Users can enjoy the game building and exploring by themselves, or in the company of their friends online. Having the freedom to create and enjoy the game as the user desires, makes a unique experience for each player.

Users can enjoy the multiplayer mode in three different ways:

1. Using a LAN server
2. Joining a Minecraft server
3. Setting up their own Minecraft server

In this blog post, we are going to focus on the “setting up your Minecraft server” method.

What the Benefits to creating your own Minecraft Server?

There are several reasons why you should consider creating your own Minecraft server, which are:

Security

By creating your server, you will be able to control who can access or join your server, which can prevent attackers or unknown players from joining your server. Moreover, as the owner of the Minecraft server, you can also prevent hacking and other security threats by installing security patches, modifying the security settings, and monitoring the systems. These processes can be done by yourself or you can hand it to a security provider that you trust.

Personalized Rules and Modifications

As the server administrator, you have the freedom to make the rules on your own. Whether you want your Minecraft server to focus on the creativity and building aspect, or you want to focus more on the combat and survival aspect, that’s completely up to you.

You can also make modifications that cater to your preferences anytime you want. This allows you to upgrade your CPU, RAM, or storage whenever you feel it is necessary. You can also add new features and objects to your Minecraft server that originally is not there.

Parental Controls

Minecraft is not just famous among people who are 20 and above, but it is also famous among teenagers. This is another reason why building your own Minecraft server is an ideal option, especially for those of you who have children, as you can closely monitor and control who they play and interact with. You can also ensure their safety while playing Minecraft as you can always monitor their activities.

What some tips?

It is important to understand what your Minecraft server needs to have before creating it. Here are two important factors to consider when you create your server.

Backup

It is always better to be safe than sorry. Just like any of your other data, it is crucial to regularly back up your server to prevent data loss in case of any crashes. However, regularly backing up your server manually by yourself may cause a lot of hassle, so we recommend you invest in software that can help you to back up and restore all your server data regularly in a reliable way.

Control and Security

As mentioned previously, security is a very crucial aspect of playing online games. You need to make sure that not everyone on the internet has access to your server to prevent attackers and hackers from coming. This can be done by enabling firewalls on your server, and by regularly checking up on your infrastructure to make sure it is free from threats.

6 Steps to Set up Your Server

Building your own Minecraft server is a pretty straightforward process. These are the basic 5 steps on how to build your own Minecraft server:

1. Choose a hosting provider or a computer to host the server on. You can use a third-party hosting service, or set up the server on your computer.
2. Download the Minecraft server software from the official Minecraft website.
3. Decide on the version of Minecraft you want to use for your server.
4. Configure your server by editing the server.properties file. This is where you can set things like the server name, maximum number of players, and other settings.
5. Start the server by running the Minecraft server software.
6. Connect to your server using the IP address and port number.

Creating a Minecraft server for your child, or yourself, to game with friends is a simple process. Now that you know to set up your own server, go and enjoy yourself. Happy gaming everyone!

The post Easy Minecraft Server Set Up appeared first on Wowrack Blog.

IAM Key Components

IAM involves several key components, including authentication, authorization, and user provisioning and de-provisioning. Authentication is the process of verifying the identity of a user or device that is requesting access to a cloud resource. This can be achieved through various methods, such as passwords, security tokens, and biometric factors like fingerprints or facial recognition. By verifying the user’s identity, organizations can ensure that only authorized users have access to their cloud resources.

Authorization is the process of granting or denying access to a specific cloud resource based on the user’s identity and access privileges. Access privileges are typically assigned based on the user’s role or job function within the organization. For example, a user with administrative privileges would have access to more sensitive data and systems than a user with a basic user role.

Added Layer of Security

Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is becoming increasingly popular as an added layer of security for the authentication process. MFA requires users to provide more than one form of authentication, such as a password and a security token, to verify their identity. This helps to prevent unauthorized access by ensuring that a potential attacker would need to possess more than just one factor of authentication to gain access to cloud resources.

Role-based access control (RBAC) is a model for managing access to cloud resources based on the user’s role or job function within the organization. RBAC allows organizations to manage access to resources more efficiently and securely by limiting access to only those users who require it to perform their job duties. This reduces the risk of data breaches and other security incidents that may occur due to unauthorized access.

User provisioning and de-provisioning are crucial components of IAM that ensure that users are provided with the necessary access privileges when they join an organization, and those privileges are removed when they leave the organization. This helps to prevent former employees from retaining access to sensitive data and systems after they have left the organization.

