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Achieving a Seamless Migration from Legacy Systems to Next-Generation Solutions

Staying competitive in the ever-evolving landscape of technology requires embracing innovation and staying ahead of the most recent advancements.

For businesses reliant on legacy systems, the prospect of migrating to next-generation solutions can be both exciting and daunting. A successful migration, however, demands meticulous planning, robust support, and a comprehensive understanding of critical aspects such as data protection, hardware support, database management and software support.

The crucial aspects of seamless migration

Migrating from legacy systems to modern, next-generation solutions involves more than just switching out hardware and software components. It entails a holistic approach that ensures data continuity, system stability, and optimal performance. Let’s take a look into the key factors that contribute to a seamless migration process:

  1. Data Protection: During migration, safeguarding sensitive data is paramount. Comprehensive data protection measures should be in place to prevent breaches, data loss, or unauthorized access. Encryption, secure data transfer protocols, and robust access controls must be implemented to ensure the integrity and confidentiality of your critical information.
  2. Hardware Support: Transitioning from legacy hardware to newer systems requires expert hardware support. Skilled technicians can assist in evaluating your existing hardware, identifying compatibility issues, and seamlessly integrating new components into your infrastructure. Reliable hardware support ensures minimal disruption and maximizes the efficiency of your migration process.
  3. Database Management: Databases are the lifeblood of any organization. Proper database management during migration ensures the seamless transfer of data, preservation of data relationships, and optimization of performance. Adequate backup and recovery strategies should be in place to mitigate risks and facilitate a smooth transition.
  4. Software Support: Modernizing software applications involves addressing compatibility challenges, reconfiguring settings, and ensuring a consistent user experience. Knowledgeable software support experts can guide you through the process, from identifying legacy applications that need replacement or updates to testing and validating new software for functionality and security.

Navigating your migration with confidence

The journey to a seamless migration from legacy systems to next-generation solutions is fraught with challenges, but with the proper strategy and support, it will become a solution that boosts your company’s performance.

Prioritizing data protection, expert hardware support, robust database management, proficient software support, and strategic collaboration ensures a successful migration that sets the stage for sustained success. Embrace the possibilities that modern technology brings by partnering with Abtech Technologies’ Hardware Support Services.

Your Trusted Partner

At Abtech Technologies we rely on 35 years of experience in migrating legacy systems to next-generation solutions. With a team of skilled professionals specialized in data protection, hardware support, database management, software support and OEM collaborations, we are your trusted partner in achieving a seamless migration journey.

Our Hardware Support Services encompass a wide array of expertise, ranging from in-depth hardware diagnostics and compatibility assessments to comprehensive integration strategies. We are committed to ensuring your migration process is as smooth as possible, minimizing downtime and maximizing the benefits of your investment.

Whether you’re considering a migration or have already embarked on this transformative journey, our dedicated team is here to guide you every step of the way. With Abtech Technologies, you’re not just transitioning systems; you’re unlocking new opportunities for growth and innovation.

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Shifting the IT Team From Reactive to Proactive

Shifting the IT Team From Reactive to Proactive

All too often, your IT team finds themselves running from one problem to the next. As long as everything is going smoothly, they don’t have much to do. When things start to fall apart, however, your IT team starts pulling their hair out! Sound familiar? By shifting your IT team from reactive to proactive, you can help your business day flow more smoothly even when problems arise.

Tighten Down Your Security

Poor network security can cause serious problems for your business: compromised customer information, excessive downtime, and even the loss of company secrets. By tightening down your security, you can help decrease the odds that a data breach will happen to you. The difference between reactive and proactive security is simple: reactive security simply reacts to a potential threat, dealing with the fallout after it becomes known. Proactive security, on the other hand, identifies potential threats and makes sure that your business is protected against them. This might include:

An on-site evaluation that will tell you the weak points in your physical defenses and whether or not a potential intruder will have an easy time accessing your computers, server rooms, and other sensitive areas
An evaluation of your external security, including your website
An evaluation of internal security and how well your network keeps out threats
By staying up-to-date with your IT security and adhering to the recommendations made by the team doing your evaluations, you help protect your customers and your business. It can save you money, increase the time your business spends up and running, and protect your website and network from malware: a winning combination that will help keep your business safe from outside threats.

