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VPLS Cloud Services in Orange County and Los Angeles County

Essential Checklist for Finding the Perfect Cloud Service Provider!

VPLS Cloud Services in Orange County and Los Angeles County

Essential Checklist: Finding the Perfect Cloud Hosting Provider

How can you be certain that your selected cloud hosting vendor is a trusted one who applies the best security practices? Easy! By knowing what questions to ask and recognizing potential red flags.

Without further ado, let’s dive in and go down the checklist of what to look for in a reputable cloud hosting company!

How To Select the Right Cloud Hosting Provider for Your Business

Signing up with a cloud hosting provider can feel overwhelming when you’re not sure what to look for. Additionally, many cloud hosting services tend to splash their site with ridiculous amounts of technical jargon that make it harder for any person to decipher alone.

To better understand what you’re signing up for and what services matter most to your business, let’s go down the list of essential questions and concerns you may want to be answered before proceeding:

 

Is the provider cloud compliant?

A legitimate cloud vendor may claim that they comply with legalities within the market they sell and service. Sadly, some providers who imply compliance, are really just banking on the compliance of their product and service partners. Be sure to ask details on compliance regulations and where their responsibilities lie when it comes to protecting data privacy.

Will the provider consent to an audit?

An honest cloud vendor will have no problem submitting their services to an audit. This audit should cover both the technology being provided and also the business processes the vendors use to operate those services. Passing an audit regularly is part of a trust-worthy cloud vendor’s normal routine.

 

VPLS Cloud Services in Orange County and Los Angeles County

 

Will the provider allow you to define their role and responsibilities? 

A transparent cloud vendor will allow you to set clear expectations of what you want the vendor to be responsible for. Ideally, the vendor will meet these customer-defined responsibilities without any problem.

Will the provider deploy and enforce proper data protection standards?

A credible cloud vendor makes sure that their team members are using proper security technology to maintain and manage their services. This includes SSL encrypted connection, a sturdy password policy, and other practices that will guarantee a super secured cloud environment.

Will the provider practice proper cloud security policies?

A reliable cloud vendor knows exactly what security measures to take and when to put them into practice. They are known not only for preventing security breaches but also how to properly handle them should they occur.

Will the provider monitor physical security of the data server? 

A responsible cloud vendor’s premises are secured with restricted access to secure equipment as well intricate device logging, to protect movable devices such as laptops and tablets.

Will the provider provide a service level agreement (SLA)? 

A professional cloud vendor will continuously comply with all of the Service-Level requirements, inside and out, that were defined in the contract terms without having to be asked to do so.

 

VPLS Orange County and Los Angeles County California

Searching for the perfect cloud hosting provider doesn’t have to be so scary after all. Just keep this checklist on hand as you navigate towards a safe and reputable cloud hosting environment.

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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 Hybrid Cloud services that combine the flexibility and agility of putting on or pulling off data from hybrid data centers without compromising compliance and security.

PUBG PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds fights hackers and cheats for better game play.

Dire Consequences of Cheating on PUBG On the Rise!

PUBG PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds fights hackers and cheats for better game play.

The Public Enemy of PUBG

Leave it to cheaters to take the fun out of popular PC games.

Cheaters are running rampant on PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (famously known as PUBG) by gifting themselves the unfair advantage during gameplay, and as if that wasn’t enough, cheaters are also profiting from their hacks on PUBG.

To better understand the reason behind all the unnecessary cheating, let’s dive into the world of PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds!

PUBG Cheaters and Hackers on the Rampage

PUBG has a storyline similar to one you may have already heard of, Suzanne Collins’ The Hunger Games.

Much like the book, players start off with a team of four (including themselves), then proceed to fight and kill team members of the opposite team until only one player is left standing. The surviving player’s squad takes the win and all the glory that goes with it.

Sounds fair enough, right? Think again.

PUBG hackers and cheaters You may be wondering, “How exactly are these hacks taking place in PUBG and how do they affect me?