Conclusion

Ultimately, IAM is a critical aspect of cloud security that allows organizations to manage the digital identities of their users and control their access to cloud resources. By implementing IAM frameworks, organizations can reduce the risk of data breaches and other security incidents that may occur due to unauthorized access to cloud resources. IAM provides organizations with greater control over their cloud resources, ensuring that only authorized users have access to sensitive data and systems. As more and more organizations move their operations to the cloud, IAM will become increasingly important in ensuring the security of cloud-based data and systems.

Let’s start the conversation today! Click here to discuss how Wowrack can enhance your organizations security.

The post A Brief Overview of Identity & Access Management (IAM) appeared first on Wowrack Blog.

Essentially, cloud computing has revolutionized the way businesses and individuals store, manage, and access their data and applications. Rather then relying on physical hardware to store and run their programs, you are able to access your resources and services over the internet.

In this blog post, we’ll explore the basics of cloud computing and how it can benefit you or your business.

What are Cloud Computing Basics?

Cloud computing is the delivery of resources and services over the internet. This can include storage, servers, databases, software, and more. Instead of buying and maintaining physical hardware, you can access these resources on-demand and pay only for what they use.

Cloud computing is made possible by a network of servers that are owned and managed by service providers. These servers can be located in various data centers around the world that you can access from anywhere with an internet connection.

Types of Cloud Computing

There are three main types of cloud computing: Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), and Software as a Service (SaaS).

Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)

IaaS provides you with access to virtualized computing resources such as servers, storage, and networks. Additionally, you can configure and manage these resources to run their applications.

Platform as a Service (PaaS)

PaaS provides you with a platform for developing, testing, and deploying their applications. This platform includes the necessary hardware and software to run the application, as well as tools for building and testing the application.

Software as a Service (SaaS)

SaaS provides you with access to software applications that are hosted by the cloud provider. These applications can be accessed through a web browser or an API, and the provider is responsible for maintaining the software and ensuring that it is always up to date.

Benefits of Cloud Computing

Cloud computing offers many benefits for you and your and business. Here are some of the key advantages:

Scalability: Resources can be scaled up or down to meet changing demand. This means that businesses can quickly add or remove resources as needed, without the need to invest in expensive hardware.

Cost Savings: You only pay for the resources you use, rather than investing in and maintaining your own hardware. This can result in significant cost savings for businesses of all sizes.

Flexibility: You are able to access resources and applications from anywhere with an internet connection. This can be particularly beneficial for remote workers or businesses with multiple locations.

Reliability: Cloud service providers typically offer high levels of uptime and reliability, thanks to their redundant infrastructure and multiple data centers.

Security: Cloud service providers often have dedicated security teams and implement strict security protocols to protect user data.

Conclusion

Cloud computing has changed the way we access and manage our data and applications. By providing on-demand access to computing resources and services it has become easier and more cost-effective for businesses to store, manage, and access their data. As technology continues to evolve, cloud computing will likely become even more ubiquitous and essential for businesses of all sizes.

If you would like to learn more about cloud computing to determine if it is the right move for your company, you can contact us today to learn more!

The post Cloud Computing Basics and How it Benefits your Business appeared first on Wowrack Blog.

Provided by KirkpatrickPrice, this audit is a third-party validation and follows Trust Services Criteria stipulated by AICPA. In order to complete the audit, a company has to pass a series of security, availability, confidentiality, and system privacy tests. Wowrack has been proven to meet these criteria.

However, what does it mean to complete a SOC 2 audit for Wowrack? And, more importantly, why does it matter for the customers in the first place?

Why Wowrack SOC 2 Type II/SSAE 18 Matters for Your Business

Completing SOC 2 audit means a lot to Wowrack as it manifests a serious commitment to uptime, security and customer’s data privacy. Those three aspects are integral to Wowrack as it is part of the company’s mission to continuously improve services to its customers—to you.

Additionally, this attestation does not stop at benefitting Wowrack for it also benefits its customers. There are, at the very least, four benefits that you can get.

Guaranteed Security Practices

In times when digital adaption in business continuity practices accelerates faster than ever, cyberthreats are also becoming a bigger problem. However, one of the newest trends provides an interesting fact about the issue.

A 2021 study by Accenture reports that 35% of security breaches are now dominated by ransomware, targeting weak links in the supply chain or business ecosystem. In other words, even the slightest unsafe security practices potentially result in bigger problems than the cause.

By choosing a certified vendor that does not take security for granted, you are making one huge leap towards safer practices. This also mitigates the risks of receiving indirect as well as indirect cyberattacks.

