@import url('https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=DM+Sans:ital,opsz,wght@0,9..40,100..1000;1,9..40,100..1000&family=Instrument+Sans:ital,wght@0,400..700;1,400..700&display=swap');
input,
button,
select,
textarea,
body {
font-family: "DM Sans", sans-serif;
font-weight: 400;
}
input strong,
button strong,
select strong,
textarea strong,
body strong {
font-weight: 700;
}
h1,
h2,
h3,
h4,
h5,
h6 {
font-family: "Instrument Sans", sans-serif;
font-weight: 700;
}
h1 strong,
h2 strong,
h3 strong,
h4 strong,
h5 strong,
h6 strong {
font-weight: 700;
}
::selection {
background: #1d549d;
}
::-moz-selection {
background: #1d549d;
}
body,
p,
.gform_body .gfield input,
.gform_body .gfield textarea,
.gform_body .gfield select {
font-size: 16px;
line-height: 24px;
font-family: "DM Sans", sans-serif;
}
p {
margin-bottom: 18px !important;
font-family: "DM Sans", sans-serif;
}
p.lead {
font-size: 20px;
}
h1 {
font-size: 50px;
line-height: normal;
margin-bottom: 20px;
}
h2 {
font-size: 38px;
line-height: normal;
margin-bottom: 20px;
}
h3 {
font-size: 28px;
line-height: normal;
margin-bottom: 20px;
}
h4 {
font-size: 22px;
line-height: normal;
margin-bottom: 20px;
}
h5 {
font-size: 18px;
line-height: normal;
margin-bottom: 20px;
}
h6 {
font-size: 19.2px;
line-height: normal;
margin-bottom: 20px;
}
#topcontrol {
background-color: rgba(0,0,0,0.1);
background-position: center center;
background-repeat: no-repeat;
-webkit-transition: all 0.2s ease-out;
-moz-transition: all 0.2s ease-out;
-o-transition: all 0.2s ease-out;
-ms-transition: all 0.2s ease-out;
transition: all 0.2s ease-out;
border-radius: 3px;
color: #FFFFFF;
height: 48px;
line-height: 55px;
margin: 0 15px 15px 0;
text-align: center;
width: 48px;
z-index: 10000;
}
#scrolltotop:before {
border-color: rgba(255,255,255,0) rgba(255,255,255,0) #FFFFFF;
border-image: none;
border-style: solid;
border-width: 10px;
content: "";
height: 0;
left: 28%;
position: absolute;
top: 17%;
width: 0;
}
#topcontrol:hover {
background-color: #153d72;
}
a:hover,
.sidebar-content .nav.nav-tabs.nav-stacked .parent ul a.selected,
.sidebar-content .nav li li a:hover,
div[role="complementary"] div > ul > li:hover {
color: #17427b;
}
a,
.nav-tabs > .active > a,
.nav-tabs > .active > a:hover,
.nav-tabs > .active > a:focus,
.nav li a:hover,
.nav li a:focus,
.navbar .nav > li > a:focus,
.navbar .nav > li > a:hover,
.pagination ul > li > a:hover,
.pagination ul > li > a:focus,
.pagination ul > .active > a,
.pagination ul > .active > span,
nav[role="navigation"] .nav-normal > .active > a,
nav[role="navigation"] .nav-normal li a:hover,
nav[role="navigation"] .nav-pills-square > .active > a,
nav[role="navigation"] .nav-bar > li > a:hover,
nav[role="navigation"] .nav-bar > li > a:focus,
nav[role="navigation"] .nav-bar > .active > a,
nav[role="navigation"] .nav-bar-top > .active > a,
nav[role="navigation"] .nav-bar-top > li > a:hover,
nav[role="navigation"] .nav-bar-underline > .active > a,
nav[role="navigation"] .nav-underline > .active > a,
nav[role="navigation"] .nav-underline > li > a:hover,
nav[role="navigation"] .nav-separator > .active > a,
nav[role="navigation"] .nav-separator > li > a:hover,
.sidebar-content .nav a.active,
div[role="complementary"] div > ul > li:active,
.sidebar-content .nav li a:hover,
