What Benefit Does Managed Hosting Offer Over In-House Management?

The answer to this question will differ between companies. It will depend on the project that you are working on. Effective planning can be the difference between success and failure for your business. I learned from past experience that a Business Continuity Plan is a time and money saver. According to cio.com, a Business Continuity Plan outlines procedures and instructions an organization must follow in the face of disaster, whether fire, flood or cyber attack.

No matter the size of the company, when it comes to managing your infrastructure, you value time and money.

There are three large categories of costs that you must consider.

Infrastructure Costs

The first set of costs that you will need to consider will be the starting infrastructure costs. You will need to determine the correct server hardware for the project.

Here is a list of questions to consider:

• What size server(s) do you need?
• How many servers does the project call for?
• What is the processor that would best work for your environment?
• What resources are necessary to function while at the same time allowing for growth?
• What software will you need?
• Are there be any licensing costs associated with acquiring the software?

These and many more questions will need answers before making any of your purchases. To answer them and also get the right equipment you may need to hire a Systems Administrator. They or your developer will need to determine what resources will run your project. This may not be known at the onset, but effective planning and monitoring of your environment will help.

If the person building your site or application is unsure you can seek professional help from an IT firm. It also helps to know the software you plan to use and what typical server requirements accompany it. You can always start small and upgrade infrastructure along the way.

This leads us to consider the second group of costs, your operating costs.

Operating Costs

Operating costs of your environment can include many factors. Consider hardware and software support, power and network infrastructure support, storage, and facilities.

Once you have gotten the environment in place you will need to hire staff to maintain it. If you are a company that does not already have an IT staff this is a considerable factor to think about. You will need to deal with IT staffing and labor, as well as training and staffing turnover.
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Managed Dedicated Server Hosting

Managed Dedicated Server Hosting

Picking the right hosting solution is one of the first (and most important!) decisions you’ll make for your website. While there are plenty of available options, none can match the versatility and level of control you’ll get with a dedicated server.

When you use a dedicated hosting service, you’ll be given a server that’s exclusive to you. This ensures that no other user will share the same resources or have access to your data. You also get full control over the server, so you can ensure your site is more secure and performs as well as possible.

In this article, we’ll discuss the ins and outs of dedicated hosting and look at the different types of dedicated servers. Then we’ll talk about why you might want to consider dedicated hosting and explain how to pick the option that best suits you. Let’s get started!

An Introduction to Dedicated Hosting

In the simplest terms, dedicated hosting provides exclusive access to a physical server. That server is only available to you and your website. This is in contrast to VPS hosting and shared hosting, where your site occupies the same server as many other users.

You can think of this as the difference between renting an apartment and owning a house. With your own dedicated server, you have more freedom to configure it however you want, and you don’t have to share its resources with other sites.

Dedicated hosting comes with numerous additional benefits for you and your site. For example, it provides:

• Improved speed and performance. Since your site doesn’t share server resources with anyone else, your site will often be significantly faster.
• Complete freedom and control. You can configure your server to match your specific requirements and get full access to every aspect of your site.
• Increased security. Since only you have access to your server, it won’t be vulnerable if another site gets attacked. You’ll also have a unique IP, which makes it much less likely that your site will be blacklisted.
• More storage space. Most dedicated hosting plans include a lot more storage space for your site’s files (with up to 2TB of disk space).

Of course, all types of hosting have their pros and cons. Which one you should pick depends entirely on your site’s requirements and the level of control you desire. Let’s talk about whether dedicated hosting is the right choice for you.

What is mean by wireless LAN?

A wireless local area network (WLAN) is a wireless distribution method for two or more devices that use high-frequency radio waves and often include an access point to the Internet. A WLAN allows users to move around the coverage area, often a home or small office, while maintaining a network connection.

A WLAN is sometimes call a local area wireless network (LAWN).

In the early 1990s, WLANs were very expensive and were only used when wired connections were strategically impossible. By the late 1990s, most WLAN solutions and proprietary protocols were replaced by IEEE 802.11 standards in various versions (versions "a" through "n"). WLAN prices also began to decrease significantly.

WLAN should not be confused with the Wi-Fi Alliance's Wi-Fi trademark. Wi-Fi is not a technical term, but is described as a superset of the IEEE 802.11 standard and is sometimes used interchangeably with that standard. However, not every Wi-Fi device actually receives Wi-Fi Alliance certification, although Wi-Fi is used by more than 700 million people through about 750,000 Internet connection hot spots.

Every component that connects to a WLAN is considered a station and falls into one of two categories: access points (APs) and clients. APs transmit and receive radio frequency signals with devices able to receive transmitted signals; they normally function as routers. Clients may include a variety of devices such as desktop computers, workstations, laptop computers, IP phones and other cell phones and Smartphones. All stations able to communicate with each other are called basic service sets (BSSs), of which there are two types: independent and infrastructure. Independent BSSs (IBSS) exist when two clients communicate without using APs, but cannot connect to any other BSS. Such WLANs are called a peer-to-peer or an ad-hoc WLANs. The second BSS is called an infrastructure BSS. It may communicate with other stations but only in other BSSs and it must use APs.

