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Five Things to Monitor for a Secure IT Environment

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Monitoring a hybrid IT environment is a complex and high-stakes task. No matter how robust the monitoring system, there will inevitably be something that falls through the cracks. And the ramifications can be major, from data loss to network failure and everything in between. So how can IT administrators monitor their system in a proactive way, without the extra noise and stress that overmonitoring can cause?

According to Mission Critical Magazine, there are five essential things to monitor in order to maintain control of the IT environment. We’ll summarize them here.

Quality of Service

Quality of service, or QoS, allows you to examine the network as a whole. Standard QoS metrics include latency, bandwidth, error rates and uptime. Watching for sudden changes in these areas allows you to uncover breaches or other issues.

Quality of Experience

Not surprisingly, quality of experience, or QoE, monitors the enduser experience. The primary metric here is response times, because that’s really all the enduser cares about – how fast their data will load. The challenge is identifying exactly what is causing response times to lag.

Resource Utilization

The expectation that resources (such as servers and networks) should be fully and efficiently utilized is a constant challenge. It’s been made more difficult with the increasing popularity of the cloud. Ensuring that all resources are being utilized, wherever they are housed, can improve efficiency and boost the bottom line.

Error Logs

Don’t wait until a major breach to examine error logs. Check them regularly, watching for seemingly-innocuous errors, such as a sudden jump in login failures. This could signify that an attack is being attempted.

The Monitoring System

It may seem unnecessary, but think of it this way: if you lose the ability to utilize your monitoring system for any length of time, you’re vulnerable until it’s back up and running. A great deal of damage could be done during that time. A secondary monitoring system that exists solely to report the status of your monitoring system is essential.

If you need help reinforcing and protecting your hybrid IT environment, give Vaultas a call today.

Vaultas is a premier provider of IT solutions, providing data storage and backup, disaster recovery and business continuity services, hosting, colocation, cloud storage and more. Contact us to get started.

How to Choose a Colocation Facility

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As we discussed in our previous blog post, there are many benefits to choosing colocation instead of a traditional data center. These include lower cost, increased security and ease of access. Once you’ve made the decision to colocate your data and IT equipment, the next step is to actually find a colocation facility that meets your needs. How should that be done?

There are certain things to consider when choosing a colocation provider. We’ll go over a few below.

Still unsure of the process? Download our free colocation guide!

Location and Amenities:

Is the facility located close to the company’s office? If not, is it within driving distance of a major airport for easy access? Does it offer a comfortable work environment for IT technicians? Is it in a location that experiences severe weather, and if so, has it taken the proper precautions?

Security and Stability:

Is sufficient security (physical and virtual) in place? How often does the facility test its primary and backup power and cooling systems? Is the provider audited by a third party for data security, or take any additional data security measures? Is there a fire protection system in place?

Carrier Neutrality:

Is the provider carrier neutral, offering broad network choices and access to multiple internet service providers?

 

 

 

Scalability and Value Added Services:

Is there room to grow? Are additional services, like cloud or managed hosting, available for future use if business needs change?

Service Level Agreement:

Does the provider offer a strong SLA? If an issues arises, will you be able to immediately speak with a local engineer, or will you have to wait until the next business day?

Clearly, there are several concerns to keep in mind when choosing a colocation facility. Don’t be afraid to ask all of these questions and more. Your company’s data, applications and operations are its most important asset, and choosing a colocation facility that will protect them is key to your success.

For more information on colocation and how to choose a colocation facility that is right for your business, download our free colocation guide.

Vaultas offers colocation in our fault tolerant data centers, with access to our many world-class, redundant network and bandwidth providers. All of our colocation facilities are fitted with reliable IT infrastructure, access to many different cloud operators, storage providers and redundant networks. Every Vaultas site provides redundant electrical and cooling systems that are monitored 24 hours a day, offering the greatest protection and security available.

Want to learn more? Get in touch today.

Colocation or Data Center: Which is Right for Your Business?

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One of the most common challenges in IT infrastructure management is maintaining sufficient space and power. As a business grows and ages, it will naturally acquire more data, which will, in turn, require more storage space. Purchasing new IT equipment is usually only a stopgap, as it can quickly outgrow the available office space, power and cooling capabilities. So what’s the solution – colocation or data center? And what, exactly, is the difference between the two?

To learn how to choose a colocation partner that fits your business’ unique needs, download our free colocation guide today.

Let’s begin with a brief definition of each:

Data Center:

Networked computer servers used for the storage or processing of data for daily use as well as backup and disaster recovery. These servers can be hosted in-house or in a remote data center facility.

 

 

 

Colocation:

Colocation facilities provide the space, power and bandwidth to store servers and IT equipment. Many businesses utilize the same facility for storage.

At first glance, the two appear very similar. But there is one key difference: with colocation, businesses provide their own servers and equipment.

Without knowing more, it would seem that data centers are the easier and better choice. But that’s not necessarily the case. There are several benefits to colocation:

  1. Lower cost: Sharing overhead with other businesses lower the total expense, and storing in facilities specifically designated for colocation increases energy efficiency.
  2. Access and ease of use: When IT professionals work on-site at colocation facilities, efficiency increases. Dedicated facility staff is available to help with any issues that arise.
  3. Network accessibility: Colocation facilities allow companies to connect with multiple carriers, regional networks and internet service providers.
  4. Network neutrality: When colocation providers are network neutral, companies can be in control of their own network strategy.
  5. Security: Colocation facilities are secure against any kind of threat – physical or virtual.
  6. Disaster readiness: Colocating allows companies to choose a facility that may be safer from weather threats than business headquarters.
  7. Easier compliance: Colocation facilities will maintain detailed records, making it easy for companies to produce compliance documentation.

Still not sure whether colocation or data center is right for your business? Download our free colocation guide, then get in touch. Vaultas offers both data center storage and colocation throughout Minnesota and Wisconsin. We will help customize a solution to meet your company’s unique needs.