Why DaaS is the Ideal Solution for Financial Institutions
Desktop as a Service

Why DaaS is the Ideal Solution for Financial Institutions

Written by Layer One Networks Published

Introduction:

In today’s fast-paced financial world, where data holds immense value and serving a global clientele is the standard, traditional desktop solutions often struggle to keep up. Whether offering investment guidance or managing funds, the criticality of financial data and the need to cater to clients worldwide demand a more adaptable and secure approach to desktop computing.

That’s where Desktop as a Service (DaaS) steps in to transform how financial institutions work globally. DaaS offers virtual desktops through cloud-based technology, making it a modern solution for users. This package includes a secure network with VPN access and built-in Identity management for protecting critical systems.

One of the key benefits of DaaS is that it frees IT teams from the usual tasks:

  • Predicting
  • Buying
  • Setting up storage
  • Computing resources

This user-friendly solution is readily accessible through trusted third-party  DaaS providers like LayerOne Networks, which offers virtual desktops with a pay-per-usage pricing model. It guarantees uninterrupted access to full Windows-based desktops and crucial business applications. Users can conveniently access these resources from nearly any device, no matter where they are located.

This blog post will explore why DaaS is preferred for financial institutions looking to boost their growth.

Boost Your Financial Services Growth with Reliable DaaS Solutions!
Contact LayerOne Networks Today!

Call Now

7 Effective Reasons to Incorporate Desktop as a Service (DaaS) in Financial Organizations

The right DaaS solution from LayerOne Networks improves performance and optimizes security, making it extremely beneficial to financial services institutions. Here’s how:

Round-the-Clock Accessibility

In the financial services sector, where transactions are conducted around the clock, being always available to clients is essential. Today’s customers are tech-savvy, using online platforms and mobile devices for their financial needs. They expect their service providers to offer the same level of speed and accessibility.

Furthermore, financial professionals in our interconnected global market often serve clients in different time zones. However, the traditional approach of working solely from local desktops can be limiting. It requires professionals to stay at their desks throughout the day, making it challenging to serve clients effectively when they are away from the office.

Financial services organizations need to remain adaptable and flexible to meet the demands of their “always-on” customers. DaaS solutions, accessible from any device, anytime, and anywhere, empower finance professionals to serve clients seamlessly, whether in the office, on the road, or working from home. This level of accessibility suits the needs of today’s financial service providers and their varied customers.

Security

Security

Financial Services (FinServ) companies are entrusted with highly sensitive customer information, making them prime targets for hackers seeking to compromise businesses or demand ransoms. Not surprisingly, the financial industry is a prime target for cybercriminals.

The pandemic witnessed some of the most significant cyberattacks in history. What is the reason behind this surge? Businesses hastily adopted new collaboration tools like Microsoft Teams and expanded their VPN infrastructure to facilitate remote access to critical onsite applications and data. This expansion was imperative to maintain business operations as close to normal as possible.

However, this rapid shift resulted in employees accessing their company’s critical systems and data from various home routers, Wi-Fi connections, and personal devices. This access introduced a host of new security vulnerabilities, prompting businesses to reevaluate their endpoint security and management strategies.

Competent Desktop as a Service (DaaS) providers like LayerOne Networks deploy security protocols across multiple layers to address these evolving security challenges. This approach includes data encryption during transmission from your endpoint device and secure storage on the server. Furthermore, the network is under constant 24/7 surveillance to detect anomalies in data traffic.

Daas Services also includes robust access controls to prevent unauthorized entry. Centralizing all mission-critical applications and data via DaaS eliminates the risks associated with multiple endpoint devices. Additional security measures include

  • Intrusion Detection and Prevention
  • Multi-factor Authentication
  • DDoS Protection

These collective data security solutions ensure the safety of sensitive financial data and enhance the overall security posture of financial organizations, fortifying their defenses against potential breaches and cyber threats.

Scalable Desktops

Financial institutions operate on a continuous growth path, consistently adding new clients and expanding their services. Hence, they need a flexible infrastructure to adjust to their changing business needs. Traditional local desktops, on the other hand, arrive with fixed configurations and necessitate replacement if the financial processes expand.

DaaS services provide a solution by offering flexible desktops that can be instantly scaled. Because these desktops are virtual, their configurations can be easily customized to meet specific requirements. You can request your DaaS provider to add or remove system resources as needed, providing financial institutions the agility to grow and adapt without the hassle of replacing hardware.

Disaster Recovery

Even a minor issue with your local desktop can disrupt financial operations for a few hours. However, in a significant disruptive incident, such as an earthquake or a large-scale cyberattack, financial processes can come to a standstill for days or even result in permanent damage.

LayerOne Networks, a reputable Desktop as a Service (DaaS) provider in Corpus Christi, offers robust disaster recovery plans to ensure uninterrupted workflow, even in the face of a disaster. Our disaster recovery services ensure your financial processes are copied in various data centers.

Consequently, if one data center is affected by a disaster, your access seamlessly shifts to identical desktops created in other data centers. The shift is so smooth that you might not even realize a catastrophe happened, guaranteeing business continuity and protecting financial operations.

Customized Solutions

Financial institutions house diverse departments, including financial advisors, accountants, HR, customer support, etc. Each department relies on different applications and possesses unique desktop requirements. Procuring various desktop types for other personnel can be daunting for the local IT team. 

However, partnering with IT consulting firms like ours, offering Desktop as a Service (DaaS), unlocks a solution with highly customizable desktops. Through desktop pooling, desktops within a group can be tailored to meet the specific needs of different departments. 

Moreover, desktops within a pool can be collectively configured, simplifying the process of addressing the diverse requirements of various departments without the complexities of managing multiple types of physical desktops.

Cost Reduction

Cost Reduction

Financial institutions allocate a substantial portion of their budget to IT infrastructure. This allocation includes the purchase of physical desktops from vendors, electricity and air conditioning expenses to maintain these desktops, and deploying a dedicated IT team for desktop maintenance. These processes cumulatively result in substantial costs for financial institutions.

Collaborating with efficient Daas service providers transforms the IT expenditure of financial services from a capital expense into a predictable operating cost. Most DaaS providers offer a comprehensive suite of services for a fixed per-user, per-month subscription fee. This approach allows enterprises to pay only for the users currently utilizing the platform, with the flexibility to scale up or down as needed. Additionally, they gain access to a team of experts who can ensure their system remains up-to-date and secure, all without requiring ongoing investment from the business.

Financial organizations can also implement a Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policy, enabling employees to use their personal devices. Since DaaS eliminates the need for on-premises desktops, the associated maintenance costs are significantly reduced or even eliminated. This change in cost structure provides financial institutions with a more cost-effective and flexible way to handle their IT infrastructure. It helps them allocate resources more strategically and efficiently.

Efficiency Boost

Desktop as a Service (DaaS) streamlines the management of critical IT tasks such as:

  • Installations
  • Virus protection
  • Security updates
  • Software upgrades

The process is more efficient and reduces disruptions for your team. Gone are the days when IT teams had to intervene with individual machines to resolve issues physically. Many of these crucial tasks can now quietly operate in the background, often without end-users noticing.

