Why Backing Up Your Small Businesses Digital Data Is Crucial

Losing important data can devastate a small business. According to a recent survey of business executives disaster recovery was the primary reason that company's chose to use a data storage service. In the recent NAS vendor Avere Systems and Gatepoint Research Report 63% of the 100 business executive respondents said that disaster recovery was the primary motivation behind their companies using a data storage service.

While protecting your data from an unforeseen disaster is certainly a very good reason to set up a data storage solution it is not the only one. Below you can find some of the major advantages of using a data storage solution to protect and store your data. Bear in mind that even if your company diligently backs up it's data, it remains important to plan for the worst and make sure that you have an approved local data recovery vendor in place. This will ultimately save your company time and money should the worst happen. If your business is located in London, then Easy Recovery offer a great range of services.

Preventing prolonged downtime

Prolonged downtime is a disaster that many businesses will never recover from. This downtime is often caused by the loss of key data. The reason for data loss doesn't have to be due to natural disaster such as an earthquake, fire or flood. Human error is a common cause of the loss of data due to mistakes or failure to save key files.

Critical if you are audited

Regulatory and tax agencies will want to see a complete set of your financial records. Failure to present these can mean that you are not compliant and can result in significant fines. Loss of data due to oversight, lack of systems in place, or disaster will not be accepted as a reason to fail to produce accurate records.

Avoiding work needing to be repeated

having to repeat work is a massive waste of company resources. If work is not properly stored and cannot be easily retrieved then the work will frequently need to be done over once again. This may involve having to recreate spreadsheets, presentations of re-invoicing customers.

It can be automated

If you choose to use an online backup service or NAS device you won't have to worry about manually backing up your files. These data services work in the background and automatically update your data. Some data services will back up your data according to a schedule that you have set, where as other backup services will be constantly backing up your data whatever changes are made.

Types of backup solution

There are a number of different types of backup solutions that you can use to back up your small business company data. Some of these include:

Flash drives

These are small devices which are inserted into a USB port. Flash drives can hold anywhere up to around 64 GB of data for and are great for selective backup. Because flash drives are small and easy to carry they are great for backing up important documents.

CD and DVD's

CD and DVD are able to hold less data than a flash drive, but they do tend to be much cheaper than flash based memory and can also be used to store data on an permentant basis. Backing up data onto compact disks can take longer to complete than a flash drive backup, but they also offer the opportunity to keep data neatly organised since disks can be stored in chronologic order on cake spindles.

External hard drives

External hard drives are perhaps the most practical backup solution available for small businesses. External drives can often hold up to six terabytes of data, there are relatively easy to use, and they make organising your information easy. Many external drives also come with free automatic backup software, and some even use RAID to backup your data to multiple drives at once (mirroring).

NAS devices

A NAS device is similar to an external hard drive but with a few additional features. They attach to a small businesses network and can be accessed by all of the networked computers at the same time. This allows the businesses employees to back up and access their stored information simultaneously without having to attach an external drive to each of the computers.

Online Back up Service

This type of service provides access to remote data storage servers which can be accessed by a business over the Internet. Either through a browser interface, or more commonly through a program which automatically backs up any files that are added to a pre-specified list of folders. Data is updated either when a file changes, or on a daily basis according to a set schedule. Data can be accessed from any location and can be recovered using any device. Online data storage offers one of the most flexible solutions for backing up company data though it can be expensive.

In conclusion

Safely storing your data is critical for your small business. Without easy access to your company's data your business operations could potentially grind to a halt. No matter what your data storage needs, there is likely to be a data solution to match.

About Author:

By Nick Davison

Advanced Data Recovery are London's leading data recovery experts. For more information on corporate data security and RAID recovery, check out our blog.

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The Explosive Growth Of Flash Storage In 2013

In 2013, enterprises around the globe have made flash standard equipment for their storage arrays.  As the end of the calendar year is only days away, it is difficult to foresee a new enterprise-class storage array being developed and deployed without incorporating flash in one form or another.

