IT structure: how to optimise it
The optimisation of the company IT structure is a priority for many businesses nowadays. In order to do this successfully, some specific measures should be considered, starting with the virtualisation of hard and software, which allows workloads to be more evenly distributed within the company and energy costs to be reduced.
The next step is the choice of operating system. It is not unheard of to encounter entrepreneurs who overlook this aspect, by using devices which operate on systems such as Windows XP. That system has certainly been important, but it has now run its course and can no longer be said to offer maximum performance as far as security is concerned, considering that updates have been blocked by Microsoft since 2014.
The right solution requires the use of professional operating systems. One good example is Windows 10 Pro, which enables not only connection to a domain, but also the opportunity to connect with Microsoft Azure Directory. With a Home operating system, all this would be impossible.
Among other distinguishing features of pro operating systems, which represent ideal solutions for a quality IT structure, we find the option to set group criteria both at local and server level. Even more importantly, there is guaranteed protection of company data, which is absolute gold dust for a modern business.
The role of Cloud
The steps along the route towards an optimal IT structure certainly do not end there. To reach this important objective, it is essential to consider transferring company data onto Cloud.
Nowadays, mass storage devices are as easy to come by as they are cheap. To put this into perspective, consider that up until a few years ago, an external 1 Tb hard disk was expensive, to say the least. That level of memory capacity is now considered low, bearing in mind that it has become normal procedure for a business to purchase a hard disk with a capacity of 2 to 4 b.
Network Attached Storage (Nas) are also economical and widespread and can guarantee a level of protection to rival that of a server. Among the services they provide is RAID (Redundant Array on Independent Disks) on 2 or more disks, with real time alerts on the status of these.
All this is very positive, but we should not allow ourselves to forget the downside: external memories are subject to physical degradation and may be removed, causing consequent damage to company operations.
This is why, in order to optimise the IT structure and safeguard company data as well as possible, it is essential to get professional help, preferably from a team able to offer vertical Cloud and Storage services.
Reasons for having a Disaster Recovery plan
Another step to bear in mind is the Disaster Recovery plan, in other words, those measures to be put into place in order to restore the situation should any damage be caused to company IT systems. This aspect should definitely not be overlooked, considering that even a routine blackout could cause serious problems.
Each business will have different requirements regarding the Disaster Recovery plan. There are however some common factors:
- Use of redundant configurations for all critical elements;
- Use of redundant configurations for both individual network devices and servers;
- Use of back up functions for data protection and the repetition of these processes at regular intervals.
In extreme cases, the Disaster Recovery plan may involve the creation of a replica of the company Data Centre. The two must in any case be aligned, so that, should problems arise, all operations can be transferred to the twin Data Centre, thereby maintaining the efficiency of the IT structure.
Translated by Joanne Beckwith
