Computer Tip of the Day: An Extra Layer of Backup

computer tip of the day an extra layer of backup

aedeskcomp

You can never have too many backups. A standard backup plan should follow the “3-2-1” rule; have at least three copies of your important files, keep them on at least two different media, and store one of them offsite.

The offsite copy will usually be with a backup service provider on the Internet.

With critically important files that don’t change very often, an additional copy provides extra insurance. This can take the form of an external disk drive, a USB stick, or a DVD-ROM that you lock away in a safe place away from your installation. A disk drive gives the most storage but costs more; a DVD or USB stick is less expensive and easy to store in a small space.

  • Since the point of this is to store the device offsite, you should always encrypt it.
  • Make sure to save the decryption key, but don’t store it with the device.
  • Label your backup.
  • For a DVD, use a CD-safe marker; some markers can damage the disc, which is most vulnerable on the label side.

All devices have a limited life, even with good storage. Keep the backup in a place that won’t get too hot, cold, or humid. Don’t count on its lasting more than five years. Send a note to your future self to copy it to new media after four years.

Choose your files carefully for this. You can’t usefully store anything that’s subject to change this way, but it can help to guarantee that you won’t lose critical documents even if everything else goes wrong.

Please contact us for IT support, backup, and other services.

In Need of Managed Services for Your Doctor’s Office?

in need of managed services for your doctor office

AE Technology Group is a tech support group that specializes in providing IT support for small to medium size businesses in Long Island and New York City. But we also understand what IT needs you have that are specific to a medical practice. First and foremost, your patient’s security is our number one priority.

We want to make sure all of your information is stored in a way that is compliant with HIPAA. We can test your office and give you recommendations on how to improve your practice so you would pass a HIPAA audit with flying colors.

We also can provide you with secure email capabilities that allow you to share information with other providers and with your patients via email, but not with other people on the Internet.

We understand that you need all of your technology working all the time. We run 24/7 proactive monitoring to catch as many issues as we can ahead of time. This minimizes any wasted time due to slow computers, printer disasters, and server crashes.

We understand your patients are counting on you, and we want you to be able to count on us. 

Contact us at AE Technology Group for more information on how we can help your doctor’s office run with the most efficiency when it comes to technology.

Find IT Support on Long Island That Meets Your Needs

find it support on long island that meets your needs

Find IT Support on Long Island That Meets Your Needs

If you have your own business in Long Island, chances are you have at least some IT needs. For a small business with only one computer and not very much dependence on it, maybe you can make due without IT support.

But most small to medium businesses need some outside IT support. For the layman, IT is complicated, and as a business owner, you want to spend your time on your business, not fixing the infrastructure that helps it run.

AE Technology Group provides IT support on Long Island so that your business can run smoothly and efficiently.

How Does Our Service Work?

AE Technology Group offers a fixed, affordable rate and our technicians are available 24/7/365. AE Technology Group was formed by the merger of Adam Kaplan with ASK4Technology and Marc Bellack of Evolution CE. Together they have more than 20 years of experience in IT and have created a company that is designed to meet all of your IT needs.

We understand that technology is complex, and it is constantly changing. We stay on top of those changes so you don’t have to. AE Technology Group can help your Long Island business with hardware design and installation, technical and help desk support, and network design and implementation. We help you prevent potential problems by offering software trainings.

For more information on our rates and how AE Technology Group can help your small to medium business grow, contact us today. With the proper IT support, you can focus on what you do best, and we will back you up completely with your technology.

Is an IT Support Career Right for You?

is an it support career right for you

As information technology has grown to affect nearly every segment of life, careers in IT support have become a coveted and sure career, because almost every company needs them. If you are one of those people who always has friends and family calling you with questions about their computer or smart phone, a career in IT support could be right for you.

If you enjoy problem solving, and love finding out about all of the latest gadgets and software, you just may be able to make a career out of something you enjoy doing. There are a number of different degrees you can get that lead to a career in IT. Here is a look at a few of them and average salaries for these careers.

  • Someone with a computer science degree often becomes a programmer, or a software engineer. These careers pay an average of $75,000 to $100,000. According to Monster.com, in a computer science degree, “Students learn about data structures, operating systems and programming, as well as other applications and concepts.”
  • An information systems degree can lead to a job in as a systems administrator, a technical support specialist, or a systems analyst. These jobs have average salaries ranging from $75,000- $85,000 a year. According to the same article by Monster.com, an information systems degree is less theoretical than a computer science degree and is more focused on practical application.

There are a number of other careers in IT support you can read about more in the above mentioned article. And if you are looking for IT support for your business, contact us at AE Technology Group. We provide unparalleled support for your business.

When Is A Business Continuity Plan Needed?

when is a business continuity plan needed
when is a business continuity plan needed

Human nature tends to want to avoid unpleasant thoughts concerning potentially catastrophic events, which unfortunately leads to poor planning in certain times of need. A good example of this for a residential home owner is when the power goes out due to a sever storm.

Whenever this happens, most people are left literally in the dark wondering if the power will be out so long that they will be forced to throw out an entire refrigerator worth of food. Meanwhile, the kids are driving everybody more than just a little crazy because there’s no television and of course, none of their many devices are charged.

While all this is going on, your mind is left wondering why you never put that money into the whole house generator you have wanted to put in for years now because of times like this.

A Relatively Small Investment of Your Time and Resources Could Have Saved All This Grief

The business owner’s analogy to the whole house generator is a business continuity plan (BCP). Most business owners are hesitant to dedicate their time and energy for a plan they may never need or just don’t even want to think about. The problem is that even though you think you may never need it, the odds are seriously against this. The following are three not so absurd scenarios that illustrate why you need a carefully constructed, easily executed BCP in place immediately.

IT Security – Perhaps nothing can bring an organization to its knees quite like a simple little email with ill intent. Viruses, data breaches, and various other forms of malware can interrupt business operations like nothing else. You can have the most skilled IT people in the world on staff and it won’t make a bit of difference if just one unwitting employee opens an email that contains a damaging attachment.

Fire! – What happens if fire ravages throughout your business? If the fire is particularly uncontrollable, you may not only have servers and key pieces of equipment that are rendered inoperable and need replacement, but your entire staff may also not be able to return to work until the area is deemed habitable. Include emergency operation plans in your BCP to know just what to do if a fire threatens your viability as a thriving business.

Non-Peaceful Demonstrations – Occasionally throughout history certain events take place that lead to revolution. Although these events may seem rare or unlikely during peaceful times, one needs to look no further than the recent events in Baltimore and Missouri that shut down various businesses for several days due to public safety reasons. Maintain awareness of the possibilities for these issues and ensure your employees know exactly what to do in the event of civil unrest. Be prepared to invoke your BCP in this situation before it is too late.

AE Technology Group is your IT company in New York and Long Island for managed services.

Please contact us today for more information about any of our services including disaster recovery, support, cloud computing, and much more.