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Strategize Backup and Never Worry About Losing Your Data

It pays to be prepared. Quite literally, if you are in the business world. Running a business is difficult when you try juggling all the responsibilities it entails. 

We get it. 

These days, it’s necessary for a business to coordinate operations on multiple platforms while constantly trying to improve its bottom line. 

If you are like most businesses, innovation in technology has brought your company’s operation and infrastructure into the digital realm. You must feel confident the technologies you have chosen to run your business are dependable. Everything needs to work together to function properly. All these innovations put a considerable amount of power over the success of your company and its growth.

But, with great power comes great responsibility.

The moment you leverage technological resources, your business becomes vulnerable. The well-being of the software and devices it uses for running your day-to-day operations depends on stability. Part of keeping it stable is to have a backup strategy. It is imperative that you have backup solutions in place to protect all your assets. Otherwise, you put your company at risk of losing precious data with devastating consequences for your business.

Data Backup Services help you armor yourself against every kind of potential cyber or human threat that can leave you distraught without your precious data. 

Multiple layers

Your business needs multiple ways to protect itself. The more protective layers you have in place for your company, the better you will be prepared if disaster strikes. Preparing your business for disaster includes natural disasters as well as potential cyber-attacks.

Datto is one company in the industry that has revolutionized back-up solutions. They are a leader in this industry with a focus on security. They offer support tools and a user-friendly interface. These features have alleviated the worry business owners face wondering whether their data is secure. They offer strategies to set up these services without the need for exceedingly complicated procedures.

Are backup Solutions easy to set up?

How does a business begin executing these solutions? How does a backup plan help my business? And can you implement one easily for my business?

Yes and no. But if done correctly it should not be complicated.

So, what is the right way to go about it?

To start with, you should understand the 3-2-1 Backup rule.

·       Have three copies of your data

·       Two backups in different formats

·       and one backup stored offsite

This rule has been tested repeatedly with outstanding results. Different variations of this rule are being adopting but keep in mind is that you must have a plan. Smart companies have a plan, but an exceptional company’s plans will include a backup to their backup.

What is BCDR?

To ensure more resilience, efficiency, and security, business owners have incorporated the 3-2-1 as the first layer of protection. Once this is in place, they continue to explore more comprehensive options to include in their plan.

BCDR, or Business Continuity & Disaster Recovery plans, aims to make the backups even more dependable as they optimize the time required for you to recover from a disaster when it strikes.

More mature businesses will typically implement a BCDR device. Others may decide to stick with a 3-2-1 strategy. 

To ensure smooth processing and optimization of IT resources most established companies will team up with an external Managed Service Provider (MSP) like Sandra Network to manage their backup. An MSP offers plans that include backup and BCDR devices. With increased threats on your business, you can no longer rely on obsolete methods to protect your infrastructure.

Automated BCDR Solutions

Automated BCDR solutions from Datto have omitted the hassle of manual setup or an investment in human labor when technical errors are more likely to occur. There is no need to struggle to manage your different file formats across multiple locations.

The experts at Sandra Network recognize Datto Backup Solutions superior effectiveness and strives to put their IT expertise into implementing its exceptional features into your normal business operations.

You can rest assured that your backups will be secure. They will be ready to use when you need them. This is all thanks to their end-to-end encryption, comprehensive backup verification, and two factor (2FA) sign-on required before gaining access to your backup data for recovery.

Be proactive. Take the initiative and set up backups for your business before disaster strikes. Call Sandra Network to strategize and put your backup plan in place before it is too late. 

What to do when a File is Potentially Corrupted

Sometimes while sitting at your computer, drinking your tea and minding your own business, a file SUDDENLY goes rogue.

  • It runs amok
  • It will not open
  • It throws an error
  • There is a hitch in the giddyup
  • It takes the sunshine in your day and blocks it with a dark cloud

There are things that may be done before crying, throwing that tea cup against the wall or well… running around the room with your arms flailing over your head in a fit of panic.

Inform you to restart your system

Because you were preemptive, and you already have worked with setting up backup with Sandra Network and have Mozy in your pocket, all you need to do is give us a call, or email us at [email protected]

Or, in the case you have not yet set up a backup plan with us, we may be able to repair this file for you, if you are not comfortable doing so yourself. Generally, it is best to have someone with this experience help you out so more damage is not done. Again, you can give us a call at 978-535-0202 #3 or email and we will be glad to help you out.

If you are feeling adventurous, there is an option you may take.

Boot in “Troubleshooting tools by rebooting and continuously hitting you <F8> key until you are given the option.