Improved Trust from Clients

Growing concerns regarding collection, protection, and the use of personal information become a major issue for business. That, accordingly, does not only cover the practices, but also the infrastructure, used vendors, products, and services.

Based on a 2019 survey of 2,200 US adults by Morning Consult, 73% of the respondents agree that protecting personal data is the top deciding factor to trust a business. This scores higher than product usability (71%), product safety (70%), and customer service (68%). Ergo, the more a company conducts safe information practices, the more it likely to get customers’ trust.

One way to let your customers know that you care about trust, security, and privacy is by letting them know that you do the same thing. The easiest way to do so is by choosing a reliable service provider. In so doing, certification provides evidence to the reliability of a service provider.

Above-standard Service Quality

Standards play a significant role in determining the quality of a service. They work as a basis for mutual understanding and guarantee of how a company will deliver a service.

For instance, take a look at AICPA-standardized SOC 2 audit. This audit sets the bar for how a company must conduct the best information security practices, internally or externally. Consequentially, it is pertaining to how a company delivers and maintains a service quality.

Once a company passes the assessment, this means that it has followed all the criteria of a good service delivery and practice. A result of an audit also works as a warranty of the best version of services that you will get.

Peaceful and Secure Digital Collaboration

A lot of companies—and probably yours as well—relies on digital collaboration to run their business. Especially, during the pandemic, we have seen that digital collaboration has skyrocketed exponentially. The same goes for cyberthreats.

Following PwC’s 2020 Digital Trust Insights Pulse Survey, cybercriminals are expected to be the most dangerous digital threats for business. It is especially true with the current business condition that relies heavily on digitalization. In addition, these threats do not solely target people who are working from home. They, however, also target the very IT infrastructure of a company in many ways possible.

For that reason, by choosing a safe and reliable IT service provider, you are indirectly helping yourself mitigate these cyber risks. A proven-to-be reliable provider conducts every security practice securely to get rid of your pain points worrying of not being able to enjoy your digital collaboration.

In conclusion, security is not something any businesses should wager. Trusting your IT security to a reliable service provider, such as Wowrack, helps you work more securely and painlessly.

To learn more on how Wowrack can help you, you can directly consult with our expert team. Schedule a call now.

The post SOC 2 Type II/SSAE 18 Audit Completion – Our Dedication to Customer’s Data appeared first on Wowrack Blog.

The IT infrastructure space is complex, and new cloud migrations have only added to the problem. The work involved in managing hosting and servers can be a tall order for IT departments or companies that manage their own hosting and can decrease their overall productivity.

According to a survey by INAP, the top IT challenges companies faced in 2020 were cybersecurity, cloud management, and skilled IT talent acquisition. With IT teams overloaded with development tasks, businesses need more help from infrastructure providers to support their hardware management.

Wowrack works as a partner to help ease the burden of infrastructure management. The company prides itself on collaborating with customers to meet their needs and delivering solutions to their complicated IT issues.

“​​With managed services and infrastructure, we can host them in our private cloud services, provide web hosting or public cloud management, like AWS and Google Kubernetes. So we’re more of a hands-on service provider,” said Erward (Ed) Osckar, Founding Partner of Wowrack.

Since launching in 2001, Wowrack has delivered enterprise-grade hosting and infrastructure solutions to mid-market businesses. Its wide range of services allows companies to find all their hosting needs under one roof. Today, Wowrack is once again featured in the most prestigious blog in the web hosting industry, discussing the current and future plans of the company.

Managed Cloud Hosting Solutions with Increased Security

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Wowrack ran into several uncertainties, and so did its client base. But at the start of 2021, the company began to bounce back from the obstacles that COVID had brought. The company returned to a growth pattern, and its customers also found their footing.

“Our customers are getting projects moving, getting things updated and upgraded. Although we’re still in this pandemic, businesswise, we have seen recovery, and it’s speeding to get better,” said Ed.

Wowrack helps customers save time and money by providing a complete package of managed hosting solutions. Its services range from infrastructure installation to system administration and maintenance. Wowrack also offers several hosting and colocation options, including hybrid cloud, dedicated hosting, and full cabinet colocation, among others.

In 2021, Wowrack also set out to enhance its cybersecurity offerings. As threats increase online and on the cloud, companies will need to increase their protection. But most of them don’t know where to begin or overlook the urgency of cybersecurity.

