What Is Cloud Backup and How Does It Work?

Have you been searching for a way to make your business operations run more smoothly? Are you struggling to find the best method to protect and restore your business’ data and other digital assets? If so, cloud backup services could be right for you.

As one of New Zealand’s leading IT companies, Dynamite IT knows first hand the importance of streamlining your workflow so you can focus on getting the job done. We help businesses of all sizes optimise cloud backup services to fit their specific needs.

Below you’ll find a few of the ways cloud backup solutions can streamline operations and help you focus on what’s important. This same technology is used by businesses all over the world and quickly becoming the norm as it replaces physical on-site systems. Let’s take a look.

What Is Cloud Backup?

Cloud backup services allow you to save and access files on a remote server maintained by a third party in the most straightforward sense. Utilising the cloud enables companies to forego more traditional backup solutions, like thumb drives, external hard drives, and large, bulky servers on-site. Instead, users onsite gain access to their company’s cloud storage via computer or online applications, ensuring you can back up and restore files as needed without worrying about keeping physical backups (and powering them—a considerable expense on its own).

Because you don’t own the cloud server you are utilising, you don’t have to worry about maintenance costs or power expenses. The service provider will only charge you based on their plans, usually centered on the amount of space you’ll be using. In that sense, cloud storage is a hands-off and always-on solution for business owners.

Why Choose Cloud Backup Services?

While cloud backup solutions can scale to fit any business size, their advantages are most effective for small businesses. Besides simplifying your IT infrastructure, each advantage also helps reduce costs in some way. The most significant benefits you can utilise through cloud backup include:

Enhanced security against bad actors. With data breaches becoming and ransomware attacks becoming increasingly common, you may be concerned about keeping your vital data secure. Using cloud backup alongside any other backup plans you have creates multiple instances of the same data, keeping it safe should one example be compromised.
Protection against accidents. Storing your backup in the cloud keeps your files safe should something unplanned happen to your local storage options. Such events can range from accidental deletion by an employee to power outages caused by storms and other natural disasters.
You can configure cloud backups to occur automatically. You can create your own schedule and perform backups as frequently as you like with minimal effort. By not having to do this manually, you can remain focused on work.
Access and manage your backup anywhere. Because you access your cloud backup online, you don’t need to be onsite at your business to access the files. You will always have access when you want and wherever you are.
Your backup solution quickly grows with your business. Cloud service providers make their money in part by providing storage space, so they’re always able to sell you more space as your needs grow. As a result, expanding your storage will have a more negligible cost than buying your own servers.

Is Cloud Storage the Same as Cloud Backup?

You’re probably already familiar with cloud storage. Cloud storage has become so common that consumer options like iCloud and OneDrive come preinstalled on most computers and smartphones. However, while the two are related, they aren’t the same, and you shouldn’t use them interchangeably.

The design of cloud storage allows users to want to access their files frequently. The stored files may still be backups, but they usually have to be added to storage manually. Also, cloud storage services tend to be less secure than cloud backup because they only intend to act as an extension of your local storage.

Compare that to cloud backups, which make security a top priority to ensure customer satisfaction and safety. Cloud backup servers will encrypt your file both during transfer and storage for comprehensive protection. Rarely is this true for cloud storage.

An important feature of cloud backup not found in cloud storage is file versioning. For example, say that a file gets corrupted, and you need to restore it to a previous version. File versioning allows you to access each version of the file you previously backed up.

While both services can work together, cloud storage is a poor substitute for cloud backup. Storage may be the cheaper option, but it isn’t optimal for creating backups or restoring files. Instead, storage is much better suited for sharing files.

Dynamite IT Can Help

Whether you’re looking at integrating cloud backup into your business, need a New Zealand business number, or general IT services, Dynamite IT is here to help. We’re always at the forefront of new information technologies and implementing them into your business best.

