The Right Components Will Make All the Difference to Anyone's Computing Experience

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To many people, a computer is a 'box of tricks' whose workings and capabilities are not given especially serious consideration. As long as we can write a document, send an email and view material over the internet, there is often little more thought put into what is actually inside that smart box which sits on or under our desk.

But the right choice of a range of components and peripherals, both visible and hidden, can make a world of difference to the enjoyment and practical use we get from our computer. The most fundamental component of any computer is the case. This is the box in which all the functioning parts of the machine are contained, such as the all-important processor. It is also easy to overlook the important part played by the power supply which is used. While this is nearly always included in the price of a PC package, if extra components, or energy-hungry programs are to be used, it could be wise to ask for advice about an upgrade.

The motherboard is the part of the computer which allows it to give life to features such as sound and video, while graphics cards can bring realism to the most detailed and intricate images. The choice of microprocessor will also have a vital bearing on how your computer runs, and this will determine the speed at which programs can be run, and tasks undertaken.

The size and quality of the computer's hard disk drive will be important to anyone who wants to ensure that all their data and documents are stored safely, and can be retrieved whenever they are required. Upgrading this part of a computer, and adding extra memory is a relatively straightforward task, but if a lot of data has to be transferred from an old computer, it is wise to ensure that a new machine has enough memory to be able to accommodate it all.

CD-ROM drives, and other basic computer components such as monitors, keyboards, USB devices, and mice are all also fundamental to the overall enjoyment anyone gets from a computer. Whether you want to enhance the memory of your computer by adding additional RAM, or you simply want to go for a more sleek visual appeal by changing your keyboard and monitor, searching online makes a good starting point.

Prices will vary widely, but there are many specialists who supply computer peripherals and add-ons, so there is also no shortage of advice available for someone who needs reassurance.

Take the simple route to buying PC components by finding a helpful, specialist website which explains the purpose of each individual part. Then it will be far easier to choose desktop PC components which fit with an existing set-up yet enhance its capabilities.

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5 Tips For Cloud Computing Security

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Are you hesitant about adopting cloud computing services into your IT infrastructure? You are not alone. Data security is the leading concern for IT professionals when it comes to cloud computing. Services like Amazons EC2 are simply not equipped to address the security and privacy needs of data-sensitive organizations. Because public cloud services offer server instances for many clients on the same hardware, your data can get literally "lost in the clouds" when you have very little control over where your data lives.

Private cloud computing allows for the control that most PCI and HIPPA-sensitive organizations require over their data. When it comes to security, the importance of control over your environment cannot be overstated, and leads most IT professionals to adopt private cloud hosting over the public cloud.

When comparing cloud options, here are 5 security tips to consider:

Tip #1: Know where your data lives. How can you secure your data if you don't know where it is? Sure, firewalls and intrusion detection and prevention can keep out most intruders, and data encryption keeps the data safer, but how do you know where your data goes when you terminate your service or when the cloud provider goes out of business? Being able to point to a machine and say your data and only your data is on that machine, goes a long way in the security of your data in the cloud. Dedicated hardware is the key that allows for cloud computing services to pass the most stringent security guidelines.

Tip #2: Always backup your data. One of the most overlooked aspects of cloud computing and one of the easiest way to increase the control of your data is to make sure that whatever happens, you have a secure backup of that data. This is more about securing your business than your actual data but provides the same type of peace of mind. We have seen big companies like T-Mobile lose its customers data, by not having a backup, leaving them with nothing.

Tip #3: Make sure your data center takes security seriously. By knowing which server and data center your data is being stored at, you can probe them for all applicable security measures that are in place. You can see if they are SSAE 16 or SAS 70 audited, and if they have clients that are HIPAA or PCI certified. Managed services can also add a great deal of benefit and expertise to making your applications, data, and business more resilient. Services like managed firewalls, antivirus, and intrusion detection are offered by reputable data center or cloud providers, and allow for increased security measures for managed servers.

Tip #4: Get references from other clients. When in doubt, ask your cloud provider for client references that require stringent security measures. Financial, healthcare, insurance, or government organizations are a good start. While references don't guarantee anything, chances are if other companies that have similar security goals are using the provider, you may be a good fit as well. Be sure to contact these references directly when possible to see what these companies are using the cloud services for, and the steps they have taken to secure their data.

Tip #5: Test, Test, Test. Assume nothing. The only way to make sure something is secure is to test it. It is not uncommon for highly data-sensitive organizations to hire a skilled ethical-hacker to test their security provisions. Vulnerability scanning and assessments are just as important inside the cloud as they are outside the cloud. Chances are that if you can find a way to get unauthorized access to your data, someone else can as well.

Conclusion. Achieving sufficient security assurances in the cloud is possible but it is not guaranteed. Just like any other IT project, you have to do your homework and in the case of security, it is better to be safe than sorry. The private cloud hosting model can certainly provide a more secure framework than the public clouds.

Mike Klein is the President and Chief Operating Officer at Online Tech, a leading managed data center operator in the Midwest. Online Tech offers a full range of colocation, managed server, and private cloud computing in their SAS-70 secure and reliable multi-tenant data centers across the Midwest.

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