I recently read an article about Starbucks’ Stephen Gillett, who is being touted as a new breed of CIO. While he’s charged with refreshing legacy systems and decreasing manual processes – standard CIO fare – he’s also using Information Technology to connect with customers in new ways to help return the Starbucks brand mystique.
The pressure is on. IT departments are asked to take on a nearly insurmountable variety of responsibilities: “Make sure systems and applications work at all hours of the day, but find ways to cut costs while increasing efficiency, don’t forget about air-tight security, oh and in your spare time, come up with really exciting new ways to keep our customers engaged.” Would you like fries with that, too?
At the same time, the market has changed. Customers want to pay less, but demand more value, often in the form of having complete, constant access to the businesses they frequent. Consumers don’t wait until they get home to check their bank accounts anymore, they want to login at stoplights. They don’t want to email or call with a question, they want to text or webchat instantly.
The good news is you can handle the pressure (with a little help). Simpler-Webb is here to be your consultative partner. Think of us as an innovation engine. We help drive ideas by giving you access to a team of security, server, network, communications, desktop, and backup experts who stay on top of new technologies and trends. We help plan and design implementations to fit in with your business goals. We can even take over management of your devices to help free up time for innovation.
On a final note, check out this case study on Amplify Credit Union, who took banking to the next level by implementing wireless in their branches.
Do you have your own innovation success story? Email me (
info@swinc.com). We’ll publish it in our next newsletter!
Regards,
Jeff Simpler, Co-founder and CMO
CASE STUDY:
Online Retail Company Protects Data Securely with a Managed Backup Solution
Background
Headquartered in Austin, Texas, Living Direct is an online retail company specializing in compact consumer appliances, indoor air quality products, and lawn and garden furniture. In addition to providing a network of eight specialty ecommerce websites, Living Direct designs and manufactures two product brands, EdgeStar and KoldFront.
This multi-million dollar business is consistently ranked in the Top 500 Guide of America’s largest e-retailers. In addition, Entrepreneur Magazine selected Living Direct as a 2007 Hot 500 Fastest Growing Business, while Inc.com listed it as one of the 5,000 Fastest Growing Private Companies in America in 2008 based on revenue growth.
Challenge
Multiple challenges prompted Living Direct to evaluate backup options. The solution in place provided partial tape backups at the main branch leaving coverage gaps including the data center. Consistent growth and multiple branch locations meant increased data, complexity and network traffic. These factors in combination with upgrades to their SQL databases, SAN and accounting software and implementation of VMware created the need for a strong, integrated backup solution.
In addition, Living Direct’s business model called for an operating expense solution, rather than capital expenditure, which meant many traditional backup solutions, requiring the purchase of expensive hardware and software, were ruled out.
Simpler-Webb’s Solution
Simpler-Webb recommended its full-service Managed Backup solution, which addressed each of Living Direct’s backup challenges.
Agents installed at Living Direct move data securely off-site to Simpler-Webb’s SAS 70 Type II data center utilizing source-based de-duplication. This reduces the size of the backup data, before it is transferred across the WAN, by identifying redundant block level segments across servers, systems, and sites globally. Backup data is stored only once and transmitted only when unique, managing Living Direct’s growth without needing more bandwidth from their already busy network.
In addition, moving to a disk-based solution from tape provided the improved coverage, reliability and integration they needed. Full backups are now performed from multiple branch locations, which are easily recoverable in the event of a disaster. Because tapes are eliminated, there is no risk of them being lost or stolen and the daily burden of administering tape backups is removed from their internal staff. It also integrates seamlessly with VMware environments and de-duplicates the virtual machines, reducing the amount of data redundancy and provides the coverage needed to support the SQL, SAN and accounting software upgrades.
Because Simpler-Webb’s full-service Managed Backup is a hosted solution, it requires very little up-front expense and is priced monthly per gigabyte stored with no hardware or software purchase, lending itself to the company’s operating expense model.
“The Managed Backup solution appeared to be a great solution on paper, and after the implementation we found it was even better,” said Curtis Gustin, IT Director at Living Direct. “The reliability, functionality, and responses we have gained within our current data solution have been wonderful.”
Results
Simpler-Webb’s full-service Managed Backup solution provides Living Direct with the best value for their money while addressing all of their challenges. “We have been able to securely and reliably back up more data on a consistent basis without infrastructure changes,” said Gustin. “Our critical data has increased but the storage required has remained almost constant. Simpler-Webb has been very responsive to our requests such as confirming completed backups or restoring files for our users.”
The overall results for Living Direct grant increased infrastructure resiliency, better ability to protect data, WAN optimization, excellent VMware backup capabilities, and widely supported operating systems and applications. In addition, the solution affords offsite backups, regular test restores, 24/7/365 NOC backup monitoring and the ability to restore files across the WAN, should they have the need.
Since implementation, Living Direct has experienced reduced downtime, less maintenance, shortened backup windows, greater protection of data and quarterly test restores. Living Direct also has full access to the Client Portal, where they see live data and receive monthly reports.
“The solution we implemented is a very low cost solution with advanced technology
and managed by Simpler-Webb, which takes a major burden off of Living Direct,” said lead backup engineer Robin Moore. “Huge costs savings will be realized each time the system is used to restore ‘lost’ data.”
NEWS
Cisco Announces End of Sale for Cisco Security Agents
Cisco has officially announced their Cisco Security Agent (CSA) host IPS software will become End of Life/End of Sale; the details can be reviewed here:
http://www.cisco.com/en/US/prod/collateral/vpndevc/ps5739/ps2330/end_of_life_c51-602579.html.
Some important dates to keep in mind regarding the CSA announcement are as follows:
- End of Sale Date - 12/10/2010, This is the last day you can order CSA products
- End of Software Maintenance Release -12/10/2011,This is the last day that Cisco will provide any maintenance releases
- Last Day for Software Application Support -12/31/2013, This is the last day Cisco will provide any software and service technical support
For Simpler-Webb Managed CSA clients, there is no immediate need to change from CSA at this time. Cisco has committed to support CSA for the next 3.5 years, by which time all Simpler-Webb clients will need to migrate onto another HIPS/AV/DLP solution. Cisco’s decision to cease development and support for CSA has nothing to do with its current technical capabilities. Simpler-Webb still believes CSA is one of the best and most effective Host-Intrusion Prevention Systems (HIPS) products on the market today. With non-stop attacks against your servers and workstations, HIPS is a critical protection point and component of an organization’s electronic defense. Because behavior-based defense solutions – like CSA – can be complicated to deploy and maintain without an experienced security provider like Simpler-Webb, we will continue to emphasize a co-management strategy that includes HIPS for your computing infrastructure.
At this time we are evaluating new solutions that will offer the same or higher level of security as CSA and are able to integrate into our Managed Security platform. When we complete our findings we will share our recommendations moving forward. If you have any questions or concerns about the announcement please do not hesitate to contact us.
Simpler-Webb Launches Online Backup Resource Center
We recently announced the launch of our online backup resource center, containing a whitepaper, case study, video and more to help you pick the right backup solution for your organization.
Check it out: http://www.simplerwebb.com/Managed-Services/Storage.aspx
New and Changing Roles at Simpler-Webb
Justin Potter has been promoted to Managed Server Engineer, taking on maintenance window delivery responsibilities and health management for Managed Server clients.
Matt Bastek is moving into the Server Consulting team, with a focus on virtualization utilizing his VMware Virtual Infrastructure 4 VCP certification.
Martin Bauer joins us full-time as a Service Desk Server Technician. A recent graduate of Ole Miss, Martin has been a valuable part-time employee since his high school days.
Rick Cortez is a new employee, joining us as a Managed Server Technician. Welcome!
EVENTS
Join us in Baton Rouge for Cocktails in the Clouds
Join us for cocktails at Capital City Grill Downtown in Baton Rouge. You’ve been hearing a lot about Cloud Computing and Disaster Recovery, now’s your chance to learn more.
Join us in Austin for a Security Seminar: Protecting your Email and Web Systems
Cisco and Simpler-Webb security experts will highlight the key security trends of today and suggest ways to defend against the sophisticated new generation of Internet threats certain to arise in the future.
BLOG: Cisco Releases MARS Update (Version 6.0.7)
By Sean Martin, Security Solutions Architect
Cisco has released an update to their network monitoring, analysis, and response system. This update is primarily a bug fix release but also adds support for new logging file formats of monitored devices.
Support for Windows 2008—Cisco Security MARS provides agent based, native log support for Windows 2008 server hosts. Users can send syslog to CS-MARS by installing a Snare agent on their Windows 2008 server hosts.
Support for Windows IIS 7—Cisco Security MARS provides support for IIS 7 on Windows 2008 servers.
As usual this update requires that your MARS system be on the current OS version (6.0.6) and takes about an hour to complete. All updates are available for free from Cisco with a valid SMARTnet license.
Simpler-Webb automatically performs updates, patches and bug fixes for Managed Services clients, including this one for Managed MARS boxes, ensuring the safety and availability of your devices. For more information on Managed Services, please feel free to contact us.
The entire list of resolved caveats in this release can be found here:
Release notes are available here:
INTERVIEW: Will Russell, Account Executive
Account Executive, Will Russell, new father and Orbit aficionado takes time out to tell us about his nightly Jeopardy habit.
What is your official job title?
Account Manager
What’s your job like on a daily basis?
I work with our clients who are outside the state of Texas, so I get to work with people from Maine to Alaska and everything in between. My job is to make sure our clients get what they need before, during, and after a project takes place. I also communicate with clients about our managed services and various license agreements and support renewals that are managed by Simpler-Webb.
What other employees do you work with the most?
Carrie McDonald, Rachel Wise, and pretty much every consultant at Simpler-Webb
Tell us the story of how you got hired at Simpler-Webb.
My first interview was a pretty standard job interview. Before my second interview our recruiting coordinator told me I could dress more casually, so I had my first ever job interview without wearing a suit. I decided at that point that Simpler-Webb was going to be a good fit for me.
How long have you been doing this type of work?
At the end of the year, it will be 10 years.
What do you like to do most when you’re not at work?
Exercise, cook, attend sporting events, spend time with friends and family.
Tell us about your family.
My wife and I just celebrated our 4 year anniversary. We have a 6 month old son named Wyatt, and two Chihuahuas – Jaxon and Tori.
Where did you go to school?
I grew up in North East Texas in a town called Tyler, which is where I attended high school. I then moved to Austin to attend The University of Texas, and I never left.
Do you have a favorite sports team?
For college, the Texas Longhorns. For pro sports, the Dallas Cowboys.
If you could go on one TV games show, what would it be?
Jeopardy. I actually DVR and watch it every night.
What’s the story behind the Orbit gum?
A few years ago I started chewing gum after lunch every day. I decided that Orbit was my favorite brand. Instead of throwing the boxes away, I kept them. I now have about 120 empty gum boxes arranged like some sort of modern art rainbow on the shelf above my desk. If anyone is curious, Peppermint is the best flavor.
How long have you been at Simpler-Webb?
10 months
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