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Cloud computing

What is cloud computing and cloud storage?

Digital cloud over human hand with copy space

The Cloud is now the preferred hosting solution for companies: easy to use and attractive from a financial point of view, the Cloud has everything to seduce. Cloud Computing offers to provide on-demand via the Internet computer services (servers, database, software, network, storage …).

Those virtual machines are called instances, which you can deploy autonomously through an admin interface. Choosing your Cloud provider is essential and for this, several criteria must be taken into account. How to make the right choice? In order not to make a mistake, it is important to take stock of the use you wish to make of your hosting service and to understand the different types of Clouds available on the market, in order to select the offer that best suits your needs and priorities.

Cloud storage

Cloud storage is a service model that maintains data, manages it, backs it up remotely and makes it available to users over a network (usually the Internet). Most often, users are billed monthly on a pay-per-use basis for cloud storage of their data. Despite a sharp drop in per-gigabyte storage costs, some cloud storage providers charge an operating fee that can make this technology more expensive than it initially appears. With cloud security constantly a major concern for users, providers have tried to reassure them by building security features such as encryption and authentication into their services.

Uses of Cloud Computing

Whether you are a growing SME, a start-up or a large international group, Cloud Computing is a technology used by all. Among the most widespread uses, we can mention data storage and backup, the provision of SaaS-type software, data management and analysis, AI or application creation.

Depending on the use you want to make of Cloud Computing, you will choose a specific type of Cloud, among those that exist on the market today.

Types of Cloud Computing

  •     The Public Cloud: the resources of the Public Cloud are shared, which allows you the greatest flexibility. This solution allows you to control your budget, because the billing is calculated precisely on what you consume on your instances.
  •     Private Cloud: In the Private Cloud, resources are dedicated. This ensures that your infrastructure is watertight and that costs are more predictable because billing is based on the host machines you need and in which you are free to deploy the instances you need at any time.
  •     Hybrid Cloud: the Hybrid Cloud solution consists of opting for the Private Cloud and then installing instances in the Public Cloud on an ad hoc and/or isolated basis in order to exceed the limits of your Private Cloud without having to take an additional host.

What are the benefits of Cloud Computing solutions?

Cost

The Cloud Computing model allows you to pay only for what you really need. You can create and stop your machines when you want, and thus stick to the evolution of your needs. Moreover, thanks to Cloud Computing, you won’t have to invest in hardware, nor in manpower to manage your entire infrastructure.

The speed of deployment

Thanks to the CLOUD, the most complex infrastructures can be deployed in a few clicks. And thanks to the instance replication feature, you can create your templates and then replicate them on all your devices in a few minutes.

Data security

The system and infrastructure on which the cloud is based is regularly updated by our teams to maintain the protection of your data. In addition, many security rules functionalities are integrated to the solution in order to allow you to secure your network as well as possible (Firewall, Load Balancer…)

Public Cloud

Public Cloud is a centralized, simplified interface to easily manage your virtual machines and your network infrastructure while securing them. Thanks to its geographical scalability, you can deploy your machines in one of the data centers or points of presence, in order to be closer to your end customers.. Public Cloud includes a full range of instance templates, from general purpose instances to specialized RAM and CPU instances. You will also have a large choice of security rules such as firewalls. which will help you manage your traffic.

Private/Hybrid Cloud

Private Cloud is a turnkey solution allowing you to rent servers including an entire solution. By choosing this solution, you will be able to deploy as many instances as you wish thanks to the admin included in your dedicated server, in order to constitute a hermetic infrastructure for your projects.

Depending on your needs, you can also opt for a hybrid solution, mixing public and private, by deploying instances in your Public Cloud, fully compatible with the Private Cloud solution.

Cloud technology

Cloud technology allows you to deploy your Private Cloud anywhere in the world, including at home, in your own premises. Dedicated to large companies or local administrations, the server will be delivered directly to you. You can then take advantage of all the technology in your own infrastructure with your own security rules.

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Cloud computing

Pros of automatic backup

The loss of sensitive data can have dramatic consequences for a company, and jeopardize its survival in the short or medium term. That’s why companies of all sizes are well advised to implement backup solutions to preserve their activity.

automatic backup

Why choose automatic backup of your business data?

A data loss has various implications on a company, depending on its extent and the nature of the corrupted or misplaced information.

The most serious cases involve the partial or total destruction of databases containing customer information, working documents on current projects, internal messages, accounting reports and commercial files. A misfortune that puts the affected companies in a perilous financial situation often leading to their bankruptcy. And those that manage to survive usually take several years to recover 100%.

