There are numerous reasons behind the use of remote desktops, which play a crucial role in today’s IT software ecosystem. If you’re providing support services for desktops and laptops, working with virtual servers or applications, or working in a company in which the offices are distributed nationally or internationally, you’ll be using remote desktop software. ... Read more 5 Best Remote Desktop (RDP) Alternatives for 2020

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Traceroute is one of the most widely used tools for network troubleshooting. It works by tracking packets as they move between computers and examining the path they take. Traceroute can then determine whether any delays or losses occur along the way and help you pinpoint where exactly a packet gets slowed down. Traceroute has been ... Read more 5 Best Traceroute Alternative Tools for 2020

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MSPs face new challenges when their workforce and their customers start working from home—here are the five tools that can help make WFH effective.

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As modern IT networks move away from physical systems and toward virtual ones, administrators have to adapt their monitoring and management processes. Standard network monitoring operations are becoming increasingly obsolete, as businesses adopt Microsoft Hyper-V tools and performance monitoring solutions to keep pace with virtual infrastructure. Hyper-V is in widespread use, with a significant number ... Read more 5 Best Hyper-V Tools for Management and Monitoring in 2020

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Network devices such as servers, firewalls, and routers generate logs about events and statuses, and trying to track all that information is challenging. Using syslog, in tandem with a syslog server such as SolarWinds® Kiwi Syslog® Server, provides a way to easily review and manage those logs. This guide will go into more detail about ... Read more What Is Syslog? Syslog Server vs. Event Log Explained + Recommended Syslog Management Tool

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Active Directory (AD) is one of the core pieces of Windows database environments. It provides authorization and authentication for computers, users, and groups, to enforce security policies across Windows operating systems. LDAP, or Lightweight Directory Access Protocol, is an integral part of how Active Directory functions. Understanding the role LDAP plays in the functioning of ... Read more Everything You Need to Know About Active Directory and LDAP Authentication

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Managed services providers (MSPs) face a growing number of challenges as they try to keep up with evolving business practices, changing technology, and the sophisticated nature of modern cybersecurity threats. Simply put, MSPs grapple with the same security challenges that every business today must face—but they have the added responsibility of safeguarding the sensitive data ... Read more 6 Excellent Tools to Make Your MSP Business Secure

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We live in a world of applications, which are always becoming better at what they offer to their end users. The continuous cycle of development, delivery, and feedback has made drastic changes in the way applications are developed these days, and the cloud has been at the forefront of all these changes. Not long ago, ... Read more Best Practices for Analyzing Heroku Logs

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Help desk software is essential for companies of all sizes and types who plan to address end-user IT issues. Having an automated solution reduces the manual effort around tracking tickets, keeping an updated inventory, and otherwise handling IT service management (ITSM) functions. With so many help desk options on the market, it can be challenging ... Read more Freshdesk vs. SolarWinds Web Help Desk Comparison

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Having a tool for network and IT management is crucial for IT departments of all sizes. Spiceworks offers a suite of IT management tools that serves as a great free solution. These various tools can be used together to provide a range of functions, including help desk team management, multi-site support, and inventory management. However, ... Read more Best Spiceworks Competitors + Alternatives 2020

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Microsoft Exchange is a high priority for organizations that rely on email communication internally and externally. IT teams have been anticipating the end date for Exchange 2010 support; similar to other Exchange versions, the support period typically occurs 10 years after the product release. Originally, Microsoft was planning for the extended support end date for Exchange 2010 to be Jan. 14, 2020—the same as Windows 7 and Server 2008. However, the extended support for Exchange 2010 has been pushed back to Oct. 13, 2020.

