Category: Tech News

The Reasons Application Fails

reasons application fails

The Reasons Application Fails

 

5 REASONS APPLICATIONS FAIL

99.99% Uptime Is Essential

In today’s modern world of Tele-Medicine, application availability and uptime is more critical than ever.

Healthcare workers and patients are accessing applications at all times of the day and night. The days of “bringing the application down for maintenance” every night are over.

Add to this the fact that most healthcare companies are growing, which adds extra load to these already stressed applications.

EMR and other key applications need to be available virtually 100% of the time.

application error result business loss

How Much Does A Single Hour Of Downtime Cost?

According to an ITIC study this year, the average amount of a single hour of downtime is $100,000 or more. Since 2008, ITIC has sent out independent surveys that measure downtime costs. Findings included that a single hour of downtime has risen by 25%-30%. 33% of those enterprises reported that one hour of downtime costs their companies between $1-5 million. 98% of organizations say a single hour of downtime costs over $100,000. 81% of respondents indicated that 60 minutes of downtime costs their businesses over $300,000.

Protected Harbor has found the design of data centers plays an essential role in its ability to maintain application availability which translates into company credibility with clients, employees, and ultimately dollars gained or lost.

The purpose of this white paper is to outline the top five mistakes companies make when designing, building, and managing data centers.

cost of datacenter downtime

“It’s Much Harder To Manage A Data Center For A Growing Business Than One For A Stagnant Business.”

“This saying has stuck with me over the years. Most of the businesses my company supports are growing companies. They trust I can design, build and manage a data center that will develop with them, and not impede on their growth.

According to a recent article by a top data center management company, only 4% of data center failures are due to IT equipment failure. Only 4%! That leaves 96% of data center failures caused by things outside of your data center equipment, whether it be power failure, cyber-crime, human error, or water/heat.

What does this mean for you? Well, at the inception of designing your Data Center elements that may seem to be innocuous must be considered because these components could have a significant impact on how your data center functions – or doesn’t function. Regardless of whether you are building a data center or migrating, it is imperative that you avoid falling into the traps that have ensnared many before you.

Protected Harbor has enough experience with all the above issues to understand how crippling they can be for small, medium and large organizations. Data centers popularity has increased exponentially over the past decade, and for good reason. They enable a business to expand, while being cost effective and reliable. Recently, a client asked us to list the common mistakes companies make when designing, building and managing their data centers. When compiling this list, we break these mistakes into three major categories; People, Processes and Tools. If you are about to embark down the data center path, make sure you don’t tumble into these pitfalls and wind up in a state of confusion and chaos.”

“It’s much harder to manage a data center for a growing business than one for a stagnant business.
Richard Luna
– CEO, Protected Harbor

01

Five Mistakes Companies Make That Cause Applications To Fail

PEOPLE: Organizing IT Staff in Vertical Roles vs. Horizontal Roles
Human error accounts for almost one quarter of all data center outages

We believe this has a lot to do with how IT staff is organized at most companies. IT staffs will have DBA’s (both development and production), programmers specific to one system, networking experts, and storage experts, etc. This level of specialization can be a big problem.

In many organizations, managers develop elaborate handoff processes that are confusing and often not followed. The programmer hands off the work to the database expert, who then hands off to the storage person. Often, there is no manager, who understands the big picture, until you get to either an IT Director or the CIO, who is too senior and removed from details to provide real direction. IT staffs lose the ability to view the system horizontally (and holistically), to understand the big picture. Often, steps are missed, mistakes are made, and when the data center crashes, groups point fingers at other groups and the true cause of the outage is not determined, which means it could happen again.

We recommend assigning IT process owners, meaning – IT staff members who are responsible for managing IT processes. These individuals first document the process and then put in end-to-end controls to ensure those processes are followed.

02

Inadequate Redundancy

TOOLS: Power issues, including issues with the UPS or generator, and other environmental issues, account for over 45% of data center outages

The IT team may understand the need for redundancy but fail to carry it through the entire system. Often, they will ensure redundancy in one network layer (or portion of the system for communicating data). However, the operational stability of the data center requires that multiple networking layers be on-line, all the time.

In other words, each layer needs to be redundant. For hardware, that means two mirrored firewalls, two drops, and two core mirrored switches. For software, this means multiple servers performing the same function configured in a primary secondary or in a pool configuration. If a server fails, the workload is migrated or transferred to a redundant server. We allow for redundancy at every level.

