Regardless of whether or not you are familiar with the goings-on in the world of technology, the chances are that, at the very least, you will recognise that there have been countless advancements made in recent years. Thanks to the equipment that we have available, the software and services which are now available are simply incredible. They are also surprisingly affordable, meaning that large-and-small businesses alike are able to streamline their operations, and make leaps forward in the way that they work. Here at catalyst2, we are proud to be one of the few web-hosting companies in the country which have a diverse portfolio of available options, outside of our mainstream catalogue.
Whilst the majority of work that we oversee is in relation to various types of hosting options, we are also familiar with an array of tech solutions. Should you be someone that perhaps is a little ignorant to these types of matters, you are in the right place – catalyst2’s specialists are more than happy to offer some guidance regarding those which could prove to be a prudent investment. If you continue your reading below, you will be able to formulate an opinion for yourself, as to which could be integrated into your place of work.
Disaster Recovery
If you were to take a survey regarding the most popular tech-related service that is being taken advantage of in 2020, the results would almost-certainly come back in favour of those which entail disaster recovery. As the name suggests, this is a type of service which revolves around safeguarding corporations from the risk of data losses. It is not hard to work out why this is becoming highly sought-after; if you have ever experienced a hardware crash or power failure, and seen countless hours of hard work destroyed, you will be familiar with the detrimental impact it can have on your company. In these types of instances, it does not matter if you are using a dedicated server, or high-spec apparatus – the outcome will still be the same, and rest assured it is not something that you want to go through.
For those of you that have been lucky enough to not be affected by downtime in the past, allow us to shed some light as to why you want to avoid this. First-and-foremost, your website not working for prospective clients impacts your ability to generate much-needed revenue. Unfortunately, if you have not-yet taken out a disaster recovery package, this problem is somewhat confounded, as it could be an extended period before you have things back to working order. There is an age-old saying relating to the fact that success comes from ample preparation for all eventualities, and this is particularly relevant in this type of situation.
Most companies in the twenty-first century will, in some form or another, have an IT department – at the very least, there will be an in-house specialist which deals with computer-related problems. Should you suffer a crash, your first thought will be to assign them to the case of coming up with a viable solution; we would strongly advise against this, as they may not have the relevant knowledge to execute this job efficiently-and-effectively. Instead, it would be wise to contact a company that is proficient in disaster recovery. Attempting to optimise productivity is always a worthwhile endeavour, and so wasting time like this is ill-advised.
Consultancy Service
There will undoubtedly be some of you that are under the impression that a consultancy service should not be featured under the umbrella heading of being a ‘tech solution’ – this could not be further from the truth. When you are evaluating the strategies that you have been using in the past, and attempting to identify ways that you can improve in specific areas, it is highly-likely that your technical resources will crop up in conversation. Due to our reliance, as a species, on these types of hardware and equipment, it is imperative that you stay up-to-date on current trends. In these types of circumstances, it may be difficult to create a plan of action alone, and this is where the helpfulness of an outside consultant could be beneficial.
The first thing that you need to understand about consultants is that they will tailor their entire operations about you, and this particular project. Whilst they will undoubtedly draw on experience from past work, in the moment they will make decisions which are designed to improve your work. In the technical world, the so-called ‘norm’ changes incredibly often, and that is why they will not simply provide you with a stock-service. Not only this, but what is successful for a large multinational corporation will not necessarily reproduce the same results for a local retailer. However, be under no illusions – there are advantages to be enjoyed from a premium service.
You will be pleased to hear that the majority of the firms which provide consultancy services, such as catalyst2, are flexible in the packages that they often provide. If you have a one-off project that needs overseeing, they will endeavour to do all that they can to ensure that it is a success. Following this, there is no obligation to continue. However, you can also strike-up a long-term deal which incorporates numerous jobs. To put it simply, it is important for you to contemplate the needs of your corporation, and go from there. The manner in which these types of firms operate means that they will do all that they can to conform to your needs, and make the experience as convenient as possible.
