Today’s business world is one filled with seemingly infinite possibilities for disaster recovery solutions.  There are hardware solutions and software solutions: Hardware load balancers, Server Clustering, Virtual Machines, Automated Tape Libraries, Backup to Disk, and Offsite Storage.  The list goes on and on, and it will probably never end.  One, or a combination of any of these solutions, can meet the needs of business when it comes to high availability and quick recovery from both small and large scale disasters.  For all of the great convenience and piece of mind that these types of technology give us, they are only half of the recovery equation.

What is the other half?  Testing. Testing does two things for your recovery strategy: it identifies weaknesses, and it alerts you to misconceptions about your overall strategy. Weakness in a plan is just that, weakness.  It is common to see people try to gloss over or even hide deficiencies that appear during testing.  Don’t be afraid of the results and don’t avoid them.  Fix them. Finding hidden problems is the point of carrying out exercises and scenarios.  It is so much easier to find solutions to issues in a non-production environment than it is to do it when you are in a real situation. (more…)

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Hi there.  The name’s Robroy.  You don’t know me, but – can I ask a personal question?  It’s about your medical history.

Have you ever had amnesia?

No?  Me neither.  In fact, I have never even met someone who had it.  And yet, rare as it is in real life, amnesia must be one of the most commonly dramatized illnesses in all of Hollywood.

Goldie Hawn lost her memory in Overboard.  Mickey Rourke lost his memory in Angel Heart.  So did Keanu Reeves in Johnny Mnemonic.  And Jim Carrey in … what was that one called … Spotless in Seattle? (more…)

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With the Right Technology in Place, Snow Days Can Be Productive Days

The local weather report said “blizzard by week’s end.” As the week progressed, folks were even calling this the “Storm of the Century,” and “Snowmagedeon.” After much consideration, I sent a company-wide e-mail Thursday night, informing them that Friday would be a snow day. You see, a “snow day” for us means that all phones are forwarded, all systems are available via online desktops, and it is business as usual. Our teams can collaborate via Instant Messenger, and we can share files and computer screens using tools like Skype and GoToMeeting, etc. Short of meeting with clients face-to-face, we are still able to conduct face-to-face meetings via webcams and GoToMeeting. I even conducted my first Skype to Skype video interview for a potential Project Manager. I am happy to report she has been hired.

Now, what does it take to create a successful “snow day?” Well, besides 27 inches of snow, you must examine all areas of the operation to determine what job functions simply can’t be done without being present in the office. Additionally, consider what functions can’t be done without utility services to your office. You may ask, “Why start from what can’t be done?” Well, most folks take care of the obvious elements, but forget things like phone forwarding, remote access, client notifications, and alternative methods for simply getting business done. (more…)

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You’ve set your Goal for 2010 and Management expects you to perform on them.  You’ve spent the last few weeks of the year debating what is attainable, and what is measurable.  Now what? In order for you to achieve your goal, you must first believe you can attain your goal (sometimes believing you already have it, helps).

Let’s relate this to Golf. (more…)

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I wanted to enhance the reporting and rating capabilities for certain aspects of the business going forward in 2010. My goal was to find a reporting application and/or set of applications that are cloud-based, and would cost roughly $150.00 per month. I also wanted the reporting tools to be industry specific. Within 15 minutes, I was able to find applications fitting my requirements by searching on Google.

I found a tool called Corelytics created by CoreConnex. Corelytics is an application that will enable me to determine what my goals are for the year by using company data from QuickBooks. Hooray! It also compares my financial data against thousands of other service providers just like me. (more…)

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We all know the saying, “the grass is always greener on the other side.” Well, what if it could be greener on both sides? Anything is possible, and we all have the ability to make changes to our lifestyle to achieve it (do you feel empowered yet?). There is so much being done today to help find solutions for the sustainability of the planet  - recycling, conserving water and energy – it’s called “going green.” Well, what does “going green” mean in relation to the IT world? That’s where Green Computing comes into play.

Essentially, Green Computing is the study and practice of designing, manufacturing, using, and disposing of computers, servers, and associated subsystems—such as monitors, printers, storage devices, and networking and communications systems—efficiently and effectively with minimal or no impact on the environment (whew!). In a nutshell, it is the term used to denote the efficient use of resources in computing.

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Near our office in Columbia, MD we have a sandwich shop called Jimmy Johns.  At first glance you see that they are nothing special. They look like any other chain shop – Quizno’s, Subway, etc.  However, that is simply where the comparison stops.  First, you place your order (mayI suggest a number 9 with no hots, and a bag of Jalapeno chips). Before you are even finished paying and receiving your change, the sandwich is handed to you in less than sixty seconds. Next, you begin to eat it, realizing that the sandwich is absolutely amazing – high end meats, fresh in-store baked bread… mmmm! When you are finished, you realize that your lunch experience has been all of 15 minutes. You think to yourself “WOW WHAT A GREAT EXPERIENCE.” (more…)

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Even cars need a reboot. Today I got in my car at 6:20am – it was 30° outside. Eager to start my commute, I put my key in the ignition, pressed the brake, hit the start button, and just as I was ready to put my pedal to the metal, an error message alerted me that my 4-Wheel X Drive had malfunctioned. Relentlessly, I drove for about 10 miles with a message saying “Drive with caution and call your BMW Service Center immediately.” Now, in the X-Series, the 4-Wheel X Drive is a critical piece of the car. I knew that if I was going to be driving 75 miles per hour, it might be a problem. I pulled over to the nearest Rest Area, shut down the car, and let it reboot. Once I let the car sit and reboot for about a minute, I re-started it, and all systems came up with no error messages. (more…)

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Most folks think of the cloud as Social Media, Google, Freeware, or just an acronym for the Internet. I think of the cloud as an endless possibility to make ideas come to life. As a business owner I am constantly pushing the envelope trying to improve processes, generate key performance data, and fuel the creative entrepreneurial spirit to grow. At least once per week, a question and/or problem arises that I “Google” to find a solution.

Recently, we were in need of a solution that would enable clients to sign contracts and documents in a more timely fashion. I Googled “contract signing” and low and behold a number of digital signature companies popped up. I decided to take a look around. I tried both www.docusign.com and www.echosign.com. Both worked very well, but the use and interface of Echosign seemed to fit our needs best. Again, being a cloud-based solution I was able to test the solution for 30 days and then select a package that was extremely economical. Now, I am not here to push digital signature companies, but by researching a new way and trusting the cloud, we cut our contract signing time from 2 weeks to less than 4 hours. Furthermore, we have had clients thank us for the ease of use in adding services, etc. We are now expanding our use of Echosign to include online forms and process improvement. (more…)

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