Additionally, financial professionals often find themselves juggling multiple applications simultaneously, each of which consumes system resources. Traditional desktops become outdated and need regular replacement. 

However, DaaS providers implement an advanced High-Performance Computing (HPC) environment for virtual desktops. This setup allows multiple applications to run simultaneously, improving performance. As a result, financial professionals can work efficiently without system delays or resource restrictions, boosting overall productivity.

Ready to Transform Your Financial Services with DaaS?

Desktop as Service (DaaS) has emerged as a game-changer in IT solutions, offering tailored desktop experiences to diverse industries worldwide. The financial sector is no exception, as it’s rapidly realizing the unmatched agility and efficiency that DaaS brings to financial services. 

Many prominent players in Corpus Christi’s financial landscape, including investment firms, banks, private equity companies, accounting firms, and insurance providers, have already chosen to partner with LayerOne Networks to leverage the benefits of DaaS.

If you’re eager to unlock these benefits and streamline the growth of your financial services, the time to act is now. By partnering with us, you can harness the agility, security, and cost-efficiency of Desktop as a Service to stay ahead in the competitive financial landscape. 

Don’t miss out on this opportunity – contact us today to initiate the transformation of your financial institution.

Continue reading "Why DaaS is the Ideal Solution for Financial Institutions"
9 Warning Signs You Need IT Security Consultant Services
data security services

9 Warning Signs You Need IT Security Consultant Services

Written by Layer One Networks Published

Introduction: 

When it comes to cybersecurity, many business owners believe their defenses are impenetrable simply because they haven’t experienced an attack. But the truth is, even giants like the Pentagon have fallen victim to hackers, highlighting the need for robust security measures. 

To assist you in evaluating your security posture, we’ve curated a comprehensive list of unmistakable indicators that signal the need for professional IT security services. Knowing these warning signs, you can safeguard your valuable data and fortify your defenses against potential cyber threats.

Shield your business from cyber threats with LayerOne’s cybersecurity services.
Act now to protect what matters most. 

Contact us today!

When to Hire an IT Security Consultant?

Determining the right time to engage an IT security consultant service can be crucial for protecting your business. Seeking professional guidance is essential if you’re looking to strengthen your existing security measures or address specific vulnerabilities. 

Here are the key signs that highlight the importance of hiring an expert:

Sign 1: You Rely on Outdated Technology

Sign 1_ You Rely on Outdated Technology

Outdated technology poses a significant risk to the security of your business. Hackers are adept at targeting businesses that rely on obsolete hardware and software, viewing them as easy targets for exploitation. It’s like an unlocked door inviting cybercriminals to gain unauthorized access and compromise your sensitive information.

When those old desktop computers were initially built, they didn’t account for the sophisticated tools and techniques hackers use today. As a result, these outdated devices lack the necessary defenses to protect against modern cyber threats. Moreover, once manufacturers stop providing updates and patches for the operating system, the security of the technology becomes stagnant, leaving vulnerabilities unaddressed.

Cybercriminals don’t need to be experts to exploit outdated devices. With no further patches available, the methods and techniques developed by other hackers are more than sufficient to breach the security of these aging systems. It’s as if outdated technology becomes a weak link in your defense, creating an open invitation for cyber attacks.

If your business still relies on ancient technology, you are living on borrowed time. Operating with outdated devices puts your sensitive data, customer information, and entire business at risk. While upgrading all your technology at once may seem daunting, enlisting IT consulting firms’ assistance can help you navigate the process.

Sign 2: Your Industry is Facing Attacks

Cybercriminals are opportunistic and adapt their strategies to exploit vulnerabilities in different sectors. Recognizing when your industry is under attack is a key indicator that it’s time to engage an IT security consultant for expert guidance.

Industries that handle sensitive customer information, such as personal or financial data, are often prime targets for cyber attacks. The repercussions of a breach in these sectors can be severe, resulting in financial losses, reputational damage, and legal consequences. 

Keeping abreast of cybersecurity trends and news within your industry can provide valuable insights into emerging threats. Suppose you come across reports or incidents of cyber attacks targeting businesses like yours. In that case, you should consider bolstering your security measures by partnering with data security services.

Sign 3: Lack of Cybersecurity Expertise

Sign 3_ Lack of Cybersecurity Expertise

In certain industries, it’s not uncommon to find businesses without a dedicated IT department, and even if they do have one, it doesn’t necessarily equate to expertise in cybersecurity. The field of cybersecurity is highly specialized and constantly evolving, requiring ongoing knowledge and skills to stay ahead of the ever-changing threat landscape.

Relying solely on antivirus software is a common mistake that many businesses make. While antivirus programs provide some level of protection, they typically rely on databases of known malware and viruses, leaving you vulnerable to new and emerging threats that outdated signatures may not recognize.

To effectively protect your business from cyber threats, it’s crucial to recognize the need for expertise in the field of cybersecurity. 

Sign 4: Need for a Comprehensive Cybersecurity Plan

Shielding your business from every cyber attack is an insurmountable challenge. Even organizations equipped with ample resources and top-notch cybersecurity experts grapple with the constant evolution of threats. Consider the efforts invested by prominent financial institutions, who prioritize safeguarding their valuable data assets. This underscores the crucial need for every small business to establish a resilient and all-encompassing cybersecurity plan.

Crafting a robust cybersecurity plan involves multiple essential elements, including data security policies, password guidelines, data classification protocols, mobile device usage policies, remote work procedures, email security measures, social media guidelines, and a comprehensive breach recovery strategy.

We understand that comprehending and implementing these components can be overwhelming, especially for those less familiar with technology. This is precisely where the guidance of an IT security consultant becomes invaluable. 

Sign 5: Employee Education for Enhanced Cybersecurity Awareness

Sign 5_ Employee Education for Enhanced Cybersecurity Awareness

While having a capable internal IT team is valuable, addressing any knowledge gaps among your employees is important. This is especially crucial when onboarding new staff members who require experience and perspective in cybersecurity.

A holistic approach to cybersecurity involves aligning all employees, regardless of their department, with your security objectives. After all, the strength of your cybersecurity strategy is directly linked to the knowledge and awareness of your entire workforce.

Recognizing the need for employee training is the first step toward bolstering your cybersecurity defenses. However, effectively educating your staff and instilling a sense of investment in cybersecurity can be challenging, especially if technology is not their expertise.

Partnering with an IT security consultant can make a significant difference here. Their expertise can help you design a customized training curriculum catering to your needs.

Sign 6: Expert Guidance for Successful Technology Upgrades

When the time comes for a much-needed technology upgrade, it’s crucial to have a guiding hand by your side. New technology can be expensive, especially in today’s market, and making the right choices can be overwhelming. Instead of blindly investing in unnecessary tech, seeking the advice of someone who truly understands the landscape becomes imperative.

Cybersecurity consultants are well-versed in the latest technological advancements and can provide valuable insights into your organization’s specific needs. Consulting with them ensures your upgrade aligns with your cybersecurity requirements, optimizing your investment and avoiding costly mistakes.

Sign 7: Need to Level Up with Compliance Standards

In today’s rapidly evolving regulatory environment, compliance with privacy and data security laws has become a paramount concern for businesses. Governments worldwide are enacting legislation that can directly impact your operations and how you handle sensitive information. Compliance requirements leave little room for error, from data access and storage to retention periods.

Remaining ignorant of data and privacy laws is not an excuse, as businesses can still be held liable for non-compliance, regardless of their knowledge. The consequences of breaching these laws can be severe, resulting in hefty fines, legal penalties, and even the potential closure of your business.

To navigate this complex landscape and ensure your business meets the necessary compliance standards, seeking the guidance of an IT security consultant is invaluable. 

Sign 8: It’s time for a Security Audit

Although it may seem sufficient to implement security systems and trust them to perform their intended functions, the reality is that the cybersecurity landscape is ever-changing. Regular assessments are essential to gauge the effectiveness of your security plan. By conducting proactive checks, you can stay ahead of cybercriminals constantly devising new techniques to infiltrate systems.

However, carrying out system audits requires time and investment, but the benefits outweigh the costs. By validating the integrity of your defenses, you bridge the gap between theoretical cybersecurity and practical implementation. If diverting your IT security team from their primary responsibilities is impractical, engaging an IT security consultant to conduct the audit is wise. 

Sign 9: Business Expansion Underway

Sign 9_ Business Expansion Underway

Expanding your small business is an exciting milestone but also increases cyber-attack vulnerability. During the expansion phase, it’s important to recognize that your systems may be new and lacking proper setup and security, making them particularly susceptible to threats. Adding more employees and devices expands your attack surface, providing more opportunities for potential data breaches. Furthermore, the growing workforce increases the risk of human error, further compromising your cybersecurity.

As you embark on this expansion journey, it becomes crucial to address the storage and retrieval of data, particularly if you opt for cloud storage. Choosing a secure and cost-effective Cloud computing services provider becomes paramount to ensure smooth and protected data transfers. Therefore, expanding your security measures in tandem with your business growth is imperative.

Elevate Your Security with LayerOne Networks’ IT Consultant Services

The importance of strengthening your online defense for your small business cannot be overstated. By addressing cybersecurity vulnerabilities and implementing robust security measures, you can safeguard your business, protect your reputation, and avoid unnecessary financial losses.

While being proactive and informed about cybersecurity is crucial, recognizing when to seek expert assistance is equally important. Entrusting your digital defense to professionals specializing in IT security, such as Layer One Networks, can provide you with peace of mind and allow you to focus on growing and expanding your business.

By partnering with us, you gain access to a team of experts who stay updated with the latest threats and technologies, ensuring that your business is well-equipped to defend against evolving cyber threats.

Don’t leave your business’s security to chance.

Choose Layer One Networks as your trusted IT security consultant and take proactive steps to fortify your online defense.

Continue reading "9 Warning Signs You Need IT Security Consultant Services"
6 Key Pillars of IT Stability For Smooth Business Operations
IT services

6 Key Pillars of IT Stability For Smooth Business Operations

Written by Layer One Networks Published

Introduction:

Imagine a week at work where every task flows seamlessly, employees are focused and efficient, orders are processed without delays, and your technology systems operate flawlessly without frustrating disruptions or downtime. It’s the ideal scenario for any business owner.

However, despite the best efforts, businesses often encounter daily mishaps and disruptions that hinder smooth operations. Even a minor glitch in one component of your company’s workflow can cascade, impacting other aspects of your business. While you may not control your employees’ attitudes or clients’ behavior, IT stability is one thing you can handle that influences everything.

A stable IT environment is a solid foundation that enables your business to weather challenges and operates reliably daily. As the old saying goes, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Taking a proactive approach to IT management can make all the difference in keeping your business running smoothly.

This blog post will explore six key pillars of IT stability encompassing various aspects of IT services, including Infrastructure, security, maintenance, and support.

Let’s delve into these pillars and uncover how they can contribute to the smooth functioning of your business operations.

Key Pillars of IT Stability To Ensure Business Continuity

Key Pillars of IT Stability To Ensure Business Continuity

Streamlining IT Systems with IaaS

When it comes to building a solid network infrastructure, seamless integration is critical. With Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) provided by experienced IT consulting firms like Layer One Networks, your IT systems can be built from the ground up, ensuring that each moving part is integrated seamlessly with all the others.

Building a solid network infrastructure establishes a solid foundation for your business operations, preventing problems like slow-running programs, delayed data uploads and downloads, and decreased employee productivity. Integrated solutions like IaaS can help your business maintain smooth operations and avoid missed deadlines, improving workplace morale and overall efficiency.

Safeguarding Data

Data loss can be catastrophic for businesses, leading to the loss of clients, jobs, or even the end of a company. For protecting your company’s data from system failure, natural disasters, or malicious attacks from hackers and malware, it’s crucial to implement a comprehensive backup and disaster recovery plan.

Regular on-site and off-site backups can ensure your business can quickly recover from any data loss event. Reliable backup and disaster recovery services can safeguard your data and minimize downtime, preventing potential business disruptions and financial losses.

Network Security with Proactive Measures

The security of your entire network, including data, is constantly threatened by external and internal threats. Malicious attacks from hackers, malware, internal IT issues, user errors, or natural disasters can all compromise your company’s network and IT stability.

Professional security service providers can proactively monitor all systems and data, protecting your network from cyber threats. Monitoring includes virus and malware detection, hacker invasion prevention, and established recovery plans in case of security breaches. With a secure network, you can maintain uninterrupted productivity and minimize downtime, enabling smooth business operations.

Don’t let cyber criminals get away with your business data—secure your network and systems today with Layer One Networks Data Security Services in Corpus Christi.

Call Now

Actively Maintaining IT Systems

Keeping all IT systems up-to-date is key to the smooth functioning of your business operations. Regular maintenance ensures that all hardware and software are running without glitches or performance issues and that all systems are regularly monitored and patched with the latest security updates. Regular maintenance includes routine checks on servers, networks, firewalls, and other critical IT infrastructure components to identify and address potential vulnerabilities or issues.

Enhancing Productivity with Secure Cloud Computing

Enhancing Productivity with Secure Cloud Computing

In today’s digital landscape, moving to the cloud is a popular choice for businesses seeking stability and security for their IT systems. Cloud computing offers access from anywhere, simultaneous collaborations, optimized backups, and data recovery.

By working with reputable cloud computing service providers, you can ensure your business data is stored securely in a private cloud, keeping unauthorized access at bay. The cloud also provides an ultra-productive workflow environment, enhancing business operations and productivity.

Operational Excellence with Best Practices

Following industry best practices in your operations is crucial to achieving optimal IT stability. IT best practices include communications, program installation and use, hardware stability, and data backup and recovery. Partnering with experienced IT consulting firms can provide access to industry elites who can implement tested-and-true operational standards.

Following best practices ensures your IT systems are integrated and operating at peak performance, minimizing risks and maximizing efficiency.

Tailored IT Solutions with Expert IT Consulting Firms

Every business has unique IT requirements, and a one-size-fits-all approach may be ineffective. That’s where expert IT consulting firms like Layer One Networks come in. 

We can provide customized IT solutions tailored to your business needs, taking into consideration your:

  • Budget
  • Goals
  • Industry-specific requirements

Our in-depth knowledge and experience allow IT consultants to assess your IT infrastructure, identify gaps, and recommend strategic solutions to optimize your IT systems.

Optimizing your IT systems can include implementing Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), backup and disaster recovery services, data security services, cloud computing services, and more to ensure your IT environment is robust, secure, and aligned with your business objectives.

Contact Layer One Networks today to learn more about our IT services and how we can help you achieve business stability with reliable and secure IT solutions.

Continue reading "6 Key Pillars of IT Stability For Smooth Business Operations"
Business Continuity Plan
IT Consulting

Reasons for Outsourcing Business Continuity Plan

Written by Layer One Networks Published

Everyone knows that all businesses need a business continuity plan, but not everyone can spend time creating one. 

The problem is that these plans require the right decisions to be made when the time arises, and this process can be difficult without the right knowledge or toolset. If you want to save yourself some of the hassle involved with creating and maintaining business continuity and IT disaster recovery plans, you should consider outsourcing your needs.

In this blog, we’ll look at everything you’ll need to know about a business continuity plan as well as the benefits of outsourcing it.

What is the Purpose of a Business Continuity Plan?

Business Continuity Plan - Layer One Networks

A business continuity plan (BCP) is a framework for establishing and maintaining an organization’s ability to recover from disruption. It typically includes policies, procedures, guidelines, and standards for dealing with emergencies, disasters, and other situations threatening your operations. 

Business continuity planning is also called disaster recovery planning, an extension of business continuity planning. The two terms are often used interchangeably. The plan covers the actions you need to take and the resources you need to have available to continue running your business as usual in the event of a disaster.

For example, if your workplace were damaged by fire or flood, your BCP would help you decide what you need to get your systems and organization back up and running as soon as possible.

A good business continuity plan will include:

  • Information about the different types of risks you face, such as fire, flood, power outage, or cyberattack
  • Steps you will take if each risk occurs
  • A point of the person responsible for making decisions during an emergency
  • The method of communication with employees and customers
  • Estimating the time employees return to work after a major disruption.

When Does a Business Continuity Plan Kick In?

Outsource Business Continuity - Layer One Networks

A business continuity plan’s goal is to ensure your company can continue running its operations after any disruption — even if the disruption lasts for several days or weeks. The plan includes procedures for dealing with emergencies, finding temporary office space and equipment for employees who might not be able to get to work, and communicating with customers and other stakeholders.

A BCP is part of an organization’s overall business risk management strategy — it’s not just about IT or technology issues. It includes plans for dealing with events such as: 

  • Fires, floods and power outages
  • Human resource issues such as employee absences or illnesses
  • Regulatory compliance issues
  • Supply chain issues
  • Financial matters such as cash flow management
  • Reputation management; legal issues; media relations
  • Environmental concerns such as hazardous materials spill or chemical leaks
  • Public relations issues
  • Community relations issues and 
  • Even pandemic preparedness.

Why are the Main Reasons to Develop a Business Continuity Plan?

Disaster Recovery Service - Layer One Networks

To Protect Your Business from Disaster

A disaster can wreak havoc on your business. A fire, flood or another major incident could close your business for good if it isn’t equipped to withstand such an event. When you use business continuity services, you can protect your company from the effects of natural disasters or artificial events such as cyber-attacks and power outages.

To Minimize Business Interruption

Business continuity services like backup and disaster recovery services include an array of resources that you can use to recover quickly after an emergency strikes and minimize interruptions in service for your customers. These resources include backup facilities, disaster recovery plans and computer systems designed to withstand any failure and keep your operations running smoothly even during a crisis.

To Reduce Costs Associated with Disasters

A disaster can cost your company significant amounts of money when a disaster strikes. For example, if your data center floods and causes damage to equipment or other assets inside, it may take weeks or even months for repairs to be completed — leaving you without access to critical information needed for day-to-day operations. 

IT disaster recovery services help reduce costs associated with these situations by ensuring that there’s always someone available who can step in and ensure everything runs smoothly.

Help You Meet Compliance Requirements

Many industries have compliance requirements that should be met to remain operational within those industries. For example, financial institutions must meet specific regulatory requirements to continue operating as financial institutions within their region or state jurisdictions. 

With IT disaster recovery services that include compliance measures, you can ensure that your company remains compliant with all applicable laws and regulations even during a crisis.

Protecting Your Data

Data loss can be devastating for any business and can threaten your business’s very foundation. With a well-planned BC plan in place, you’ll be able to protect your data from natural disasters and other types of damage that could result in data loss.

Why Do You Need to Outsource Business Continuity Plan?

Business Continuity - Layer One Networks

Is outsourcing business continuity important when running your own business?

Very much so. With the growing number of businesses outsourcing their services, it is no surprise that many have started looking for a reliable business continuity plan provider. This is because they want to make sure that their business will be able to continue operating even in the event of an emergency. There are many reasons why you need IT disaster recovery services and a business continuity plan:

Reduce the Time Taken for Recovery

The key benefit of outsourcing a business continuity plan is that it will reduce the time taken for recovery. When you outsource a BC plan, you can get professionals who are experts in this field and who are well-versed with all the latest tools and technologies required to make your business recover faster from any IT disaster. This means that they can offer you 24/7 support whenever a disaster strikes.

Leverage the Skills of Experienced BC Experts

When you outsource a business continuity plan, you can leverage the skills of BC experts who have expertise in handling critical incidents affecting businesses of all sizes. These experts have new ideas for improving your BC plan and making it more efficient.

You can also seek their advice on implementing cost-effective solutions that will help your business recover faster from any IT disaster. Doing so will allow you to save both time and money while ensuring that all your critical systems are protected at all times.

Save Time and Money

Business continuity planning is a complicated process and it can take up a lot of time if done if the right person doesn’t handle it. 

Also, creating a plan from scratch can be very expensive, especially if you are not experienced in doing so. If you outsource the plan for IT disaster recovery services to any of the experienced IT consulting firms, it will save both time and money for your company. You do not need to hire extra people just to create this plan; instead, you can hire professionals who already have experience and know what they are doing when it comes to creating such plans for other companies. 

Include Latest Technology to Fuel Fast Recovery

Business continuity plans should include technology that helps speed up recovery efforts during disasters or outages by using the latest technologies of cloud computing, remote access, etc. With a BCP outsourcing company to help, you can ensure that you have all the right tools and technologies to ensure that the system recovers as fast as possible.

The Process Involved in Business Continuity As A Service 

  • Business impact analysis: This step involves identifying critical assets and functions, as well as their dependencies on other assets and functions. The objective is to determine how much downtime each asset or function can withstand before it becomes unusable or irreplaceable.
  • Identification of risks to BC plans: The data recovery and business continuity company will identify all the related risks, including those that are external and internal.
  • Identification of recovery strategies: The team will analyze and plan an individual recovery strategy for each risk identified during the business impact analysis step, along with recovery time objectives (RTOs) and recovery point objectives (RPOs). An RTO is an organization’s target amount of time it expects to resume normal operations after a disruption; an RPO is an organization’s target amount of data loss that can be tolerated during a disruption before resuming normal operations.
  • Creation of disaster recovery documentation: This document will outline all the essential steps for recovering critical systems after a disaster hits, along with operational continuity and resilience steps.

Implement a Data Backup and Recovery Services

Data Backup & Recovery Service - Layer One Networks

Business continuity planning is a vital part of strategic management in every organization. So if you have any kind of service-oriented business, then it makes sense to think about how your organization will continue even if some kind of disaster strikes.

If you’re looking for a reliable company to outsource business continuity planning, then look no more than our experts at Layer One Networks. We provide end-to-end managed IT services with a business continuity plan, including IT disaster recovery services. To discuss your need for data backup and recovery services, contact us now.

 

Continue reading "Reasons for Outsourcing Business Continuity Plan"
IT Support
IT support services

In-House vs. Outsource IT Support: Which is Better for SMB?

Written by Layer One Networks Published

With the growing trend of outsourcing IT support, many small to medium businesses are shifting their priorities to consider this option. On the other hand, some organizations still prefer to handle their IT in-house, to ensure that experts address all of the problems at hand.

The debate on whether it is best for SMB to hire an in-house IT staff or outsource their IT support is quite controversial. The truth is that both in-house IT and outsourcing IT have their pros and cons.

Let’s examine some of the points which will help you decide whether outsourcing your IT is better for your small business than in-house solutions.

Deciding Between In-House or Outsourced IT Support

IT Services Firm

Let’s approach this blog with questions. Instead of comparing the pros and cons directly, we’ll go through a set of questions to compare and decide the best-case scenario for you. 

1. Which is Cheaper?

Entrepreneurs are often tempted to cut costs by handling IT support in-house. After all, computers and software can be expensive, so why not avoid paying for help? But, unfortunately, the cost of doing so is often much higher than you may think.

When your in-house IT department is working for you, you’re paying for a whole day of their time along with medical insurance and other additional support. But when you bring on a managed services provider for IT services, they’re taking care of your network 24/7 for a fixed cost that’s just a fraction of the total price you pay for your IT team.

2. Which has Minimal Responsibilities?

Let’s imagine having an in-house team with no external help. You’ll be in charge of supervising the team apart from managing your core business responsibilities — which means too much burden for you.

If you outsource your IT services, you do not need to worry about managing the team or any other duties associated with it. Instead, your outsourced partner will handle all the responsibilities of maintaining and upkeeping your computers and network infrastructure. This takes a lot of stress off your shoulders, leaving you enough time to focus on other important things like improving productivity or growing sales.

Your business can stay focused on its core competencies while an outsourced provider takes care of the technology piece.

3. Which is Best in the Fast-Moving World?

As a small business owner, there are many things you should be focusing on to ensure your company’s success. The last thing you need to be concerned about is maintaining and supporting your technology infrastructure. Keeping up with the latest technological trends and developments can be incredibly time-consuming, especially when you’re focused on running your business.

Outsourced providers exist to make sure technology doesn’t become a distraction or a detriment to your business’ success. They’ll help you stay updated on the latest technologies to ease your IT burden, so you don’t lose valuable time or money while trying to figure it out yourself.

4. Which Can Help in Complex Situations?

Whether it’s an in-house IT expert or an outsourced IT support specialist, you need a reliable team to help you in terms of crisis.

Hiring an expert IT team member would be of immense help since you’ll have their expertise throughout the day. But such an expert would cost you a lot to hire on a full-time basis. 

On the other hand, you can still access such experts at a low cost by outsourcing to a reliable, experienced team. Moreover, utilizing an outsourced provider, you can tap into their knowledge and expertise without recruiting and managing internal staff members who have these strengths in-house.

5. Which is Best When You have Plans to Scale Your Business?

If you think you will be growing in the next few years, outsourcing is the way to go. An outsourced IT team would be able to provide you with the kind of support that would fit the needs of your business – no matter how much or how soon your business is scaling. 

If you outsource your IT services to a reputable company, they can provide you with the resources you need to keep your business expanding. Whether you’re just starting and don’t have many employees, you can outsource technology infrastructure, hardware and software support, and even employee training.

6. Which Helps in the Long Run?

With an in-house IT team, you need to select the right team members and train them thoroughly before they start working with your data and devices. For example, if someone is handling a technical issue but does not know how to use the software program relevant to the issue, all your efforts might go in vain. 

Also, if the employee leaves the organization halfway through the training period, new employees need additional time and effort to get trained fully.

But by outsourcing IT support, you don’t have to worry about anyone leaving as the outsourced company will be responsible for replacing an equally skilled team member to carry on the work without a glitch.

Wrapping Up

Whether you’re running a small or medium-scale business on the verge of expansion, the problems you face with technology are the same. You want your IT to run as smoothly and efficiently as possible.

When it comes down to it, though, you’re going to have to decide whether you can do this on your own or need outside help in the form of IT support. Of course, both options have their benefits and drawbacks, but which one is right for you?

Based on these questions, you can choose from one of the experienced IT consulting firms around you or hire IT experts to keep your systems running smoothly. 

Continue reading "In-House vs. Outsource IT Support: Which is Better for SMB?"
The Importance of a Business Continuity Plan
IT Consulting

The Importance of a Business Continuity Plan

Written by Layer One Networks Published

Imagine a situation where your computer systems crash, you’re not able to access your data, and you’re losing clients. How would you deal with that? Would you be able to recover quickly?

Troubleshooting is not only time-consuming, but it’s also stressful. Every day, businesses face business continuity problems like server downtime, loss of data, etc. It’s best to have a strategy or plan in place to handle these situations before they happen.

In this blog, let’s look at everything you need to know about a business continuity plan.

What is a Business Continuity Plan?

Backup Recovery System

A business continuity plan is a document that details how your business can still be successful even when faced with unexpected circumstances. Unless you have a plan in place, your business may not be able to survive should a situation arise that requires immediate and comprehensive action.

Business continuity planning aims to prevent or minimize damage caused by threats to the business. This can be in contrast to disaster recovery planning, which is the process of dealing with a threat that has already happened and involves repairing or restoring damaged systems and recovering data. 

Business continuity plans (BCP) are tailor-made for every organization. They can be as simple as a list of contacts or as complex as an entire database of systems and software backups. The important thing is to put business continuity plans in place before any disaster strikes. Luckily, your business can rely on experienced IT consulting firms to draw up the BCP.

Developing an effective BCP protects information and ensures that a minimum level of services is restored efficiently.

Why is it Necessary for Every Business to Have a Continuity Plan?

IT Services Near Me

We’ve listed some of the most critical reasons why having a business continuity plan is essential for your business:

1. Reduces stress levels: Having a plan helps you deal with such situations more efficiently and effectively. You don’t have to rely on external help or specialists whenever there is an issue with your network, servers, or data.

2. Avoids downtime and allows for quick recovery: Downtime can bring down your productivity and result in loss of revenue and clients. In the event of a system failure, a backup plan ensures that even if one system fails, the others can take over smoothly without causing any disruption.

3. Minimizes chances of data loss: Data loss can be costly from both a customer and business perspective.

Types of Business Continuity Plans

Business continuity plans come in many different styles and formats, each designed for specific situations. However, the following are the most common types of plans:

1. Crisis Management Plan: A crisis management plan focuses on all aspects of a potential disaster and how your company will respond. This plan details the actions that will be taken and the roles and responsibilities of employees during times of crisis. It also describes how the information will flow so that everyone has clear direction on what they need to do while working together as one cohesive unit.

2. Continuity of Operations Plan: A continuity of operations plan is a blueprint for how your business can continue operating during an emergency or disaster situation. It is a plan that covers the business’s day-to-day operations like any equipment failure, inclement weather, natural disaster, etc.

3. Emergency Response Plan: This plan is a compilation of procedures that define how an organization will respond to various emergencies. The plan defines roles and responsibilities for staff members in an emergency situation. It also provides details about alternate worksites, data backup procedures, and other infrastructure requirements.

What Should a BCP Include?

IT Consulting Firm

Creating a business continuity plan is an essential part of planning for disaster. A plan should be created to ensure that your business can continue to operate regardless of the circumstances with an expert IT support specialist at your side.

A business continuity plan is made up of multiple components:

Business Impact Analysis

This is a detailed assessment of how each department contributes to achieving the company’s broader objectives, how each department would be affected by disruption and how long you would survive without this function. You’ll need to identify any critical applications and infrastructure which could cause loss of availability or data loss.

You can reach out to an IT consultant service to draw up these assessments to serve as a foundation for your BCP.

Continuity Planning Policy 

To ensure that your organization maintains continuity, you will need to develop critical policies that employees must follow in an emergency. At the very minimum, this will include your policy on working from home.

Contingency Plan 

This is a collection of documents and procedures that you will follow when an incident occurs.

Testing and Review 

Once your BCP is finalized, it’s time to put it to the test. You can create a simulated emergency and see how the plan works in real-time. Then, you can observe the response to make some tweaks to the program.

Wrapping Up

If you establish a good business continuity plan, your business can grow, prosper and produce results that will help it to become more profitable and successful. Business continuity plans are vital in ensuring the success of your organization, even if it’s just a startup.

Don’t have a business continuity plan yet?

Reach out to our support team that offers IT consulting services to help businesses prepare, prevent and brace for the worst. Our IT services can help to protect you against any emergency and create a continuity plan to keep your business operations running smoothly at all times. 

Continue reading "The Importance of a Business Continuity Plan"
cyber-security-architecture
Security

The Importance of Cyber Security Architecture

Written by Layer One Networks Published

Organizations spend enormous amounts of time and money on cyber security. As a result, they prioritize protection based on potential harm. This includes theft of customer information, loss of intellectual property, or direct damage to the physical infrastructure.

However, cyber security is not just about protecting the organization from external threats. It is also about protecting the employees of the organization. Employees often have access to confidential information about customers, suppliers, and other vendors and data about the company’s employees, products, and finances. If sold or stolen, this confidential information can lead to identity theft, loss of customers, and lower employee morale.

Having a solid security plan can increase the overall security of the IT infrastructure and enable an additional level of protection in all online activities.

Every Business Needs Security

data-security-corpus-christi

Security architecture helps IT and security professionals identify the security controls that are required to protect an organization. It takes into account the organization’s goals, policies, business needs, and existing technology. 

The framework helps determine how security controls will be managed and implemented. It also identifies what security capabilities are required and what controls need to be implemented.

Security architecture is much more than a collection of security tools and policies. It is a set of interconnected processes, procedures, and technologies that protect information and infrastructure from threats.

Here’s how to think about security architecture: Your business needs to communicate securely with partners, customers, and vendors. It needs to store information securely. It needs to authenticate users and devices and encrypt their communications. It needs to manage user privileges, provide secure remote access, and protect against information leakage.

Security architecture supports all of this. In addition, it ensures that security is implemented effectively and consistently.

Essential Components of Security Architecture

Security architecture framework should include the following components:

  • Security framework: This refers to a collection of statements that describe how security controls should be implemented.
  • Security policies: These define the acceptable levels of risk, operations, and loss for the organization.
  • Security requirements: These determine how security controls should be implemented to protect the organization from threats.
  • Security capabilities: These set how security controls will respond when a security event occurs.
  • Security controls: These define how security controls are implemented.
  • Security management: This refers to a collection of statements describing how security should be managed.

Implementing a security architecture for your business

Security architecture is an organization’s overall security strategy to protect its information and systems from external threats.

However, not all security architectures are created equally. While all organizations need security architecture, not all organizations have the same needs or goals. 

Whatever the plans are, the need for IT security in an organization can be split into four categories: 

  • Prevention and detection 
  • Monitoring and analysis 
  • Incident response  
  • Crisis communications

This is why security experts from our IT consultant service do extensive research before coming up with a security architecture plan that meets your company’s needs. Here are some of the key processes for creating a security architecture.

1. Understanding Business Goals & Structure

Security architectures are most often designed to meet an organization’s business objectives, such as maintaining data security, preventing unauthorized access, and complying with regulatory standards.

For example, a healthcare organization’s security architecture might include measures to prevent hacking of its computer systems from complying with HIPAA regulations.

Security architecture aims to identify, manage, and mitigate risks to an organization’s information assets. Good security architecture helps an organization achieve its business objectives, such as protecting sensitive data and controlling costs.

Understanding the scope of IT security and devising a plan around it is incredibly important.

2. Customize the plan according to the scope

Security architectures are not one-size-fits-all. Some organizations, such as financial institutions, need more protection than others. Different businesses, such as manufacturing corporations deal with different risks. An organization’s security architecture should meet its business objectives by protecting information assets and supporting business strategy.

The best security architectures are those that align with an organization’s specific business goals. This is why we sit down with the team to develop a strong plan and an implementation strategy for the security architecture. 

3. Creating a Strategy

We begin by creating an overall security strategy. Most security architectures include the software, hardware, and policies that provide security. Security architectures also address various security technologies, including firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and anti-virus systems.

This high-level strategy includes a high level of threat and risk analysis.

4. Building the Design

We set security priorities first. The highest priorities are mapped to the highest priority projects.

Security architects design security processes. These may include incident reporting, handling, and change management.

5. Developing architecture 

Security architects create security plans that identify which security technologies are suitable for the highest priority security projects. Security architects also develop policies, standards, and procedures that guide security engineers and system administrators in implementing and using the security architectures.

6. Training employees

They train employees with the best security practices in mind. This is crucial to ensure that the employees meet the high-security standards and do everything they can to maintain online security. 

