Colin's IT Technology Blog

You can't recover what you haven't backed up. I am renowned for being obsessed with ensuring client data is backed up in multiple different ways in multiple locations / media. It is imperative that you backups are checked. If you backup has stopped running, is someone looking after it daily to make sure the issue is fixed. Or did you suddenly discover the last time your backup ran was three months ago...? Or was that a year ago... Nothing we haven't seen before... So... solution one is to make sure your backups are automated... They don't require someone to remember to change a tape or cartridge etc...  Solution 2... make sure that if the backup fails then someone is notified and they actually do something about it... Do you have a system in place to check this and make sure it happens. Is the backup status of your critical servers reported to the directors during management meetings? Solution 3... backup off site. Be this online backup which we prefer especially wit...

We had a pretty shocking discovery the other day when a new client who has old systems in place (we are trying to convince to upgrade) had a whole lot of strange things on one of their server's screens. After taking a look, we discovered that someone had logged onto the server using vnc  . We traced it back to someone in Turkey. They didn't do a great job of covering their tracks which is pretty unusual in my experience. Usually the only way you can tell your server has been hacked is because all the log files have been deleted. Considering how rubbish their internet connection is, they probably lost interest.  What did they do? Well... essentially used various websites that sent spam email, pretending to be from Credit Agricole Bank to thousands of email addresses in France. Pretty serious stuff. They used different websites and different bits of software to do this. Step one is to block access to the server for them to carry on utilising the server as a gateway. Note the...

The client that we spend all day with, getting their server back up and running didn't cost them anything as they have a managed service contract with us. Therefore, we manage their IT systems and take control, if anything goes wrong like it did, then it is up to us to fix it... Which we did... Happy client still with money in their pocket...

Having a major issue with a server that is stuck in a loop. Anyone with any ideas would be good. Tried a number of things but no luck yet. Waiting for Microsoft to ring me back but trying to be proactive. Thank you...

Just decided to add our company onto Linkedin... Have a look at our profile and please follow us. Thanks!! http://www.linkedin.com/company/colins-it-ltd

Check out our cool new video we have just put online. All about disaster recovery. http://www.businesscontinuityvideo.com/tm229ue2 Let me know what you think? Cheers

In the process of launching our brand biting spider big time. It is the part of our business that does fantatstic web hosting deals. As experts in domains, hosting and DNS it makes sense we push this side of the business as we have a lot to offer and a lot of happy clients. This is our twitter account - http://twitter.com/bitingspideruk And our facebook page - http://www.facebook.com/pages/Coventry/Biting-Spider/156602007697920?v=wall