.sidebar-content .nav li a:focus {
color: #1d549d;
}
.nav a:hover .caret {
border-bottom-color: #1d549d;
border-top-color: #1d549d;
}
.nav-tabs > li > a:hover,
.nav-tabs > li > a:focus,
.navbar .nav > .active > a,
.navbar .nav > .active > a:hover,
.navbar .nav > .active > a:focus,
.nav-pills > .active > a,
.nav-pills > .active > a:hover,
.nav-pills > .active > a:focus,
.nav-tabs.nav-stacked > .active > a,
.nav-tabs.nav-stacked > .active > a:hover,
.nav-tabs.nav-stacked > .active > a:focus,
.nav-list > .active > a,
.nav-list > .active > a:hover,
.nav-list > .active > a:focus,
.grid li a:hover img,
textarea:focus,
input[type="text"]:focus,
input[type="password"]:focus,
input[type="datetime"]:focus,
input[type="datetime-local"]:focus,
input[type="date"]:focus,
input[type="month"]:focus,
input[type="time"]:focus,
input[type="week"]:focus,
input[type="number"]:focus,
input[type="email"]:focus,
input[type="url"]:focus,
input[type="search"]:focus,
input[type="tel"]:focus,
input[type="color"]:focus,
.uneditable-input:focus,
.gform_wrapper li.gfield_error input[type="text"]:focus,
.gform_wrapper li.gfield_error input[type="url"]:focus,
.gform_wrapper li.gfield_error input[type="email"]:focus,
.gform_wrapper li.gfield_error input[type="tel"]:focus,
.gform_wrapper li.gfield_error input[type="number"]:focus,
.gform_wrapper li.gfield_error input[type="password"]:focus,
.gform_wrapper li.gfield_error textarea:focus {
border-color: #1d549d;
}
.navbar .nav > .active > a,
.navbar .nav > .active > a:hover,
.navbar .nav > .active > a:focus,
.nav-pills > .active > a,
.nav-pills > .active > a:hover,
.nav-pills > .active > a:focus,
.nav-tabs.nav-stacked > .active > a,
.nav-tabs.nav-stacked > .active > a:hover,
.nav-tabs.nav-stacked > .active > a:focus,
.nav-list > .active > a,
.nav-list > .active > a:hover,
.nav-list > .active > a:focus,
.dropdown-menu > li > a:hover,
.dropdown-menu > li > a:focus,
.dropdown-submenu:hover > a,
.dropdown-submenu:focus > a,
.dropdown-menu > .active > a,
.dropdown-menu > .active > a:hover,
.dropdown-menu > .active > a:focus,
.progress .bar,
.progress-striped .bar,
.progress-info.progress-striped .bar,
.progress-striped .bar-info,
nav[role="navigation"] .nav-pills-square li a:hover {
background-color: #1d549d;
}
.form-control:focus {
border-color: #1d549d;
box-shadow: 0 1px 1px rgba(0,0,0,0.075) inset, 0 0 8px rgba(29,84,157,0.6);
}
.pagination > .active > a,
.pagination > .active > span,
.pagination > .active > a:hover,
.pagination > .active > span:hover,
.pagination > .active > a:focus,
.pagination > .active > span:focus {
background-color: #1d549d;
border-color: #1d549d;
}
.accent {
color: #1D549D !important;
}
.accent2 {
color: #E7EAF0 !important;
}
.accent3 {
color: #F7F7F7 !important;
}
.accent4 {
color: #D3DDDF !important;
}
.accent5 {
color: #808282 !important;
}
.accent6 {
color: #73D7FF !important;
}
.accent7 {
color: #2858A2 !important;
}
.ico-facebook {
color: #3b5998;
}
.ico-twitter {
color: #2daae1;
}
.ico-rss {
color: #f2861d;
}
.ico-linkedin {
color: #0073b2;
}
.font-60 {
font-size: 60px;
}
.font-45 {
font-size: 45px;
}
.font-46 {
font-size: 46px;
}
.font-36 {
font-size: 36px;
}
.font-30 {
font-size: 30px;
}
.font-24 {
font-size: 24px;
}
.font-20 {
font-size: 20px;
}
.font-18 {
font-size: 18px;
}
.font-16 {
font-size: 16px;
}
.font-15 {
font-size: 15px;
}
.line-height-small {
line-height: 1.2;
}
.uppercase {
letter-spacing: 1.4px;
}
header nav[role="navigation"] .nav {
margin: 0px 0px 0px !important;
}
header nav[role="navigation"] .nav > li > a {
color: #323333;
font-size: 14px;
padding: 5px 8px;
}
header nav[role="navigation"] .nav > li > a .caret {
border-top-color: #323333;
border-bottom-color: #323333;
}
header nav[role="navigation"] .nav > li > a:hover,
header nav[role="navigation"] .nav > li > a:active,
header nav[role="navigation"] .nav > li > a:focus {
color: #1d549d;
}
header nav[role="navigation"] .nav > li > a:hover .caret,
header nav[role="navigation"] .nav > li > a:active .caret,
header nav[role="navigation"] .nav > li > a:focus .caret {
border-top-color: #1d549d;
border-bottom-color: #1d549d;
}
header nav[role="navigation"] .nav > li.active > a {
color: #1d549d;
}
header nav[role="navigation"] .nav > li.active > a .caret {
border-top-color: #1d549d;
border-bottom-color: #1d549d;
}
.nav li a:hover,
.nav li a:focus {
background-color: transparent;
border-color: transparent;
}
nav[role="navigation"] ul > li .dropdown-menu > li:hover > a,
nav[role="navigation"] ul > li .dropdown-menu > li > a:hover {
background: none repeat scroll 0 0 #1d549d;
color: #fff;
}
.top-header-r1 .top-nav-r1 ul.nav > li > a {
padding: 8px 0px;
color: #1d549d;
font-size: 15px;
font-weight: 400;
text-transform: uppercase;
font-family: "Oswald", sans-serif;
}
.top-header-r1 .top-nav-r1 ul.nav > li.phone-top-nav > a {
color: #323333;
font-weight: 500;
}
.top-header-r1 .top-nav-r1 ul.nav > li.phone-top-nav > a .fa-phone {
color: #2daae1 !important;
}
.top-header-r1 .top-nav-r1 ul.nav li.border-nav > a:before {
content: "|";
margin-right: 15px;
vertical-align: text-top;
color: #d2d2d2;
}
.top-header-r1 .top-nav-r1 ul.nav > li + li {
margin-left: 15px;
}
.main-header-r3 .desktop-menu-box .nav > .menu-item > a {
padding-top: 40px;
padding-bottom: 40px;
}
.social-header ul {
margin-right: 30px;
}
.social-header ul > li a {
padding: 0;
font-size: 20px;
}
.social-header ul > li + li {
margin-left: 15px;
}
header .brand img {
width: 100%;
max-width: 336px;
}
.banner-cta {
margin-bottom: 20px;
margin-top: 20px;
}
.banner-cta .btn-custom {
border: 2px solid #1d549d;
color: #1d549d;
}
.banner-cta .cta + .cta {
margin-left: 10px;
}
.home header {
position: fixed;
width: 100%;
z-index: 5;
}
header,
.main-header-r4 {
background: transparent;
}
header.header-fix {
background: #fff;
box-shadow: 0 4px 6px rgba(0,0,0,0.2);
}
header.header-fix .brand img,
header .brand img {
padding-top: 20px;
padding-bottom: 20px;
}
header {
background: transparent;
}
header .main-header-r4 .desktop-menu-box nav {
background: #fff;
border-radius: 30px;
padding: 5px 5px;
}
header .main-header-r4 .desktop-menu-box nav .btn-contact a {
padding: 5px 15px 10px !important;
}
header .main-header-r4 nav .caret {
border-top: 0px;
border-bottom: 0px;
display: initial;
}
header .main-header-r4 nav .caret:after {
content: "\f107";
font-family: FontAwesome;
color: #000;
font-weight: 300;
}
header .top-header-r4 a {
color: #06162F;
font-size: 13px;
font-weight: 400;
line-height: 18px;
}
header .top-header-r4 i {
color: #1D549D;
padding-right: 5px;
}
nav[role="navigation"] ul > li .dropdown-menu > li:hover > a,
nav[role="navigation"] ul > li .dropdown-menu > li > a:hover {
background-color: #1d549d;
color: #fff;
}
.home .page-wrap section.homepage-masthead div.container div.row {
padding-top: 200px;
}
footer .main-footer-r4 .twitter-x {
background: #2daae1;
padding: 8px;
border-radius: 50px;
margin-left: 5px;
width: 31px;
}
footer .main-footer-r4 .row {
padding-top: 60px;
}
footer .main-footer-r4 ul li,
footer .main-footer-r4 p {
color: #fff;
}
footer .main-footer-r4 .company-contact li i {
color: #73D7FF;
}
footer .main-footer-r4 .company-contact {
margin-left: 20px;
}
footer .main-footer-r4 ul.company-contact li,
footer .main-footer-r4 #menu-solutions li {
margin-bottom: 12px;
}
footer .main-footer-r4 .js-cm-submit-button {
margin-top: 20px;
width: auto;
padding: 10px 23px;
}
.review-widget-box iframe {
width: 300px;
max-width: 100%;
margin: 20px auto;
}
#contact-us-popup .modal-dialog {
width: 1150px;
max-width: 100%;
margin-top: 50px;
}
#contact-us-popup .modal-dialog .modal-content {
border-radius: 0;
border: none;
}
#contact-us-popup .modal-dialog .modal-body {
padding: 40px;
display: -webkit-box;
display: -ms-flexbox;
display: flex;
-ms-flex-wrap: wrap;
flex-wrap: wrap;
-webkit-box-align: stretch;
-ms-flex-align: stretch;
align-items: stretch;
-webkit-box-pack: center;
-ms-flex-pack: center;
justify-content: center;
}
#contact-us-popup .modal-dialog .modal-body > div {
-webkit-box-flex: 0;
-ms-flex: 0 0 50%;
flex: 0 0 50%;
padding: 20px;
}
#contact-us-popup .modal-dialog .modal-body .close {
position: absolute;
top: -30px;
right: 0;
color: #fff;
opacity: 1;
}
#contact-us-popup .modal-dialog .modal-body .form-blue-box {
background-color: #2858a2;
color: #fff;
}
#contact-us-popup .modal-dialog .modal-body .form-blue-box h4 {
color: #fff;
}
#contact-us-popup .modal-dialog .gform_body .ginput_complex .name_first label,
#contact-us-popup .modal-dialog .gform_body .ginput_complex .name_last label {
display: none;
}
#contact-us-popup .modal-dialog .modal-body .form-blue-box .gform_footer .btn {
background-color: #ffffff;
border-color: #ffffff;
color: #2858a2;
min-width: 170px;
}
.brand-tagline {
background: -webkit-linear-gradient(0deg,#1d549d 0%,#0a3268 22%,#1d549d 48%,#0a3268 74%,#1d549d 100%);
background: -moz-linear-gradient(0deg,#1d549d 0%,#0a3268 22%,#1d549d 48%,#0a3268 74%,#1d549d 100%);
background: -o-linear-gradient(0deg,#1d549d 0%,#0a3268 22%,#1d549d 48%,#0a3268 74%,#1d549d 100%);
background: -ms-linear-gradient(0deg,#1d549d 0%,#0a3268 22%,#1d549d 48%,#0a3268 74%,#1d549d 100%);
background: linear-gradient(90deg,#1d549d 0%,#0a3268 22%,#1d549d 48%,#0a3268 74%,#1d549d 100%);
}
.brand-tagline h2 {
text-transform: uppercase;
}
.bullet {
border-radius: 50%;
background-color: rgba(255,255,255,0.5);
width: 12px;
height: 12px;
margin: 0 70px;
}
.section-arrow {
position: relative;
}
.scroll-arrow {
position: absolute;
width: 100%;
left: 0;
bottom: -24.5px;
}
.scroll-arrow a {
border-radius: 50%;
border-width: 1px;
border-color: #eaeaea;
border-style: solid;
background-color: #ffffff;
box-shadow: 0px 3px 6px 0px rgba(0,0,0,0.08);
width: 49px;
height: 49px;
padding: 5px;
color: #808282;
font-size: 18px;
margin: 0 auto;
display: flex;
display: -webkit-box;
display: -ms-flexbox;
display: -webkit-flex;
-webkit-box-align: center;
-ms-flex-align: center;
align-items: center;
-webkit-box-pack: center;
-ms-flex-pack: center;
justify-content: center;
}
.scroll-arrow span {
line-height: 0;
}
.main-footer-r1 {
margin-top: 60px;
}
.main-footer-r1 ul#menu-footer-nav li {
margin-bottom: 8px;
}
.main-footer-r1 .campaignmonitor {
margin-top: 20px;
margin-bottom: 20px;
}
.main-footer-r1 .campaignmonitor input.form-control {
border-radius: 6px;
height: 45px;
}
.main-footer-r1 .campaignmonitor .btn {
padding: 6px 25px;
}
.logo-footer {
max-width: 223px;
margin-bottom: 40px;
}
.footer-large .best.logo {
width: 100%;
max-width: 170px;
}
.footer-address .fa {
color: #fff !important;
}
.footer-phone .fa-ul,
.footer-address .fa-ul {
margin-left: 25px;
}
hr.footer-divider {
border-color: #808282;
margin-bottom: 20px;
margin-top: 100px;
}
.main-footer-r2 .social-footer {
margin-top: 20px;
}
.main-footer-r2 .social-footer .nav > li {
display: inline-block;
}
.main-footer-r2 .social-footer ul > li a {
padding: 0;
font-size: 20px;
}
.main-footer-r2 .social-footer ul > li + li {
margin-left: 15px;
}
.main-footer-r2 .social-footer .linkedin-socials .fa-circle {
color: #1c559d;
}
footer .main-footer-r4 .social-box a {
flex: 0 0 25%;
}
.mm-slideout {
z-index: auto !important;
}
#mobile-menu:not(.mm-menu) {
display: none;
}
.single-post div[itemprop="articleBody"] > p:first-child img[src*="techadvisory.org"],
.single-post div[itemprop="articleBody"] > div:first-child img[src*="techadvisory.org"] {
display: none;
}
.single-post .well-blog article > figure > img.wp-post-image {
width: 100%;
height: 272px;
object-fit: cover;
margin: 10px auto;
}
.single-post .well-blog article > div[itemprop="articleBody"] img {
max-width: 100%;
}
.btn,
.desktop-menu-box nav .btn-contact a {
position: relative;
padding-right: 30px;
}
.js-cm-submit-button::after,
.hp-discover-section .item:hover .btn-tertiary::after,
.desktop-menu-box nav .btn-contact a::after,
.btn-primary::after {
content: url('/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/ic-button-arrow-white.svg');
padding-left: 10px;
top: 3px;
position: relative;
}
.btn-secondary::after,
.btn-custom1::after,
.btn-custom2::after,
.btn-tertiary::after {
content: url('/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/ic-button-arrow-blue.svg');
padding-left: 10px;
top: 3px;
position: relative;
}
.btn-primary,
.btn-secondary,
.btn-tertiary,
.btn-custom1,
.btn-custom2 {
padding: 10px 24px;
}
.btn-primary,
.main-header-r4 .desktop-menu-box nav .btn-contact a {
background: #1D549D;
border: 0px;
border-radius: 24px;
font-size: 16px;
font-weight: 400;
color: #fff;
text-transform: capitalize;
font-family: "DM Sans", sans-serif;
}
.btn-primary:hover,
.btn-primary:active,
.btn-primary:focus,
.main-header-r4 .desktop-menu-box nav .btn-contact a:hover,
.main-header-r4 .desktop-menu-box nav .btn-contact a:focus,
.main-header-r4 .desktop-menu-box nav .btn-contact a:active {
background: linear-gradient(270deg,#0A3268 0%,#1D549D 100%);
border: 0px;
border-radius: 24px;
color: #fff;
}
.btn-secondary {
background: #fff;
border: 1px solid #1D549D;
border-radius: 24px;
color: #1D549D;
font-size: 16px;
font-weight: 400;
text-transform: capitalize;
font-family: "DM Sans", sans-serif;
}
.btn-secondary:hover,
.btn-secondary:active,
.btn-secondary:focus {
background: linear-gradient(270deg,#0A3268 0%,#1D549D 100%);
border: 0px;
border-radius: 24px;
}
.btn-tertiary {
background: transparent;
border: 0px;
color: #1D549D;
font-size: 16px;
font-weight: 400;
box-shadow: none;
padding: 0px;
text-transform: capitalize;
font-family: "DM Sans", sans-serif;
}
.btn-tertiary:hover,
.btn-tertiary:active,
.btn-tertiary:focus {
color: #0A3268;
background: transparent;
border: 0px;
box-shadow: none;
padding: 0px;
}
.btn-custom1 {
background: #73D7FF;
border: 1px solid #73D7FF;
border-radius: 24px;
color: #1D549D;
font-size: 16px;
font-weight: 400;
text-transform: capitalize;
font-family: "DM Sans", sans-serif;
}
.btn-custom1:hover,
.btn-custom1:focus,
.btn-custom1:active {
background: #1D549D;
border: 1px solid #1D549D;
border-radius: 24px;
color: #fff;
}
.btn-custom2 {
background: #fff;
border-radius: 24px;
color: #1D549D;
font-size: 16px;
font-weight: 400;
text-transform: capitalize;
font-family: "DM Sans", sans-serif;
}
.btn-custom2:hover,
.btn-custom2:focus,
.btn-custom2:active {
background: #1D549D;
border-radius: 24px;
color: #fff;
}
@media (max-width: 991px) {
header.header-fix .brand img,
header .brand img {
padding-bottom: 20px;
padding-top: 20px;
}
header nav[role="navigation"] ul {
display: none;
}
header nav[role="navigation"] select {
display: none;
}
#contact-us-popup .modal-dialog .modal-body {
display: block;
padding: 10px 40px 40px;
}
#contact-us-popup .modal-dialog .modal-body .form-blue-box {
text-align: center;
}
#contact-us-popup .modal-dialog .gform_legacy_markup_wrapper .gform_footer {
text-align: center;
}
}
@media (max-width: 767px) {
.custom-caption {
margin-bottom: 40px;
}
#contact-us-popup .modal-dialog .modal-body {
padding: 0;
}
.gform_wrapper .top_label li.gfield.gf_left_half {
float: left;
}
.gform_wrapper .top_label li.gfield.gf_left_half {
float: left;
width: 100%;
}
.gform_wrapper .top_label li.gfield.gf_left_half {
float: left;
width: 100%;
}
.gform_wrapper .top_label li.gfield.gf_right_half {
width: 100%;
}
.hp-form select {
margin-top: 8px;
}
body .gform_wrapper ul li.gfield {
margin-top: 0;
padding-top: 0;
}
body .gform_wrapper .top_label div.ginput_container {
margin-top: 0;
margin-bottom: 8px;
}
h1 {
font-size: 40px;
line-height: normal;
}
}
Maintaining your WordPress website is essential to ensuring that it runs smoothly and stays secure. Unfortunately, many business owners don’t know how to do this themselves. That’s why we’ve put together a list of the six most essential tasks that you should be performing on a regular basis.
October 25th, 2021 BizCare, Inc Business 2021october25business_b , backups , business continuity , cloud , disaster recovery , recovery time objective , RTO , smbs , tape backup
Disaster recovery (DR) used to be an expensive solution that relied predominantly on tape backups. Today, cloud computing has dramatically changed the DR landscape, affording even small- and medium-sized businesses cheaper and more reliable DR solutions.
If your managed IT services provider has been using the same business continuity plan (BCP) for years, your organization may be in trouble. BCPs should continuously be updated so you avoid overlooking or underestimating certain issues. Not updating your BCP is just one mistake that can harm your business.
August 12th, 2020 BizCare, Inc Business 2020august12business_b , backups , business continuity , cloud , disaster recovery , recovery time objective , RTO , smbs , tape backup
Modern technology changes rapidly, but not all businesses can match its pace. When it comes to disaster recovery (DR), we see business owners clinging to ideas that no longer apply. It’s high time you learn the truth about the following DR myths, so you can stop believing them.
Knowing about the perks of virtualization is cool, but setting this up and implementing it properly will require you to tackle a few things.
There’s no telling when natural disasters will occur. When they do, certain regions in the country often bear the brunt of their impact, like when Hurricanes Harvey and Irma hit certain states in 2017. With a well-designed disaster recovery (DR) plan, your business can be spared from total devastation.
November 22nd, 2018 BizCare, Inc Business 2018november22business_b , backups , business continuity , data security , disaster recovery , information security , malware , mobile backup , mobile security , security
Almost every modern mobile device allows you to send and receive emails, download and upload media files, store data, and even close business deals. As mobile devices have become indispensable in everyone’s personal and professional life, the security risks have also increased — and backing them up has become more critical than ever.
October 4th, 2018 BizCare, Inc Business 2018october4business_b , backups , business continuity , cloud , disaster recovery , myths , recovery time objective , RTO , smbs , tape backup
Disaster recovery (DR) isn’t what it used to be. Long gone are the days when a DR solution cost over a hundred thousand dollars and relied predominantly on tape backups. Cloud computing has dramatically changed the DR landscape. Unfortunately, there are still many misconceptions about DR. Here are a few of the myths that no longer apply.
Just because your IT provider has a plethora of awards and certifications under its belt doesn’t mean that you can blindly hand over your business’s future to them. Often times, there are some aspects in your business continuity plan that tend to be overlooked by your provider.
It’s 4:30 on Friday afternoon when you get the message that a key vendor will not be able to deliver what they promised on time, which will in turn cause YOU to miss a critical deadline for your most important client. Frustrated, you call the vendor, who instantly denies ever being told about the deadline. You know deadlines were discussed but can’t find it in your original written agreement. You then turn to your e-mail only to be forced to dig through hundreds of messages to try and find the e-mail where you conveyed the importance of this project being delivered on time, but you can’t find it because it was deleted. Sound familiar? Or perhaps you’ve been in a similar situation where you’ve had to “dumpster dive” for old e-mail communications? Think about it – almost all of your business communications and negotiations are performed via e-mail, making them important documents to keep for reference. And since you send and receive hundreds if not thousands of e-mail messages annually, it just makes sense to have a simple and easy way to find old communication threads. But this isn’t just a convenience issue, it’s a legal one. What Every Business Is Required By Law To Do Some industries have strict federal guidelines on storing e-mail communications (financial institutions for example). But what most people don’t realize is that ALL businesses must comply with the Federal Regulations on Civil Procedures, or FRCP. In this instance, ignorance is far from bliss – it could put you and your organization in serious legal trouble. The amendments, which went into effect on December 1, 2006, mandate that companies be prepared for “electronic discovery.” Simply put, that means you must know where your data is and how to retrieve it. Failure to do so can lead to fines or loss of a lawsuit. But I Have A Backup…That Means I’m Okay, Right? Wrong! E-mail archiving is not the same as conventional e-mail backups. Backups only enable you… …to restore your e-mail servers to a previous point in time in the event of a disaster. An e-mail archive (unlike a backup) is indexed and searchable, which means you can find e-mail communications based upon various criteria, such as date, subject, sender or receiver address, attached files, or any combination of the above. Aside from the legal issues, e-mail archiving just makes sense. Murphy’s law dictates that you’ll need an e-mail the minute you permanently delete it; that’s why it’s smart to archive your inbox. Plus, it will make searching your inbox infinitely faster (not to mention easier) AND prevent your inbox from getting so overblown that it stops working due to file size limitations. If you want to set up an e-mail archiving solution for your company, give us a call at: xxx-xxx-xxxx or e-mail us at: yourname@yoururl.com