What is the best entry level IT certification?

In today’s fast-paced and highly connected tech industry, seeking out the most relevant and useful career insight into the industry can seem like an intimidating task, especially when innovation in the tech field can change the name of the game overnight.Most newcomers coming into the tech field have little to no experience but are desperately seeking the right IT and computer training. The catch 22 is that most hiring managers will only consider candidates who have the proper IT experience. So, what's the best way to get your foot in the door? Certifications. It’s really just that simple! If you are new to IT and want to break into the field but can't find a good way to do it, certifications are the best place to start.

Here are the five best entry-level IT certifications for newcomers:

1. CompTIA A+

The Computing Technology Industry Association (or CompTIA) is a non-profit association that is dedicated to furthering the education and validating experience with its full line of vendor-neutral certification exams. The best IT certification to start with if you are a newcomer is CompTIA's A+ certification. This will be your initial building block.

CompTIA A+ covers the fundamentals of computer technology, installation and configuration of PCs, laptops and related hardware, and basic networking.

CompTIA A+ covers the skills required to install and configure PC operating systems, as well as configuring common features (e.g. network connectivity and email) for mobile operating systems Android and Apple iOS.

The best way to get started is to grab an old desktop PC, open the case and start taking things apart and learning each piece. Begin to figure out what each piece does and where it goes on the motherboard. You'll be ahead of the curve once you set up your A+ certification training class.

2. CompTIA Network+

The Network plus certification is the clear choice for the second best certification for newcomers in the IT industry. While the A+ certification does touch on a few of the physical networking aspects of IT, it doesn't cover it in depth enough to gain the understanding you would need to obtain an entry -level networking job.

If you want the best return on your training investment, and a much better looking resume, you should think of A+ and Network+ as a package deal. Most newcomers will take the combination A+/Network + training in order to save on the individual cost. With both of those certs on paper, your resume will be much strong in a pool of candidates

3. CompTIA Security+

Security plus training is an absolute must for any newcomer to the IT field. There are countless security threats in today's world, so much so that companies pine after a candidate with any security background or certifications. You don't necessarily have to have a CISSP, CASP or CEH training at first but are something you’ll want to look into as you progress in the field. CompTIA Security+ not only ensures that candidates will apply knowledge of security concepts, tools, and procedures to react to security incidents; it ensures that security personnel is anticipating security risks and guarding against them.

CompTIA Security+ certification designates knowledgeable professionals in the field of security, one of the fastest-growing fields in IT. CompTIA Security+ is an international, vendor-neutral certification that demonstrates competency in:

• Network security
• Compliance and operational security
• Threats and vulnerabilities
• Application, data and host security
• Access control and identity management
• Cryptography

This may be the most important certification you, as the IT newcomer could obtain. There are several mistakes that newcomers could make if they don't entirely understand the basics of IT security. On top of that, the government has the DoDD directive 8570 that requires government and contracting personnel to have certain certifications that deal with information assurance and security and CompTIA Security+ is one certification that satisfies the 8570 directive.

4. Cisco CCENT

If you have the Network plus certification under your belt already, or already hold entry-level knowledge of networking, great! Cisco Systems offers the Cisco Certified Entry Network Technician or CCENT which dives deeper into networking, specifically focused on Cisco's proprietary hardware and software. To obtain the CCENT certification you have to pass the Interconnecting Cisco Networking Devices Part 1 or ICND1 exam. This exam covers everything from installation, operation, and troubleshooting of network devices as well as a few security concepts and the basics of routing and switching.

The CCENT certification will be much more in depth than Network+, but it’s also much more involved. Getting your CCENT and having it on your resume will give you an advantage over the competition, especially if they only have the Network+ certification.

5. Cisco CCNA

Although the Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) exam has no official prerequisites, the Cisco Certified Entry Network Technician (CCENT) certification is a great starting point to prepare for the slightly more advanced CCNA certification.

Cisco CCNA assures employers you are able to install, operate and configure enterprise-level switches and routers. CCNA certified individuals can also detect and solve common network problems and have the option of specializing in security, voice or wireless networking.

CCNAs typically have some common key skills, including communication skills, troubleshooting skills, organizational skills, customer service skills, analytical skills, familiarity with Microsoft Office Suite and Cisco, and the ability to use industry-specific tools. Aside from that, they make a pretty decent median salary as well: In May of 2015, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics identified that Network and Computer Systems Administrators earned a median annual salary of $82,200.

Certifications are a great way to validate what you've learned in the classroom, as a newcomer and since IT is and always will be a constantly changing field; IT certifications are the place to start. This should give you a better idea of what to look for in entry-level certifications. Now all you have to do is choose a path and get started!

