Safer Internet Solution You Shouldn't Be Without

bitMASTERS Corporation has partnered with OpenDNS to provide our valued clients with a free added service to secure your network's internet security through content filtering and anti-phishing. OpenDNS is the leading provider of free security and infrastructure services that make the Internet safer. Part of this is by providing user control over web content (what can be surfed) for your home or business network. Other solutions for web content control have been cumbersome or costly to implement. OpenDNS works by simply configuring DNS entries to the OpenDNS servers. DNS is what directs web requests by name to the actual address of the request. i.e. www.bitmasters.com to 98.124.199.1 We at bitMASTERS can make this change for you and manage your security levels. After initial configuration of DNS, by default, phishing sites (those that try to trick you in to providing sensitive information) are automatically blocked. You can then request any or all of over 50 categories of sites to be blocked such as pornography, gambling, chat, games, radio, and webmail to name a few (we'll go over the full list when configuring). You can also specify individual sites to be blocked or unblocked even if they fall within a category that is blocked. An easy to understand page is displayed when a blocked site is attempted with a link to request the site be unblocked in case it is blocked in error. This service really is a no brainer for every home and business network. Call us to get protected today. Set up is very fast and easy. There are no monthly fees however labor fees for setup and maintenance would apply. You can be sure you are protected by OpenDNS by looking at the icon in the left column of this page under OpenDNS Check. If if says "You're using OpenDNS!" then you are covered otherwise we need to get you protected. You can learn more about OpenDNS by clicking on the same icon at left.

Where did my data go?

For years we use the same computers without a failure. We are hypnotized into thinking everyday we will turn on the computer and our data will be there. We may even get spyware or viruses regularly but for the most part our important data seems secure. If you have never lost data, you will unless you become relentless about insuring it gets backed up and you monitor and test your backups religiously.

Thank goodness tape drives have pretty much faded in to the sunset. If you haven't figured out that they aren't very reliable then you've been lucky. If you are still using a tape drive for backup, switch before you wish you did. USB drives are cheaper and faster and online backups provide peace of mind when it comes to offsite storage.

But, just because you think you may have a solid backup strategy, don't take if for granted that it is working the way it should. Murphy is still alive and well today. If there is a way for your backup strategy to fail your critical data, it probably will. Here are some recommendations:

Create a disaster recovery plan and document it. List programs, directory structures, permissions and security, critical programs, serial numbers, installation keys, domain name registration information and all other important information needed to rebuild your working environment. Include remote access procedures, websites, ftp and web folders, online services you use with login instructions. Include a plan to redirect email and other critical services such as fax services if those servers go down.

Never have just one method of backup. Always have more than one reliable backup method. One method should be a local backup for quick retrieval of data and the second method should be portable or using an online service for keeping a backup offsite.

Make sure that you have an offsite backup to protect against theft or fire. Thieves will take attached drives and firemen won't let you back in a burned building to retrieve things from a fireproof safe (at least for a while).

Securely store your mission critical software installation disks with serial numbers or installation codes where you can get to them in the event of a catastrophe. You'll need them to reinstall on the replacement hardware.

Periodically check your backups to make sure critical files and folders are being included. Full system backups are best so you don't overlook some data to include in your backup.

Test your backups by doing a restore of your data to verify you can actually get to it.

Use synchronization software or native copies of mission critical data to easy to get to locations. Can you wait until that server is rebuilt and the backup software reinstalled to retreive data from that backup set? Simple file copies from easy to get to locations can reduce a lot of stress.

Use an online backup service but only as a secondary means of backup. These services are relatively cheap and provide great peace of mind in storing backup data offsite but make sure you test it and insure you know what is being backed up.

Review your backup strategy continually. Monthly is not a bad idea to make sure your strategy is up to date, critical data is being included and your backups are working.

Don't forget to include your email, contacts and calendar data from Outlook in your backup strategy. If you are archiving Outlook data like you should be, don't forget to include the archive data too.

Review the locations of company and personal data. Often times network shared company data gets backed up but users who keep important data on their local workstation lose data more often because workstations aren't generally being backed up.

There is hardly a worse feeling than knowing you have lost valuable data and can't recover it. By following these tips you can be confident that your data is safe and you will sleep much much better, I promise!

Don't be a fool when it comes to the Conficker Worm

April Fools day seems to be a perennial target for virus scares. The latest has to do with the Conficker worm. SC Magazine reports that security researchers have warned that the Conficker worm's newest variant will activate on April 1st, 2009. Conficker has been the most successful worm in a number of years. The worm when it activates will prevent certain security products and services from running and will block infected computers from connecting to certain security websites. Microsoft formed a coalition last month to fight the Conficker worm. The best defense is to inusre that your antivirus product is up to date. We recommend using the Trend Micro Vulnerability Scanner to test your network for unprotected computers. If it has been a while since we have reviewed your security, I encourage you to schedule a review of your entire network.