As a Wellington based business ourselves, we understand the needs of local businesses. We have tailored our range of managed products and IT services to take the hassle out of your business infrastructure. Our response time is fast as we are based in Lower Hutt and service the Wellington region including Upper Hutt, Wellington CBD, Porirua City and Kapiti Coast.

Dynamite IT believes in building streamlined IT systems that run so smoothly that you forget they’re there in the background. On top of professional IT systems, we also provide expert IT support to ensure you never feel alone. For a local team that can help with everything from 0800 numbers to web design, we are the IT experts you can trust and rely on – give us a call today.

May 10, 2021August 26, 2021

What Are Examples of IT Services?

You utilise technology every day as a business owner, but do you understand how critical IT support and services are to keeping your business growing? How about running at peak performance?

IT services are more crucial now than ever before, and that need will continue to grow. The pandemic pushed us farther and faster than ever before. Traditional offices suddenly had to transition to virtual offices. What was once in one building for staff and services are now scattered geographically, and the challenges of collaboration, cooperation, and information security are more prescient than ever before.

Since the hybrid workplace is largely here to stay, you might question how exactly IT can help your business grow. To understand that question, you first need to understand what types of IT services are available to your business. Let’s take a look at some examples of IT services that make a big difference to your bottom line.

What Are IT Services?

The term IT Services refers to the application of technical expertise to enable organisations in management, optimisation, and access of data, networks, and technology as it applies to business.

The market of IT services can be segmented into three main parts:

Design
Build
Run

All of these parts are skills that are employed to deliver the service. If any of these services are outsourced, they’re then referred to as:

Business Processing Outsourcing (BPO)
Applications Outsourcing (AO)
Infrastructure Outsourcing

Because there are many different kinds of IT services that vary based on the industry — we’ve narrowed it down to the top seven types of IT services most commonly utilised for success. Let’s take a look.

#1. Cloud Services

Information technology has grown so much that it becomes a business’s best interest to store its data in the cloud. In addition, utilising cloud technology saves on the cost of local servers and server maintenance, physical office space, and more. Purchasing in-house servers requires a steep investment, especially for a small company. In addition, server maintenance can be very costly, making cloud services a much more affordable (and reliable) option. Additionally, cloud services are easy to use, scalable, and quickly accessible, making them a highly desired option for any business looking to be agile and ensure data security

#2. Monitoring Services

A monitoring application does just as it sounds — monitors servers, communication, Internet traffic, security, and anything else a business needs.

While some companies will use automation software, managing automation can be difficult without guidance, and an information technology specialist is highly recommended to help your team do just that.

An IT specialist develops procedures to monitor business operations systems such as:

Power outages
Network failures
Failed backups
Software updates
Monitoring Apps, websites, and more

An IT specialist can monitor all technology resources to keep business functions operational in the chance of adverse events (which always seem to happen sooner or later).

#3. Server Backups And Restoration

An IT specialist will create backups for all servers. Once created, the backups need monitoring for futurel periodic backups. If there is a failure in any system, your IT specialist is responsible for restoring the vital systems based on the most recent backups.

Businesses are under a tremendous amount of pressure to perform. In this digital age, backups are critical, and downtime must be minimal. Any outage that causes your website or eCommerce storefront to go down could amount to significant losses in revenue.

#4. Network Security

We have all heard about network security concerns and data hijacking in the news. New technologies require more intricate data security systems. Data and network security are the most critical responsibilities of modern businesses, and their IT teams.

Unfortunately, cybercriminals often spend big bucks to breach network security and are always on the search for new ways to subvert data security measures..

IT professionals are tasked with the same rigor, constantly improving their skills and staying current with the knowledge to keep up with advances in cybercrime.

#5. Managed Print Services

Managed print services are not necessarily the first thing you think of when you think of IT services. But they are very much an IT function. Since everything we do is digital, businesses are always looking for ways to become more efficient and save money when it comes to their integrated processes.

One way to make this happen is through managed print services. This service takes all the hardware a user needs, such as printers, fax machines, scanners, copiers, and more. All devices are connected to the network, allowing the IT service department to monitor supply levels, anticipate needs for parts, and monitor the usage of all devices without the need for a supply manager to constantly take manual stock.

#6. Computer Training

Technology changes so quickly, and although the IT department may keep up with the demands, users may struggle. Therefore, IT services are often tasked with bringing the team up to speed on best practices for creating, sharing, and collaborating on projects, teaching departments how best to utilise the technology at their disposal to streamline processes and increase efficiency.

#7. Help Desk Support

Every company needs help desk support—whether they realise it or not, especially if the business has multiple locations. The ability to remotely access users’ machines such as a desktop, laptop, or other company device makes this sort of support invaluable for business trips, remote offices, and work-from-home employees.

How Can We Help With Your IT Needs?

As a business owner, IT likely isn’t in your wheelhouse. And with a small budget, accounting for an entire IT department may be an expense that just doesn’t make sense for your business.

We get it. That’s why Dynamite IT Solutions makes managing your computer technology simple and cost effective. Dynamite IT offers a wide range of IT support services in Wellington with plans and packages to maximise the performance of your business.

As a Wellington based business ourselves, we understand the needs of local businesses. We have tailored our range of products and IT services to take the hassle out of your business infrastructure. Our response time is fast as we are based in Lower Hutt and service the Wellington region including Upper Hutt, Wellington CBD, Porirua City and Kapiti Coast.

April 30, 2021August 26, 2021

How Safe is Online Cloud Storage for Your Business Data?

Technology tends to change quite rapidly. We are no longer in the days of giant floppy disks for data storage, servers racks that take up an entire room, and nightly physical backups. 11-inch laptops have replaced mainframe computers with ten times more memory and highly portable form factors. While hard drives tend to offer plenty of storage for our basic needs, cloud storage has become the new norm, especially for business.

But, how safe is online cloud storage for your business’ data?

With changes in technology happening so quickly, it can be challenging to keep up. Some changes are scarier than others, especially when it comes to keeping your important data safe. Let’s take a look into the details of enterprise cloud storage and see if it’s safe for you and your clients.

What Is “The Cloud”?

The cloud refers to a network of remote servers where stored data is accessible to authorised users via the internet. The data is not kept on the personal laptop or portable memory stick, but rather “in the cloud.” The cloud allows organisations to purchase and maintain fewer servers on-site, instead relying on off-site hosting of their files for convenience, security, and cost savings.

How Does The Cloud Work?

Before cloud computing and storage, businesses needed to spend a great deal of money on local servers and associated maintenance. Companies would be responsible for their own physical backups, requiring labor time and costs.

Now the process is much more straightforward. Access to the data occurs over the internet. The organisation providing the cloud storage can protect their data, backing it up and making it available whenever the data is needed.

Cloud storage also allows for redundancies, protection that may not be readily unattainable with on-site servers. Redundancy refers to the storage of multiple copies of files across several physical locations, and is necessary for the complete security of data. In the case of a server failure, redundancy ensures that your data is not lost, and can be accessed at any time .

One of the most popular consumer cloud storage options is Google Drive As you are no doubt aware, Google Drive allows the storage and sharing of files that are uploaded to Google’s cloud servers. Parameters are assigned for each party a file or folder is shared with, such as viewing or editing permissions. Streaming services like Netflix and Youtube are also cloud-based services that most utilise the power of cloud storage to provide instant access to content to subscribers at a moment’s notice.

Cloud technology frees up its users from the need for extensive physical storage, hefty local servers, and the worry of losing data stored on that single point of failure.

Benefits of Cloud Storage

Cloud storage is helping to make our virtual community more successful than we could have ever imagined.

Benefit #1: Decentralised Data Storage

It is rare for a business to store data centrally. The world is now so reliant on virtual experiences requiring decentralised data storage that ensures redundancy and reliable access to living files across departments, branches, and companies.