Select Troubleshoot Option

Select Troubleshoot

select Advanced Options

Here you will want to select Advanced Options and Startup Repair

Now… if this does not repair, and you have not set up a restore point in the past… THIS is when you will want to call Sandra Network! We have ALL sorts of tricks up our sleeves for you!!!

In case of emergency… Troubleshooting…

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 TROUBLESHOOTING!

This month we, at Sandra Network are going to give some basic troubleshooting skills to get you through… just in case of emergency.. If these do not help.. .PLEASE call us at 978-535-0202 #3 or email: [email protected]


My computer/printer/monitor will not come on

Reboot Troubleshooting

Are you able to see the power button lit up?
Is it plugged in?
Is the monitor on?
Is the power strip on?
Is the power strip plugged in?

If none of these help, call Sandra Network 978-535-0202 #3 or [email protected]

Windows is showing the wrong name for the login, where is mine?

Windows 10       Windows 10 Login

Select one of the other users to the left

Windows 7

Troubleshoot Windows 7 Login

Select “Switch User” under the Username and Password fields

My password is not working, it did this morning…

Troubleshooting Passwords

Is CAP lock on?
If it consists of numbers, and you are using the number keypad, is “Num Lock” off?
(In the day and age of millions of passwords) Did you put in the correct password for that computer?
Could someone with access have changed the password? Check around your office/home
Is it your computer (just kidding … I try to get into everyone else’s car, but my own. who knows)

If you are STILL having issues, give us a call at Sandra Network 978-535-0202 #3 or [email protected]

 

No sound coming out of my computer – How to TroubleshootVolume Troubleshooting

Is the volume up? Or has “mute” been selected? (Icon in the bottom right corner of your desktop
Do you have connected external speakers? Are they turned on?

If it is still not working, give us a call at Sandra Network 978-535-0202 #3 or [email protected]

 

Read More about In case of emergency… Troubleshooting…

To be USB 2.0 or USB 3.0… That is the Question

What may be one of the most frustrating things when connecting new “Plug-n-Play” equipment with USB cables, is the difficulties faced upon connecting them… and they neither Plug… nor play (Insert primal scream here). Frustration tends to mount while moving a file from one drive to another and it is doing so, seemingly at a snail’s pace.

We at Sandra Network would like to help with this BEFORE you are forwarded from phone extension to phone extension, continent to continent, waiting on hold for the answer that may be right there in the clear blue! (You will see what I did there… in a moment, and laugh… just wait)

One common issue is the age of the equipment, be it a keyboard/mouse/ flash drive, external drive or printer, they all may cause the same frustrations. It is all about speed, and the simple way to tell (if you no longer have the box with the description, or the “Read me” file) is the color of the connector or the icon next to the connector on the computer.

USB 3.0 is the third major version of the Universal Serial Bus (USB) standard for connecting computers and electronic devices. USB 3.0 is usually distinguishable from USB 2.0 by blue color-coding of the ports and plugs, and by the initials “SS”.

USB 2.0 and 3.0 Ports

USB 2.0

USB 3.0

480 Mbps (Megabits per second) 4.8 Gbps (Giga bits per second)
Can either send or receive data, i.e. copy or paste Can simultaneously send and receive data, i.e. copy and paste

Overall:

  • If you want seamless speed as an option in transferring data,
  • If something you plugged in as a new device is not properly connecting or is giving USB errors
  • If there is the option of USB 2.0 or USB 3.0 on the computer.
  • check to see what color the port is, that choice can make all of the difference in speed or connectivity

If you are still unsure PLEASE give Sandra Network a call at 978-535-0202 or email [email protected] and we will help you out!

What Are The Benefits of Anti-Virus Software?

One of the most important things is to stay ahead of the attacks with updates and real time protection. Without this, there is very little that may be done once the malware assaults, other than rebuilding the machine or hiring an IT company to clean the virus from the machine and THEN install an anti-virus application.

Yet another form of Ransom-ware!

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Your screen just went to this:
What do you do?

It could be a Ransomware – Just look at that color!!!

Ohh NOOOOO!!!!
Do you call the phone number?
Do you click on the page and find as many links as you can?

NO! STOP! SLOW DOWN! IT’S REALLY A DOOR TO RANSOMWARE

This is the doorway for ransomware that will only bring you sadness and destruction.
There are a couple of tell-tale signs that will only bring you sadness and destruction. There are a couple of tell-tale signs:

The URL. In most cases, it is something that should throw red flags. In THIS case, it is virus.com…
Windows Security Essentials does not send a phone number to their help desk and that hints towards a potential ransomware attack. Many times, ransomware attacks can also come through email viruses too.
You may not even have Windows Defender turned on, but it will never blank out your screen with an error, it might send a “notification”.

What should you do?

  1. You will want to start the Task Manager. There are two ways to get to it:
    <Ctrl><Alt><Del> at the same time
  2. Right click on your taskbar
  3. Select the browser you are in (Chrome, IE, Firefox)
  4. Select “End Task”. (this will close out the application
  5. Download an Anti-Malware app for example:
  6. Call Sandra Network: 978-535-0202 #3 or email: [email protected]

Sandra Definition

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LogMeIn is the Right Thing Baby! Call Us.

Think about the Summer and LogMeIn

Though Sandra Bullock in The Net could do it without a thought, very few (if any) could work remotely from a beach in 1995, let alone use VI shell to program on a Macintosh Laptop. Sorry, I was speaking geek… I digress… Now add LogMeIn into the plot.

The Net - LogMeIn

Scene: The Net (1995)

It is 2017 and you have the option to work anywhere you want to You can WAH (Work At Home) or WAB (Work At Beach) or just about anything. How do you do this you ask?

  1. Call Sandra Network at 978-535-0202 #3 or [email protected]
  2. Ask about setting up LogMeIn for your business, or personal use
  3. Log into the new account
  4. Roll over in the sun and enjoy that margarita on the beach, while working on your computer in the stuffy old office.

There are many options, and you can get in touch with us to discuss some of them and break the leash of the office and get out and enjoy the sun while being productive.

Do you wanna cry? Call Sandra Network!

There is a new form of Ransomware out there, once again, Called WannaCry.

WannaCry

WannaCry Man

It encrypts the files on your machine, THEN demands an average of $300 in bitcoin. If payment is not received within three days, the demand doubles. Should, no action be taken after seven days, the affected files will be deleted.

What if I do not want to run my Windows updates, because some software will no longer run properly?

What can you do to prevent the WannaCry ransomware? There are steps that may be taken, should you not want to update Windows presently. The entry of the virus to your device, which is dependent on a gap in the Windows system and the gap is present in all types of Windows is that the feature is open. If you did not update your windows, turn off SMP . following are the steps.

  • Control Panel\Programs\Programs and Features.
    • Select the Turn Windows features on or off option on the left
      Control Panel WannaCry

 

 

 

  • Remove check box SMB1.0/CIF File Sharing Support
    • File Sharing Support WannaCry

 

 

 

 

 

  • You must restart your computer to complete this change.
    • Once this is completed,  you are safe from this specific ransomware.

Keeping updates in order is usually the best option to prevent the introduction of WannaCry ransomware, but it is always good to STILL follow these guidelines:

  • If you receive a message from your friend with a link, ask him before opening the link to confirm, (infected machines send random messages with links).
  • Keep your files backed up regularly and periodically.
  • Be aware of fraudulent e-mail messages that use names similar to popular services such as ‘PayePal’ instead of ‘PayPal’ or use popular service names without commas or excessive characters.
  • Use anti virus and Always make have the last update.

If you still run into any issues, or it is too late, please contact our Support at Sandra Network

Verizon email Moving to AOL – Be Prepared!

Outlook Email SetupSo, you have probably heard through that pesky grapevine… Verizon is no longer going to be supporting or hosting email, the company will be having it hosted by AOL within the next couple of weeks. When logging into the webmail.verizon.net there will be an “Email service notice“. Click on “Keep verizon.net email address” or “Use any other email provider” to complete the setup. There will be no action to take until you receive an email service notice from them. Through all of the shuffling, it may  have been missed, AOL is a Verizon company. Verizon is looking to put their focus on their FIOS and phone markets.

Does this mean my Email is going away?

No, once you have received this notice.. you will probably say… AOL? WHAT??!! Do I need to find one of those diskettes they sent me through the mail in 1990… so what do I do next?
There are a few options, hold on..

  • Follow the directions and forward your email to AOL and continue from there. In this scenario, you will keep your Verizon.net email, while navigating the AOL Mail website.
  • Do nothing and let that email account fade to digital dust
  • Set up an Office 365 account and have all of your emails forward through one account, making it MUCH easier for you! (We can actually do this for you at Sandra Network!)

Not sure WHAT to do? 

There are still a lot of options; these are but a few. If you are still unsure what your next steps should be you should give us a call at 978-535-0202 or email us at [email protected] and we will walk you through or set you up with the correct options just for you!