The automatic computer backup is conceived from then on as a preventive measure allowing companies to protect themselves against incidents that could cause data loss:

  • Damage related to disasters (fire, water damage, natural disasters).
  • Computer attacks from hackers and malicious competitors.
  • Technical failures due to wear and tear of the computer equipment.
  • Theft or damage to workstations.
  • Human errors committed by the staff.

By performing regular automatic backup of vital data, companies can get back to business in record time as the data restoration is simpler and faster to perform: only a few hours are needed to restore the situation if the premises are still usable!

What is a computer backup?

The purpose of a computer backup is to keep a copy of all your sensitive data, separate from your computer equipment. It can be a manual backup performed by each employee or a automatic backup via specific software or applications.

The storage of the automatic backup can be done :

  • On the company’s site => The data remains within the perimeter of your company, although it is not protected against theft or disaster.
  • Outside the company => Data is covered against all risks, but this implies entrusting sensitive information to external providers. Their export being carried out in a protected way with protocols of authentication and encoding.

What computer data should be kept during an automatic backup?

It is obviously not necessary to copy all the data issued by your company, the mass of which continues to grow over the years. This would represent an unjustifiable additional cost, especially since the usefulness of the information stored on the workstations is very variable…

In the context of an automatic backup, it is more a question of refining the conservation parameters by copying only the computer documents that really impact your day-to-day activity, and therefore of determining upstream which are the vital data to the proper functioning of your company.

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Cybersecurity

How to setup a safeguard procedure

To ensure that a company’s computer data is backed up effectively and completely, it is recommended that a backup procedure be implemented in all departments.What is a backup procedure? What is a backup procedure? What strategy should be adopted?

safeguard procedure

What is a safeguard procedure ?

The backup procedure is a protocol that details the computer data that must be backed up, the schedule of copies to be made, and the recovery methods. In concrete terms, it is a roadmap for company employees specifying the expectations of the management team (or information systems management) for the retention of work documents and the application software required to read or modify them.

The backup procedure may state, among other things:

  • The complete list of all data and applications to be backed up, the optimal frequency of copies and their standard retention time.
  • The complete list of all employees authorized to perform backups and access the most sensitive information.
  • The media and Locations where data is stored Whether it is a simple optical disk or a network of servers (internal or remote).
  • The tests set up allowing to verify the correct operation of the backup procedure and the ability to recover and reuse the data.

Why set up a backup procedure?

The more a company depends on computer tools for its business, the more it is necessary to set up a data backup procedure in order to ensure the continuity and sustainability of the business in the event of disasters, theft or technical failures. By adopting a clearly identifiable strategy, it minimizes the risk of data loss.

This formalized procedure, known and applied by all, allows employees to standardize their practices for backing up their work documents and their preferred software.

What backup strategy should you take?

The safeguard procedure can take different approaches depending on the needs:

  • The complete backup => All the files of the company present on all the workstations are systematically copied.
  • The differential backup => Only files that have been modified following the most recent full backup are copied.
  • The partial backup => Only the most important files that have been pre-selected are systematically copied.
  • The incremental backup => Only important files that have been modified as a result of the most recent partial backup are copied.

Although the last two methods are less demanding in terms of storage capacity and therefore more economical, it is nevertheless preferable to make a complete copy of the documents from time to time, given the difficulty of determining in advance which data is vital to the company and separating it from redundant or useless data.

The ideal backup procedure consists of alternating copy modes, for example by making an incremental copy as often as possible (depending on the value you place on each document) and then a complete copy more occasionally.

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Cybersecurity

IT security is mandatory for your business

With the development of internet use and connected devices, IT security has become a crucial issue for all companies regardless of their size. What is computer security? Why is it important?

computer security

What is computer security?

Information system (IS) of a company is a formidable tool for development and value creation since it allows employees to exchange information more easily and to work in a network on common projects, and thus to achieve important productivity gains. However, since it contains all of the company’s data, it also represents a vulnerability.

In this context, it is essential to implement a global strategy for computer security To protect the internal network from all potential threats. The 3 main objectives of IT security being:

  • Data Integrity => Ensure that data cannot be corrupted, stolen or lost due to a computer attack, technical problem or disaster.
  • Data privacy => Ensure that sensitive data is only accessible by people authorized to read or modify it according to their position in the company.
  • Data availability =>Protect data at all times while ensuring that security features do not prevent employees from doing their jobs.