Cheater, Cheater, Virtual Hate Eater!

The problem that hackers and cheaters pose to the game lies in the permissions and advantages (aka hacks) to which their avatars are allowed, thereby causing unfair capabilities against other players.

These hacks include the use of an aim bot, which automatically targets your weapon so you never miss a shot. Additionally, PUBG cheaters are granting themselves the ability to teleport anywhere within the game, and also use a wall hack to allow their avatar the ability to see and walk through walls.

For honest players, the continuous poor gameplay can be discouraging and can even lead to temptation in downloading a few game hacks for themselves.

Cheating and hacks are so widespread that Anti-cheat service, BattlEye, has brought down the ban hammer on a total of 1.5 million PUBG players since January of this year.

…And those numbers are expected to escalate by the day.

 

 

PUBG Gamer Bluehole Studios

Reaping in the Rewards

What causes players to go through all of the trouble just to win a match? It’s simple. Money.

At the end of every PUBG game, winners are presented with prizes that can be sold for Steam Currency. Steam Currency is a universal game currency that can be used across different platforms and towards various products and services.

With endless possibilities and the extra perk of playing their favorite PC game, it will be a long time until the trend of PUBG players using cheats or hacks, runs its course.

Cheaters Never Win…

Fortunately, the rules of the real world apply to PUBG as well.

There are consequences that hackers can face in order to cheat a win in a PUBG game. Because the majority of cheaters stem from China, Bluehole Studios, the developers of PUBG, are planning to limit the number of Chinese gamers that show up on Western servers. If this restriction does not better regulate the situation, Bluehole Studios is willing to take more drastic measures to prevent cheaters from hurting PUBG as a whole.

Spiderman, Marvel Comics
Spiderman, Marvel Comics Inc.

…And Winners Never Cheat!

In conclusion, as tempting as it can be to sink to their level and win a PUBG match using your own hacks, try to keep yourself calm by remembering this notion: True winners never cheat.

While many have made a killing on PUBG, their methods are through questionable means and have caused the decline in users over time. If you are someone who enjoys the gameplay as it was developed, a fun skilled game that brings you and your team together towards a common goal, then you are victorious whether or not you receive the cash prize.

 

 

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Don’t forget! 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.

 

 

Warner Bros. Film Ready Player One

Ready Player One: Will VR Technology Change Our Near Future?

Warner Bros. Studios - Ready Player One
Warner Bros. Studios – Ready Player One

Ready Player One: A Virtual Reality Phenomenon

Now a worldwide phenomenon, Ernest Cline’s Ready Player One has recently been adapted into a science fiction adventure film directed by renowned filmmaker Steven Spielberg.

The movie has everyone wondering how far VR technology has come and what tech leaders across the globe are doing to bring us closer to a virtual future.

Ready Player One: A Very Short Synopsis

Set in 2045 in a highly dystopian society where “being human totally sucks most of the time [and] video games are the only thing that makes life bearable,” citizens find solace in a virtual reality world called the OASIS.

A young underdog named Wade Watts, decides to change his reality and finds himself in a universe of ground-breaking reality-bending, danger, mystery, and discovery.

Virtual Reality to the Next Level

Virtual reality is taken to the next level in both the film and the book. According to Cline, the character James Halliday “created the OASIS because [he] never felt at home in the real world. [He] didn’t know how to connect with the people there. [He] was afraid, for all of [his] life, right up until [he] knew it was ending. That’s when [he] realized, as terrifying and painful as reality can be, it’s also the only place where you can find true happiness. Because the reality is real.”

If this is so, how close are we as companies, society, and citizens to achieving that kind of true happiness?

Games like OASIS Beta, which were created in partnership with the movie by Viveport Studios on the HTC Vive platform, attempt to give audiences a taste ground-breaking and heaven and hell aspect of VR from the OASIS in the movie and book.

