequences can be devastating.

Studies have shown that 43% of companies that cannot retrieve their data due to a disaster strike never reopen and that 29% of these companies close within two years.

How can your business protect itself in the face of these inevitable calamities? Look to the clouds! Cloud computing offers cost-effective solutions to help your business recover lost data and resume normal operations effectively and efficiently.

Despite its lofty nomenclature, cloud computing is really a down-to-earth concept. In simple terms, cloud computing means relying on the Internet – rather than on hardware – to store the information and programs that are vital to your business. This system allows you to access integral data remotely – an especially handy benefit if, say, your hard drives are corrupted.

Cloud computing, therefore, is essential to disaster recovery. A cloud-based system allows you to make a virtual copy of your company’s server – including the operating system, data, software, and other information contained therein. Because it stores this virtual copy on the Internet, no hardware is required. And if no hardware is required, none can be compromised.

When it comes to disaster recovery, cloud computing can save your business more than just time and money – it can flat out save your business. Even if your headquarters had been located in Pompeii on the day that Vesuvius erupted, cloud computing would have made it possible for you to restart your business (hopefully in a volcano-free zone) with a minimal outlay of money, time, and effort.

Disasters happen. But when they do, cloud computing allows your business to look to the sky and keep its feet on the ground.

Should Your Company Move to Office 2019? Here’s What you Need to Know

should your company move to office 2019 here what you need to know
Should Your Company Move to Office 2019

Microsoft recently launched their cloud-based suite of office products, aptly named Office 2019, a successor to their Office 2016 suite. The successor, offered for both Mac and Windows users, contains new versions of all of Microsoft’s popular office software applications. Namely, Microsoft Word, their Excel spreadsheet software, PowerPoint, Outlook, Access, Publisher, Visio and Project. As always, it’s important for organizations to research new applications in order to determine the impact upon their organizations, as well as determine their upgrade readiness if they decide to move ahead with the new suite.

Getting Ready for the Cloud

Microsoft’s Office 2019 is cloud-based software. For those organizations who have already made the transition and are ready for cloud-based products, the transition to Office 2019 should be fairly seamless. But what about organizations who for one reason or another, are lagging behind transitioning to the cloud? According to Microsoft’s own support page, although they certainly encourage everyone to make their way to the cloud, they understand that organizations are in varying stages of transition. Therefore, Microsoft remains committed to providing additional releases post Office 2019 to their on-premise users.

Is Upgrading Required? 

Up until fairly recently, Office 2016 users thought they would be required to upgrade either to Office 2019 or Office 365 ProPlus if they wanted to connect to Office 365. Microsoft has reversed this position and is now stating that Office 2016 users will be able to connect to their Office 365 services through at least October 2023. This is good news for Office 365 users since it gives them a little more breathing room before upgrading.

Why Office 2019?

Some organizations may decide they want to move to Office 2019 in order to take advantage of the some of the new features within the suite. The new version of Word will offer features such as text-to-speech and learning capabilities and Excel will offer new functions, 2D maps, and enhancements to both PowerQuery and PowerPivot. The new PowerPoint will have 3D image management, enhanced zoom and will incorporate roaming pencil case capabilities.

If you would like to know more about the new features found in Office 2019, or if you have questions about upgrading, please contact us.