Increase Your Regular Maintenance

In your business, do you use equipment until it fails, or do you assume a reasonable life of your hardware and replace it before it has the opportunity to cause problems? If you’ve been waiting on problems to occur, you’re being reactive. Proactive replacement might seem more expensive up front, but in the long run, it can save you money. For example:

Replacing computers, from desktops to laptops, before they self-destruct ensures that vital employees won’t end up with unexpected downtime while waiting for a replacement.
Maintaining your software means that you’re always using the latest tools, which will keep your security tighter.
Taking care of routine maintenance on your servers and computers will ensure that everything stays up and running when you need it most.
Encourage your IT team to create a schedule for this maintenance, from machines that are due to be replaced to software that’s recently been updated. While you don’t always have to have the latest and greatest technology on the market, that proactive maintenance will often go a long way toward making your business day run more smoothly.

Anticipate Problems

Ideally, you want an IT team that’s aware of potential problems before they arise. Is there a known fault in a particular piece of software your company uses every day, from a security issue that has just been released online to a known issue that causes the software to crash at random? Does a piece of hardware used by your company have a reputation for self-destructing precisely at the five-year mark? By keeping your IT team up to date on the latest happenings in the field, you can provide your entire business with the tools it needs to keep running smoothly.

Proactive maintenance of all the critical facets of your company’s technology, including hardware, software, and security, protects your company from many of the potential failings associated with technology. Technology is only effective when it works. Shifting your IT team to a proactive stance will give you the confidence that all of your vital technology will keep working for you.

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What to do when EMC announces that your storage array is “end of support.”

What to do when EMC announces that your storage array is “end of support.”

EMC, like many hardware manufacturers, would much rather you replace your old storage array with a shiny new one. To encourage you to do this, they gradually end support on other products. Currently their Clariion range is the target for this process. Anyone with a CX3, CX300, CX4 or CX400 series Clariion array should take a look at the tables below and make note of the EMC end of support dates. However, not everyone is has the budget, or desire to replace their Clariion array. it may be performing perfectly well and meeting the needs of the business. In this case, 3rd party support is a good option. 3rd party EMC maintenance providers, like Abtech Technologies, can provide high quality hardware maintenance to extend the life of Clariion storage arrays. They have large parts inventories and highly skilled engineers, in most cases trained by EMC themselves.

Users of Celerra storage arrays, should also look at the 3rd party maintenance option. Many older units are coming off EMC support and those that are still supported command a high support cost from EMC. After all, they would prefer to have that new hardware sale, so they aren’t going to offer cheap support. A 3rd party provider can be up to 70% cheaper. This can free up a large piece of a maintenance budget for other things.

We hope you find these charts useful. If you would like to know more about Abtech’s EMC maintenance services, feel free to reach out. Call us on 1-800-474-7397 or info@abtechtechnologies.com and ask about EMC support services. You will be pleasantly surprised what we can offer you.

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Creating and Maintaining a Sensative High Availability Infrastructure

In this day and age, security is critical to keeping and maintaining a high availability infrastructure. Malware and spyware are constant threats to slow down and crash a critical piece of hardware or software. In order to keep 24/7 uptime, companies need to be on constant look out for those attacks while maintaining the most sophisticated defense system.

To maintain business continuity and high availability infrastructure, companies generally undergo a thorough risk assessment process. They usually bring in an outside consultant to create benign software that tests the vulnerabilities of a system (called a Vulnerability and Penetration Test). If the software is able to infiltrate the server or network, they company can immediately knowhow and when the attack was successful. That trial attack is then used to patch the holes and make the system more secure.

Secondly, the third-party consultant creates a compliance assessment. Whether that is for HIPAA violations for health care firms or privacy and security violations for financial and consumer facing firms that hold sensitive personal data. Those violations must be cleared up as a matter of law before a government entity audits your firm.

Professional security firms can also install additional protections into a network such as multi-level encryption. This technology requires different passwords and authentication to enter different parts of the network. So some memory is available to almost all employees but most are not able to access core functions or the most sensitive information in a network.

Companies are also installing advanced malware, spamware and spyware protections in their networks to prevent hacking and stolen information. Additionally, these protections eliminate the software that tends to slow networks down and cause aggravation for everybody. Having a high availability infrastructure is not just about keeping intruders out, it is also about keeping the most streamlined and highly functioning system possible.