Jobs In Cyber Security

As hacks and data breaches continue to dominate headlines, it comes as no surprise that cyber security experts are among the most sought-after professionals. With very good pay, job security, and the allure of fighting on the front lines of cyber-warfare, the information security industry can seem nothing short of glamorous.

So what’s the catch? While cybercrime is very real, the prospective thrills surrounding the prevention of newsworthy data breaches are often overshadowed by reality. As with other jobs, work in the information security industry can be demanding, stressful, and routine.

Ultimately, when making any major career choice, it's essential to start with realistic expectations. To help, we’ll review the realities of jobs in Cyber Security: the good, the bad, and the ugly surrounding what can be a highly-rewarding career.

Cyber Security Salary, Growth, Demand, and the Power of Choice

Technological advances have made protecting systems against hackers, spyware, and viruses vitally important. Virtually every type of organization has confidential information stored on computer networks—professionals are needed to keep this vast amount of information safe. As the Internet grows, so does cybercrime.

Luckily for cyber security professionals, this generates great demand for jobs. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment of Information Security Analysts is projected to grow 37 percent from 2012 to 2022, which is much faster than average.

As the principals of supply and demand dictate, this also creates a significant earning potential for qualified individuals. The BLS reports a median annual salary of $86,170, or approximately $41.43 per hour.

How Much Does a Cyber Security Specialist Make?

Cyber security is a growing field. Our lives are more and more online, our money and reputations are digital. As information moves to the cloud, securing it becomes more of a challenge.

What does a Cyber Security Specialist Do?

Cyber security specialists monitor, test, and troubleshoot security systems. They need to know about security products and how to operate and install them. They are also expected to educate employees on proper security techniques and how to protect their data, and may establish security policies.

What kind of Pay will a Cyber Security Specialist Earn?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), information security analysts have a median pay of $90,120 per year. Equally important, the BLS anticipates that computer security jobs will grow 18% during the period from 2014 to 2024, higher than the average for jobs in computing and much higher than the 7% projected average for all jobs.

Salaries tend to be higher in major metropolitan areas, and some information security analysts earn over $140,000. A lot of security specialists work for the government. Thus, the job has the potential for high earnings, and some individuals may move up to security manager - the person in charge of computer security for a larger company. Be aware that some computer security specialists are paid hourly, but most are on salary.

How do you Become a Cyber Security Specialist?

A lot of security specialists start out as network administrators or system administrators. Having a degree in information science or cybersecurity certainly helps. The wide variety in pay reflects differences in location and company size. As mentioned, a lot of cyber security specialists work for the government. Others are employed by financial organizations, military contractors and, of course, IT services companies - especially those that handle other people's data in the cloud.

There are also cybersecurity consulting firms, and some specialists may eventually branch out on their own to claim more profit - and more risk. Consulting firms tend to work with companies too small to hire their own specialists, as most companies prefer their cyber security specialists to be full time employees. Which does mean that healthcare and other benefits are likely.

Also, because of the sensitive nature of the work, companies prefer to keep employees long term - which can help with job security and give you the chance to earn retention bonuses and advance within the company. (Some companies may hire entry level computer security specialists in house, meaning that you might be able to move to this position from a lower paid network administrator job in the same company).

About Computer Security Specialist Jobs

Computer security is of utmost importance to company managers responsible for protecting their company’s information assets. Computer security specialists, or information security analysts, are responsible for protecting those assets on a day-to-day basis. A computer specialist’s job is to make sure only authorized people gain access to confidential information.

Planning Security

Security specialists strive to build in security during the planning stage of software systems, networks and data centers. It is less costly to build in security from the beginning than to retrofit systems after they have been implemented. Security specialists analyze specifications for critical components of computing infrastructure to determine vulnerabilities, risk and mitigating actions.

Securing the Infrastructure

Even the best built systems and buildings retain overlooked vulnerabilities found later during an audit or an actual security breach. The security specialist’s job is to determine the best way to secure the infrastructure, including physical security and cyber security. Information may be compromised by an unauthorized data center intruder as well as by a hacker who finds a cyber door into the network. Placing a secured door on the data center or a firewall on the Internet connection is the responsibility of the security analyst.

Monitoring the Infrastructure

A key component of infrastructure security is the monitoring infrastructure. Security analysts place network and computer monitors at strategic points on the network and on critical servers. These monitors typically communicate with a central server, reporting all activity for later analysis. Security analysts use automated tools to scan the logs produced by the monitors and look for aberrations in the activity.

Responding to Incidents

Every network is secure until someone hacks it. In the event of a security breach of any kind, the security specialist rolls into action. When an analyst finds a potential threat or attempted breach, it is his job to close the security vulnerability and if possible, identify the perpetrator. Many companies establish security event response teams with escalation procedures based on the type of incident and the severity of any breach. Security analysts function as experts on these teams to provide expert guidance and reasonable responses.