We all know measuring network performance is important. When a network experiences downtime or an end user reports a performance issue, network administrators and engineers will rely heavily on network performance measurements to rectify the problem. They might use IP service-level agreements, or IP SLAs, to do this. But exactly what is IP SLA technology, ... Read more What Is IP SLA? IP SLA Management Guide

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IT setups supporting business operations have evolved significantly over the years. From monolith applications running on mainframes within enterprise data centers to microservices-based applications deployed in hybrid cloud environments, IT environments have come a long way. Today, a typical enterprise has either dedicated teams or third-party managed services providers handling their network and security operations ... Read more Log Aggregation – Best Tools and Practices in 2020

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Although Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) is widely used by websites and software providers to communicate event publicity and error details to Windows computer users, WMI monitoring is often overlooked. WMI can be a source of valuable system information for commercial network administrators and private computer users, but it often results in an unnecessary flood of ... Read more 8 Best WMI Tools: Windows Management Instrumentation

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The Apache HTTP Server—known as Apache web server or simply Apache—is considered the standard for general-purpose HTTP activities and services. It offers a wide range of modules to deliver optimum flexibility in support of URL rewriting, proxy servers, and granular access management and control. Apache is a popular choice among web developers because it uses ... Read more Apache Web Server Configuration Step by Step and Optimization Tips

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An SSH client is an application using the Secure Shell (SSH) protocol to connect to a remote system or computer. It allows for secure and authenticated SSH connections to be established with SSH servers. SSH clients are typically used to remotely log in to and execute at the command line. They also provide users with ... Read more Best SSH Windows Client Tools

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With more and more employees working from home, it’s important for businesses to understand and prepare for the varied challenges associated with remote work. This guide lists the best software to help your business adjust to working outside the office environment. In researching options, I’ve focused on identifying the most affordable and easy-to-use remote work ... Read more Best Remote Work Software in 2020

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As an IT systems administrator or manager, it’s important to have the appropriate tools at your disposal to get your work done efficiently and accurately. Remote desktop connection tools are a key piece of the puzzle because they help you with troubleshooting and help you quickly resolve end-user issues. Manually managing remote connections eats up ... Read more Best Remote Desktop Connection Manager Tools in 2020

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From single-page informational websites to multi-step transactions supporting web applications, business websites have evolved significantly. Unlike the monoliths of the past, today’s web applications are built using microservices and deployed over hybrid clouds. These applications receive much higher traffic, and their availability requirements have become more stringent. As a result, organizations now use advanced web ... Read more How Your Website Can Benefit From Log Monitoring

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While many of us—technology support staff and general end users alike—take IT service desks for granted, the concept of an IT help desk didn’t exist until the late 1980s. These early help desks were focused primarily on technology and hardware, rather than the end-user experience. When ITIL got involved in the 1990s to standardize and ... Read more Common Features of Help Desk Software

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Disruptions in IT service need to be resolved promptly so your end users can get back to work. Tracking these problems is part of incident management and is best done with the help of incident management software, such as a service desk. The best incident management tools don’t just track incidents. They also include analytics ... Read more 10 Best Incident Management Software Tools

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More and more businesses are turning to managed service providers (MSPs) to handle the complex IT solutions required to stay competitive in today’s marketplace. However, some still view the MSP as the guy who fixes the computers when they go down. The role of the MSP has evolved since the days of the single consultant who would come in and reconnect the printer or remove a virus from your computer. 

In order to address security concerns, such as password spray attacks, Microsoft has announced it will end Basic Authentication support on Oct. 13, 2020 for certain protocols. From a risk assessment perspective, the services slated to be blocked as of March 2020 are ActiveSync, POP, IMAP, EWS, and Remote PowerShell.

Businesses are increasingly feeling the need to re-architect their enterprise networks in order to accommodate the rapidly growing demand for wireless connectivity. Many of them are now compelled to build their own enterprise wireless network to support the influx of mobile devices, Internet of Things, and cloud-based applications, as well as increased adoption of WiFi-hungry practices like BYOD.

IT budgets continue to increase each year as business needs evolve, requiring more digital needs and larger infrastructure—according to Spiceworks, 88 percent of organizations expect their IT budgets to stay the same or grow in 2020. Businesses are looking to replace older operating systems by providing hardware such as laptops and to improve security setups to protect sensitive business and personal data.  

Over the years, businesses’ mission-critical technology has expanded at a rapid pace. A network no longer consists of only servers, client computers, and basic networking equipment. Cloud computing has been introduced to host “X as a Service” solutions and applications that rely on big data, allow mobile and remote endpoints, network shares, and multiple communication applications, just to name a few. Even the solutions meant to secure the network and endpoints have grown complex to the point where a misconfigured security solution could leave an organization vulnerable.