“A lot of organizations don’t understand what the threats are out there, how to mitigate it, and how to deal with it if they aren’t affected by it. So, we not only consult with our customers, but we have helped them get out of ransomware or attacks,” said Ed.

Wowrack not only offers managed cloud hosting services but also managed security. Its expert cybersecurity team monitors and patches threats, keeps up with the latest trends, including DDoS attacks, and is available at all times for an affordable price.

Businesses can also use its reliable backup services to ensure their data is never lost. Wowrack facilitates the entire process from initial installation to scheduling and recovery.

Fostering Customer Relationships Built on Trust

Wowrack hails from humble beginnings. Ed and his Founding Partner Jimmy Pandra started in an apartment studio running only six servers. Wowrack now has 5,000-plus clients globally and sustains more than 10,000 servers and 15 global datacenters around the clock.

The Wowrack team understands what it takes to achieve success, and it also recognizes the role its customers have played in that success. Gaining and maintaining customer trust has been a priority for the company since its inception. Wowrack values its relationships and sets out to solve its customers’ IT problems above all else.

Mid-market businesses are Wowrack’s core customer demographic, but it also works with a few large banks and tech companies.

Wowrack accompanies its clients along the cloud infrastructure adoption process. Ed said the team focuses on helping and advising wherever it can to improve a client’s IT operations.

“We would be a natural extension of their teams, such as their sysadmin, their network admin, or their security admin. And we are also their trusted adviser, as to, providing insights on technologies and how they can transform and drive their business,” said Ed.

The Wowrack team caters to client needs by providing a personalized approach to customer service. Wowrack gets to know its clients and figures out what strategy will work best for them. Ed said the goal is to help internal IT teams optimize their productivity and focus on the more critical areas of their jobs while Wowrack manages the operational side.

“We don’t take it lightly. I think how we gain the trust of our customers is we don’t sell. We give them solutions. And that trust factor is important in how we can keep and grow our business,” said Ed.

Extending its Reach into New Markets and Countries

As the hosting space grows increasingly crowded, Wowrack has evolved to meet the market’s demands and remain competitive.

“It’s a tough market and more competition with how people consume hosting and cloud. But we were fortunate in 2020, and we had a record year in revenue and profit. We had a good year in 2021 also. So we’re hoping to use that to grow the company in 2022,” said Ed.

The company also seeks to branch out domestically. Wowrack plans to enter other markets, expand its product features, and deploy in more US cities. Ed said the company will work more with server stadium brands and dedicated servers.

Wowrack will also add more automation to its services to simplify the hosting process. Customers will only need to place an order for a server, and that order builds automatically. And if the customer cancels, the commission will shut down right away as well.

Wowrack’s plans for expansion don’t stop there. Ed said the company has its sights on increasing its operation overseas.

“Going to different markets, especially in Asia, is exciting for us because there’s a lot of exponential growth that’s going on in Asia. So we’re hopeful that we can participate there and maybe partner with some local companies or conglomerates to offer our services,” said Ed.

The post Wowrack Offers Cloud Hosting for Mid-Market Companies appeared first on Wowrack Blog.

There are three other types of cloud computing service available other than IaaS which is service-as-a-service (SaaS), platform-as-a-service (PaaS), and serverless.

There are many advantages in considering using or migrating workload into IaaS. For example, users of IaaS can use any kind of operating system or application disregarding the maintenance and operational cost.

IaaS service also provides access to servers throughout the world and a service-level agreement (SLA) regarding the uptime and performance of the service. This allows businesses to eliminate the need to manage and provision their data center manually.

How to Implement IaaS in Business

IaaS represents the general purpose of computing resources, thus it is capable of supporting all use cases of all types. The question of “how to implement IaaS” then becomes insignificant. However, there are 5 ways of implementing IaaS that are commonly used by businesses.

• Lift-and-Shift Migration

Lift-and-Shift Migration is the fastest and least expensive migration business can take when migrating into IaaS service. It allows businesses to scale the size, enhance the performance, and reduce the cost without many works.

• Test and Development

IaaS is also useful a field of test and development. Users can quickly set up and scale environments suitable for the need of the test, thus bringing results faster and better.

• Storage, Backup, and Recovery

In-house IT infrastructure often requires a huge amount of investment and cost to maintain. Employing an IaaS service will help businesses in handling the growing need for space for storage and simplify the process of backup and recovery data.

• Web Apps

IaaS can also be used to support web apps needs, from the networking resources, storage, and the web and application itself. The ease of scaling the IaaS service also means users can simply scale the service according to demand.

