Why Key4 Networking?

A Comparison

Whilst both scenarios use the same software throughout, there are great differences in the set-up and ongoing maintenance of the two systems.

In scenario 1, most information is set-up to be stored on the server, whilst users store some information in their ‘My Documents’.

In scenario 2 users have been informed of where they should save their documents, however Key4 has also used Microsoft® Windows® 2000 User Profiles to redirect any files that users store in My Documents.

Already, in the worst-case scenario (that should always be allowed for) scenario 1 loses data stored in ‘My Documents’ whilst in scenario 2 the ‘stray’ documents are actually still stored on the server and no data is lost.

In both scenarios Internet access is obtained through the server - however in scenario 2 Internet access if provided through Microsoft® Internet Security and Acceleration Server® which blocks out hackers, as well as some forms of viruses, and also restricts access over an Internet connection.

In scenario 1, users are set-up to access external email accounts - a common error when people are unfamiliar with the capabilities of Microsoft® Exchange Server® 2000 (included with Microsoft® Small Business Server® 2000). This has a number of implications:

• Unlikely to be backing up email data (including calendars, contact lists, etc.)
• More prone to virus attacks as there are multiple individual connections instead of 1 connection to keep secure
• Users are not sharing information
• Users have no remote email capability by either an Internet Connection or Virtual Private Networking (VPN)

In scenario 1, there is no centralised virus management. This is the equivalent of having to maintain 10 installations instead of 1 - creating 10 times the work, and 10 times the amount to go wrong.

Also with the lack of any Internet security computers are more prone to attack and have no form of protection. In scenario 2, computers sit behind a firewall so that even if they were susceptible to attack they are still protected.

In scenario 1, Sage Line 50® (accounting) has been installed, however no one established the location of the data, and whilst it was presumed it was being included in nightly backups, the data is actually at risk. In scenario 2, Sage Line 50® was detected and data storage was transferred to the server to be included in nightly backups.

Whilst the success of backups was being checked in scenario 1 and were successful - the correct information was not being backed up, and in the event of a server failing, a substantial amount of user and company data stored in ‘My Documents’ will be lost, and also in the event of the Sage Line 50® machine experiencing problems all accounting information will be lost.

Scenario 2 is the networks position after scenario 1 was investigated using by Key4, and maintained on an ongoing basis using Key4 Support Bronze.

To discuss your small business network with no obligation, feel free to contact our Networking Team.