Flash memory has taken the staid storage industry by storm.  First utilized in consumer products, such as the iPod, flash storage has now become the new star of enterprise IT.  A primary reason for this is speed.  At speeds of up to 400 times faster than standard rotating disks, flash-based solid state disks, or SSDs, are capable of proficiently handling the growing storage needs of today’s evolving enterprise IT.  When comparing flash storage vs SSD, the speed differential becomes apparent in no time at all.

As an established mainstay in enterprise environments, flash storage is a significant driver of faster system responses and communication channels.  Through the use of flash storage, social networking companies, such as Facebook, are able to better respond to increased traffic burdens.  Flash storage is also behind numerous new cloud-based services.  This new technology is creating a rising demand for enterprise-level storage and digital content distribution.  The demand for flash storage and its implementation will only increase as storage costs continue to decline.

Flash has also been widely adopted as an aide to storage controller DRAM.  Flash modules now fill many PCI cards, allowing them to inflate the effective memory cache capacity of enterprise storage arrays, further enhancing their performance and providing possibly the fastest flash acceleration options.  Although this same approach can also be taken with server-side flash, enterprise IT did not fully embrace this option in 2013.  Perhaps this is due to the unwillingness of infrastructure teams to exchange a few additional IOPS for the disturbance that takes place when installing software drivers and new cards into critical business servers.

Interestingly, there was an overwhelming absence of trade press stories indicating any problems whatsoever with flash reliability.  This lack of news was welcomed by flash storage companies given the fact that initial concerns regarding the potential wear-out of flash cells was well-publicized.  Recognizing the importance of flash technology, storage vendors have addressed this early concern by implementing bad-block management and wear-leveling software.  These techniques, it appears, have worked as advertised.

Throughout 2013, the silicon factories of flash vendors transitioned from producing 32nm-class flash dies to 19nm-class dies, which are much smaller and denser.  This transition, along with the widespread use of multilevel cells, has enabled the creation of enterprise-class 800GB SSDs, a substantial improvement over the 200GB options on offer only one year ago.  Although there has been one vendor touting the development of a 10nm die, there are still some questions regarding whether or not substantially more capacity can be extracted from flash memory.

Thanks to economies of scale, popular flash manufacturers have been able to increase the storage capacity of their products while lowering their prices.  Although flash memory is not necessarily cheap, enterprise vendors have adopted inventive ways of offsetting this cost, including experimenting with forward error correction to eliminate penalties associated with RAID capacity.

Throughout 2013, no new storage technologies were developed that threatened the persistent spread of flash in enterprise storage systems.  At the same time, however, storage vendors continued to promote memristors, carbon nanotubes, phase-change memory, spin-torque transfer, and other alternative memory technologies.  While these technologies certainly are interesting, they have thus far failed to prove to be worthy competition to enterprise flash storage.

Although the production lines seem ready to produce large quantities of memristors and phase-change memory technology, there are a myriad of factors that are delaying investment.  Such factors include their high cost of fabrication and widespread uncertainty as to when flash will no longer benefit from performance enhancements and lower pricing.  Only at such a time will new enterprise storage technologies become a viable alternative.

Competition aside, there was quite a significant amount of jockeying for position and pack-shuffling within the flash market itself throughout 2013.  Of the handful of enterprise flash startups that benefitted from substantial funding, two announced plans for an IPO launch, two were acquired, and two dissolved.  In addition to this activity, the major enterprise storage vendors released product roadmaps that placed a heavy emphasis on all of their flash products.

There have been few enterprise storage technologies in recent years that have been as rapidly and widely adopted as flash was in 2013.  With a current stronghold on the enterprise storage industry, the flash trend seems poised to continue throughout 2014.

Jared Jaureguy is a technologoy consultant for large enterprises.  You can read more of his thoughts on his personal blog, Technology Hall.