• High-Performance Computing

Completing the calculation of complex variables or analyzing large data can also be achieved using IaaS. IaaS flexibility allows focusing computing capability into one single demanding task or workload.

Wowrack’s IaaS Service

Wowrack is a global leader in various IaaS services. Our service include Disaster Recovery, Private & Hybrid Cloud solutions, Colocation, Backup Services, Managed AWS & Azure, SD-WAN services and more.  All of these can optionally be co-managed or fully managed by Wowrack 24/7/365 team of experts.  With a workforce that is 80% engineering, you can rest assured that no matter what challenges you face. Wowrack is by your side to help.

Get in contact today to schedule your no-obligation consultation!

The post How to Implement IaaS into Your Business? appeared first on Wowrack Blog.

Private Cloud

To see the difference between cloud solutions, we must have a basis at first. So, let’s take a look at the private cloud.

Private cloud only allows one user or tenant to use the cloud environment. A special connection is often necessary in accessing the private cloud. This allows the “private” element of the setup by not sharing anything with other customers or users of the vendor.

This setup allows the user of the private cloud to easily customize and scale the setup according to the user’s need.

While the idea of “private” might highly interest you, not all kinds of businesses need to use this setup. The following are the kind of workloads that are ideal in using a private cloud:

• Sensitive data
• A business that requires strong security for its IT workload and infrastructure
• Enterprise that demand high performance and customizable IT infrastructures
• Company that requires a complex and customizable data center
• Highly regulated industries and government agencies

Before using this solution, it is better to know the pros and cons of using the private cloud.

Pros:

• Flexibility: As the space of the cloud is only meant for one tenant or user, it is easy to transform the cloud based on the ever-changing need of your business.
• Higher Security: Users who require strict regulation regarding the safety and security of their data can easily apply protocols, measures, or configurations within the cloud as necessitated.
• Scalability Without Tradeoff: Users can easily scale the private cloud without sacrificing the security of the system and reduction in performance.
• Efficient in Performance: Private cloud is always known for high reliability and performance.

Cons:

• Higher Price: The privilege of being “private” does not always come cheap, as private clouds always tend to cost more than public clouds.
• Difficulty for Mobile User: Private cloud sometimes require special arrangement such as VPN to be able to connect into the cloud. Thus, mobile devices may have none to limited access within the cloud.
• Planned Scalability: While the private cloud can be scaled like any other cloud solution, the private cloud cannot be scaled at the spur of the moment and require planning.

Public Cloud

A public cloud is a cloud computing model in which the space within the cloud is shared between the customers.

This form of cloud computing is the most popular one out of the three that we will be discussing today. The public cloud could offer a wide arrange of choices for the growing need for IT solutions and computing resources.

The use of the public cloud could range from a small service such as email, apps, or storage. An enterprise-grade infrastructure environment can also be supported by public cloud..

You can look at the pros and cons that need to be considered before using this cloud service.

Pros:

• Affordability: Flexible pricing options are available based on the specification that you use makes it easily affordable to use.
• Business Focus: As the third-party vendor taking care of the necessary infrastructure and maintenance, user can put their focus straight into their business.
• Easy to Scale: Public cloud is very easy to scale and can be done at a moment’s notice, allowing it to be adaptable against a spike in the network.

Cons:

• Lack of Security: Unlike the private cloud, the public cloud is used by multiple tenants within the same cloud. This reduces the amount of security and protocol that can be used in the environment.
• Lack of Cost Control: Generally, the TCO or total cost ownership can skyrocket when using the public cloud for large-scale usage.
• Low Technical Control: The public cloud is a poor choice if certain compliances are required to be met. This is due to little to no control and visibility of the infrastructure.

Hybrid Cloud

Lastly, we have hybrid cloud as the last form of cloud computing model. This form of cloud computing is a unique one. In a sense that it combines elements of the private and public cloud into one.

You can find some of the common set up used by hybrid cloud:

• Businesses use private cloud environments for their day-to-day operation and IT needs while employing public cloud in case of a spike in network traffic, or
• Enterprise use public cloud as the common workspace and private cloud as a place to store sensitive data or information.

Other than combining two cloud solutions, the user of hybrid cloud could also choose to be homogeneous or heterogeneous.

Homogeneous refers to the use of cloud solutions from the same cloud provider. Meanwhile, heterogenous refers to the use of cloud solutions from two different cloud providers.

Combining two cloud solutions caused a whole new pros and cons that you need to consider. Thus, you might find the difference between cloud solutions in the hybrid cloud as a mix of private and public cloud.