Do you want to implement a robust security architecture for your organization? Let our security experts at LayerOne Networks help you. We are one of the most experienced IT consulting firms that provide the best security service in Corpus Christi. Contact our team to get insights into devising an architecture customized for you.

Continue reading "The Importance of Cyber Security Architecture"
Cyber Security
Security

Cybersecurity Risks in a Pandemic: What You Need to Know

Written by Layer One Networks Published

Ever since the work-from-home culture has become the norm, many cybersecurity risks are coming to light.

Companies that were once confident in their data security can now be seen fretting about picking up the pieces and enforcing high-security measures to protect their confidential information. And many new cyberthreats that weren’t given much notice before and are becoming the prime focus now.

At LayerOne Networks, we have helped our customers transition with ease to the new work-from-home norm and maintain their IT security. While there are a few critical adjustments needed from the side of the organization, you can still enforce the same level of security even during this change of workplace. 

The Vulnerable State of Companies in the Remote Culture

The COVID-19 pandemic turned the whole world upside down. Companies that never allowed WFH before are now becoming a permanent remote team now. Managers who once preferred to have their teams work from the office have to meet them on virtual calls. Everyone is adopting the new normal and so should your IT system.

It’s a vulnerable state for the company, especially for the cybersecurity team, to navigate this sudden change. Within a single month, many organizations have to facilitate the means for employees to work from anywhere and the IT infrastructure and security teams played a central role in it.

Understandably, not a lot of businesses were ready for this shift. The quick rise in digital communications that replaced face-to-face discussions made companies more prone to attacks from outside. As a result, the cybersecurity teams and IT consulting firms were under immense pressure to develop new ways to safeguard the organizations from threats.

Cybersecurity Risks In A Pandemic: What You Need To Know

Meanwhile, the hackers quickly got down to work and used phishing emails and fake websites to lure the employees into allowing the malware inside. Some unfortunate companies to become victims went swiftly under attack and were struggling hard to survive.

During such times, we worked with many clients to quickly facilitate safe operations with remote working. Our managed IT services took care of this shift to remote work-life and enforced new security systems and procedures for a safe working atmosphere from anywhere.

Here are some of the crucial things that every business needs to know about cybersecurity in the pandemic.

5 Essential Evolutions to Improve Cybersecurity During Pandemic

Cybersecurity Risks In A Pandemic: What You Need To Know

First of all, we need to understand that developing better cybersecurity systems for employees in the pandemic isn’t complete without their involvement. Here are the things we need to address to upgrade security systems.

  • Educate the Employees About Safe Practices

The entire workforce should be aware of cybersecurity threats that could compromise the whole company. Most of these threats trick the employees into taking some action and then gaining access through that. 

Firstly, businesses need to conduct regular security workshops with practical examples to take the employees through various ways to be targeted. Secondly, the cybersecurity team should send test phishing emails and other similar security attacks designed to draw out the employees who are most vulnerable and help them increase their security awareness. 

Read More: Tips for Protecting Your Email from Cyber Threats

  • Shift to New IT Operating Models

Businesses that need to respond quickly to such a long-term situation can’t do well with a bare minimum solution. You need a new operating model that considers the remote work culture and includes high-security tools and applications with stringent protection measures. 

  • Use Cloud-Based Security Platform

When even your cybersecurity professionals are working from home, adapting to a cloud-based security system makes sense.

It will give your employees instant access to files and databases and help your data security team maintain a stronghold on security. They can enforce threat protection solutions, conduct regular testing and security audits and take quick actions when a threat is detected. Also, cloud-based solutions can reduce your operating costs and give control over remote employees’ protection measures.

  • Create a Renewing System of Access & Authorization

Gaining access to passwords and authorization answers is easier in the remote work culture. This is why you need to make sure that they don’t fall into the wrong hands or safeguard the system even when that happens.

You need to create a regular system of changing the passwords every few weeks, along with any other authorization details. You can also provide remote access to systems without a VPN and set up privileged access management to give a higher level of access to the IT admin teams.

  • Implement New Security Technologies

As new cyber technologies emerge, so do hacking technologies.

With that in mind, you need to educate your employees about updating their systems to newer software versions and conducting regular checks for viruses and malware.

You can hire an external IT consulting firm to implement new cybersecurity technologies that identify the latest threats and prepare to prevent them from gaining access. These new threats are often not detected during manual checks, and therefore, cybersecurity technology should be able to see instances in nanoseconds. 

If you want to implement such security solutions, you can now consult with one of our data security experts.

Wrapping Up

Cybersecurity risks have heightened ever since the pandemic broke out and remote work culture was introduced. You can still keep your business protected by staying on top of the cybersecurity threats, raising new policies for employees, educating them, and implementing new security measures.

LayerOne Networks is one of the top IT consulting firms in Corpus Christi offering security services. Reach out to our team to know more about how we can enhance your cybersecurity.

Continue reading "Cybersecurity Risks in a Pandemic: What You Need to Know"
IT Services
IT services

7 Reasons for Hiring an IT Services Provider for Your Business

Written by Layer One Networks Published

Emerging technology. 

A secure IT system. 

Simplified IT processes.

All of these are the need of the hour for every business. 

But when we consider a startup or a small-scale business, the overhead costs of such IT systems can be so huge that it takes up a massive chunk of the revenue. This is when we need to add one more factor to the list.

Affordable IT solutions.

For businesses who want a well-maintained, cutting-edge IT system but don’t have a lot of capital to begin with, hiring an IT provider is the best option. Moving from in-house managed IT services to getting the help of IT consulting firms can have a lot of perks.

Let’s look at some of the main reasons why you should do so.

Why Should You Outsource Your IT Services?

Just imagine the amount of reliance your business has on your IT system. Everything depends on your IT system from interactions with customers and managing the finances to business projects. Just imagine what would happen if it stops working all of a sudden.

Scary, isn’t it?

To avoid the unthinkable, you can hire a dedicated IT service provider to make sure that your IT systems are up and running in their best state. 

At LayerOne Networks, we provide IT solutions and security service to businesses in Corpus Christi. We have seen a good many occasions where outsourced IT services have saved businesses on many occasions.

In this blog, our IT experts will discuss some practical reasons why outsourcing your IT services is the best way.

  • 1. Focus Completely on the Core Business

When you’re running a business, there are so many responsibilities that would take away your focus from the core purpose. Outsourcing such jobs that others can do is the best way to manage the overload of additional work.

Even when you have a good in-house IT team, you need to keep recruiting more and more employees with different expertise to keep updated with the latest technology. Else, your current employees will feel overworked and drained, which is a red sign for organizational growth. This could also keep you worked up and lead you to focus on managing these difficulties instead of your main responsibilities. 

You can outsource your IT services to a good external provider and focus 100% on the core business tasks requiring your attention.

Costumer Support
Costumer Support

  • 2. Get Round-the-Clock Support

An IT system needs to run 24X7 even when you aren’t using it. There can be no downtime as security threats or system failures can come up at any time. This means you have to be always on your watch and should also be capable of managing these issues when they crop up.