Why is IT security important for small businesses?

IT security is not always considered to be a priority for SMEs and VSEs who believe that data breaches mainly concern large industrial groups. However, the reality is quite different! The criminal entities behind the cyber attacks do not distinguish between companies based on their size: any unsecured data is good to take.

In addition, companies must manage increasingly large amounts of data following the explosion in the use of connected objects and the rise of the nomadic work or telecommuting. Without forgetting that many companies allow their suppliers or customers to access their information system in order to facilitate exchanges, which obviously multiplies the risks related to computer security.

Actions to increase IT security

  • Ideally, each user of the company’s information system should have their own account associated with consistent access or modification rights with his function or status. The authorizations are created on the day of arrival in the company and deactivated on the day of departure.
  • It is advisable to regularly send computer security awareness memos to employees regarding password management. To enhance security, the information system may require a minimum number of characters including numbers and letters.
  • As malicious software becomes more sophisticated, the implementation of a firewall and a anti-virus on all workstations or tools connected to the Internet must be the norm.
  • Multiple copies of the most valuable documents should exist. One of the major trends in computer security is the hybrid cloud that is, keeping a copy of the data in-house while storing a backup outside the company.
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Cloud computing

How to choose an online backup solution?

Online backup makes it possible to copy all the data present on the company’s workstations, to store them on the servers of a service provider and to recover them if necessary. How does online backup work? Who are the market players? How to choose a solution adapted to your needs?

Online backup is a technique used to store a copy of the company’s files on remote servers, using specific software installed on the workstations. The transfer of the data and their consultation can be carried out with any device connected to Internet provided that it has the identifier and the password required to connect to the web interface of the provider.

With this method, it is possible to recover data corrupted or lost documents due to technical failure, disaster, or human error within minutes.

The online backup market is dominated by the major web players and Internet service providers, but there are also specialized providers. The first gigabytes of storage are generally free for individuals, which may be of interest to freelancers and small businesses with limited needs. For larger companies, however, it is better to contract a suitable package that includes additional services in terms of security and multi-account management such as cloud storage service providers.

How to choose an online backup solution

  • Storage (and its price) => The online backup space made available to you in exchange for a monthly or annual subscription is the most important criterion for choosing between cloud storage providers. This storage is measured in gigabytes (GB) or terabytes (TB) of recordable data. The larger the package you choose, the higher the rate per GB or To decreases.
  • Data duplication => In terms of online backup, the quality of service is determined by the ability to set up a redundancy of storage. You must ensure that the provider is able to instantly duplicate your data on a secondary server, in the event that the initial cloud server is affected by any incident or a malware.
  • Data security => The implementation of electronic certificates and a data encryption (both server and client side) attest to the seriousness of a provider. Also pay special attention to the user password reset and recovery procedure, which should ideally include a two-step validation.
  • Data synchronization => Many services include automatic cloud backup with instantaneous data synchronization. Thus, as soon as a document is modified on one of the workstations, the new version is immediately saved on the cloud server without your intervention. This saves employees a lot of time.
  • Maximum file size => It is possible that some providers impose a maximum size per stored document, while others do not apply such restrictions. However, this maximum size is large enough that it is almost never reached in practice.
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Cloud computing

How does cloud storage work?

Cloud storage involves using remote servers accessible via the Internet to back up corporate data. Synchronization with workstations allows automated recording of document changes in real time.

How cloud storage works

Cloud storage involves the complete outsourcing of the IT infrastructure dedicated to storing company data. The remote servers are rented from specialized service providers according to two main criteria: the storage capacity and the bandwidth for transfers.

With this type of computer backup, you save on capital expenses, which are replaced by operating expenses. Instead of buying storage units and hosting the data internally, you benefit from computing power (expressed in GB or TB) made available to you in exchange for a monthly or annual subscription.

self-service access is done through a secure Internet connection Each user is authenticated and all connections are encrypted. Your employees can save their documents wherever they are and at any time. However, cloud storage is dependent on the quality of the ADSL line (or optical fiber) and the mobile network in the region. Therefore, the promises of service providers for “24/7” access should be kept in perspective.

Cloud storage features

Cloud storage is becoming increasingly popular with businesses and freelancers because of the benefits provided by this type of service:

  • Cloud storage is controllable from any device connected to the internet: desktop or laptop computers, touch tablets, smartphones, etc. A centralized administration console makes it easy for large accounts to manage their endpoints.
  • Unlike traditional hosting offers, you don’t have to make any special request to the provider to change your offer or to wait. In a few clicks, you can change your subscription formula and the request is taken into account instantly.
  • The service is Pay as you go With pay-as-you-go, you use only the storage capacity your business needs at any given time. There is no need to oversize servers for future use.