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The Ultimate CNC Cheat Sheet | Oxyfuel Cutting | Plasma Cutting | Laser Cutting

When it comes to CNC machinery there are tons of choices and options. Trying to remember all the different jobs and processes can make your head spin. Thankfully, specific brands are standardized and can be simplified for a basic understanding of the different processes.

Processes:

Oxyfuel Cutting: This flame cutting process is the most cost effective. It’s for the cutting of mild and low alloy steels, even with weld preparations. Its plate thickness ranges from about 3mm-2800mm, and has a typical cutting range of 10mm-300mm. Oxyfuel cutting uses oxygen/fuel gas flame for a combustion process.

Plasma Cutting: This is a fast, precise process for cutting unalloyed and high alloyed steels as well as Aluminum with high quality. With mild steel its plate thickness ranges from 2mm-90mm, and with stainless steel its plate thickness ranges from 3mm-160mm. Its typical cutting range with mid steel is 2mm-50mm. It’s used in the cutting of electrically conductive metals by utilizing electrically conductive gas to transfer energy from an electrical power source through a plasma cutter torch to the material being cut.

Laser Cutting: Laser cutting is the highest quality of cuts with the best possible accuracy. It uses a square cut edge, narrow cut kerf, and low heat input. With mid steel the plate thickness ranges from 1mm-25mm, and with stainless steel the thickness ranges from 1mm-20mm. This uses a strong focused laser beam that’s produced by a laser diode. The high energy laser beam heats the surface of the material and melts it rapidly.

Machinery:

Machines	Process Options	Product Description	Laser Classification
ProBlade: Solid Design, High Quality	Oxyfuel, Plasma	The most economical access to the quality and support of the Messer World: ProBlade, the first Messer’s global machine. With a small size, this CNC cutting machine has a stabile track construction and an ergonomic design, tough enough for a hard days work. The installation of this machine is fast and easy, which saves costs and gets you into production.	Bevel (non-laser)
MetalMaster: Drop & Cut	Plasma	Dual side longitudinal drives and precision linear guides guarantee high cutting quality and consistency. The plate support table, which is integrated into the system, is divided into a number of sections for efficient fume extraction even with a smaller fan/filter unit. The highly dynamic performance of the machine is achieved through low weight with high design rigidity.	Bevel (non-laser)
MultiThermeco: Easy Operation and High Flexibility	Oxyfuel, Dry Plasma	Compact design, simple operation and high flexibility – that is the MultiTherm .The machine is conceived for daily work in a standard cutting shop. The high level of automation, simple set-up and operation enable high productivity of high quality parts – quickly and economically. The symmetrical wheel-housings and the parking space for unused torches over them optimize the working width in the narrowest spaces. The electrical cabinet is positioned over the wheel-housing so it is not exposed to thermal radiation from the cut plate. It is accessible from the side to simplify maintenance and service.	Bevel (non-laser)
MultiTherm: Versatile and Efficient	Oxyfuel, Dry Plasma, Laser	Whether plasma (straight or bevel), multi-torch oxyfuel cutting, laser, marking or a combination of all is your requirement, the MultiTherm® is the machine for you. High power drives for speeds up to 35 m/min* enable high positioning and cutting speeds even on tight contours. The effective working width is used to the maximum thanks to parking space for heads over the wheel-housing. Multiple torch operation for high productivity is, of course, possible with oxyfuel, plasma and laser operation.	Bevel
OmniMat: Machine for Special Tasks	Oxyfuel, Plasma	This machine has been robustly built to guide even the heaviest units accurately. The CNC controlled cutting machine with a high load gantry construction, dual sided longitudinal drives and precision machined guide sections offers you high cutting accuracy and shape consistency even in 24 hour continuous operation. Whether with oxyfuel, underwater or dry plasma, whether vertical cuts or bevels, the OmniMat® is the ideal solution for the toughest conditions.	Bevel (non-laser)
FIBERBLADE: Your Entry into the Laser Class	Laser	With the most modern fibre laser, the unit is at right up to date: the laser is characterised by a robust and long life design. No adjustment is necessary right up to the cross carriage and the emitter diodes in the laser have an average lifetime of over 50,000 hours. The laser beam is carried in an optical fibre cable through the drag chain to the cutting head, so no beam path purging gas is required. Because of the high efficiency of the laser and the low gas consumption in total, the cutting costs on the machine are kept very low.	Class 1
LaserMat: The Apex of Quality	Laser	With working widths of over 4 m and bed lengths up to more than 40 m, the system is predestined for large format plates. The CNC controlled laser processing system offers high part accuracy due to linear guides for longitudinal and transverse motion. The laser beam is guided in the transverse direction via moving mirrors with 100% beam path length compensation and thus ensures a consistently high processing quality over the entire operating area. The colour camera which is directed at the cutting head makes possible easy observation on the screen alongside the operating panel. Apart from vertical cuts, bevel cuts are possible and various marking options are available.	Class 1

