Month: June 2018

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June 2018 | VPLS Monthly Newsletter

June 2018 | VPLS Monthly Newsletter

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VPLS Highlights for June 2018

As the official Summer month comes to an end, the VPLS team is happy to reflect and share our favorite moments as they made the month of June sparkle and shine. VPLS reached company milestones, established major sales, and eagerly celebrated employee anniversaries!

Let’s take a look at how VPLS used every opportunity to grow and succeed together as a family.

vpls team event

VPLS Welcomes Summer Days

VPLS is not your average run-of-the-mill tech company; we support and help one another thrive in an incredibly fast-paced environment.

Take a look for yourself and check out the VPLS Top 3 Memorable Moments, as they took place this past month!

VPLS Celebrates Father’s Day

In a recent VPLS blog, we interviewed a variety of employees and asked them to describe their most fondest memory as a father. Needless to say, there wasn’t a dry eye in the office. We discovered a sweeter side to these wonderful fathers and learned some of the most rewarding aspects of fatherhood.

Every story is unique and bound to move you, so be sure to check it out!

VPLS Managed Service Provider of Orange County and Los Angeles County

VPLS Thailand Employee Earns Employee of the Month

What makes this achievement of VPLS Employee of the Month different from the rest? It’s the first award given to an employee of our sister company, VPLS Thailand!

Anthika Bhincharern, Operations Manager, ensures the VPLS Bangkok office runs smoothly on a daily basis. A job that can prove to be quite stressful at times.
According to Anthika’s peers and team members, she has shown again and again to be tactful and caring, even during the most hectic of times. Anthika does all she can with her team’s best interest in mind and her contribution to the VPLS brand is tremendous.

VPLS is proud to award her hard work and leadership.

VPLS Thailand Anthika

VPLS Welcomes New Talent and Recognizes Excellence

This past month, we welcomed a handful of new team members to the VPLS family. With every new individual, we make sure to make them feel right at home with a celebratory company luncheon and warm introductions.

VPLS aims to help every team member reach their professional goals and become the best version of themselves. Please take a moment to recognize some of the new faces that will represent the VPLS brand, as well as familiar faces that uphold VPLS values:

VPLS Keith Walker
Keith Walker
Natwar Darak Engineer Orange County
Natwar Darak

We hope that you enjoyed reading our company highlights for the month of June. We will continue to share more of our favorite moments in the months to come, so please stay tuned!

If you want to keep up with the latest security trends and other IT related products and services, please visit the VPLS blog and stay current with the latest news!

Don’t forget, VPLS offers Proofpoint Essentials services for industry-leading email security!

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The History Behind VPLS

Background and History of VPLS Inc. from Southern California

Wondering what VPLS stands for and how the acronym became a company name? Rest assured that it most certainly does not stand for Victor, Paul, Larry, and Scott. As you may have guessed, VPLS stands for Virtual Private LAN Services, a type of virtual private network technology.

But how did a tech acronym transform itself into the name of a worldwide leader in Managed Services and IT Services? Read more to find out!

Branding and name selection play a huge role in a company’s identity. When we look back at the history behind VPLS’ establishment, we, of course, must identify the major contributors to its name selection and brand.

Ted Mektrakarn and Tim Mektrakarn, both brothers and founders of VPLS Inc., recall the reasoning and process as if it were only yesterday.


[VPLS Ted Mektrakarn Ted Mektrakarn, CEO of VPLS Inc.



VPLS Tim Mektrakarn Tim Mektrakarn, COO of VPLS Inc.


A Stroll Down Memory Lane

VPLS began as a hosting provider labeled, Krypt. Operating out of a home office, Krypt provided hosting services that allowed young entrepreneurs amble opportunity and freedom to host and play their favorite game, CounterStrike. After a long workday, the Mektrakarn brothers would rush home to care and maintain expensive servers and equipment. Together, the duo paved a path that would ultimately lead to the establishment of a global business.

As the number of servers, services, and aspirations continued to grow, the Mektrakarn brothers quickly grasped their reality; the company was ready to adapt and take its customers beyond current services. Krypt was in need of a new paint job… and a new name.

Staying true to the Mektrakarn’s desire to be more than a hosting company and wanting to provide layers of services, the Mektrakarn brothers named the new company after layers of services and technology. In 2005, the transformation was complete with the inception of VPLS Inc., with Ted Mektrakarn acting as CEO, and Tim Mektrakarn acting as COO.