Cloud Hosting
In recent years, there has been much debate surrounding which type of hosting is best, and the truth is that there is no right answer. However, what cannot be disputed is the sheer quality which is exuded by cloud infrastructures, and their capabilities. In Layman’s terms, this offers a similar type of service to that which is present with VPS hosting, but there are countless-more possibilities going forward. The most notable aspect of cloud-related packages is the number of remote servers which can be utilised – in essence, this means that more traffic can be handled with ease, without the worry of loading times and performance diminishing. What truly allows this type of option to stand apart from its alternatives is the cost-effective nature; no one will be priced out, as you can tailor-make a format which conforms to your financial capabilities.
To some individuals, using a cloud hosting service is only meant for firms with limited budgets, or are not consistently receiving many visitors to their website. The fact of the matter is that it really does not matter about the size of your company. The flexibility that is exuded by cloud hosting is what ensures that it will stay relevant for years to come. If you are not particularly knowledgeable in this field, you can opt for a hands-on approach from your contractor; otherwise, you have free-rein to oversee it however you would like. You will also be pleased to hear that there are numerous security-related software pieces installed – choosing a cloud-native system does not mean a downgrade in this department.
Should you be someone that is entertaining the thought of going down this route, but is unsure of how to take the campaign forward, it could be worth investigating the possibility of investing in AWS. AWS management services are in relation to the joint-venture which has been undertaken by Amazon and Azure, and is meant to be the most-optimal way to scale-up, and vice-versa, an operating system. Some companies, such as catalyst2, are proficient in managing these types of campaigns – with the right engineers, they are able to analyse the level of traffic, and subsequently make alterations to the power outputs. In the long-run, this could save you thousands, and should not be overlooked.
Improved Security
The way in which modern technology has evolved recently is something to be marvelled at. The internet has changed our lives significantly, and for the most part it has had positive connotations. For example, your business is likely operating in a slicker manner, and this will help to attract new, potential customers. Unfortunately, criminals have access to this technology as well, and this is where problems begin to arise. Hacking, in particular, has become rather prevalent – some try to access sensitive information about clients, whilst others are simply attempting to steal finances. Whatever the motive, it is vital that you are well-protected, and have top-tier security in place.
You will be pleased to hear that this is not a sector which has a limited array of options; on the contrary, you will likely be overwhelmed by the number of solutions presented to you. There are some which have a built-in control panel that is designed to stop suspicious users from accessing your site; the block occurs without having to be actioned, which is excellent from a convenience-standpoint. Alternatively, you can enjoy the simplicity of a firewall – what sets this apart is the clean manner in which it prevents hackers from password-guessing. Whichever you decide to invest in, you can be rest-assured that it won’t be long before you are reaping the rewards.
How Can We Be Of Service?
Understandably, you will not be interested in all of the different services which are listed above; however, they are diverse in their nature, and there will undoubtedly be one which can transform the way that you, as a company, operate in the future. You would be hard-pressed to come up with a viable reason as to why investing in disaster recovery would be a bad move – it simply offers a safety net, should unfortunate circumstances befall you. Similarly, spending money on high-security technological solutions are designed to eliminate the risk of hacking and other criminal activities, and should therefore be appealing. If any of the aforementioned options have caught your eye, it could be worth getting in touch with catalyst2.
In terms of traditional experience, we have been providing dedicated hosting and web hosting services for twenty years – this is significantly longer than many of the other UK hosting companies, and immediately gives us the edge. We have had the privilege of collaborating with thousands of clients, meaning that our skills have become more refined over time. This relates not only to our ability to provide professional services, but also our execution of customer service. We have tried to forge a reputation around catalyst2 which epitomises a smooth, seamless, and hassle-free environment.
Ever since our foundation, we have been firm advocates that in order to be successful in this industry, it is important to be transparent in the way that you operate. It is in this line of thinking that, prior to soliciting our services, we advocate that first-time clients spend some time pouring over the reviews which we have amassed on our dedicated Trustpilot page. At the very least, they should give an indication into the way that we work, and how our goals align with yours. Should you come to the conclusion that catalyst2 is the perfect firm for you, please do not hesitate to get in touch. We ask that you do so either by telephone or email, using 0131 516 4975 and sales@catalyst2.com respectively.