Three main types of cloud storage services

  • The Iaas service => You rent one or more remote servers on which you install the operating system and application software of your choice. It is the solution that comes closest to data centers and internal storage servers.
  • The Paas service => The operating system and some computer tools are preinstalled by the provider who ensure their maintenance, but you keep the possibility of adding third party applications from other providers if you want.
  • The Saas service => All applications (email, customer relationship manager) are controlled and updated by the provider who often offers them for free, however the configurations are more limited than with previous solutions.
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Cloud computing

Webstorage is a powerful storage solution for customer data

Webstorage, also known as local web storage, is a recording technique that allows data to be saved directly in the client’s browser instead of being uploaded to the company’s servers. The data is stored for the duration of the Internet session or longer.

webstorage

Webstorage is a form of storage employed by companies providing online services on their website or mobile applications, which is made possible by the new data format HTML5 which browsers use to represent web pages.

Thanks to the webstorage In the case of webstorage, small amounts of data can be stored on users’ browsers rather than on the company’s (internal or remote) servers, such as identification data to access customer areas, for example. The main objective is to facilitate the use and performance of services on a daily basis.

As such, the webstorage provides two types of interfaces :

  • The per-session storage => The data entered on the browser are stored for the duration of the session, i.e. as long as the browser window (or tab) remains open. As soon as the browser window (or tab) is closed, the data is deleted and cannot be recovered.
  • The local storage => The data entered on the browser are stored without time limit, and are retrievable even after closing the window provided that you always use the same browser on the same device. By knowing that the information is not shared between the various navigators installed on the same workstation.

More powerful than traditional HTTP cookies which are limited to a few kilobytes the webstorage can save up to 10 megabytes of data per connected object. In addition, it has the advantage of not generating additional HTTP traffic for each request as cookies do.

webstorage purpose within companies

Webstorage can have many applications for companies that provide online services, and want to optimize the retention of their customer data:

  • Store user data in their own browser without involving the company’s servers, in order to save money on hardware.
  • Delete cookies from the company’s site to get rid of the additional traffic they generate, and benefit from a more storage space.
  • Store login form fields (the username and password) and allow clients to retrieve the data after logging out.
  • Run a service in offline mode and then synchronize the stored data with the servers once the internet connection is restored.
  • Improve user experience and quality of service by saving time with each new Internet session.
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Cloud computing

Is free backup software a reliable backup solution

Numerous IT service providers have invested in the computer backup market, and offer solutions adapted to companies that involve the installation of backup software on workstations, whose role is to send a copy of digital documents to the company’s internal network or to remote servers via the Internet

bakup software: are the “free” offers suitable for companies?

The majority of backup software providers offer free offers for individuals and associations that can also be suitable for freelancers. These formulas only allow to store a few gigabytes (GB) of data, and impose a maximum size per file. Moreover, they are limited to a single operating system or to a few workstations.

If your company employs more than a dozen employees or manages large amounts of data, this free version will soon prove insufficient. In this case, you have no other choice than to opt for the version “company” or “professional” paying software backup which does not suffer from these limitations. The support of specific applications or databases is rarely done with the basic backup software, but rather through additional plug-ins allowing compatibility with the services you use in your company: SQL Server, Oracle, Novell, VMWare, etc.

How much does it cost to buy or subscribe to a backup software ?

  • If your company chooses to backup files on its internal servers the backup software will be available for a small fee through a final purchase whose selling price is included between 50 and 200 $ per user depending on the options chosen knowing that the tariffs are degressive depending on the number of licenses purchased. As a rule, regular updates of the backup software are also charged.
  • If you opt for an online backup on remote servers for a “cloud storage”, the cost of the monthly or annual subscription of the backup software will obviously be higher since the provider will ensure the storage, security and availability of your data for you. Among the large actors of this market, the professional offers are generally included between 10 and 20 $ per month and per user.

It is important to remember that the cost of cloud storage is falling very fast from year to year, a consequence of the famous “Moore’s Law” which causes an increase in capacity for the same price, and therefore a decrease in the price per GB of stored data. This phenomenon is all the more visible with the large companies in the sector (Amazon Web Services, Google Drive for Work, Microsoft’s One Drive, or Dropbox) which have considerably reduced their prices in a few years.

