Bandwidth Optimization for High Speed Network

In order to maintain the high-speeds of the network you pay for and make the most of your services, you must properly control and groom incoming traffic and efficiently avoid all possible sources of delay. Sounds easy enough right? However, with an ever-increasing number of connected devices and users web traffic is regularly reaching all time highs, it is not so easy.

Bandwidth optimization could be a difference maker in maintaining the highest speeds across your organizations network. Bandwidth optimization essentially allows your business to access the bandwidth you need, exactly when you need it providing your customers the high-speeds they deserve. Bandwidth optimization works primarily through a few key processes: prioritization, caching, and compression.

Prioritization :

• Quality of Service (QoS) maintains that critical data moves faster than other traffic in a pre-assigned order.
• Increases flexibility to ensure that business critical applications are properly managed even during high traffic periods.
• Prioritization assures that potentially dangerous or unwanted protocols are blocked or limited to minimal bandwidth allocations furthering network performance.

Caching :

• Involves managing and exchanging collections of stored objects between devices implementing shared symbol dictionaries and software objects.
• Typically includes a refresh interval or session timeout for objects in the cache.
• Help improve response times while decreasing the amount of information transferred.
• Expand the life of existing Wide Area Network links further enhancing the user experience.

Compression :

• Reduces latency by compressing data sent across Wide Area Networks
• More efficient transfers due to reduced package size.

A Representative from Fastblue is always available to discuss how we can help grow your business and answer any questions you may have about our products or services. Please call us at 888-972-BLUE or Click Here to let us know the best way to contact you.

Image Source: krishna arts/ www.freedigitalphotos.net

Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity Plan

A Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery (BCDR) plan cannot be an afterthought. Giving yourself peace of mind that your business's most important data is safe from network or hard drive failure, fire or water damage, or even theft would provide a much smoother experience during an otherwise chaotic time of crisis.

Whether you need a complete failover replication of your business' IT environment or just specific data, a Disaster Recovery service would save you downtime and keep your business on track in cases of power failures and other natural disasters. Service-affecting scenarios have potential to be costly for both your business and the face of your brand but a good BC/DR service could be the difference maker. Although the two services are related and offer similar benefits there is a subtle differences between the two.

Business Continuity:

• Ensures that you can continue making money after smaller scale interruptions such as illness, loss of key staff, partner problems, or other similar challenges.

Disaster Recovery:

• Involves the processes of resuming business after a troublesome event, such as a destructive earthquake or tropical storm.

Benefits:

• Increases availability for business continuity.
• Increased retrieval time for sites, systems, databases, and files with disaster recovery.
• Significantly reduce primary storage capacity (often up to 50%).
• Maximize ROI through capitalizing on existing IT infrastructure.

The key to a successful Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery plan is already having a plan in action, which ensures easy accessibility to, and availability of operations and data before any disasters strike. With a more recent shift to backup and disaster recovery options within the Cloud services it’s never been easier to protect your business no matter what events may come your way.

Please call us at 888-972-BLUE or Click Here to let us know the best way to contact you.

Image Source: Witthaya Phonsawat/ www.freedigitalphotos.net

Ways to Increase your Internet Speed

With Internet access becoming more important every day, it's never been more crucial that you have a high-speed, accessible networking solution to grant you instant access to the Internet. There are a variety of ways to increase your Internet speed. Again, some are simpler than others but in this day and age every inch counts. There are tons of them out there, but this article just lays out some of the most useful ones.

How to Increase your Internet Speed :

• Traffic Balancing : Looking to avoid overload and minimize response time? Load Balancing solutions make use of multiple components to heighten reliability through redundancy.
• Prioritization : Application and data prioritization can be used to ensure that business critical applications remain steady and fluid even through peak traffic. By establishing a pecking order you are able to increase speed by setting your web browser’s priority higher than other applications.
• Optimizing your Cache : When you visit a company’s website with the same main logo on every page, your browser temporarily stores this image so it’s only downloaded once rather than every time you visit a new page. Your Internet connection is quickly improved by not having to repeatedly download the same image and optimizing your cache makes the process even more efficient.
• Increase Security : By adjusting privacy settings on your Internet connection you can ensure that outsiders are unable to connect and ensure that only those who are supposed to connect are in fact, able to. The more devices that are connected to your network typically results in slower loading time while browsing the web.
• Internet T1 : A speedy alternative to standard Business DSL, T1 services offer higher bandwidth capacity and the option of voice (with integrated networks). If increasing your bandwidth is an option, T1 solutions provide high-speed reliable networking.
• Ethernet : With the availability of Ethernet over Copper and Ethernet over Fiber solutions with a range of bandwidth configurations from 2Mbps to 100Gbps, there’s an even more efficient alternative to Internet T1 and Business DSL lines.