Pros:

• Scale with Security: Hybrid cloud combination between two clouds allows this system to be able to scale without sacrificing security as the private cloud could.
• Cost Control: With the division of tasks that is possible with a hybrid cloud, businesses can choose which cloud to be scaled based on the workload.
• Reliability: The distribution of workload across two different cloud – or even services – allow businesses to have maximum reliability and data retention.

Cons:

• Complexity: Combining both public and private cloud adds another layer of complexity. This is true both in the operation and management of the cloud environment.
• Higher Price: Using both public and private clouds can be overwhelming and hard to track. Thus without proper management, the cost of the service could balloon.

Wowrack Cloud Infrastructure

Understanding the difference between cloud solutions is the first step in using a cloud environment. Wowrack offers all forms of cloud solutions from public, private, to a hybrid cloud. All of which, you can choose depending on your workload needs.

With data centers located all around the world and reliably certified by such as ISO 27001 and SOC 2 Type II/SSAE 18, Wowrack to assure your data availability and security to the highest standard.

So, are you ready to drive your workload to the cloud? Let’s start with us today!

The post The Difference Between Cloud Solutions appeared first on Wowrack Blog.

Computer, or IT in general, is always something unique since its birth. Moore’s law truly describes it perfectly. In layman’s words, it says that computer performance will always double every two years.

It means that every two years the IT industries will always have innovations. Meanwhile, in-house IT infrastructure will always be lagging. This could spell disaster for business, especially in the current digital environment.

One of the ways you can do to keep with the current digital environment is to integrate managed service into your business. Here, you can find what a managed service is and why you should use it.

What is Manage Service

First, let’s answer the question of “what is managed service?”

Manage service is a term that describes the outsourcing use of a third party in maintaining, managing, and administrating anything related to IT. It can be your infrastructure, security, or storage among other things.

In 2025, Statista projected that this type of IT service will reach a market cap of around $356 billion. It shows how businesses shift from in-house IT service to outsourcing others that specialized in it.

Small to medium business is the one that is most profited from this trend. It allows them to keep up and even compete with middle to enterprise-level within the digital market.

Why Use Managed Services?

Now that we have cleared the basics of what managed service is, we can immediately go to a more in-depth explanation of why you should use this service.

Generally, there are 6 benefits that you can receive from outsourcing your IT management.

1. Handled by Expert

Handling by the expert for your IT infrastructure will be the first benefit of using a managed service.

As previously mentioned, development and innovation within the IT world always come at a quick pace. This would result in some businesses being unable to keep up with the pace.

Meanwhile, MSP or Managed Service Provider has the sole focus on keeping up with the current IT development and innovation. Thus, they will have all the experts needed in operating an up-to-date IT infrastructure.

2. Low Cost

Businesses that use managed services can also reduce the spending needed to keep IT running. This could range from the infrastructure and especially the labor cost.

An agreement between business and MSP can also make sure that there will be no unnecessary service costs. This allows business to shift their expense model into that operating expense model.

3. Easy to Scale

There are times when demand in the business is high and there are times when it is low. Meanwhile, most of the in-house IT infrastructure will stay the way they are. It means that businesses risk overloading or even underloading their IT.

One of the benefits of using MSP is it allows businesses to adjust the IT capacity according to real-time needs. As such you can easily scale your service accordingly.

4. 24/7 Support

MSP will often provide 24/7 support for your business depending on the plan you choose. Thus, you can easily contact or request help at the moment’s notice. MSP with around the globe coverage will be much better in this regard.

5. Minimized Downtime

The experience of most in-house IT users is to fix something that has already broken. This could cost precious time and money to be wasted from the resulting downtime.

By using managed service, you can minimize such downtime with the help of an expert within the MSP. They will proactively maintain and secure your IT infrastructure.

6. Focus on Your Business

The biggest reason for using a managed service is so you can focus more on your business. Today, a growing business means growing IT requirements. This often results in a distraction from your core business.

A good MSP can offer you a flexible service model, be it as an addition to your current team or handle all of your IT needs. In this way, you can back to put your focus on developing and growing the business.

How Wowrack can Help You

With over 20 years of experience in the IT world, Wowrack stands ready to provide white-glove treatment for all of your IT needs. Certified experts, flexible service plans, and advanced tools will allow you to focus entirely on your business.

So, are you ready to advance your business? Let’s get started!

The post 6 Reasons for Using Managed Services in Your Business appeared first on Wowrack Blog.