Benefit #2: Size

Centralised data storage will quickly become cost-prohibitive, especially as local server space becomes limited. Expansion of local servers is a costly, bulky, and time-intensive venture that is hard to properly plan for in advance.

Benefit #3: Travel Work

Not all employees may be able to work remotely, while others may need portable access to company data as an ordinary course of business. For example, a client needs you to do a presentation at their physical site. Data access is critical for that presentation, and the cloud makes the data fully accessible. Expecting employees to carry around physical media to present for clients is a risky and outmoded practice that has been made obsolete by secure, fast, and easily accessible cloud storage.

Benefit #4: Remote Work

Since the pandemic has changed the landscape of work as wee know it, more and more employees are working remotely, part- or even full-time. Cloud storage allows these employees to work seamlessly and share live data just as productively as if they were in the office.

Benefit #5: Cost Savings

Reduced spending on physical servers.
Reduced staffing to monitor backups.
Reduced maintenance costs.
Reduced costs for physical data redundancy.
Outsourcing of server space reduces the need for extensive IT staff in-house. To that end, IT can be entirely outsourced with some cloud providers who offer full-service IT solutions for business.
Employees can work remotely, reducing overhead costs.

Non-Tangible Benefits

Security in the knowledge that data is protected
Reduction in downtime for technological issues
Data is encrypted to deter intruders and secure sensitive information
Users can access data with some combination of username, password, and other criteria for authentication
Two factor authentication further secures data by requiring multiple points of verification for access
As long as you have access to the internet, you can access your data
Updates can be executed companywide in a matter of minutes
Built-in firewalls keep data even more secure
Employees have the freedom to work from the road, home, or the office with instant access, leaving them free to be productive in the environment that suits their workflow best
Employees are less likely to utilise paid leave when their schedule allows for them to handle life’s emergencies on their terms

Encryption Of Data

Data storage in the cloud is encrypted and often requires multiple levels of authentication to access. Data stored on a desktop or laptop’s physical storage is less secure and subject to malware and phishing attempts from malicious actors.

Cloud storage often has enterprise- or even military-grade encryption, securing your data from even the most dedicated of hackers.

Dynamite IT Can Help

Whether you’re looking at integrating cloud storage into your business, need a New Zealand business number, or general IT services, Dynamite IT is here to help. We’re always at the forefront of new information technologies and implementing them into your business best.

As a Wellington based business ourselves, we understand the needs of local businesses. We have tailored our range of managed products and IT services to take the hassle out of your business infrastructure. Our response time is fast as we are based in Upper Hutt and service the Wellington region including Lower Hutt, Wellington CBD and Porirua City.

April 20, 2021August 26, 2021

Why Your Business Should Have Cloud Storage

Have you yet to adapt your small business to cloud storage? Are you unsure of how this emerging (and increasingly popular) technology can make your work easier or save you money? If so, you’re missing out on a slew of benefits that could take your business to the next level – but not for long.

Being among the leading IT companies in New Zealand, our team at Dynamite IT knows cloud storage technology inside and out, and the myriad of ways it benefits small businesses. In fact, we recommend all of our clients utilise cloud storage. After you read this article, we think you’ll see why.

Increased Protection

Physical servers are antiquated in many ways, but their chief weakness is their locality. Power surges or outages can knock local servers offline or permanently damage them. Natural disasters could destroy your servers and your data with them. They suffer from what’s referred to as a single point of failure, meaning that your local server impacts your entire business operation if it becomes damaged, potentially eliminating all of your digital resources simultaneously and unilaterally.

Cloud storage works differently. Your data saves in multiple backups across several servers, none of which are in your building and all of which are managed by a remote IT team. If one cloud server experiences trouble, your data and software are still safe thanks to several redundant backups, and you can continue to work without a problem.

While it’s true that you can create backups of physical servers, it has a much higher time and resource cost and requires physical space for each data backup. Cloud options keep the price low and need no room in your building, as well as provide redundant backup solutions so your data is always protected.