According to Anshel Sag, Moor Insights & Strategy technologist and technical writer focusing on consumer platforms, on Forbes, 2017 was a turnaround year for VR, and it looks like 2018 will be a continuation of that trend. While both virtual and augmented reality is a ways away from reaching their full potential, there are a significant number of VR users in 2018 than there were in 2017.

According to CEO and founder of HostingFacts, there were about 90 million active users in 2017 and VR is projected to increase to 171 million users in 2018, which is almost double of 2017.

Courtesy of Statistica

The Next Generation of VR

Currently, there are many next generations of VR technology, including new displays and high-quality tracking.  Developers and headset manufacturers have learned these lessons and are integrating them into current hardware and software trends.

For instance, Vive and its new HTC Vive Pro headset focus on the high-end user and enterprise customers who are currently willing and able to spend lots money on new, higher resolution headsets. Just like in RPO, the characters experience a whole new world of VR in the OASIS when they put on their high-end headsets.

In an interview with gaming contributor Heather Newman from Forbes, Joel Breton, General Manager of Vive Studios, talks about how far away we are from achieving the kind of tech in RPO and what the delay is:

“The Ready Player One story occurs in 2045, 27 years into the future. We know that CPU, GPU, bandwidth, full haptic bodysuits, and gloves will all be orders of magnitude more powerful, faster, and cheaper. Continued development of these necessary components for premium VR will experience exponential growth over the next 27 years.

I think that we are about 7 to 10 years away from deploying the technology enjoyed in the Oasis as described in the story and shown in the film. By then we will certainly have full haptic feedback, 64K resolution displaying at 120 FPS, and 8G bandwidth at consumer-friendly price-points. With that kind of firepower, we will be very close to launching worlds as expansive and immersive as the OASIS in Ready Player One.”

As we continue to see advancements in VR, especially with experiences that transport the user completely inside of a game, a world, or an application, this means that we can learn more and faster by experiencing content according to Breton.

Currently, there are plenty of phenomenal applications for 3D design, architecture, enterprise training, art and education, cinematic stories that can be very useful and effective VR learning tools for the future of any company in any industry and Ready Player One is just a snippet of how close we are.

Ready Player One is playing in theaters everywhere now.

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Sources: Forbes, The Next Web

VPLS Hybrid Public Private Cloud Services and How to Choose a Provider

Discover the Differences Between Private, Public, and Hybrid Cloud Services

VPLS Hybrid Public Private Cloud Services and How to Choose a Provider in Orange County California

Learn the Differences Between Private, Public, and Hybrid Cloud Services

Selecting the right cloud service for your business can feel overwhelming when you discover the number of options available is nearly endless.

What’s the difference between a private cloud service versus a public cloud service? What is a hybrid cloud service?

Here are some quick lessons and tips to help you select the right option for your business needs.

VPLS Hybrid Cloud Services in Orange County California

CLOUD SERVICE 101

As a business continues to grow and flourish, there needs to exist a data storage strategy that can be efficient, easily accessible, and cost-effective. And let’s not forget about high security! However, choosing the right cloud infrastructure to meet your needs and budget is no easy task.

Technology quickly advances from one day to another, as cybersecurity threats adapt to strengthening firewalls and solutions. So, how are you supposed to figure which options are best for your business needs?

First, let’s cover the basics to help you uncover the right cloud solution:

Private Cloud Service

A private cloud service allows customers the ability to tailor cloud services to meet individual and unique needs. Typically, data is hosted on a dedicated server and provided the bare essentials. This means the customer is responsible for the management, maintenance, and security infrastructure to protect and secure business operations.

Private cloud services are typically selected by companies that are large enough to provide their own team for the responsibility of its service and maintenance, 24/7.

Dedicated hardware and software is fully supported and maintained by your company’s in-house team. No outsiders! There is a lower exposure to security threats since a shared network in non-existent.

As the sole owner, all repairs, maintenance, hardware and software upgrades are your responsibility.