 

VPLS Managed Service Provider of Orange County and Los Angeles County

 

Much like the Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) model, the Mektrakarns strived to offer a comprehensive stack of services and solutions. Each layer linked and supportive of the last.

In the years to follow, VPLS transformed itself from a hosting provider to a worldwide leader in dedicated cloud and managed services. Then, in 2010, through high demand from international clients, VPLS opened offices overseas and became known as VPLS Thailand.

 

John Minnix, Co-Founder of VPLS Solutions John Minnix, Co-Founder of VPLS Solutions

 

In 2012, John Minnix entered the picture and helped establish VPLS Solutions, a provider and premier technology systems integrator. VPLS Solutions opened its doors and broadened the scope of services that VPLS could offer. As a result, Minnix established himself as a co-founder and became the Vice President of Sales within the VPLS family.

VPLS Timeline


Krypt is a leader in providing high-quality hosting. Thousands of customers around the world choose to rely on Krypt because of our excellent infrastructure, network, and technology.

VPLS Inc. is located in Southern California, we serve a diverse group of businesses throughout Orange County and Los Angeles County of Southern California.

VPLS Thailand offers technology consulting, managed services, web design and programming expertise. As well as Cloud-Hosted products such as CloudMail, Cloud Servers, and Backup solutions to serve Southeast Asia.

VPLS Solutions is a premier technology solutions provider and systems integrator that leverages all the components that VPLS Cloud Services and Networks are built upon.

FOLLOW, LIKE & SHARE VPLS!

If you want to keep up with the latest security trends and other IT related products and services, please visit the VPLS blog and stay current with the latest news!

Don’t forget, VPLS is a Fortinet Gold Managed Security Service Provider, to provide maximum security for all your web and database server needs.

Protect Mobile Devices and Tech from Sun and Heat

Guide to Surviving the Summer: How to Heat-Proof Your Technology

Guide to Surviving the Summer: How to Heat-Proof Your Technology

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Protect Mobile Devices and Tech from Sun and HeatWith the first day of Summer making its debut today, it’s time to break out the hats and sunscreen to prepare ourselves for triple-digit temperatures. And let’s not forget our favorite tech devices… they need protection from the heat too!

The summer heat can cause damage to your mobile devices when left out in the sun. VPLS is here to drop some knowledge and help you prevent a total device meltdown. Let’s read on to find what these simple methods are.

Keep Out of the Sun and Keep Your Cool

Extremely warm weather can have negative effects on your smart device. If left out in direct sunlight for a long period, your LCD screen will crack or become unresponsive to touch.

Additionally, the heat will drain your battery quicker since the battery fluid will evaporate faster when in use or even damage your device altogether.

The solution? Store your device in a cool place and out of direct sunlight, such as a handbag or backpack.

If your phone already shows signs of overheating, place it under the shade to gradually cool off. Remember, do not put your device in the refrigerator or freezer; the rapid temperature change can cause condensation buildup that could damage the circuit.

Wrap and Protect Devices

Water damage is another summertime concern to look out for when it comes to your electronic devices.

While you frolick by the water or play in the sand, the well-being of our phones is still compromised. Splashing water or kicked-up grains of sand can enter into the nooks and crannies of our device.

A good way to ensure that your device is protected both from water or sand damage is to wrap it! This skin-tight sheath around will make sure nothing gets in!

Though the concept may be humorous, these thermoplastic coverings are no joke! These sheaths can prevent water, sand, dust and other debris from wreaking havoc in the small openings of your device.

Safeguard Against Water Damage

If boating and swimming are on your to-do list this summer, then you will need a fool-proof way to protect your technology from major water damage. A waterproof case such as one from DryCASE will do just the trick! These cases will not only keep your devices dry and safe but will float if you accidentally drop your phone in the water. DryCase also makes backpacks suitable for bigger tech devices like cameras or laptops, and it will withstand thunderstorms at any tropical destination.

Bonus: If you happen to drop your phone in water during this summer, don’t fret! Just remove the battery and SIM card from your device, then place your phone in a bag or bowl of white rice overnight to remove excess moisture.

Summer is a time where you should have fun and experience new things. You should be able to take along your devices to whatever adventure you embark and not let anything, including the heat, stand in the way of your best summer ever.

