My Atfp Technology

Whether you are inheriting an existing IT infrastructure or building a new one from the ground up, there are essential technologies and strategies that must be implemented to ensure a secure and stable environment. Through years of providing administration/implementation services of information systems/networks, I have achieved a high level of client satisfaction by implementing the following solutions/strategies.

Backup/Disaster Recovery (DR) Plan – Whether your environment consists of a single desktop with a few gigabytes of data, or a large firm with terabytes of data, a backup strategy and DR plan must be defined, implemented, and most importantly tested. While cloud backup solutions offer all of the protection with none of the hassle, traditional backup technologies such as tape are still an effective solution. The goal should not be simply to implement a data backup strategy, but a data recovery solution. DR plans can consist of a replicated site location with identical equipment on standby in the case of an emergency, or simply ordering new equipment and restoring from backups if needed. Creating a DR plan is usually started by asking management the question, “What would happen to your company tomorrow if the office burns down tonight?”

Supported Hardware/Software – Having an infrastructure that runs on old hardware that does not have a support contract with the vendor will eventually lead to restoring data from backups or making your DR plan a reality. This includes your servers, switches, routers, phones, and even printers. Not only does the physical equipment need support, but your applications do too. Having vendor support greatly reduces the amount of time spent getting things working again when they break, and believe me they will, which leads to higher productivity for the business.

Power/AC - This one, in my opinion, is pretty much a no brainer. None of the servers or network devices can run without power and they all generate heat. I will however stress the importance of a quality uninterruptible power supply (UPS). Not only does a good UPS supply battery backup power to your systems in the event of a power failure, but if it includes power conditioning features then it also supplies your equipment with a much cleaner stream of power/voltage which protects your equipment from power spikes and surges. Obviously, AC is required to keep the systems from overheating and causing damage to their internal components.