Make Collaboration and Work More Efficient

The speed with which your employees can share data leads to improved productivity and team synergy. With every employee receiving access to the same cloud storage, sharing files and projects has never been easier. If your company uses Dropbox to share files, then you’re already making use of cloud technology on a small scale, but likely missing out on the myriad of benefits that full cloud storage has to offer.

When you’re using cloud storage, you can complete work anywhere. You can choose to give employees access from their homes or mobile devices. Remote work possibilities are endless, and with such access options in place, you can make updates at a moment’s notice, no matter the distance between team members. These solutions have become increasingly important in the past year as the majority of the world has shifted to an at-least partially-remote workforce while combatting the pandemic.

Enhanced Security Against Attacks

Sadly, hacks and data breaches are common in the business world, and you don’t need to be well known to be a target. As conventional security software and measures need constant updates against increasingly sophisticated attacks, protecting on-site servers becomes a time-consuming endeavor.

Each employee with access to your servers can become a point of failure, despite comprehensive security measures. Exploiting human error allows bad actors to compromise your data without much effort, especially if there is a weak link in your system, human or digital.

While there’s no perfect method of digital security, cloud storage–by its nature–has numerous advantages. Each cloud backup makes it easier to restore lost or stolen data. Because your information saves in multiple instances across several servers, it’s much harder to target it all, and finding a single point of entry is nearly impossible. Moreover, remotely hosted servers typically utilise enterprise- or even military-grade encryption, offering the highest levels of security for your (and your clients’) data.

Save Money on Many Fronts

When you buy your server, it’s not a one-time purchase. Servers require maintenance and, occasionally, repairs to continue functioning. They also need a considerable amount of power to run twenty-four hours a day. When they aren’t live, it may hinder your work and cost you more in wasted labor hours (and potentially lost sales from your website). As you and your company grow, you may need to expand your server, increasing related costs.

By comparison, you’re responsible for very little of the costs associated with cloud storage options. You’ll pay for the service, including the amount of storage you use, but that’s it. The data center housing the cloud servers are responsible for their upkeep and power consumption. From the user perspective, cloud servers are a very hands-off experience.

Simple Scalability

As your business continues to grow, your storage needs will need to grow along with it. Buying, configuring, and maintaining your servers as you grow becomes more and more complicated. Can you predict how much more space you’ll need? Can you reasonably pace your growth, so you know when to invest more money in storage and IT?

Cloud storage data centers are capable of storing incredible amounts of data from hundreds of thousands of sources. Their massive number of servers means they can be flexible with how they sell space. Most bill you based on how much data you store but don’t put a hard limit on the amount you can use. Rather than having to buy servers of a set size every time you grow, you can simply use more cloud storage and get billed for what you use.

Dynamite IT Has Your Business Covered

As a Wellington based business ourselves, we understand the needs of local businesses. We have tailored our range of managed products and IT services to take the hassle out of your business infrastructure. Our response time is fast as we are based in Upper Hutt and service the Wellington region including Lower Hutt, Wellington CBD and Porirua City.

April 10, 2021August 26, 2021

Why Your Business Needs On-Call IT Support

Do various IT issues overwhelm or take away from your small businesses’ productivity? It does not matter what type of small business – If you run a website, eCommerce storefront, or even simply manage a handful of computers on a local network, investing in professional IT support is a must for cybersecurity, productivity and data protection.

With new technologies emerging as rapidly as they do, companies need to stay up to date to succeed. If you struggle to keep up with your small business’s technical demands, your customers will be the first to notice. Choosing to bring in industry professionals (whether in-house or outsourced) will help alleviate these consistent headaches and convey to your customers and clients that you aren’t about to fade into the past. But, is that an option with your budget?

Being able to focus on your business and not on technical difficulties might seem like a luxury… but it’s not. You don’t have time to fuss with misbehaving computers, servers, networks or websites – you’ve got a business to run. Let’s take a look at our top 6 reasons why your business needs on-call IT support to take charge of your fiscal year.

Reason #1: Cost Effectiveness

IT support professionals are worth the investment – full stop.

However, there is a better way to have support from an experienced IT team without breaking your budget. When you relay responsibilities like your broadband services to a professional IT service, their sole responsibility is to make sure their professionals are available around the clock to handle anything your devices, network, or website might throw your way. Not only do you get round the clock support, but you do so at a fraction of what it would cost to source, hire, and provide benefits for an in-house team of your own.

Reason #2: Enhances Your Business’s Security

Data is a primary concern no matter what kind of business you run. You need to have that data available with a reliable cloud backup going at all times. However, managing cloud systems with sensitive information requires enterprise-level encryption and monitoring. As a small business owner, you don’t have the time to manage IT infrastructure 24/7 – that’s a full-time job in-and-of-itself and you’ve got a business to run.

By handing off this duty to a professional IT service provider, you not only take the burden off of your own team, but you gain the experience, diligence, and insurance that comes along with their pedigree.

Reason #3: Embraces New Technologies to Advance

While it may be your job to understand the newest trends and how they affect your business, it will be your IT service’s job to implement new technologies and keep your digital world going. Outsourcing IT also gives you a leg up, as your team can inform you of the latest technologies as they emerge and help you prepare for implementation of better or more reliable systems as they become relevant to you and the industry. This can give you a continual edge on the competition.

You will spend less time having to play catch-up, and with a brief overview of those new technologies as they become relevant, you will be better equipped to compete in the digital space with less time spent on what-ifs.

With professional IT guidance you can trust, you’re ready to use new technologies to advance your company’s goals and seek areas for further expansion, but only when it’s the right choice for your business needs.

Reason #4: Maximises Company Productivity and Efficiency

Having a tech support company ensures your business productivity and efficiency stay at an increased level. Website bugs, errors, and confusion can take up a lot of valuable time and having to stop the production of any services or face downtime on your eCommerce store impedes your bottom line in a way that no small business can afford.

Don’t let unwanted downtime take a chunk out of your bottom line. With professional IT support, your team takes care of your site, your servers, your network, and even your phones! You can rest assured that a quality team is tackling your technologies head-on and with minimal (or no) interruption to you or your customer’s experience.

Reason #5: 24/7 Access to Technical Support

Websites run 24/7.

Your business may not keep the same hours, but your website does. When issues creep up after hours, you need access to IT support at a moment’s notice. Whether it’s 3am or just after closing time, you need assurance that any technical issues will be resolved in short order so that your systems keep running and your best marketing asset (your website) is always available to complete transactions or deliver leads.

Get a goodnight’s rest knowing your IT team is there to ensure everything is running smoothly around the clock.

Reason #6: Increases Your Company’s ROI

Investing in IT support may seem like a costly investment. However, this type of investment tends to carry a high ROI by maintaining your revenue-generating assets (phone systems for sales calls, website for leads and conversions, servers and networks for processing transactions, etc.) and preventing them from going offline.

Professional tech support eliminates the worry that comes along with needing to independently keep up with a rapidly advancing technological business landscape. Better yet, it does so with a static cost that allows you to budget for IT without surprises, and eschew the in-house costs of department scaling down the line. Having a team of IT professionals at work allows your company to expand as needed without increasing payroll for the number of employees in your IT Department.

By taking your investment and putting it with a team of outsourced industry professionals, you choose financial security in an ever-increasing (and otherwise expensive) aspect of business.

Decide the Future of Your Business Today

As a Wellington based business ourselves, we understand the needs of local businesses. We have tailored our range of managed products and IT services to take the hassle out of your business infrastructure. Our response time is fast as we are based in Upper Hutt and service the Wellington region including Lower Hutt, Wellington CBD and Porirua City.