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Companies are moving to Broadband because it provides high speed
Internet access. There are different ways of accessing the Internet
using a broadband connection. Most people use a connection via their
existing telephone or cable line but Broadband is also available
using other technologies including radio, satellite and powerlines.
In moving to a Broadband solution the user is moving from an environment
where a connection may be made intermittently and frequently throughout
the day via dial-up facilities, to one where the link is always
active and available for use. This means there's no need to dial
up to the Internet or log off once you've finished surfing. So your
e-mails appear immediately without having to log on first. However
this change in your computer system creates potential new problems:
• Will the current system provide you with sufficient Internet
security to protect you from hackers? What hardware or software
are you currently using to protect against an attack?
• What is your current email infrastructure? Can it be configured
to use the new Broadband solution?
• Is our system or server too old and out of date to cope
with the new planned environment? If so, what can be done to reduce
the cost of upgrading or replacing this equipment?
• You may have a W2K server, but do you have a sufficiently
robust Firewall?
• What would you do if you lost your entire system tomorrow?
What effect would this have on your business? How quickly could
you recover? You do have a proper backup strategy of course? One
that you test regularly and that you know works?
Quite simply once you have decided to introduce Broadband to your
business you need to understand the various options. You also need
to understand that the choice of broadband technology available
to you may be dictated by where your business is located. So there
are more questions to be answered:
• What type of service is best for you?
• Is it ADSL or Cable Modem or Fixed Wireless or Leased Line
or Satellite?
• Is it available in your area?
• What is the cost of the initial installation of the service?
• What is the monthly rental cost of the service?
In addition there may be lots of infrastructure changes which may
be needed which are not immediately obvious. These can range from
simple physical changes on a server, to complex upgrades and changes
to parts of the configuration which are on remote sites. For some
businesses what started off as a simple exercise to implement a
Broadband solution can quickly become very complicated due to the
many choices, decisions and changes which have to be made.
The OnTrack Systems Broadband Offering
OnTrack have recently been involved in a number of Broadband installations
and have gained valuable experience in identifying the most appropriate
Broadband solution for an individual client. We have also gained
equally valuable experience in identifying and avoiding the pitfalls
in the process. We believe clients can save themselves unnecessary
time, frustration and costs by engaging OnTrack on a consultancy
basis to manage the acquisition of their Broadband service.
Examples of areas where we can help are shown below, there are
others:
• Identify the most appropriate Broadband Service (ADSL,
Leased Line, Satellite, Cable Modem etc.)
• Identify the most suitable Broadband supplier. For example
this could apply if you are in an area where BT do not offer a Broadband
service. An alternative supplier would need to be identified. This
requires someone who knows the correct questions to ask.
• Plan the project. This would involve important tasks such
as managing the migration of the important DNS and MX records, estimating
how much system downtime would be required, deciding on the best
time for this to happen and so on.
• Identify the optimal Firewall solution if appropriate.
For more information please CONTACT
OnTrack today.
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