Statement: I can restore any business-critical file in a timely manner because
- I have a disciplined daily backup procedure that always happens
- Critical backup data is stored off-site each day
- I know it works because I have restored a file within the past 7 days
- I have never had to recreate a file due to not having a current backup file
Contratulations! If you answered "yes" to each of the above, go home tonight and enjoy a good night's sleep. The fact is, that 50% of all backups cannot be restored. And finding the latest version of the lost file and restoring it can be daunting, even if it exists somewhere. Enter online digital backup. According to Quantum Research, Disk-to-Disk offsite backup is the #1 priority for information managers among the Fortune 1000 companies.
Quantum Corporation
Disk-to-Disk backup remains the #1 priority for these companies in 2005 and has also become affordable for small to medium-sized businesses as well. Here's a recent article from an architectual firm that speaks to the benefits: Architectural Firm Seeks Security With Offsite Data Storage. Whether it's your email server or customer database, lots of EasyStreet customers are opting for this service and enjoying a good night's sleep.
November 21st, 2005 by Day Tooley
Posted in Security, General | 1 Comment »
It's official. The pivot point of Portland's high-speed fiber network has moved to EasyStreet's data center in Beaverton, Oregon. With the Qwest press release announcing the first in the nation In-Region, Out-Of-Service-Area (IROOSA) presence at EasyStreet, area businesses with offices and employees in both the Qwest and Verizon service areas can be on a single network.
The article Evolution of EasyStreet continues with Qwest pact in last Friday's Portland Business Journal gives a good overview.
Implications of this service along with the rapidly evolving wireless initiative by the City of Portland will be explored further over the next few months on this blog.
Stay tuned.
Technorati Tags: Ethernet, EasyStreet
November 16th, 2005 by Day Tooley
Posted in Networking, Internet Access | Enter a comment »
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Remember Pogo, the comic strip character? One of his most quoted sayings was: "None of us is as smart as all of us." Now websites are talking to each other and coming up with smarter content.
Google once again seems to be leading the charge with this new technology, and businesses are already profiting from it. Realtors show maps with their current listings. eBay shows search results for current auctions in your zip code.
A mashup isn't limited to Google. It is simply two or more sources of information combined (or mashed) together to produce an output that is either of greater value than the individual sources or something entirely new.
There is an example on this page. To see where visitors to the EasyStreet Business Blog have come from during the past 24 hours, just click on the button 
in the right column.
(For the full experience, you can download Google Earth and go to the satellite location of each visitor. Worth the 11.5 MB download.)
Can you imagine this type of collaboration of information benefiting your business?
November 14th, 2005 by Day Tooley
Posted in Websites, General | 1 Comment »
Search the world and find what you're looking for just across the street. The big news on the World Wide Web (WWW) seems to be local.
Search engine companies, led by Google, have turned the Internet search telescopes into search microscopes. Remember telephone books? Not used so much now when you can type a name and city or zip code into Google and there you are. Try it.
Local businesses stand to gain the most from this trend. You can see how customers might find you (or your competitor) by using some of these new resources:
Local Google: On the first visit, enter your zip code. From then on, searches are focused on your city. Feel like some Chinese food? Just type 'Chinese food' and listings and map instantly appears. Want to see the movie 'Capote'? Local theaters complete with show times are presented.
Local Google for Mobile: Do you have a Java-enabled cell phone?
Local Yahoo: For those who like the Yahoo touch, this might suit you. However, you must use Internet Explorer as the preferred browser. Firefox users (like me) get empty maps.
Local MSN: In beta now, we all know that Microsoft eventually becomes a player in areas of interest. To their credit and unlike Yahoo, you can use browsers other than Internet Explorer.
Local Oodle: Looking for housing, cars, jobs, services, or things for sale generally? Then the new Oodle service is for you. It will even show the eBay items from local sellers only.
Craig's List: The ultimate bulletin board and nemesis to newspaper advertising. If you're under 30, you probably already use this resource. Portland is one of more than 200 cities with locally indexed resources.
Bottom line: Local businesses who have a thoughtful Internet presence will be the winners in this new economy.
November 8th, 2005 by Day Tooley
Posted in Websites, Search Engines | 2 Comments »
“The only totally secure computer is one that is disconnected and unplugged” used to be the bottom-line wisdom. Enter the laptop and wireless technology. The world is changing.
As Portland moves toward ubiquitous wireless connection from anywhere in the city, new opportunities and cautions will evolve. Many homes and businesses have already adopted wireless technology and enjoy the easy mobility. Some precautions from experience.
The default Plug-and-Play nature of wireless routers and laptop computers makes it easy to get connected. But many of the most popular brands (e.g. LinkSys) have zero (0) security features enabled by default. At a minimum, take time to enable the 3 basic security features:
1. Turn off broadcasting the SSID (Service Set IDentifier) address in the wireless router (that’s like the call letters of a radio station which say: “Here I am. Pick me.” ).
2. Invoke the WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy) encryption services.
3. Allow access only to known specified MAC (Media Access Control) addresses (every Internet-connected device has one).
EasyStreet support has been advised of at least two incidents of unauthorized users connecting to a company network and accessing private data. Both of them had wireless access available that was not secured. In one case, copyrighted files were permanently deleted from all 7 office computers on the company’s network.
There are other things you can do to protect your sensitive business network to enhance security further. But at least require the proper wireless credentials to access your network.
And be aware of the snooping tools such as AirMagnet, NetStumbler and AiroPeek NX which expose your network to parking lot visitors.
November 4th, 2005 by Administrator
Posted in Security, Internet Access | 1 Comment »