This is why many organizations turn to outside partners to conduct a network security assessment. Having one performed by a trusted partner lets you know not only where your organization's security posture currently stands, but also what you can do to better protect yourself from the current threat landscape.

Public cloud infrastructures continue to rise in popularity. According to Gartner, Amazon Web Services (AWS) accounts for nearly half of the global infrastructure-as-a-service market. For many organizations, moving to the public cloud can seem intimidating, but it offers benefits of high reliability and scalability.

AWS is popular because of the number of data centers it has around the globe, providing business leaders with a sense of security and availability of company data and systems. As companies expect to expand and grow their business, moving infrastructure to AWS can result in time and cost savings.

However, businesses looking to move to the cloud need to evaluate how to minimize the costs of running applications and workloads in the cloud. Although there are numerous ways to accomplish this goal, here are five helpful tips for AWS cost optimization for your business, whether you’re in Boston, Worcester, Manchester, or elsewhere.

Windows server administration tools allow network administrators to effectively manage features and roles from a computer running a supported version of Windows. These tools are provided in a Windows Server component called Remote Server Administration Tools (RSAT). To take advantage of these tools, I’ll cover in this guide what they are, how to install them, ... Read more Windows Server Admin Tools Pack: What It Is + Free Guide on How to Install and Best Practices

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When companies talk about their IT services, they may be referring to a help desk, a service desk, or something else altogether. Part of the problem is the differences between a help desk and a service desk aren’t always clear. Since the distinction can make a difference, especially when choosing a software solution, this guide ... Read more Help Desk or Service Desk? 2020 Comparison Guide

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With more people than ever accessing websites via their mobiles, delivering a high performing site and top user experience for your mobile users is a must. But with best practice for mobile web performance constantly changing, it can be hard to know what strategies you should implement to ensure your site stays ahead of the ... Read more 5 Best Practices for Mobile Web Performance

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Virtual machines (VM) have become a fixture of many business networks, thanks to their flexibility and cost-effectiveness. But what’s a VM, and why are they so useful? This article aims to answer some of your questions about VMs: what’s a virtual machine, who makes them, and why they’re so useful. I’ll also address your concerns ... Read more What is a VM? Why Use a Virtual Machine?

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Keeping track of everything happening on your operating systems may sound daunting, but the right software allows you to monitor and manage every element and layer of your IT environment. Managing large enterprises and systems means sometimes things just get overloaded and fail. It’s impossible to prevent errors or issues, but you can keep a ... Read more Best System Monitoring Software and OS Monitor Tools 2020

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You might be asking yourself, what is an audit log and how do I use it? Understanding how a log audit operates and why an admin might want to audit their logs is crucial to business success. In fact, effective audit log management supports compliance, accountability, and security. Audit log management often goes overlooked in ... Read more What Is an Audit Log? Audit Trails and How to Use Audit Logs

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To successfully manage virtual machines (VMs), organizations have relied on virtualization technology, or hypervisors. Virtualization allows IT professionals to set up multiple virtual machines on the same hardware. These tools allow users to create self-contained virtual environments designed to mimic a discrete piece of hardware, often a server. By doing so, users can operate multiple ... Read more Best Server Virtualization Software in 2020

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PCI DSS is an industry security standard existing primarily to minimize the risk of debit and credit card data being lost. This is in the interest of both the customer and the merchant, because if data is lost or misused, the merchant could be subject to legal action. To protect yourself and your customers, you ... Read more 10 Best PCI Compliance Software and PCI DSS Tools in 2020

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Email protection isn’t something to be taken lightly. Email can put users at risk of scams, malware, phishing, stolen devices, and stolen passwords. Without effective email protection tools, you could be giving hackers a direct route into your data and resources. But finding the best email protection software isn’t easy. The IT security software market ... Read more 5 Best Email Protection Tools in 2020

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SQL stands for Structured Query Language, and it’s generally considered the standard language for relational database management systems. SQL is basically the database communicator, while SQL statements encompass what’s being communicated. Statements are used to execute tasks, like updating or retrieving data. Thankfully, the SQL language is simple and user-friendly, on account of the syntax ... Read more Best SQL Server Optimization Tools to Help in Database Diagnostics

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Talking about the cloud as a solution no longer draws skepticism in the business world. With over 77 percent of businesses having at least one application or a portion of their infrastructure in the cloud, it is safe to say businesses are now comfortable with cloud technologies. Yet with the increased comfort level comes deeper discussion about what businesses can move to the cloud. 