03

System Software Not Directly Connected To The Firewalls

TOOLS: Cyber-crime accounts for over 20% of data center outages

Any data center needs to be worried about external vulnerability to attacks. Companies can buy a high-end firewall package that does advance monitoring. But what happens behind that firewall? Most companies fail to understand the importance of connecting software login to firewall activity. For example, if the organization has RDP servers that cannot determine a legitimate log-in from an invalid log-in, how do you block it? This isn’t done automatically, because many of the individual apps being used are customized.

The best approach to this problem is to avoid it—design the system the right way, at its inception. For example, deploying a module that after three failed login attempts into a particular app blocks that IP address right at the firewall.

04

Data System Growth Not Sufficiently Considered In Budgeting

PROCESS: Many data centers crash because the data center environment was designed and built for a smaller organization, and cannot handle the increase in load due to company growth.

Many industries and companies see periods of rapid growth, and try to do their best to predict how that might affect operational needs, like sales, marketing, and manufacturing. However, IT often gets left behind in the budgeting dust, and the result is underfunding and an inability of the IT systems or data center capabilities to match the expectations of the rest of the organization.

Typically, this underfunding leads to attempts to cannibalize equipment, exceed their recommended capacities, and go beyond their expected lifespans. It often causes IT staff to find quick fixes to keep the data center operational. Regarding these quick fixes, we often observe a related error: The IT staff forget to remove the bandages that got them past isolated problems. This results in a lost opportunity to go back and properly resolve the underlying problem. There’s just no resources available to do it.

We recommend the IT leader work closely with his/her company’s leadership team to understand business trends, and works with IT experts to design a data center environment that can grow with the organization. Just like leaders of other departments, the IT leader needs to outline key IT investments that will be needed if the company grows. If a company’s core competence is healthcare, they may not want to be in the data center management business.

05

Not Having Clearly Written Procedures, Designated Lines Of Authority, And As A Result, Accountability

PROCESS:  When completing a new deployment, the people who understand the system and the way it was designed should compile the procedural manual for how to handle isolated issues, maintenance, and system-wide failures. This should also include lines of authority, which defines areas of responsibility. Only once these are delineated, can one expect accountability of the individuals on the IT team. Too often, organizations are barely organized, and these vital documents do not exist (or staff are unaware of their existence).

We recommend that procedures are created, documented, and followed in a specified way, guiding appropriate deployment of IT assets. Clearly stated lines of authority are required to make it work.

We Are Here to Help!

If you are an IT executive, director or decision maker and are concerned you company is falling prey to any of the aforementioned problems, let Protected Harbor help you navigate through them by implementing a comprehensive, secure and durable strategy.

Protected Harbor is an MSP that helps organizations and businesses across the US address their current IT needs by building them secure, custom and protected long term solutions.  Our unique technology experts evaluate current systems, determine the deficiencies and design cost-effective options.  We assist all IT departments by increasing their security, durability and sustainability, thus freeing them up to concentrate on their daily workloads.  Protected Harbor stands tall in the face of cyberattacks,  human error, technical failure and compliance issues.  www.protectedharbor.com

IT help

Protected Harbor’s New PBX Phone System

Protected Harbor’s New PBX Phone System

 

Protected Harbor’s New PBX Phone System

 

Protected Harbor is proud to introduce a state of the art phone system 3CX.  It is available to all our current clients and anyone in the market looking to upgrade their current set up.  Protected Harbor partnered with 3CX, and provides system configuration and support.

The benefits of this new phone system are plentiful, starting with the end-user being in complete control.  This PBX can be installed on-premise and virtualized on a Linux or Windows platform.   It is easily set up via iOS and Android apps for remote work via QR code.  Staff can easily be added, and voicemail can be set up in minutes.  The user management is simple and easy which will save countless hours of work.

The biggest benefit perhaps, of our system is that it has a softphone so you can make and receive business calls from your PC, tablet or smartphone.  There is no need to be tied to a hard physical phone in your office.  It’s perfect for businesses that have employees working from home during COVID-19.

Moreover, many of the phone features that other vendors classify as add-ons, such as video conferencing, iOS and Android mobile apps or call center features, are included with Protected Harbor’s PBX. So, there are no hidden costs for the features you need.