Public Cloud Service

A public cloud service relieves customers of the responsibility for the management and maintenance of a dedicated data server. The provider supports, updates, and handles all of the customer’s needs which can be paid for on a monthly or annual service period. In addition to it being budget-friendly, a public cloud is a workplace essential that allows every employee to use the same application from any office or branch with their choice device as long as they have internet access.

Public cloud services are typically selected by companies that do not wish to spend their time and resources maintaining a cloud infrastructure but are looking to benefit from its uses.

Low-cost options are readily available as cloud service providers are responsible for the management and maintenance of data servers. Basic security compliance requirements met. Not ideal for users needing high-security compliance, such as government and medical use. A shared network means the cost of energy and resources can stay low, but can also reduce performance levels.

Hybrid Cloud Service

A hybrid cloud service combines the perks of both private cloud solutions and public cloud solutions to fit a variety of business needs. Instead of battling between having all of your IT services on or off an entire data center infrastructure, you can now choose to do both.

Hybrid cloud services are typically selected by companies that wish to have flexibility in service without sacrificing security.

Connect private clouds to public clouds without the risk of leaking confidential information or lessened security. Services can be scaled up or down to meet business demands and ensure you only pay for the space used. By using a combination of private and public cloud services, employees can easily and quickly access files, data, and applications.

Check out VPLS Hybrid Cloud Services to learn more or reach out to a VPLS Specialist to discover the many ways in which cloud solutions can help your business run at the top of its game.

VPLS Hybrid Cloud Services in Orange County and Los Angeles County California

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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 Hybrid Cloud services that combine the flexibility and agility of putting on or pulling off data from hybrid data centers without compromising compliance and security.
Veeam Backup and Replication Services with VPLS

The Importance of Securing Local Data

Veeam Backup Replication

VPLS and Veeam Combine Forces

In the effort against cybersecurity threats and data loss, VPLS and Veeam are teaming up to provide customers the best in Data Backup and Replication services.

Here are a few reasons why you will want to shield your customer’s personal and financial data through VPLS and Veeam!

 

 Disaster Recovery

 

When it comes to your company’s backup and recovery needs, it’s important to secure and prepare for any event or disaster that may happen.

Hawaii Missile Alert

Hawaii Missile AlertTake for example the event in Hawaii, when an alert of an incoming missile was issued by an employee who accidentally pressed the wrong button that caused panic to spread throughout the island. While the incident was accidental, the consequences for unaccounted human error were devasting.

 

 

Bad Rabbit Malware

Bad Rabbit Malware and Ransomware

Or, when malware Bad Rabbit, targeted Ukrainian and Russian media organizations, causing entire systems to become infected with ransomware. The cybercriminals responsible for the attack demanded payment in the form of Bitcoin, racking up thousands of dollars in mere minutes.

 

 

The above examples act as solid reminders that the best solution against multitudes of cybersecurity threats are prevention and intervention. Secure your company’s future through multiple security measures and a thorough backup plan.

 

Veeam Cybersecurity and Data Recovery

Veeam Backup and Replication

 

To tackle these and other cyber threats, companies are ensuring their local data with data recovery services offered by Veeam.

Veeam Backup and Replication offers a great solution to verify recoverability of backups, instant recovery and testable upgrades within an isolated environment before implementation can commence. All of which are offered at a reasonable cost, tailored to fit your budget.

A few features worth mentioning are:

  • Cybersecurity solutionsVirtual and Physical Backup Services
  • Cost-effective Options (Purchase or Rental Services)
  • Automatic Recoverability Testing
  • Built-in WAN Acceleration
  • Unlimited Scale-out Backup Repository
  • One-Click Disaster Recovery 
  • Access to Veeam Cloud Connect for fast, secure, cloud backup
  • Recovery and eDiscovery for Microsoft Exchange, SharePoint, and Active Directory
  • And much more!

 

 

 Test Veeam Backup & Replication for Free!

Discover the many features of Veeam Backup and Replication and test the product for 30 days.

The free trial includes access to all features without any limitations.