Network Magic was a program delivered by Cisco Systems. It was a popular tool for network computer management and monitoring, liked especially for its added security features, which included robust intrusion prevention and parent monitoring capacities. But when Cisco came out with its Smart Wi-Fi routers, the Network Magic program was discontinued—to the frustration of ... Read more Best Cisco Network Magic Software Alternatives 2020

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It wasn’t long ago when organizations cited several concerns and excuses to avoid putting their production workloads in containers. Things have changed, to say the least. With Docker, container technology has gained high acceptance, and users now download millions of container images daily. Docker containers offer an efficient and convenient way to ship software reliably, ... Read more Best Tips for Improving Your Docker Logging

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Log data is the currency for companies trying to evolve in today’s digital world. To meet increasing customer demands, critical compliance requirements, and scaling application needs, it’s essential to collect and leverage massive data flowing across multiple sources and environments (cloud, on-premises, containers, etc.). Log analysis gives you valuable insights into business-critical events, real user ... Read more Why Cloud Is Best For Log Management

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Access rights in your business are vitally important. Errors around who has access to what can create, at a minimum, productivity disruptions and problems with employees not having access to what they need—and at worst can result in unauthorized access, privacy breaches, data losses, or compliance failures. As a result, it’s important to be clear ... Read more NTFS vs. Share Permissions

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In modern IT environments, the importance of log management cannot be overemphasized. Organizations use a wide range of log management tools to generate, transmit, store, analyze, archive, and replace old log files with new data files in large volumes within a centralized system. Logging implementation in C# helps determine the behavior of web apps. It ... Read more 5 Best Practices for C# Logging for IT Pros

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Information Technology (IT) comes with plenty of acronyms and it’s not always easy to keep them straight. This is especially true when the definitions overlap, as with IT Services Management (ITSM) and the IT Infrastructure Library (ITIL). Understanding the ITIL and ITSM difference is important for businesses thinking about their approach to IT, especially if ... Read more ITSM vs. ITIL

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When operating within a large business network, it’s vital to understand which of your applications are dependent on which of your server and network resources. If a server or storage device goes down, or a part of the network stops functioning, this will have major impacts upon your dependent applications, and potentially your employees and ... Read more 10 Best Application Dependency Mapping Tools: Free, Open Source, and Paid

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While they don’t sound particularly glamorous, patch management processes are vitally important for system security, and can make a big difference to whether you’re vulnerable to malicious attackers or not. One of the most important things to keep in mind is patch management should not just be performed when you remember, or when you hear ... Read more 8 Patch Management Best Practices Updated for 2020

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Servers provide functionality for other networked computers, and as such their operating systems differ from those run on regular computers. Windows Server by Microsoft is a leader in server operating systems, having released many Windows Server versions over the years, and it’s become the main rival for Linux. This guide provides information for network administrators ... Read more Complete Guide to Windows Server + Compare Differences

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Identity theft has been on the rise for decades, as technology designed to make our lives more convenient makes us increasingly vulnerable. Stealing someone’s identity is easier, cheaper, and faster than it’s ever been, and the chance of getting caught is minimal, so it’s no wonder identity theft is so often the average cybercriminal’s crime ... Read more 5 Best Identity Monitoring Services + Theft Monitoring Software Comparison

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As with most emerging technologies, BYOD (bring your own device) is now something that is accepted among most businesses. BYOD policies benefit both the workers who bring their own personal devices into the workplace and the businesses that allow for it.

In light of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), companies are looking for a means to offer employees the ability to work at home to maintain "social distancing." With employees hunkering down to remain healthy, Microsoft is helping companies by offering Office 365 E1 licenses for six months. This version of "free Teams licensing" provides unlimited chat, built-in group and one-on-one audio or video calling, 10 GB of team file storage, and 2 GB of personal file storage per user. You also get real-time collaboration with the Office web apps, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote.