Recent Blog Posts

Backup Can Really Save Your Business? Bacon

With a BDR, you get the convenience of having a network attached copy of your data coupled with the redundancy you need to ensure that your data is protected. Best yet, the BDR can run automatically at preset intervals so that your company doesn?t risk losing more than 15 minutes? worth of data. Furthermore, BDR uses the cloud to perform data backups, which provides a significantly better system for getting back in the game following a critical loss incident. The cloud allows for faster restoration times, less downtime, and more complete data backups. The cloud utilizes snapshot-based data backup, which only updates the current backup if the files have been changed, making it truly the best way to go about protecting your organization from unforeseen threats. For those businesses that currently operate without a data backup and recovery strategy–especially if you?ve been in business for some time–you may think that it?s just another cost that you are taking on that will hurt your business? ability to turn a profit. You may not think you have enough data that you think is important enough to warrant additional investment in protecting it. You are probably mistaken, however. You have important data, and if you lose it, you stand to lose your business. In fact, 94 percent of businesses that fall victim to a major data loss incident fail within two years of the incident. If you consider six percent of all computers will fail in any given year, it stands to reason that it?s only a matter of time before you are dealing with a data loss catastrophe. Keep your business out of harm?s way with a backup and disaster recovery strategy. Call White Mountain IT Services today at (603) 889-0800 to learn more.

Is Your Cloud Solution Actually a Money Pit?

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The cloud has proven to be an extremely useful tool for the modern business. Not only does it provide anywhere-anytime access to applications, processing, storage, et al; it also delivers those products as a service, allowing you to budget for recurring costs rather than major upfront ones. This provides your organization with functional, supported, and secure computing environments that eliminate a lot of the support costs that traditional computing environments require. It sounds like a perfect scenario for small and large businesses alike, but things aren’t always what they seem, as a lot of cloud users have found that they have incurred several hidden costs by using cloud platforms. Today, we take a look at these hidden costs.

Tip of the Week: Using Your Android Device from Your Desktop

In order to use this function, you need to be sure of a few things: You have a Samsung Galaxy device (although more should be compatible soon) running Android 9.0 or later with the Link to Windows tool. Your computer is running the Windows 10 October 2019 Update or later (at this point, it probably should be later). You’re connected to the same Wi-Fi network on both devices. It is also important to keep in mind that this feature is not compatible with accounts designated as work or school accounts. What Does This Allow Me to Do? Simply stated, this compatibility allows you to use your Android device’s applications alongside the ones on your desktop or laptop, thereby reducing the time you waste switching back and forth between devices as you go about your day. Interacting with your applications on-screen is simple. A single click works the same as a single tap. Right clicking works similarly to the Back button. Clicking and holding is the same as touching and holding. Clicking and dragging works to select content. Scrolling allows you to move vertically and horizontally between apps. There are a few limitations to this capability?namely, the fact that some apps may not allow casting to your computer’s display, the fact that some will require the use of a touch-input PC, and the fact that sounds are not also cast to your PC. However, if you’re someone who relies on both your PC and your mobile device throughout the day, this function will likely be of some use. So, is this something you could see yourself using? Leave a comment to tell us why or why not, and don’t forget to subscribe to our blog!