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cyber security truths basics

Truths and Misconceptions of Cybersecurity

Truths and Misconceptions of Cybersecurity

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cybersecurity basicsAfraid that your social media accounts, like Facebook or Instagram, might be held hostage by a hacker? Not to worry! VPLS explains how to protect yourself from cyber attacks and hackers.

Stealing Your Private Data is Easy

Hackers are trying to steal private data and perform cyber attacks. Don’t expect to find James Bond behind that computer monitor, lurking from an unsuspecting corner of the web.

In general, hackers are individuals that exploit vulnerabilities and take advantage of unsuspecting members of the public. This might be surprising to learn, but a large amount of the public does not have basic knowledge of the internet and computers.

How Do Cyber Attacks Occur?

The most common methods that hackers use to gain access into personal devices and online accounts are through theft, phishing, and malware. Let’s take a closer look at how these processes unfold.

Stolen passwords can be obtained in various ways and can be used to log into websites you most frequent. Hackers can gain access to your email account, such as Outlook or Gmail.
This sneaky tactic is used to steal your password with your active participation! Hackers will lure you into providing your password through fake emails from your bank or other institutions.

Similiar to phishing, hackers can gain access to your password with your help. But, unlike phishing tactics that lead you to an unsuspecting website, hackers will include an email attachment that comes with hidden ransomware.

Worried About Becoming The Next Victim of a Cyber Attack?

Worried about being the next victim of a cyber attackHere are a few guidelines to follow when wanting to safeguard your online accounts and private data:

As mentioned, hackers exploit vulnerabilities to gain access of account passwords and private data. Regular software updates are one of the most important and simplest ways of protecting yourself from hackers. Nearly all devices that you use on regular basis contain software, such as computers, laptops, mobile phones, tablets, routers, and the list is endless.
Set up automatic download and installation to make the process easier.

STRONG PASSWORDS:
Using the same password for every online account? We’re all guilty of it. Avoid gifting hackers access to all your online accounts by making the passwords harder to crack.

Try using a passphrase instead of a password. For example: My favorite movie is Se7en
See? Passwords don’t have to be hard for you to create!

USE PASSWORD MANAGERS:
Rather than trying to remember every password for every online account you’ve ever created, try using a password manager. These handy tools keep your passwords in one vault and secures them with one master password.

What happens if the master password is stolen or used? It’s happened. Luckily, thanks to various protection methods and encryptions, all passwords were still safe under lock and key. We recommend checking out LastPass or 1Password.

POST WITH CAUTION:
Be careful with what you post on social media sites. Taking pictures of a passport, state ID, or concert ticket and posting them online is enough for some hackers to scrape private information from you, such as an address or date of birth.

Your name, address, and date of birth are enough to open new lines of credit.

Remember the golden rule, “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.”

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The Art of Being a Father

VPLS Orange County Managed Service Provider

What’s the most memorable moment you’ve experienced as a father?

Being a father is the most important role a person can ever play. The journey is long and far from easy. Yet, through life’s highs and lows, fathers continuously grow alongside their children and bring joy and love that is irreplaceable.

We asked a few of the dads from VPLS to share their most memorable moments and here’s what they had to say…

6 Questions to Ask Before Moving Applications and Critical Data to the Cloud

6 Questions to Ask Before Moving Applications and Critical Data to the Cloud

Which cloud approach will you take? It is not enough to say that you are going to move your applications to the cloud. Which cloud?

Public Cloud Options

Cost savings is the single biggest benefit to the public cloud since physical hardware and infrastructure resources that are owned and operated by a third-party data center provider are shared among a large number of clients. Applications in the public cloud are available on a pay-as-you-go basis and can more easily scale as a company grows and requirements increase. This data center will also have redundancy measures in place to increase reliability.

Private Cloud Options

A private cloud provides you with the resources of the public cloud but the hardware and infrastructure resources allocated to your company is for your use only and will not be used by any other organization. Therefore, these private applications, hardware, and infrastructure resources provide a greater level of security. They also enable you to customize your cloud services, tailoring them to your individual needs.

Hybrid Cloud Options

A hybrid cloud approach combines the best of both the public and private cloud worlds. It provides you with the increased security and customization of a private cloud but enables you to move data and processing resources to the public cloud as needed to accommodate a significant spike in demand.

This frees up space in the private cloud and enables you to keep business-critical applications and sensitive data in a secure environment while at the same time giving you the flexibility to quickly and easily scale non-mission critical applications as workloads expand and contract.

Working with a Data Center: Selecting a Private or Hybrid Cloud Approach

Taking this one step further, if you select the private or hybrid cloud approach, will you locate your private cloud in your own facility or work with a data center to deploy it in their facility? And, if you do choose to work with a data center provider, will you select a colocation solution where you own and manage your company’s equipment yourself while only utilizing the data center’s infrastructure resources or will you select a fully managed hosting option with a dedicated server where you lease the equipment and they manage, monitor and maintain all of the resources for you?

Your answers to these questions will most likely be based on the following criteria:

  • Expenses – Do you have the money to buy your own equipment or lease dedicated equipment from a data center or do limited funds require you to have the cost spread out among many companies?
  • Human Resources – Do you have a technical team on staff to be able to manage and maintain your own applications, equipment, and other resources or will you need the technical expertise of a data center provider to help?
  • Physical Space – Do you have the physical space and infrastructure to implement a private cloud solution in your company’s server room or do your company’s expected growth plans require you to consider a larger, purpose-built data center.

1. Can You Prevent a Cyber-Attack or Security Breach?

No company is immune to modern data breaches or cyber-attacks. The size or type of business doesn’t matter anymore. Hackers will target a small business just as quickly as a large enterprise. Although encryption does help protect data, there is always the possibility that the encryption key could be lost or, if your data and the keys that unlock them are stored on the same machine, you run the risk of a significant data breach if the machine is compromised and both the keys and data are stolen.

Have you also considered how you will prevent a breach if an employee’s laptop, smartphone or other mobile device is stolen? Do you have the ability to remotely wipe the device of all company information as soon as the theft has been discovered?

2. What is the Disaster Recovery Plan?

The first question to ask is does the cloud provider have a disaster recovery plan? What is it and how quickly can they get you back up and running after the disaster has occurred? What if your business is down for consecutive days and you incur financial losses as a result? Will the provider compensate you? Actual data loss or the inability to access applications as a result of a disaster is just one consideration. The second question to ask is what is your data backup strategy and who is responsible for it? Will data backup be your responsibility or the responsibility of the cloud provider?

 3. Are There Bandwidth Limitations?

Do you know what your expected bandwidth needs will be and if it will increase or decrease over specific periods of time? Some cloud service providers have bandwidth limitations, can charge exorbitant rates for any additional bandwidth you need, or provide all clients with unlimited bandwidth. If not understood and assessed ahead of time, bandwidth limitations and additional fees could be a significant obstacle to a successful move to the could.

4. Can You Meet Compliance Requirements?

Do you know where your data is? For many companies with data in the public cloud, they do not. This could be a problem if your organization is in a regulated industry and needs to meet strict requirements on how and where your data is stored, managed and maintained. Selecting a local data center provider for colocation or managed hosting services who has been certified by an independent third-party auditor will ensure that you know where your servers and data are located and give you confidence that you are meeting all of the necessary compliance requirements.

5. What is the Total Cost of Ownership?

While cost savings is considered one of the key benefits of the public cloud, it is critical to compile a list of current and future expenses that you may incur to have a better understanding of your total cost of ownership of each cloud option – public, private and hybrid. How much will the cost of public cloud storage increase over the next few years?

What is the cost difference between buying your own servers and placing them in a colocation environment vs leasing the equipment in a hosting environment?

If you do not currently have an IT team on staff, how much would it cost the company in salary, benefits, and training to hire 2 new IT professionals vs hiring the data center provider to monitor and maintain your equipment and data? Only by sitting down and evaluating the total cost of ownership will you get a true understanding of what the actual costs will be.

6. Cloud Strategy Considerations

 Although a cloud strategy does provide significant benefits, there are still considerations that need to be made before you jump into the cloud. And, after an analysis of your needs, priorities, resources, and budget, you may or may not find that a cloud strategy will be the right solution for you. At Evocative, we take the role of trusted advisor seriously.

We do not push companies in one direction or another. Our approach is to listen, first. We want to get to know who you are, what you do, and what your goals and challenges are. Then, we make recommendations that are in your best interest. If you need help doing a cost-benefit analysis of your company’s migration to the cloud, we are here for you. Give us a call at 888-365-COLO (2656)

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