Switching to this configuration makes complete sense when you compare pricing to that of other PBX vendors such as 8×8 and Avaya. Our system provides a complete unified communications solution that is easy to manage, flexible and affordable. Whether you are a small business or a large enterprise, you can save thousands and avoid all the hassle of purchasing additional extensions and add-ons as your business grows.

Think less about maintaining your PBX, and more about your business – call or email us today to find out more about Protected Harbor’s new phone system! www.protectedharbor.com

Disadvantages of AWS, Azure, and Other Big Brand Hosting

Disadvantages of AWS, Azure, and Other Big Brand Hosting

When it comes to hosting for a business, you don’t want to use just anyone. There are many critical factors to consider including security, stability, uptime, scalability, and more. Because of this, many businesses gravitate towards big, established brands for hosting and management such as Amazon’s AWS or Microsoft’s Azure.

Companies like these can likely provide well beyond your technical needs. That’s not to say they’re all the exact same. Azure caters to Microsoft products, allowing large companies to move their Windows-based infrastructure online more easily. Meanwhile, AWS boasts their general flexibility and universal capabilities.

Each brand has its unique strengths. When it comes to weaknesses, however, there are some overlapping issues that basically any large-scale hosting company deals with.

Overwhelming Options

Right from the start, many businesses are overwhelmed with the variety of packages and services offered by large hosting companies. AWS, for example, greets you with an entire library of services and products to choose from. Simply trying to find basic website hosting proves to be difficult and confusing.

Unclear Pricing Structures

Equally confusing are the pricing structures. Many companies try to sign you up on free trials or temporary discount pricing, only for you to discover the true inflated price months down the road.

These companies also tend to work off a pay-per-use model. In other words, the more data you process and store, the more your hosting costs. While it sounds nice in theory, as you only pay for what you use, it can make it very difficult to predict your monthly costs as prices fluctuate.

It also leaves you severely exposed to DDoS attacks.

DDoS attacks infect a large number of devices with malware and then use them to unleash a coordinated flood of traffic on an unsuspecting network. In addition to slowing down and (likely) crashing your systems, it results in a massage spike of data use.

The average size of a DDoS attack is 2.5 gigabits per second. If you’re being charged per data used, you’ll be left with a very large hosting bill following a DDoS attack.

Advanced Knowledge

Once you’ve figured out what your business needs, the real difficultly begins. Within any given service, there are countless add-ons, tools, settings, and more. While this provides a lot of flexibility and customization, it requires a lot of work and understanding. The deeper your needs go, the deeper your understanding needs to be.

Each platform is different, which means you either need to hire someone who is experienced on a particular platform, or you’ll need to invest in training a current employee. The question is, do you want someone learning a new platform as they’re managing your IT needs?

Support Problems

Platforms like AWS and Azure do offer their own technical support, should you require it. In fact, they often provide a certain amount of free support when you sign up. However, those hours can quickly be eaten up during the onboarding. After that, you’ll pay for support.

Things can get very expensive very quickly.

A better solution is generally to find a third party to help manage and maintain your hosting needs. This can provide more affordable support, but it also adds complexity to your hosting management and expenses.

A Simpler, Yet Powerful Hosting Solution

At Expedient Technology Services, we provide straightforward, yet diverse hosting solutions for businesses of all sizes. Whether you’re a start-up or an enterprise, we have the capabilities to meet your specific needs.

We operate under flat rate costs, so you know exactly what you’ll pay every month. We can even bundle in support hours so that you get professional assistance when you need it. As your company grows, we can easily scale our services with you.

While our initial costs may seem higher, they’re generally cheaper in the long run. Best of all, they’re much less stressful to understand and manage. After all, ETS exists to provide Stress-Free IT. For hosting, computer services, and technical support in Dayton, Ohio, and beyond, contact ETS today.

What Does the Average Company Pay for Downtime?

What Does Downtime Cost the Average Business banner

 

What Does Downtime Cost the Average Business?

 

One bad experience is all it takes to rattle a business owner. Infrastructure matters and when your system or applications crash. It can have an enormous impact on your bottom line not to mention your business operations.  Monetary and data losses from unexpected crashes can even, in some cases cause a company to close its doors permanently.