Taking a Look at Budget Smartphone Offerings from Samsung, Apple, and Google

Past Flagship Phones If you are looking to pay a fraction of what you would pay for a new smartphone, you have to first look at flagships from a year or two ago. They will probably provide the best value as they typically have comparable or superior specs to the devices released in the mid-range this year while they have better cameras, better processors, and better displays. A few options to consider are the Samsung Galaxy s9 and s9+, the LG V50 thinQ, the iPhone X, or Google?s Pixel 3+. Users can expect enough software support to make buying an older flagship a solid move.  Samsung Galaxy A51 The A51 is one of the better phones in the A-series Samsung?s lineup, and users can see value as it is priced at the edge of the budget price point. It features a 6.5-inch Super AMOLED display, 4 or 8 gigs of RAM, and several features that flagships don?t support, like a 3.5mm headphone jack and expandable storage. Available in Prism Crush Black, Prism Crush White, Prism Crush Blue, or Prism Crush Pink, the Galaxy A51 can be found on most major carriers and unlocked online. Samsung Galaxy A51Body: Plastic with Gorilla Glass 3 front, plastic backDisplay: 6.5-inch Super AMOLED (~405 ppi)OS: Android 10Chipset: Octa-core Exynos 9611Memory: 4-8 GB RAMExpandable Memory: microSDXCCameras: Rear – 48 MP (wide), 12 MP (ultrawide, 5 MP (macro, 5 MP (depth); Front – 32 MP (wide)Sounds: Loudspeaker, 3.5mm headphone jackBattery (endurance rating): 4,000 mAh (86 hours)Security: In-display fingerprint readerMiscellaneous: Accelerometer, Gyrometer, Proximity, Barometer, Compass, Bixby assistantOther versions: Samsung Galaxy A-series Google Pixel 4a 5G Google may have backed off the flagship smartphone race in 2020, but for years they have been delivering solid smartphones with one of the best software experiences on the market. The Google Pixel 4a 5G, is 5G capable, if that is applicable to you, but the real value is the passable specs and the price point, found hundreds of dollars below devices with comparable specs. Available in Just Black and Clearly White, the Pixel 4a 5G is available in the Google store or from many major service carriers. Google Pixel 4A 5GBody: Plastic with Gorilla Glass 3 front and plastic backDisplay: 6.2-inch OLED, HDR (~413 ppi)OS: Android 11Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 765GMemory: 6 GB RAMExpandable Memory: NoCameras: Rear – 12.2 MP (wide), 16 MP (ultra wide); Front – 8 MP (wide).Sounds: Stereo Speakers, 3.5mm Headphone JackBattery: 3,885 mAhSecurity: Fingerprint readerMiscellaneous: Accelerometer, Gyrometer, Proximity, Barometer, Compass, Google AssistantOther versions: 4G LTE version Apple iPhone SE Apple?s 2020 version of their SE device looks the same as their last one. It actually looks just like an iPhone 8, which was one of Apple?s most popular devices. The new SE runs iOS on Apple?s A13 Bionic chip, and while significantly smaller than many devices you see, delivers a solid user experience for fans of the operating system Apple iPhone SE (2020)Body: Aluminum with Gorilla Glass front and backDisplay: 4.7-inch Retina IPS LCD (~326 ppi)OS: iOS 13Chipset: Apple A13 Bionic Memory: 3 GB RAMExpandable Memory: NoCameras: Rear – 12 MP (wide); Front – 7 MPSounds: Stereo Speakers, No Headphone JackBattery (endurance rating): 4,500 mAh (87 hours)Security: Fingerprint readerMiscellaneous: Accelerometer, Gyrometer, Proximity, Compass, Siri assistant There are many other budget devices on the market, but to get the biggest bang […]

MSPs Can Help you Track Your Technology

To keep your IT working for you, you need control over it.  You need to know when a piece of hardware was purchased, who set it up, and when it was last maintenanced. You need a strategy to protect the hardware and the data. You need these because you have made huge investments into this technology and it is easier to have all the answers on record rather than having to do a full-scale inquiry every time you need to know something about your technology.  Today, IT professionals deploy the technology you use and keep it maintained and managed; and, can also keep a very detailed inventory of every wire, every piece of hardware and software, and every action taken to maintain those systems. Managed IT services providers also use state-of-the-art technology to ensure that your systems are patched, updated, and running proficiently.  In the course of accomplishing this, a lot of documentation is created. Some of the records that need to be kept include: All network-attached devices you have, from your networking devices to every company-owned endpoint and peripheral that attaches to it. The proper configuration for each of these devices. The date that each of these devices was installed. The licenses that your business needs to maintain, and the status of the ones you have. A comprehensive history of all service that each of these devices has received. This record of events provides the MSP (or your onsite IT administrator) with a guide to effectively manage a business? technology while understanding how your business functions through it.  Your IT administrator can refer to this record to explain any issue that has happened with any piece of your existing technology. Managed IT Works for You If you have questions about how to get a thorough record of your IT systems and maintenance–and would like to learn more about how White Mountain IT Services can provide you with more effective technology–call our IT professionals today at (603) 889-0800.