A Representative from Fastblue is always available to discuss how we can help grow your business and answer any questions you may have about our products or services. Please call us at 888-972-BLUE or Click Here to let us know the best way to contact you.

Image Source: ddpavumba / www.freedigitalphotos.net

Moving from your Internet T1 to an Ethernet Product

Both Internet T1 and Ethernet solutions aim to fulfill the same roll as high-speed, high-performance networks. However, Ethernet solutions substantially out perform Internet T1 services in a handful of different ways and with high-end services from every leading provider in the industry, it's never been easier to make the switch to Ethernet.

In short, T1 solutions are relatively similar to business DSL services as both run through the phone lines. However, T1 solutions out perform DSL solutions as they’re dedicated lines serving only one user and not shared with other surrounding systems. Internet T1 packages also include VoIP support that business DSL simply does not.

With a T1 line it's simple; there aren’t many options other than what provider to chose. Ethernet provides options. Ethernet over Copper provides symmetrical bandwidth ranging from 2Mbps to 20Mbps. Ethernet over Fiber provides higher bandwidth options for larger companies or companies looking to move massive amounts of data extremely quick. Ethernet over Fiber solutions typically range from 3Mbps all the way through 100Gbps with and although the physical limitations of electrical cable impede on speeds over 10Gbps, the physical limitations of Ethernet over Fiber have not been reached. Both Ethernet over Copper or Ethernet over Fiber are often available to customers to satisfy their Internet, voice, point-to-point, MPLS, and integrated needs at costs lower than what they’re currently paying for T1 service!

Benefits of Ethernet:

• High-Bandwidth : Far surpassing it’s original 10Mbps top speed; Ethernet solutions are now available with speeds ranging from 2Mbps all the way to 100Gbps.
• Scalability : Top service providers all offer Ethernet solutions in a variety of bandwidth options incrementally increasing from 2Mbps through 100Gbps.
• Flexibility : When your company grows, your data needs grow as well. Conveniently, the same router that handles your initial 10Mbps Ethernet solution also functions with the 100Mbps you now need.
• Security : Ethernet lines keep your top secret data secure within your own private network and make it easy to transport important data between coworkers and workgroups.

Aside from minimal (and constantly shrinking) limitations as to where Ethernet services can be installed, Ethernet solutions blow Internet T1 lines out of the water.

Those looking for top-notch, high-speed, reliable network solutions need to look no further – make the switch today.

A Representative from Fastblue is always available to discuss how we can help grow your business and answer any questions you may have about our products or services. Please call us at 888-972-BLUE or Click Here to let us know the best way to contact you.

MPLS/WAN provide the Security and Speed that you Need to Use When operating with Cloud and VoIP/SIP

When choosing between an Internet based service or a completely private network service for your applications, data, and voice you need to be sure that you choose a service that will meet your individual needs. If the security of your data, the speed in which it travels, and the quality of the network is important, then MPLS & WAN services will help increase the work-flow and speed of your daily operations.

MPLS will grant you the security and speed that you need to use when operating with Cloud Applications, VoIP/SIP, or any other Data intensive application. MPLS can converge Voice and Data traffic, prioritizing your traffic to your specific specifications. Through the prioritization of your data you will ensure that your critical data, voice, or video applications are not compromised by less important traffic such as Internet browsing or email.

Fastblue can deliver MPLS/WAN services over traditional technologies such as an Internet T1’s, and DSL, or over newer Metro Ethernet and Fiber services. We can also blend over different technologies, offering Ethernet or fiber at the bandwidth intensive locations, and use T1 technologies in the rural or smaller offices. Our global network of partners will ensure that no location is out of reach.

MPLS/WAN Advantages:

• Secure and private networking between locations over dedicate MPLS Network
• Fully Managed MPLS service with proactive monitoring
• Visibility into your networks health with Back-Office portals
• Thousands of miles of Fiber and improved network stability

MPLS/WAN Features:

• Global network that reaches throughout the world in North America, South America, Central America, Europe, and Asia
• Different levels of Quality of Service (QoS) available to meet your ever need from completely managed to unmanaged solutions
• Speeds ranging from T1 to Gigabit Ethernet, and everything in between
• Scalable bandwidth, with burstable abilities from 10 to 100Mbps, or 100Mbps to 1Gbps on demand
• End to End Service Level Agreements (SLA)
• Network health diagnostics through Customer Portals
• Both IPv4 and IPv6 Eligible

Fastblue is always available to discuss how we can help grow your business. Contact us through below link or let us know the best way to contact you.

How does Cloud Server improve your Backups and Security?

Massive in-house servers are quickly becoming a thing of the past as Cloud services continue to develop. With flexible solutions available from every top provider in the industry, there is an ideal solution for your business.

In addition to avoiding steep overhead costs typically paired with the implementation of new technology, Cloud services offer convenient fully managed solutions designed to cut costs, frustration, labor, and overall, a great deal of time. As an Internet connection is one of the few actual necessities for the deployment of Cloud services, it’s no longer a constant struggle to manage installations, patching, upgrading and maintaining various software configurations throughout your business. Cloud services further avoid costly downtime with simple configurations and an array of easy-to-use tools.

Benefits:

• Immediate Deployment : Cloud services are available instantly and avoid costly waiting time associated with the construction of large data centers.
• Easy-to-use : Lightweight web-based platforms from providers make organizing and maintaining your Cloud a breeze.
• Improved Data Protection : Due to industry-leading security measures and encryption, Cloud-based data is highly secure and assures that your data is protected and recoverable.
• Reduced Total Cost of Ownership : Predictable subscription pricing and minimal (if any) capital expenses keep overall costs low.
• Reduced Energy Consumption : Along with reducing your carbon footprint, Cloud services additionally save you money in the form of utilities. There’s no need for expensive cooling, ventilation systems, or security in-house as Cloud providers take care of all of that in their state-of-the-art storage centers.
• Scalability : As your business grows your storage needs are also going to grow. Since storage is Cloud-based, increasing your storage capacity is painless.

Top providers now offer the customization your business needs and the accessibility and reliability you demand. Cloud services could be the solution you’ve been searching for to improve your Backups and enhance Security for your business.

What do you think about this blog? Have you used Cloud Services into your business? Share your experiences and thoughts with us.

How to decrease your Data Center Costs?

Are you struggling to find ways to decrease your data center costs?

Would you like to learn techniques to minimize your data center costs?

Operating and maintaining a data center is certainly not a cheap or easy task. There are however, a handful of ways, some simpler than others, to significantly decrease the overall costs of your data center.

Techniques to Decrease Data Center Costs:

• Decommission Comatose Servers : Far too often data centers run every server in the facility even though certain servers aren't doing any computing. An easy way to reduce electricity costs is to put unused servers to sleep.
• Consolidate : Whether Servers are 85% full or only 5% they still pull full power. Since servers typically only utilize 5% to 15% percent of the total capacity, consolidating lightly used servers can substantially reduce electricity costs.
• Organize : Large organizations often find duplicated files and data within their servers. With some simple organization, storage utilization can lead to further consolidating and possible decommission of additional servers.
• Energy Efficient Technologies : Newer and more efficient servers use up to 30% less power than older more traditional servers.
• Arrange : If your servers are arranged to all face the same direction this is an easy fix! By arranging servers in a front facing front (cool-cool) followed by back facing back (hot-hot) manner, airflow is more evenly distributed and servers on the perimeter are not absorbing any additional heat.
• Structured Cabling to Increase Airflow : In comparison to unstructured cabling, structured cabling makes all the difference. Increased airflow keeps your servers uniformly ventilated and often reduces the need for aggressive cooling.
• Adjust Temperature : In 2008, the ASHRAE established a new range of temperatures ideal for data centers. Although many data centers are regularly kept at a mere 55° the recommended range is now between 65° and 85°. By adjusting temperature you can save up to 5% on each 1° temperature increase.
• Variable Speed Fan Drives : Variable speed fan drives constantly vary speed to the necessary power and cooling settings to keep your data center right where you want it to be.
• Virtualize Servers : Cloud solutions are continually gaining respect and popularity in the industry. Security has been the biggest concern in the past for Cloud storage and although no storage solutions are immune to security risks, the Cloud may now be even more secure than many in-house data centers.

What do you think about these techniques? What other techniques are you using to decrease your data center cost? Share your thoughts and new techniques in the comment.