Most IT consultants constantly remind clients of how important it is to update and patch their software, but neglect the importance of updating hardware. We don’t mean replacing it with new hardware; we mean updating the applications and settings coded into the physical IT powering every modern office.

I'm sure many of you watched with amazement, and a bit of fear as did I this past weekend, as the snow just kept on falling in New York and other eastern states.  This latest weather phenomenon literally paralyzed most of the eastern seaboard and was severely felt in many surrounding states as well.

Natural and man made disasters and chaotic events underscore the challenges of  disaster recovery in the real world. Having a comprehensive business continuity plan isn't just an IT concern; though. Nothing less than the survival of your company is at stake.

In today's "instant gratification" society — in which heightened customer expectations and 24x7 accessibility demands really burden small business — little time remains for much else. Small businesses often don't have the resources or inclination to track the latest computer news, security threats, or even common break/fix tips.

The ever-evolving world of technology presents a very unique challenge to those of us presented with the stewardship of navigating corporations through the sometimes choppy waters of Cloud Computing and Cyber Security.  It is our job, primarily and most importantly, to put our corporate client's mind at ease.

If you, or one of your staff has a little computer knowledge, you may think to yourself, "Why do I need to outsource my I.T. services?  I have that covered here..."

In this case, a little knowledge can be dangerous...

Truly, I compare this thought process to being brought up on criminal charges.

As in anything in life, there is good...but, unfortunately, there is also bad.  So it is in the "tech" world.  There have been so many "lightening fast" advancements in this industry..that definitely is the good part, but the "law" has had trouble keeping up with these advancements.

We are experiencing an epidemic.  "Hacking" or Data Breaches have become commonplace...and that's dangerous.

As the frequency of hackings has increased, so is the likelihood that you will also be involved.  You may feel that you're a sitting duck in this scenario, because, after all, even though you have been most responsible and have put every security measure of which you are aware in place, you still have no control if your data is breached due to cyber criminal activity involving a third party (EX: Target or Blue Cross).

That is not exactly accurate.

"Cloud Computing" is definitely the buzzword "De Jour"...but there are very few of us who really understand what this is and how it works.  So here is a little "Cloud 101" to hopefully allow a little better understanding of this phenomenon.

"Cloud Computing"  means that instead of all the computer hardware and software you're using sitting on your desktop, or somewhere inside your company's network, it's provided for you as a service by another company and accessed over the Internet, usually in a completely seamless way.

In the news recently, it seems there have been more natural disaster phenomenons globally, occurring almost daily.  Earthquakes, Tornadoes, Floods, Fires.  We are all warned and drilled on the importance of preparing for and keeping a "disaster kit"...in our case in Southern California, it is known as an "Earthquake Kit". The essentials are packed in the kit.