Self Healing Networks for Small and Mid-Sized Businesses

Pinpointing the causes of failures and solving the root problems takes up a lot of IT staff time, a resource that has become more scarce as budgets tighten. Cisco has made it easier to diagnose and solve problems in an enterprise's IT infrastructure—even to the point where it can do that by itself—through its self-healing networks.

From Cisco : Cisco Systems ® announces the availability of a new version of CiscoWorks Wireless LAN Solution Engine (WLSE)—a core component of the intelligent Cisco ®  Structured Wireless-Aware Network (SWAN). This new CiscoWorks WLSE version provides several new capabilities including self-healing, advanced intrusion detection, automated resite surveys, warm standby redundancy, real-time client tracking/reporting, and other new features. Self-healing is an advanced high-availability radio management feature that enables a Cisco Aironet ® Series access point to automatically adjust its cell coverage area to compensate for the loss of a nearby access point. Two new advanced intrusion detection solutions now protect the radio frequency (RF) environment and WLAN networks from unauthorized access and intruders.

CiscoWorks WLSE is a centralized, systems-level solution for managing the entire Cisco Aironet wireless LAN (WLAN) infrastructure. CiscoWorks WLSE ensures smooth WLAN deployment, simplifies everyday operation, tightens security and WLAN intrusion detection, optimizes performance, and maximizes network availability. These advanced
air/RF and device management capabilities reduce deployment and operating expenses while enhancing the productivity of network administrators.

Cisco SWAN provides superior wireless security, management, deployment, and mobility by integrating and extending wireless awareness into every element of the network infrastructure. Cisco SWAN delivers the same level of security, scalability, and manageability for wireless LANs that customers expect in their wired LAN. Using familiar Cisco IOS ® Software tools, Cisco Aironet access points, client devices, and Cisco switches and routers, this solution brings structure, control, and tight security to the wireless LAN.

CiscoWorks WLSE 2.7 enhancements include:

• Self-healing WLANs —If CiscoWorks WLSE detects that an access point has failed, it compensates by automatically increasing the power and cell coverage of nearby access points. The self-healing solution minimizes outage impact to wireless client devices and maximizes the availability of wireless applications.
• Additional device support —CiscoWorks WLSE RF management support has been added for Cisco Aironet 1200 Series and Cisco Aironet 1100 Series access points with IEEE 802.11a and 802.11g radios, including Cisco Aironet 1200 Series dual mode radios (802.11a/802.11b and 802.11a/802.11g). Network management support has been added for the Cisco Aironet 1400 Series Wireless Bridge.
• Security and Wireless LAN Intrusion Detection System (IDS) —Organizations need to protect their RF environments and WLAN networks from unauthorized access. Unauthorized access points installed by employees or intruders create security breaches that put the entire network at risk. Protection can be tailored to suit individual needs:      
  
  
  • Integrated IDS —Standard Cisco Aironet access points are deployed with the radio (802.11a, b, or g) placed in multifunction mode to service client devices and to provide WLAN intrusion monitoring. Intrusion detection information is gathered from the access points that scan the RF environment. Optionally, Cisco client cards and Cisco Compatible client devices provide additional information about the RF environment.
  • Dedicated IDS —A dedicated access-point-only WLAN is deployed with the access point radio (802.11a, b, or g) placed in radio scan mode to support only WLAN intrusion monitoring. This solution provides continuous stateful 24-hour monitoring of the RF environment by access points dedicating their full bandwidth to intrusion detection. Unassociated client device monitoring is supported to minimize the risk of clients associating to rogue access points and to protect the network from malicious intruders probing the RF environment for weaknesses.
• Assisted site surveys and automated resite surveys —CiscoWorks WLSE automates the previously manual, expensive, and time-consuming process of determining optimal access point radio transmit power and channel selection, resulting in productivity gains for administrators. CiscoWorks WLSE analyzes RF measurements from Cisco Aironet access points, Cisco Aironet WLAN client adapters, and Cisco Compatible client devices, and then determines the optimal channel selection and transmit power, as well as other access point settings. Thereafter, CiscoWorks WLSE continuously monitors RF capacity and coverage, sending notification if performance falls below administrator-defined thresholds. It finds new optimal settings by running the site survey wizard.
• Warm standby redundancy —Both a primary and a backup CiscoWorks WLSE now are supported. Data is synchronized on a user-defined interval. If the primary CiscoWorks WLSE fails, the backup CiscoWorks WLSE automatically engages.
• Open Extensible Markup Language (XML) API —RF management data, in addition to network management data, may be accessed by third-party management systems using XML. Current and historical report data is provided.
• Real-time client tracking and reporting —A variety of reports, including real-time client tracking, present a powerful set of tools for troubleshooting and capacity planning. Using only a client name, user name, or MAC address, it is easy to determine to what access point a client is associated. Information about network utilization, client association and utilization, historical and current client usage statistics, Ethernet and radio interfaces status, and error details are displayed in both graph and tabular form.