Another key provision is to have a comprehensive disaster recovery plan. That includes a detailed process and action plan when a man made or natural disaster occurs. The key component of the plan is the automated and pre-planning for the event. Most importantly, data should be saved automatically every few minutes and stored in redundant locations around the country. If one location is effected with earthquake, fire, blizzard or flood, the other location will hopefully still be safe. For example, many Silicon Valley companies hold their back-up servers in Oregon, Nevada and Arizona where earthquakes are less likely. Similarly, New York and Chicago financial firms hold servers in the South in the case of blizzard.

In the era of server virtualization, the network audits and solutions have to be aware of the different operating systems, the different hypervisors linking machines and the different applications that are attached to the network. Each of these has vulnerabilities that has to be explored.

However, the ultimate vulnerability is your people. If they do not regularly change passwords or are constantly falling for phishing attacks, it is very difficult to keep a clear network. Constant training, reminders and surveillance for all employees is a key step in keeping a system operating smoothly and free of attacks.

Still the IT department needs to have staff monitoring the system, network and servers 24/7. In the absence of that, there must be a 24/7 helpdesk from the vendors of the hardware and software. Third-party consultants can also provide valuable monitoring services for companies.

Abtech is a leading IT service and solutions provider. Their security services help businesses to save tremendous time and money while maintaining their infrastructure. For more information, please contact us. A friendly consultant will walk you through the most crucial services to keep your specific network available at all times.

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What Options are Available When Your Dell EMC Support Contract Is Due For Renewal

Dell EMC Support Contract Is Due For Renewal

Hardware Upgrade or Replacement Option

Upgrading is worth considering especially if your performance needs have grown.  The arrival of low cost SSD drives and ever larger capacity bulk drives, means you can experience a considerable improvement in both performance and capacity by upgrading. 

Check out our article on Dell EMCs storage roadmap for guidance on the options available.  As a DellEMC Platinum Reseller, Abtech Technologies can advise you on the best options for upgrading.  We can also make use of current partner promotions to get you the best possible deal.

Dell EMC Mid Range Storage Strategy

In many ways, OEM support ending after two or more years is a symbiotic process, if by force. They’re essentially weaning you off OEM support reliance so you can benefit from third-party maintenance.

Going with a third-party maintenance plan isn’t a bad transition for various reasons, though you’ll want to know when it’s appropriate. It’s better to transition before your OEM support ends so you won’t have to scramble to find something suitable.

Renewing OEM Support

For some IT equipment, it’s sometimes possible to enter a longer OEM support agreement than others. Often, they’ll allow you to enjoy several years of support and then extend to a limited point through contract renewals. 

If your equipment is still fairly new, this may be a good option and Abtech can provide pricing to renew your OEM Support with Dell EMC. 

You will maintain access to firmware upgrades and services like Co-pliot on SC/Compellent Arrays.  OEM Support is generally of a high standard, although your initial call may be routed to a call center outside the US, initially.

Third-Party Maintenance

Dissatisfaction with OEM support is one of the main reasons companies switch to third-party maintenance recently. According to statistics, 75% of companies make this switch because OEM support didn’t help with changing business requirements.

Data like this shows why maintenance from outside sources has rapid growth in IT departments worldwide.

When you find a new maintenance team, you’re going to discover they give you many benefits over OEM Support, if you choose a reputable support provider like Abtech.

The main advantage is cost savings.  Typically our 3rd party support is 50-70% cheaper than OEM support. Parts and EMC-trained engineers are local to site and the first call will always be routed to a US based engineer.

An additional benefit is that support will be available long after the OEM has ended their support on the hardware.  

If you are not seeing any good reason to upgrade your hardware, but want to avoid the high costs of OEM support, EMC support from Abtech could be the way to go.

Summary and Recommendations

Upgrade or Replace – Recommended when performance and capacity needs have increased and you have capital budget available.

EMC OEM Support – A good idea if the equipment is still relatively new and regular firmware upgrades are being released.

Abtech 3rd Party Support – A good option when high support cost is an issue or if you are not happy with the OEM support.  This is the only option if Dell EMC has ended support on the equipment.