J.P. Schwartz IT Consulting and Network Design Resources

Computer problems and data losses happen, but good backup systems can protect you. Every day your employees spend hours working at their computers and sooner or later, some, or potentially all, of that work may be lost. Often this is just a small amount, a deleted email or a small file, but a catastrophic equipment failure could to lead to the loss of all of your data. Backing up your data is a task that every business owner should take seriously. The good news is that once a backup system is in place, regular, comprehensive backups can be handled relatively easily.
There are four primary ways that data can become lost and unrecoverable: user deletion, catastrophic hardware failure, virus infection or damage, and loss of encryption passwords.

Business needs and goals change over time, and so does the infrastructure that is required to support operations. Perhaps you are growing bigger, growing smaller, merging, launching new products or services, facing tougher competition, evaluating a new opportunity, or just realizing that something is not working the way it should. There are many reasons to review or redesign all or part of your IT infrastructure. Another common reason for review is that technology changes quickly. A great plan from 3 years ago may simply not be your best option today. IT infrastructure often involves a wide array of specialized or expensive technology. How does a company make the best choice for their needs?

Most small business computer problems happen right at the desktop, on individual machines, rather than in the network or on the server. Most of these problems are the result of a virus, popup, spam, or harmful programs that have been able to access the computer and install themselves. Many small business owners use antivirus software but are frustrated by continual problems, the expense of undoing the results of a virus or a malicious program, and not knowing if information is being sent to the Internet surreptitiously. Unfortunately, antivirus software only solves part of the problem. A much better solution is to use one of the more comprehensive desktop security suites on the market today. These suites are a cost-effective, first line of defense for any business, and for small business, often the only cost-effective option.

The hackers and criminals who write spyware programs, do so specifically to steal information. Your patients’ protected health information is at risk if you have spyware on your computers.
Spyware is software that collects information from your computer without your knowledge. Often spyware is used for something relatively harmless, such as the collection of marketing data. However, many criminals and organized crime groups are also jumping into the mix and creating spyware for identity theft, credit and banking information theft, and to collect any information they might be able to misuse or sell, such as protected health information. Fortunately there are a number of steps you can take to protect the information on your computers that will help meet your HIPAA compliance requirements.