Thursday, July 28, 2016

IT Support Atlanta: 5 Problems You Never Have to Worry about Again

Small and medium-sized businesses run into IT problems all the time. They certainly hurt the business, but having a full-time IT department is much too expensive. As a result, the growth of these companies is negatively impacted.


You don't have to take daily glitches and issues as the status quo. With some of the best IT support Atlanta has to offer, those problems become a distant memory. Here are just five examples:


1. Rampant Viruses


Every business, from one-man-companies to multinational corporations, have to deal with virus threats. That's just the reality of the situation, and it's unlikely to change soon.


Solely relying on antivirus software or a tech-savvy friend inevitably leads to severe virus infections. These can vary in severity. Some viruses only slow down your computers. Others steal all your corporate data and wreck your equipment.


In short, every virus infection could be a company's last. When the stakes are so high, you need to take what IT support Atlanta offers.


With a team of experts by your side, viruses will be contained before they do serious damage.


2. Lost Data


As we mentioned, viruses can cause you to lose data. There are a lot of other things that can endanger data, though.


Natural disasters and fires are popular examples. Even a clumsy coworker could spill their coffee on a computer and destroy all the data on it.


Every business needs data backups, but not all businesses have the means to implement them. That's where IT support Atlanta companies step in. They can do your backup for you.


If something bad does happen, all you have to do is send an email, and you get the data back. The backup plan will also be tailored to the needs of your business.


3. Poor Equipment Choices


Every device has a limited lifespan. Once in a while, you will have to get a new computer, server, phone, or just about anything else. Without in-depth knowledge, there's a good chance you'll get a bad replacement.


For example, you may get a monster of a machine to do some menial task when you don't need all that “horsepower”. Or, you might get something unable to handle the job.


IT support Atlanta companies can help you find the best fit for the job. They will know what you need. You'll get the right equipment without having to worry about needlessly wasting company funds.


it support atlanta


4. Compatibility Issues


In this day and age, a company needs lots of software and hardware to function properly. The problem is not everything is compatible with everything else.


We already explained the hardware-software problem in the previous point. Compatibility issues can arise between devices or apps too. Such blunders can hurt the business.


If you consult an IT support Atlanta company beforehand, you'll know better. They'll make sure the whole company works like a well-oiled machine.


5. Lost Work Hours Because of Technical Problems


All the previous problems waste time at the very least. Since time is money for a business, you're also losing profits.


Still, it can be hard to calculate exactly how much you lost because of technical problems. What's clear is if it's more than $0, there's a problem.


Little hurdles add up. In the long run, you stand to lose excellent opportunities for growth. It's frustrating and dangerous for business. It's faster, cheaper, and simpler to get outside help.


The Bottom Line: Get the Best IT Support Atlanta Offers


Once you don't have to worry about computer problems, you can focus on running your business. With a team of experts at your disposal, everyone will be able to do their jobs on time.


It doesn't matter how big or small a company is – it will benefit from having IT support.


We've been helping Atlanta companies reach their potential since 1996, and we're not stopping. Get in touch with us and we will see to it that all your IT needs are satisfied.


The post IT Support Atlanta: 5 Problems You Never Have to Worry about Again appeared first on 1iX.

Thursday, July 21, 2016

Understanding the Process of Network Design and Implementation

In this day and age, it's impossible for a company to run without a network. Having one, however, is only the first step. Every business is unique and needs a network comparable to their needs.


Designing a network that's flexible, scalable, and meets every technical requirement isn't easy. Let's take a more in-depth look at the process of network design and implementation. Each step is important as it will shape the efficiency of your company.


Research and Interviews


There is no such thing as a perfect setup for everyone. If it existed, there would be no need for network design and implementation.


The truth is you will have to prioritize some things over others. The objective of the research and interviews is to see what the goals of your new network are.


The designers will have many questions for you. They need to know how many users there will be, what software they will use, the average traffic, and whether you're going cloud or local. Talk for a bit about the reason you are replacing or upgrading your current network to provide valuable insight.


network design and implementation


The defining feature, however, is yours to choose. It could be performance, for example, or budget. Choose wisely because it will be a cornerstone on which future decisions will be made.


The IT company needs to know these items in advance. Without a clear goal, the results may be underwhelming and ineffective.


Breaking the Job into Smaller Bits


Even for a small network, designing everything at once leads to mistakes, and why developers adopt a “design in levels” mentality.


Aspects like physical design or logical design are all treated and planned separately. A “divide and conquer” approach turns a big job into small, manageable tasks. This is optimal as it ensures all your requirements are met.


An experienced developer will have several templates prepared to speed up the process. The end result may be very different, but a template can almost always help in the first stages.


If the research phase was thorough, every “bit” should be within budget, be able to perform well, and fit together.


The next order of business is to create the means for network managers to monitor everything. Whether you will be in charge of the system or you'll get managed IT services are unimportant. What matters is that someone can control and protect the network.


At this stage in the network design and implementation process, the system is almost ready for launch. It just needs some polishing.


Testing, Troubleshooting, and Reviewing


Before being implemented, the network has to be thoroughly tested, which means simulating the traffic of day-to-day work, preferably with the software you'll use.


Furthermore, it has to be scalable. Otherwise, you might need a new one in a year or even less. Any problem appearing during the test must be solved.


One of the most important features to be tested is the security. There are more and more threats lurking on the Internet and network safety is a top priority.


When the system is safe and stable, you get to see it in action and give the final verdict.


Implementation


If you are happy with the design, the next step is to roll out the network. This part of the job is generally much faster and easier than the last ones.


The biggest hurdle during implementation is expected outages and slowdowns. Because of this, you need to consider when the best time to do it is.


While the process doesn't take long, it can still mean some lost time for the company.


Why Network Design and Implementation Is Important


A network can only go so far. The IT needs of businesses ramp up over time and old equipment can't keep up. Getting a new network from time to time is inevitable.


Careful design, however, is needed so your company works as efficiently as possible.


We have years of experience with network design as well as many other IT services. If you feel like it's time for an upgrade, don't hesitate to get in touch with us.


The post Understanding the Process of Network Design and Implementation appeared first on 1iX.