Each of these specific models are designed and manufactured exclusively by Messer Cutting Systems.  Messer operates on 5 different continents and is always looking to expand. 

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How Is Your Smartphone Made? | Manufacturing Process | Software Development

Mobile Phones
Source: Irita Kirsbluma, cc-by-3.0, flickr

The modern smartphone has quickly become one of the most popular devices of our time. With many different brands and styles, the smartphone market is competitive and has a quick turnover with manufacturers and designers constantly looking for ways to make improvements to their models. Despite having become something that many of us depend on in our daily lives as a source of contact and a way to find information, few of us ever consider how smartphones are made. Although a complex process, here is an overview of how a smartphone is developed and made. 

Software Development

The software of any smartphone is constantly being developed. Companies like Apple and Android are constantly competing to create the most advanced smartphone technology, so will always be looking for ways to develop innovative software updates to make their product leap ahead of the competition.

The rate at which software is being developed is incredible, with many existing smartphone owners finding that their devices often need updating to the most current software. Despite many smartphones often having regular device updates, this doesn’t mean that customers will constantly be needing to replace and update the models of the phones that they own, but simply download updates and any new software that is developed and released.

Those who develop software for a smartphone will want to make their device easy to use and for it to contain pre-installed popular and useful apps as well has allow for additional ones to be purchased and downloaded.

Design

The design of a smartphone is important for a number of reasons. With many consumers being interested in aesthetic qualities, smartphone companies need to create a product that has a combination of physical practical and stylish design features. A smartphone needs to be easy to hold and have a screen that is of an appropriate size for use. As smartphones usually have minimal buttons, placements of these need to be well thought out, and those who are designing the phones will carefully consider how it is likely to held and used by the majority of its target audience.

A smartphone will need to be similar yet different to the design of its competitors so as to entice consumers to purchase and use it. Recently, smartphones are being offered in an array of colours, with Apple introducing its iPhone 5s in black, gold, and white, and its iPhone c in a range of bright, vibrant colours and Nokia’s Lumia also offering a variety of clip on colourful backs.

Manufacturing Process

Parts manufacture of a smartphone requires precision and accuracy. Due to the need for a precise part to be created, most smartphones are manufactured using a computer numerical control engineering process. CNC engineering allows for parts to be bored from a solid piece of material meaning that they are not only precise, but also have more strength and durability than parts that are melded.

By having a smartphone that is manufactured using CNC drilling or boring, companies can create a product that is strong enough to resist certain levels of damage, and will last for a long period of time. Quality is of high importance to many smartphone companies as many wish to market their product as a high tech, luxury good, that offers much more than just a practical use.

By Beth Stubbings

Beth Sutbbings thinks that a smartphone is an amazing piece of technology. She would recommend Griffiths Engineering to businesses who are looking to have parts manufactured using CNC engineering.

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