Call Hardwyre today at 501.851.2880 to deploy the Cisco Self Healing Network and gain control over your IT. Our engineers can install and configure it for you, and manage your entire infrastructure through Managed IT Services.

Online Data Backup for Home Users

You have home owner's insurance to insure your home and its contents from theft. You have car insurance to insure your vehicle from accidents. But how do you insure your data from disaster? The answer is less expensive and easier than you might think: Online data backups.

It might not seem to cool while you're installing a backup program. But when your computer crashes, it is undeniably cool to know your files are safely stored. 

Why Do I Need Online Backup?

The same way you buy life insurance for yourself, your family and your properties, you need to insure your data from unforeseen incidents, like virus, theft of your computer, accidental human error, fire, flood, tornado, mud-slides, earthquake, tsunami, hurricane or other disasters.

Most people backup their data onto a CD, DVD or external hard drive. The problem with these traditional methods  is they don't fully protect your data unless they are stored offsite. If you store your backup disk in the same location as your source, the backup could be destroyed along with the original data by unforeseen incidents like a tornado, hurricane or tsunami.

Another problem with traditional backup is that people don't do it regularly. With online backup, computer users don't have to worry about remembering to backup regularly. Once the program is setup, it does the job automatically. You'll never lift a finger.

Key Features and Benefits of Online Backup

Although features and benefits will vary from one company to another, most online providers have the following features not available with traditional backup methods:

Cost

• No capital outlay (payment on a monthly or yearly basis)
• No set up or license fees
• No tape storage costs
• Low operating costs

Ease of use

• Setup and installation is generally simpler and completed within minutes of downloading the software
• Backups can run in the background and parallel with users normal activities
• Current and historical data can be restored easily and immediately
• Easy and centralized management of all backups

Mirrored Data

• Protected against data loss due to sabotage, fire, theft, flood, virus or other disasters
• There is no worry over lost, damaged, or worn out tapes
• Better accuracy for budgeting and forecasting
• Increased compliance assurance

Convenience

• File sharing capabilities, if needed
• Remote web access to data anytime
• 24 x 7 x 365 data availability
• Extensive reporting for audits and verification 

Hardwyre Recommendations for Online Backup Programs

We stand behind BackupReview.info's list of Top 25 Backup Companies from March 2008. Based on top marks in security, software features, software ease of use, speed, reliability, uptime, quality and accessibility, and cost per MB per month, these top three programs from that list are our recommendations for online backup programs:

1. Carbonite | carbonite.com
2. Novastor | novastor.com
3. Data Deposit Box | datadepositbox.com

Or if you'd rather give your business to a more local company, we also recommend Memphis-based PackRat.

Reduce Costs and Minimize Risk with Managed Technology Services

Traditionally small and mid-sized organizations have limited, or often no, full time resources providing IT support. These businesses are faced with the decision to manage IT themselves, use outside consulting services, hire internal IT personnel or outsource the function.

Keeping your IT in-house used to be considered the most risk-averse and only option available. The problem is that technology has taken on a larger role for companies in daily business operations and in customer service.

This, along with the skill requirements and costs of skilled IT labor, has created a new set of risks around managing technology in-house:

Four Risk Factors In-House IT Management 

1. Permanent Fire Fighter Duty. Most companies and IT managers are constantly thrust into the role of “fire fighter” by fixing ongoing problems and addressing short term needs rather than adding value or improving the competitiveness of the organization.
2. Increased Strain on Management Time. The demand on management's time to oversee technology management is one of the issues that cause the greatest pain. When the cost of this time and the redirection of key people are added to the cost of supporting technology, the results are painful.
3. Out-of-Control IT Expenses. With both in-house technical support and consultants, your business remains at risk. Ongoing consulting fees, constant changes and modifications make planned budgets obsolete. Even after the added expense is incurred, there is no guarantee that it was done right or the right thing to do.
4. Steep Technology Learning Curve. Technology is one of the most dynamic areas in the current business environment. Typical life spans of software, hardware and infrastructure are sometimes as short as two or three years. With this quickly changing horizon it is almost impossible to keep up with what is currently the best investment for a company to make. Most business decision makers experience great frustration because they rarely feel they have the proper information or guidance when choosing and implementing systems.

Business Value in Managed Technology Services

Now that we have examined four of the risks with managing technology in-house, we can explore the potential business benefits that can be achieved through a managed service:

1. Reduced Costs and ROI. Technology is expensive to purchase and maintain. Hardwyre Managed Services are driven by solid ROI calculations. Scale of economy for key systems drives down cost and allows for a budgeted expense and conserves capital with no large up front capital expenditures. As you grow the cost becomes variable as you add users and applications.
2. Increased Work Time and Productivity. Through Hardwyre Managed Services, our trained engineers provide management of all your daily support requests and maintain servers to guarantee performance.
3. More Control. Hardwyre assumes responsibility for ensuring your infrastructure environment is up and running and secure. We monitor network health and availability and proactively respond to issues. By centralizing administration and changes and applying best practices the overall health of your network is very high.
4. Increased Focus on Your Business. The value proposition is straightforward. By not having to spend valuable management time on technology issues, you can focus on growing your business. As your business grows, Hardwyre takes responsibility for scaling the architecture to meet your increased demands. You are always assured of running on the latest software and hardware available that aligns with your business goals. And a consistent monthly charge makes technology expenses predictable and planned.