Click here to contact a VPLS representative and speak to a Veeam Backup and Replication Specialist today!

 

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Stephen Hawking Dies at the age of 76

How Stephen Hawking Continues to Inspire Society and Future Technology

World renown physicist, Stephen William Hawking, has passed at the age of 76.

Join us as we comb through the pages of Hawking’s life achievements, inspirations, and scientific work during his time here on Earth.

“Intelligence is the ability to adapt to change.”

Biography of Stephen Hawking

Stephen Hawking was known for many things: a well-renowned physicist, a professor, an author, a cosmologist, the person that discovered the study of black holes. While Stephen Hawking may have passed, his legacy and work still live on.

Remembering Stephen Hawking

Born in England, 1942, Dr. Stephen Hawking made a name for himself, first attending Oxford University for his undergrad and then the University of Cambridge for his Ph.D. in cosmology. He is best known for his discovery that black holes emit radiation which can be detected by special instrumentation. Unfortunately, he was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), commonly referred to in the U.S. as Lou Gehrig’s disease.

Despite his disability and his predicted short lifespan, the theoretical physicist was still able to maintain his intelligence and make a meaningful impact in the world today. As a professor at the University of Cambridge, his alma mater, he heavily relied on engineering technology for him to communicate and share his ideas with his students, colleagues, friends, family, and the public.

Hawking’s Impact on Technology

Dr. Hawking used assistive technology to compensate for mobility and speech difficulties. Not only did he use a thumb switch and a blink-switch attached to his glasses to control his computer, but he was also able to communicate to audiences by squeezing his cheek muscles and blinking. As a result, an infra-red switch was instigated and he was able to scan and select characters on a screen that composed speeches, functioned emails, surfed the Internet, and “spoke” through a synthesizer.

Hawking and Lachman

This was particularly imperative since Dr. Hawking was always trying to share his views with the world. In fact, the woman who saved Stephen Hawking’s his distinct voice was Lama Nachman, director of the anticipatory computing lab at Intel Corporation. They met in 2011 and her primary task was to upgrade the computer system that helped Hawking communicate his thoughts. In 1985, Stephen Hawking lost his voice after a tracheotomy, but with the help of the adopted computer system developed by Lama Nachman and her team, he was able to maintain and develop his voice.

Technology like the computer system helped Hawking overcome ALS, but it was evident that the assistive technology needed an upgrade by 2011. First, Nachman and her support team were asked to improve the speed of communication. However, the hardware that advocated Hawking’s voice was so old that it could have failed at any second. As new computerized voices became available at the time, Hawking was adamant about keeping the one he had. He felt as if the voice he obtained in 1986 was his own and he loved it so much he had it copyrighted.

A Lasting Inspiration

When it comes to assistive technology, a lot of it has to fit an individual’s personal needs. However, Hawking made sure to ask the team to make their work and technology accessible to everyone. He wanted this type of technology to help others as well. As a result, Nachman and her team developed a tool kit that not only met Hawking’s needs, but could be adjusted for other users to have a different user interface or output voice.

Smiling Stephen Hawking

There has been a lot of support, especially from developers who urged versions in different languages and Nachman’s work with Hawking has increased the access to these technologies for people with disabilities.

Before he died, Dr. Stephen Hawking was active in research and developed speaking, writing, and research activities to make up for his functional limitations from ALS. In doing so, he proved that assistive technology presently has greatly helped those with disabilities. His experience with ALS has proven that no matter what your disability is, one can still discover and pursue their passions in life.

Thank you, Dr. Stephen Hawking for inspiring us all and doing and discovering the impossible.

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Sources: CBC Radio

recycling an old computer

How To Properly Dispose of An Old Computer

recycling an old computer

How To Safely and Effectively Rid Yourself of An Old Computer

Springtime marks the perfect time to evaluate whether or not you need to ditch that old computer and upgrade to the newest system. But, if the occasion calls for you to upgrade, do you know how to safely dispose of your once trusted device?

Read more to learn the do’s and don’ts of disposing and recycling an old computer.

recycling and discarding an old hard drive

Safety for Personal Data and the Environment

First, let’s discuss the importance of knowing how to dispose of an old computer the proper way.

Computers and their corresponding hardware are made of various metals and plastics containing not-so eco-friendly toxins. In addition to the potential damage it poses to the environment, improper disposal can also pose dangerous threats to your personal data; computers store a plethora of invaluable personal information –  passwords, account numbers, license keys, and other sensitive documentation – all items that would be deemed profitable to any criminal.

So, what is an innocent bystander like yourself to do? Learn how to properly throw away your computer, of course!

Backup Your Files

Backup data and hard drives

Create a backup of your files prior to disposing of the old computer.

Users can create a backup with the use of an external hard drive or upload to a cloud service. Consider VPLS, as we specialize in cloud storage services designed to simplify your backup and filing tasks.

After backing up your files, your files will be easier to manage on a new computer system. And, if you used a cloud backup, you will have access to your files anywhere you have an internet connection, including your mobile device.

Let the Fun Begin! Time to Clean Out Your Hard Drive!

Deleting files from your drive is not enough to prevent a potential cybersecurity disaster! Thieves can use data recovery programs to recover any deleted files.

To ensure that your old files no longer become accessible, here are a few necessary steps to put into practice:

  1. Delete and Overwrite Files with Sensitive Information. Make sure you delete your tax documents and other sensitive files with specialized software that meets government standards for the utmost secure deletion. File Shredder (free) is a top choice for Windows PCs with hard drives, and for older Macs with hard drives, as you can choose the Secure Empty Trash option after deleting your files. For newer Macs and Windows PCs with SSD drives, you will need to encrypt your drives to ensure the most thorough deletion process.
  2. Encrypt Drive.  Convert your information with an unreadable code that cannot be deciphered by unauthorized users. Don’t forget to change the password while you’re at it!
  3. Deauthorize Computer. Programs, such as Microsoft Office 365 and iTunes, only allow a certain number of licenses or permissions per computer. Always deauthorize an old computer of your accounts before you proceed to uninstall your programs and avoid any future complications.
  4. Clear Browsing History. Browsers keep a record of your online browsing, and in most cases, also store cookies, usernames, and passwords of various websites. Located under settings, be sure to clear and delete all browsing history and cookies.
  5. Uninstall Programs. Programs, like Microsoft Office, may contain personal information, such as your name and address. For that reason, be sure to uninstall all of your programs before tossing out an old computer.
  6. Know Employer’s Data Disposal Policies. Consult with your employer about how to properly manage business-related information on your computer. By law, businesses are required to follow specific data security and disposal requirements for certain customer-related information.
  7. Wipe Hard Drive. For PCs, once all data has been removed, perform a factory reset to guarantee the removal of all of your personal files and software programs.
  8. Bonus: Go Berserk and Smash It! A super easy (and secretly fun) way to recycle an old computer and ensuring that no one can ever recover your files, is to take the hard drive out and smash it with a hammer! Or drill a million holes in it!

Help the environment by recycling old computers and hardware

…And Now to Properly Dispose of Your Old Computer!

After following these steps, your old computer is now ready to be disposed of. Choose to recycle, donate, trade-in or sell your machine rather than dumping it in a landfill. A simple Google search can help you find local drop-off stations, making the process much easier to complete.

Remember, your computer is much more than just a hunk of metal! By knowing how to properly dispose of it is another way to prevent yourself from a future of complications in the cyber world.

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Desk and workstation organization

VPLS Spring Cleaning: Tips for a Clean and Organized Desk Area!

Desk and workstation organization

DO MORE WITH LESS

Spring is here and with it comes the reminder that our lives may need a little dusting, de-cluttering, and perhaps a dash of organizing.

Check out these VPLS Essential Tips for easy desk clean-up and take one step closer to feeling happy and motivated!

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