This migration will allow the business to provide broader access for their customer or their own employee to a certain degree. 

Here, we have compiled a discussion on the general look of “what is a cloud”, the planning and strategies that you could use, and the common challenge that you might face when performing cloud migration. 

General Look of “What is Cloud” 

To understand why you might need to perform cloud migration in the current business environment, you first need to know about the cloud. 

Cloud computing – often being shortened into “cloud” – refers to the pool of computer services that you can access through the connection of the internet. 

The advantage of this pool of computers is its ability to be accessed instantly without the need for the user to set it up themselves. Cloud also allows businesses to move away from on-premise storage. 

Instead, the cloud provider will have dedicated massive data centers around the world to fill all of their clients’ needs. These data centers allow the cloud provider to better maintain and secure the infrastructure. 

Why Move to Cloud? 

You then might ask, why should you perform cloud migration or why even use the cloud at all? So, let us make it clear the two biggest advantages of using the cloud today. 

1. No More On-Premise Server – This means no more dedicated IT specialists. You can focus more on what is your business need, rather than performing maintenance of your IT infrastructure. 

2. Virtually Limitless Computer Resources – You can have as many computer resources as you need. High workloads, add more resources. Not much going on, reduce the resources. That simple. 

If you are still unsure about the feasibility of using the cloud for your business, here are some reports and surveys regarding what the future is like. 

According to Flexera, by the end of 2020, 60% of small and medium businesses moved their workload to clouds and will continue to use the cloud for the foreseeable future. 

Another survey conducted by Venture Beat conclude that 50% of the Fortune 500 companies have undergone a digital transformation in the Q3 of 2021. 

These two surveys should have shown that modern business is putting great attention to the use of the cloud and slowly moving away from an on-premise server to cloud setups. 

Planning What You are Moving 

So, let’s say that you are willing to move your business model from on-premise to cloud, what should you do first in this case. The first thing you need to do is to plan what you are moving into the cloud. 

The fundamental planning when you want to perform cloud migration are the following: 

3. Why you are moving it, 

4. What you are moving, and 

5. How you are going to do it. 

First, evaluate “why” you want to move into the cloud. The business environment often became the biggest reason perform the migration. 

Try to set aggressive goals to drive the migration forward. This includes creating a baseline of your IT performance and cloud migration key performance indicators (KPI). 

Second, find out what you want to move into the cloud. Preferably, workloads or applications that can be moved as they are will be the first ones to be migrated. Meanwhile, with the one that needs a lot of reworking as the last one to be migrated. 

Third, choose how you are going to do perform the migration. The use of tools to simplify migrations and choosing the correct cloud deployment model will be your focus on the last step of planning. We will discuss this more in-depth in the strategies section down below. 

Strategies You Can Use to Perform Cloud Migration 

There are three most common strategies that you can use when performing cloud migration from on-premise storage. Below are the strategies in the order of the quickest and easiest set up to the most difficult one. 

1.    Rehosting (Lift and Shift) 

Rehosting is the quickest and easiest choice you can choose when performing a cloud migration. This strategy is recommended to be used for simple and low-impact workloads. 

As the name implies, this strategy is only moving your data to the cloud. Thus, you might not receive the full benefit when compared to fully going cloud-native. 

2.    Replatforming (Move and Improve) 

The replatforming strategy is used if you are looking to have some of the benefits of what a cloud environment can provide to you. Usually, it involves modernization or updates to the workload or application that will be moved to the cloud. 

This strategy is often preferred when compared to rehosting due to the benefit that businesses could receive from the cloud infrastructure. 

3.    Refactoring (Rip and Replace) 

Refactoring or re-architecting strategy is only preferable for those who wish to fully embrace the cloud. This strategy will force businesses to perform total redesign of workloads or applications to receive the full potential of the cloud infrastructure. 

Common Challenges When Performing Cloud Migration 

There is nothing in the world that can work smoothly without a problem and the same can be said with performing cloud migration. 

Here are some common challenges that you might want to know before performing a cloud migration. 

• Complexity – Different types of cloud require different types of maintenance and can fulfill different types of needs. Understanding your need for the cloud will be the utmost important thing. 
• Dependencies – Workload and application dependencies might bring cloud migration to a grinding halt. 
• Legacy Application – There are times when workload or applications are too complicated and costly to be migrated into the cloud. This is why proper planning is necessary. 
• Databases – While not that big of a challenge, a large amount of data requires time to complete the migration into the cloud. 
• Managing Cost – Proper management of cloud resources can deliver cost-saving. Thus, business needs to consider all of the required cost before and after moving to the cloud. 

