20 Questions

 

Let's see how good your technology really is.  Answer Yes or No to the questions below.  Count 1 for a Yes and -1 for a No.

  1. Are you still feeding a tape drive with tapes every week/day/month?

  2. Do you have encrypted offsite storage for you business critical data?

  3. Do you perform test restores of your current backup on a regular schedule? (Restoring a file here and there is not a true test…)

  4. Is your backup software up to date and under a current maintenance contract?

  5. If you have a failed backup, are you automatically notified? (Manually checking the logs doesn’t count)

  6. Do you have an upgrade plan for your PCs, notebooks, and servers?  (They won’t last forever…)

  7. Are your PCs, notebooks, servers, and firewalls updated to the latest software and security versions on a consistent, planned schedule?

  8. Do you have an accurate list of hardware, software, licenses and install keys/codes?

  9. Do you know for sure if you have the correct number of licenses for the software you are currently using? (Be honest…)

  10. Do you have an organized set of documents detailing your network configuration, installation notes, diagrams, firewall/router settings, wireless configuration, etc.?

  11. Do you have a current list of ALL critical passwords?  (Are you sure…)

  12. If you have more than 5 PCs and a server, are you buying software licenses instead of boxed software?  

  13. Is your antivirus software up to date and under a current maintenance contract?

  14. Is your e-mail scanned for spam and viruses BEFORE getting to your inbox?  (Antivirus and Spam scanning by your server doesn’t count)

  15. If a virus is detected, are you notified in any way other than by the user that just downloaded a virus to your network?

  16. When the office lights flicker, do your PCs, server or network switches hang and users complain? 

  17. Does your network cabling area look like a rat’s nest?

  18. If a PC or your server stops working, do you have a plan to restore service in less than 3 hours?

  19. Do you know what 1 hour of downtime costs you?  (It is not just your billable hour or salary)

  20. IS YOUR CURRENT TECHNOLOGY COMPANY DISCUSSING THESE QUESTIONS WITH YOU?

    21.

 

How do you measure up?

20 – 18: Great Job!  Pat yourself on the back.  Companies that score in this range really understand how important their technology is to the success of their business.  They have technology budgets, upgrade/replacement plans, current and properly licensed software, adequate power protection, virus and backup warning alerts, reliable data protection, and the most predictable outcome for a full operational recovery in the event of a server crash or data loss.

 

Convergent’s Recommendation:  Don’t forget that it is usually the last 10% that causes the most trouble.  Call and let us evaluate your network to ensure you are leveraging the right technologies, getting the best return on your technology investment, and get you in our Technology Wellness program – Proactive Approach / Predictable Results. 

 

17 – 15: Not bad!  However, there may be some technology gaps that could dramatically affect your business if not corrected.  Companies that score in this range take technology seriously and err on the side of caution and try to be more proactive than reactive.  Their chance of operational recovery is less predictable and may take longer than expected.  However, chances are good for a full recovery.

 

Convergent’s Recommendations:  You most likely have a great technology foundation to build upon.  Now is the time to allow us to attend to the more technical aspects of bullet proofing your network.  Call and get us involved now.  We can build cost effective strategies to cover those weak areas in technology and allow you and your company to do what it does best.

 

14 – 10: Not so great. You may think you have your bases covered but have you really taken a hard look at the slippery slope you are on?  Companies that score in this range usually have a tough time making the leap to “technology as a business asset” from “technology as a budget cruncher.”  Their risk profile is high and they really don’t know how bad it can be until they are hit with a server failure, virus, or loss of business data.  Unfortunately, once that happens, it is too late.  The cold reality is it will cost you more to recover than it would have cost to bring your business technology up to date.  We guarantee that. 

 

Convergent’s Recommendation:  If you are serious about the longevity of your business, now is the time to bring us onboard.  We can show you how to address the major issues now and phase in solutions for the long term.  Our strategic and cost effective approach to complex problems is one of our greatest strengths.

 

9 – 1: Rolling the dice, huh?  Your business is one of the 60% of companies that will shut down within 6 months of a severe data loss.  It is really unfortunate.  Companies that score in this range usually produce a great product and have a great and growing cache of clients.  Too bad that both may fall off the face of the earth because of poor technology choices and sacrifices. 

 

Convergent’s Recommendations:  Don’t shoot yourself in the foot.  You need our help. Your exposure to disaster is prevalent and real.  This is not the way you want to take a surprise vacation… Call us now.  We love a challenge.