In addition, some providers offer companies a free trial period (which never lasts more than a few weeks) during which you have the opportunity to test the backup software on a few workstations and determine the quality and reliability of the service.

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Cloud computing

How does a NAS server work?

To safeguard a company’s strategic data, several devices are available, among them the NAS server. This physical server allows to store a large amount of data, to prevent their possible loss and to access them remotely. How does a NAS server work? Here are some explanations.

NAS server

NAS server, what is it?

The Network Attached Storage or NAS is a external physical server composed of one or more hard disks of varying sizes. It is presented in the form of a large box. It is easy to set up for a company, as it is easy to connect it to its data-processing network in order to be able to load there files of all kinds (video, text, image, sound?) and to consult them with leisure, while posting like technical advantage to be relatively robust vis-a-vis the possible breakdowns.

The NAS server works autonomously The NAS server works autonomously, as it has its own operating system, which means that in the event of a computer failure on the company network, the data will not be damaged because the NAS works in parallel, autonomously.

Simple, convenient and cost-effective operation

A NAS server is branch as an extension of the company’s server, or the server of the company’s Internet provider. It is possible to understand its mode of operation and connection to the company by drawing a parallel with a domestic installation, at home: in this case, the NAS is connected to the back of the Internet box.

A NAS server is also equipped with one or more hard disks and is connected to the various employee workstations of a company that have a unlimited access at any time of the day. And from anywhere as well because the NAS server offers a total availability, running 24/7.

If the company has its own server hosted on its premises. The NAS server can then be connected to the various computers via an Ethernet cable in particular. This mode of operation is all the more advantageous as it is possible to access the data stored from different types of terminals: PC, laptop, smartphone, tablet …

The NAS server is a secure network to which one reaches via an authorization beforehand established by the provider, by informing for example an identifier and a password. It uses the Internet network but can also function in local network, and the WIFI network makes it possible to reach it remotely.

In summary, the NAS server allows to:

  • Have a large storage space several large capacity hard disks can be embedded
  • Securing critical data of the company
  • Enable multiple users to consult simultaneously and in different places the multiple data and documents stored
  • Reduce information processing time of the servers of the company by lightening them of an often consequent weight coming from the stored data and thus to accelerate the working process.
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Cloud computing

Network hardware

Setting up a network hard drive is an excellent solution for backing up important business data. Network hard drives have large storage capacities, full availability and unlimited access via different media: PC, Smartphone, tablet… How to choose the right network hard drive? What are the criteria to put forward to select the most adequate material with the various problems of a company?

network hard drive

Network hard drive storage

This is the first element to consider. Everything depends on the needs of the company. Some network hard disks have a single disk or several In the vast majority of cases, two. But these hard disks can differ significantly in terms of storage capacity: while some allow the storage of some 500GB. others, however, offer the possibility to save up to 1TB.

The evolutionary capacity of the system

Again, this must be adapted to the needs of the company. While some companies will easily be satisfied with a fixed capacity of 500 GB or even 1 TB, others will see their needs grow and will require equipment capable of carrying additional hard disks, up to 4 TB.

Network hard drive and data security level

Securing the data stored on a network hard drive is essential, so it is better to turn to equipment with two disks using Raid1 technology. This technology allows to to copy simultaneously and identically the data No risk of losing information that is stored on two hard disks. The advantage is that in case of failure of one hard disk, the second one still contains the recorded data.

Is it possible to install your own hard drives?

Network hard disk providers offer either equipment already containing one or more hard disks but also offer cases empties. This second solution can thus suit a good number of companies which wish to benefit from a less expensive equipment while having the possibility of choosing and installing freely the internal hard disks.

The operating system of the network hard disk

Two major families of operating systems share the network hard drive market: Windows and Linux.

The Windows system offers the advantage of a full and easy compatibility with most desktop PCs that run this operating system.

Linux on the other hand, although it has become more fluid in recent years, may appear to be a bit more difficult to use and to get used to.

Is network hard disk ergonomic?

Some external hard drives offer users the possibility of being guided through the various phases of their installation with the help of clear tutorials or online support. A welcome help to configure the installation easily and quickly.

Suggested connectors

A network hard disk must be easily and quickly connected to the different workstations of the company It is therefore important to ensure that the various connections provided allow this. Thus, for ease of use, the most effective network connection will be the Gigabit Ethernet which allows a large number of machines to be linked together without the risk of decreasing the connection speed to the network drive. From USB ports will also be welcome to connect additional devices such as printers for example.