According to an ITIC study this year, the average amount of a single hour of downtime is $100,000 or more.  Since 2008, ITIC has sent out independent surveys that measure downtime costs. Findings included that a single hour of downtime has risen by 25%-30%.  Here are some staggering results:

  • 98% of organizations say a single hour of downtime costs over $100,000
  • 81% of respondents indicated that 60 minutes of downtime costs their businesses over $300,000
  • 33% of those enterprises reported that one hour of downtime costs their companies between $1-5 million

The only way to mitigate risk is to be proactive by having the right technology in place to monitor, prevent, and when an attack happens (and it’s not IF but WHEN), having the right company on hand to restore, rebuild and restart. Once you understand the real-life costs of downtime it should not be hard to take proactive measures to protect your business.

Protected Harbor has a full team of technical experts and resources to maintain your system’s well-being and ensure business continuity. Contact us today for a full assessment of your applications and infrastructure.  www.protectedharbor.com

How did Twitter get hacked?

How did Twitter get hacked?

On July 15th many Twitter accounts were compromised.  How did this happen to a company like Twitter?

‘This was the worst social media hack ever happened in history’twitter hacked

The security involvement of the hack are also wide-reaching, not just for Twitter but for other social platforms.

Early suggestions are the hackers managed to access administration privileges, which allowed them to bypass the passwords of any account they wanted.

Twitter appeared to confirm this in a tweet saying: “We detected what we believe to be a co-ordinated social-engineering attack by people who successfully targeted some of our employees with access to internal systems and tools.”

As we generate more content online we are creating a larger digital footprint.  These attackers simply contacted Twitter and asked for the names of key personal, the head of the customer service, their CIO, etc.  Once the attackers knew the identity of key individuals they then researched their web pages, Facebook links, LinkedIn profiles, etc.

The attackers were able to gain enough information from those pages to be able to correctly answer Twitter’s support questions and gain access to those accounts.

Once the attackers had access to an Admin account they could reset end-user accounts and then login as those users.  It was that easy.

Some questions that should be asked; What would have helped prevent this disaster?  Is your system(s) vulnerable to a similar attack?   How can your system(s) be protected?

2FA or Two Factor Authentication would have stopped this attack.  With 2FA the mobile device is registered to the account and the login is not possible until a code on the mobile device is entered.

At Protected Harbor we support 2FA for all systems, allowing our customers to be safe, secure, and protected, as in Protected Harbor.

TAKING YOUR PRIVACY BACK FROM GOOGLE

TAKING YOUR PRIVACY BACK FROM GOOGLE

 

With every new technology comes benefits and concerns.

Now Google can present coupons for stores you have purchased from while you are driving past them, and tell you what you need to buy in your smart refrigerator, or based on your driving pattern can tell you when you will next visit a location.

As someone who works IT, I do not like my refrigerator telling Google what I am eating and I don’t like Google knowing all the details of my life.

Google does not make it easy to control your data because that is how they earn revenue. Google doesn’t charge for Android, the majority operating system for cell phones because they earn money by monetizing your behavior and selling what you are interested in. Do a Google search for “Cruises from Boston” for example and see what ads appear in Google and are emailed to you.

Google tracks your location, what you search for, your buying habits and most activity on your cell phone.

For example, when I looked up a friend’s location history, I could go back to 2015 and see where they had been and for how long.

It is possible to take control over much of your Google data by visiting; https://myactivity.google.com/more-activity?authuser=1/ . This page presents a menu of data collection items, each one can be adjusted or disabled.

WITH EVERY NEW TECHNOLOGY COMES BENEFITS & CONCERNS
Google tracks your location, what you search for, your buying habits and most activity on your cell phone.

Protected Harbor’s COVID-19 Response

Protected Harbor’s COVID-19 Response

Protected Harbor’s COVID-19 Response

Protected Harbor manages IT for a variety of small, medium and large companies.  Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, virtually every one of our clients decided to or were forced to work from home.  These requests came from all our clients at the same time over a matter of days.
Due to our infrastructure design, and the responsiveness of our staff, Protected Harbor was able to migrate our clients to “work from home” within hours of the request, and with minimal or no interruption in their business.
Also, support costs for clients as they work from home is included in our base price, which is a flat monthly rate.  So none of our clients experienced a rise in IT costs.
If you are struggling to migrate your business to work from home, please call Protected Harbor at 201-957-1616.
Protected Harbor also offers businesses Cloud Services, Network Management, Ransomware and Security Protection, Disaster Recovery and more.