Wowrack is Here to Help

Moving to a new environment can be a daunting task for business, especially when we are talking about IT needs. This is why proper survey and analysis are better conducted before making any decision. 

If you are not sure what is the best compute environment for your application, you can always consult us by clicking the link down bellow. We will help you find the best-fit solutions for your needs.

The post What is Cloud Migration and the Benefit to Your Business? appeared first on Wowrack Blog.

Wowrack has recently completed SOC 2 Type II/SSAE 18 audit. Accordingly, this attests that Wowrack has followed and demonstrated a strong commitment to information security, specifically in internal controls and processes as well as service delivery.

Provided by KirkpatrickPrice, this audit is a third-party validation and follows Trust Services Criteria stipulated by AICPA. In order to complete the audit, a company has to pass a series of security, availability, confidentiality, and system privacy tests. Wowrack has been proven to meet these criteria.

However, what does it mean to complete a SOC 2 audit for Wowrack? And, more importantly, why does it matter for the customers in the first place?

Why Wowrack SOC 2 Type II/SSAE 18 Matters for Your Business

Completing SOC 2 audit means a lot to Wowrack as it manifests a serious commitment to uptime, security and customer’s data privacy. Those three aspects are integral to Wowrack as it is part of the company’s mission to continuously improve services to its customers—to you.

Additionally, this attestation does not stop at benefitting Wowrack for it also benefits its customers. There are, at the very least, four benefits that you can get.

Guaranteed Security Practices

In times when digital adaption in business continuity practices accelerates faster than ever, cyberthreats are also becoming a bigger problem. However, one of the newest trends provides an interesting fact about the issue.

A 2020 study by Accenture reports that 40% of security breaches are now indirect, targeting weak links in the supply chain or business ecosystem. This can apply to internal practices or practices between companies and vendors. In other words, even the slightest unsafe security practices potentially result in bigger problems than the cause.

By choosing a certified vendor that does not take security for granted, you are making one huge leap towards safer practices. This also mitigates the risks of receiving indirect as well as indirect cyberattacks.

Improved Trust from Clients

Growing concerns regarding collection, protection, and the use of personal information become a major issue for business. That, accordingly, does not only cover the practices, but also the infrastructure, used vendors, products, and services.

Based on a 2019 survey of 2,200 US adults by Morning Consult, 73% of the respondents agree that protecting personal data is the top deciding factor to trust a business. This scores higher than product usability (71%), product safety (70%), and customer service (68%). Ergo, the more a company conducts safe information practices, the more it likely to get customers’ trust.

One way to let your customers know that you care about trust, security, and privacy is by letting them know that you do the same thing. The easiest way to do so is by choosing a reliable service provider. In so doing, certification provides evidence to the reliability of a service provider.

Above-standard Service Quality

Standards play a significant role in determining the quality of a service. They work as a basis for mutual understanding and guarantee of how a company will deliver a service.

For instance, take a look at AICPA-standardized SOC 2 audit. This audit sets the bar for how a company must conduct the best information security practices, internally or externally. Consequentially, it is pertaining to how a company delivers and maintains a service quality.

Once a company passes the assessment, this means that it has followed all the criteria of a good service delivery and practice. A result of an audit also works as a warranty of the best version of services that you will get.

Peaceful and Secure Digital Collaboration

A lot of companies—and probably yours as well—relies on digital collaboration to run their business. Especially, during the pandemic, we have seen that digital collaboration has skyrocketed exponentially. The same goes for cyberthreats.

PwC’s 2020 Digital Trust Insights Pulse Survey reported that cybercriminals are expected to be the most dangerous digital threats for business in 2020 and onwards. In addition, these threats do not solely target people who are working from home. They, however, also target the very IT infrastructure of a company in many ways possible.

For that reason, by choosing a safe and reliable IT service provider, you are indirectly helping yourself mitigate these cyber risks. A proven-to-be reliable provider conducts every security practice securely to get rid of your pain points worrying of not being able to enjoy your digital collaboration.

In conclusion, security is not something any businesses should wager. Trusting your IT security to a reliable service provider, such as Wowrack, helps you work more securely and painlessly.

To learn more on how Wowrack can help you, you can directly consult with our expert team. Schedule a call now.

The post Wowrack Completes SOC 2 Type II/SSAE 18 Audit—Why It Matters for You appeared first on Wowrack Blog.