Bottom Line:

Hardwyre Managed IT Services offer a predictable, cost-contained approach to fully managing your complex desktop support requirements without costly internal IT personnel or infrastructure investments.

If you do not use Managed Technology Services, then you have effectively chosen the alternative – reactive firefighting, time-consuming desktop maintenance and costly, impulsive infrastructure purchases. The smart choice is to outsource your IT infrastructure to Hardwyre and get back to your business.

More About Hardwyre Managed Solutions

Hardwyre Managed IT Services are flexible, enabling us to work with you in a variety of ways. In a number of the businesses we work with, our role is to support the current staff and help them to be more successful. And as an accredited member of the Managed Services Alliance of Professionals (MSAP), we guarantee a high level of integrity, customer service and professionalism.

We employ industry-leading expertise to develop road maps, define network optimization strategies, leverage investments, and create migration plans as part of a Managed Services offering. We provide an unparalleled breadth of multi-vendor, multi-technology convergence expertise, paired with a legacy of technology and service excellence, to fashion solutions and strategies that support your specific business imperatives. Please all us today at 501.851.2880 to get started with Managed Services.

Right Job, Wrong Program? Crabby Helps Out

Ever feel stuck in a rut, using the same program over and over but not getting the results you want? It's time to open your eyes to what else is out there — expand your horizons, step outside your comfort zone, think outside the box.

Every day, when you wake up, you immediately have choices to make:

• Snooze it one more time?
• Cereal or eggs?
• Jeans or dress for success?

When you get to work, the decisions don't stop; no, they're just beginning. Sometimes you make good decisions and sometimes you don't. One reason you don't may be plain reluctance to try something new. For example, you might struggle to create a really complicated list in Excel — one with rows and rows of information that you need to cross-reference — when that long list is actually a database and you should create it in Access. And why try to create a form in any other program than InfoPath, whose purpose in life is to manage data with forms?

Listen, I know that when you get comfortable with one program, you tend to use it as much as possible. Little kids are notorious for wanting to wear the same outfit every day of the week (and this often means a Superman cape or a ballerina tutu), but people, it's time to put away childish tendencies. A tutu is made for dancing; it's not so useful for soccer. And a cape, well, I suppose one could make the case that a cape is good for just about anything, but if it were my kid, and bike riding were involved, the cape would have to go.

Yes, Office programs can be pretty flexible. But if one program could handle every task, there wouldn't be the need to offer 15 different ones. In this week's column I'll list a few common tasks and then compare the various Office programs that you can use to accomplish them. Then you can make up your mind about which program is best for the work at hand.

Making sense of data

Excel and Access have a lot in common when it comes to managing data. However, there are some key differences that you need to know.

Let's say you're planning a massive family reunion (a job for the family's well-organized masochist). Figuring out who can sit next to whom (thus avoiding last year's scandals, crying, and drunken confessions), who's vegetarian/vegan/lactose-intolerant/gluten-free, and where everyone will sleep is a daunting task. If you use the right program for the job, though, you may avoid that cleaning bill after last year's food fight.

Now that I think of it, if this is what you have to do to get the family together, perhaps you should reconsider.

Project management

Chances are you don't work on just one thing all day long. You're a multitasker, juggling many projects at a time, and spending a lot of time trying to keep all those flaming torches in the air. Think of the right Office program as the perfect juggler's helper: If you choose the one dedicated to making your life easier, it will save you time, possibly money, and definitely frown lines.

One of the most important requirements for managing a project is being organized. If you don't have that skill, no amount of software I toss at you will help. Before you launch into it, think about the various aspects of your project: What is the goal or desired outcome? What is the timeline? How many people will be involved? And which one of them will be your personal delegate, on whom you can toss the lion's share of work?

Forms and more forms

Forms are everywhere. They're used for timecards, expense reports, and surveys. Forms keep track of customer information, gather customer feedback, and when they're electronic, limit how much information customers can enter (something I dream about when going through your thoughtful but occasionally fulsome comments).

Taking notes

If you're a meticulous keeper of notes, you've probably counted on Word for years. You use it, you like it, and you know it like the back of your mouse. Familiarity, after all, breeds comfortability (or something like that).

Well, there's someone you should meet, someone who might — and frankly, who should — make you think twice about creating long, vertical, multipage documents just for note-taking. That someone's name is OneNote.

But before the introductions, let me first say that I'm not suggesting you toss Word out with yesterday's garbage. There are some things that Word does a lot better than OneNote when it comes to note-taking. Maturity does have its value. (Oh stop snickering.)

Don't think for one moment, however, that Word and OneNote don't get along. You can take notes in OneNote, drag the note container into your Word document, and apply all the security you want. It's a beautiful thing.