This is when having an expert support team 24X7 pays off. The outsourced team will detect and handle any such vulnerabilities or issues quickly and keep your system safe.

  • 3. Manage Your Scaling Needs

When you’re planning to scale your business, you need to scale your IT system too. When you have an outsourced IT provider handling your systems, you can easily scale without worries about procuring additional equipment, hiring new employees and other resources.

  • 4. Keep the Risk Factors at Bay

There are several ways through which your IT system can be put at risk. Not updating the software, not optimizing the processes or missing to check for security can all lead to one thing – making your business vulnerable.

You need to implement high-security features, check for software updates, monitor your cloud systems, run regular maintenance checks and keep your IT system healthy to avoid risks. This is when an IT outsourced team will be of immense help to do all of these tasks without any initiation from your side.

  • 5. Have a Predictable and Manageable IT Budget

In any business, predicting revenue and expenses is always a challenging task. When you hire IT consulting firms for outsourcing, you will clearly know how much you’ll be spending on IT systems for the next few months. 

Not only that, you will have a manageable budget that is affordable to your business and doesn’t eat away at your revenue.

  • 6. Create Room for Technological Innovation

The influence of technology on businesses is swiftly expanding. The technology we are using today is not the same as the one we were using five years ago. Your business needs to keep up with these technological innovations to get a strong foothold in the market. 

Having an expert IT team on the go will ensure that you can innovate as much as you can without worrying about implementing new technology.

  • 7. Take Proactive Solutions

It’s one thing to get support after an issue strikes. But it’s a totally different advantage when you can detect and prevent the problem from happening in the first place. 

The outsourced IT team will monitor your systems regularly and conduct regular security checks. This ensures that we can detect any vulnerability before it becomes a huge issue and make steps for its prevention.

Wrapping Up

Deciding on outsourcing your IT system management is a huge thing. But when you look at the huge list of benefits it can make for your business, it’s clear that this is the way to go. You can cut down your operational costs while getting expert advice and high-quality IT maintenance with options for scalability without any additional efforts from your side.

If you are looking for a reliable IT service provider in Corpus Christi, you can now speak to our IT experts to find how we can help your business.

Continue reading "7 Reasons for Hiring an IT Services Provider for Your Business"
7 Tips for Disaster Recovery Planning to Help Protect Your Business
Security

7 Tips for Disaster Recovery Planning to Help Protect Your Business

Written by Layer One Networks Published

Can you imagine a situation when even your backup fails?

Yes, we know that’s one of the worst things that can happen to your business. But as much as we don’t want to imagine such a situation, it’s always better to be prepared for it.

When you rely on just your local storage and a backup, you don’t have any way to get back the lost data when the IT system goes down. Having a disaster recovery plan ready will help you salvage the data and critical business information even when the unfortunate happens.

If you haven’t yet started the disaster recovery planning, then this blog will guide you to build one for your business.

7 Tips for Planning Disaster Recovery for Businesses

Before we go on to the actual procedure of setting up a disaster recovery plan, you need to understand that this is more than just a backup. A disaster recovery plan comes into play when your main system, as well as the backups, fail. 

Many IT consulting firms and cloud service providers work together to offer disaster recovery planning customized to your business. Even when you hire one, it’s always essential to know the planning that goes behind.

  • 1. Assess Your Threats & Risks

How will the disaster occur? 

This must be the first question you ask yourself and your IT team. Assess your IT infrastructure and backup options and think about all the various ways in which it goes down, gets corrupted, or, even worse, hacked.

If you want to prepare for the worst, you have to think about the worst to create procedures to tackle the situation.

  • 2. Identify & Prioritize the Critical Systems

Creating a disaster recovery plan by considering all of your threats is essential. However, what will happen when multiple threats happen at once?

This is when you need to prioritize. Think of all the bare minimum that you need to run your business and on which you have critical information. You should prioritize the recovery of such systems first. 

As a part of the disaster recovery plan, you need to have a priority list of systems you need to recover in order. Put this down in writing so that your IT team can get to the task by referring to this list when the chaos breaks out.

7 Tips for Disaster Recovery Planning to Help Protect Your Business

  • 3. Have a Quick Response Team

You may think that your entire IT team is more than enough to manage any such crisis. But, more often, the IT team will get drowned in a chaotic situation with so many things to handle. 

This is when you need to bring the recovery experts in. These are people who plan and execute the disaster recovery day in and day out and, therefore, have the skillset to quickly get on the job without getting anxious. 

You can either hire the experts and make them a part of your in-house team or have a third-party team outsourced and ready. 

At LayerOne Networks, we offer disaster recovery and security service for companies in Corpus Christi. Our recovery experts have worked on multiple projects to successfully recover and restore the data within minimal downtime. You can call us at (361)-653-6800 for more information.

  • 4. Create Proper Communication Channels

Who should your IT team inform first when the disaster strikes? Who is next? And next?

All of this information should be put in writing and given to the IT team. It is easy to get flustered and confused when a disaster strikes. So, having documentation of the communication channels will set the IT team in the right direction to resolve and recover.

  • 5. Be Realistic in Your Recovery Goals

We want the disaster to be managed as soon as possible and the IT system restored quickly. But that’s not what happens in real life. Creating unrealistic goals for the recovery would only make things even worse.

So, to have realistic goals, we need to understand two parameters: Recovery Point Objective (RPO) and Recovery Time Objective (RTO). Both of these metrics tell us the acceptable amount of time your system can be down and the time it will take to recover the data. We need to understand and keep track of the metrics when retrieving the data.

Be Realistic in Your Recovery Goals

  • 6. Test Your Recovery Plan

We cannot stress more the importance of having a trial run of the recovery plan. You can identify the bottlenecks in the plan and improve it only when you go through the disaster recovery process.

Furthermore, it prepares your employees to respond properly and take the necessary actions to support the recovery. You can conduct trial runs for disaster recovery every once in a few months so that the employees remember what to do when the real thing strikes.

  • 7. Detail the Alternate Recovery Plans

This is the most desperate situation a business can find itself in. Nonetheless, we need to plan for it. 

There have been instances where the employees couldn’t access the local disaster recovery sites or cloud storage during an emergency due to unavoidable reasons. 

So, what’s the next step in that case? Do you plan to have some critical data stored in another online backup storage? Or do you have a plan to have some offline backup at a distant location?

Think about what to do in the worst-case scenario when the recovery plan doesn’t go through. You can plan to have backup storage at an alternate location and get it delivered or some cloud location where your team can access critical files.

Read More: IT Resilience vs. Disaster Recovery: Understanding the Difference

Wrapping Up

Having a disaster recovery plan is a must for every business due to the number of threats and risks we’re open to. At Layer One Networks, our recovery experts offer managed IT services in Corpus Christi to help businesses prepare and safeguard themselves against disasters.

You can schedule a consultation call with one of our experts to know more about how we can help you.

 

Continue reading "7 Tips for Disaster Recovery Planning to Help Protect Your Business"