How to Determine if the Managed Meraki Services are Right for Your Business?

In the past, enterprise-grade networking solutions were not available to small and medium-sized businesses (SMB). In the past, expensive servers and network infrastructure were too expensive, leaving these small companies at risk in terms of network performance and security.

But with recent advances in cloud infrastructure, there is an affordable, scalable, and easy-to-use solution for small businesses: the Managed Meraki Services network. This advanced cloud network can be used by both small businesses and enterprises and offers a number of benefits to small businesses.

High Network Performance with Next-Generation Wireless Access Points

The modern office is wireless, and without the right wireless access points, your network won't be able to reach its full potential. Meraki Cloud's Wireless Access Points (WAPs) are equipped with the latest connectivity technologies.

These access points are built using enterprise-grade 802.11ac wireless technology to ensure they support high-performance networks such as gigabit fiber and other advanced networking technologies. On some models, they can even handle multi-gigabit bandwidth up to 2.5 Gbps.

Simplified scalability

Cisco Meraki products can be used for all parts of your network infrastructure, from firewalls to network switches, access points, and more. Each Meraki system connects directly to the Cisco Meraki cloud for easy configuration. Cisco Meraki products are easy to add, remove, and move. This ensures that growing companies can quickly add as much network capacity as they need.

At a glance, single-pane monitoring on a mobile stand

Cisco Meraki helps companies do more with less and provides IT and network administrators with all the information they need to get a “quick” assessment of network health. This unified glass approach brings data analysis, user monitoring, performance measurement, and more together in a single, holistic view. IT administrators can access this information anywhere, and with an optimized mobile app, you can manage your network even on the go.

IT staff can also quickly assess bandwidth usage by individual users, block access for inappropriate or unsupported applications, and reduce bandwidth with just a few clicks. From laptops to phones, tablets, and more, all connected devices can be easily controlled.

Prospective and maintenance-free

Cisco Meraki appliances receive quarterly updates with the latest firmware and updates. These updates can be scheduled to run automatically or with the approval of your IT staff. Since the system is cloud-based, it is easy to change the functionality of the device without disconnecting it from the Meraki Cloud network, ensuring minimal maintenance and future-proof design.

Simplified remote troubleshooting

The Cisco Meraki Cloud Platform contains a number of powerful troubleshooting tools that you can use on the go. Devices can be disconnected and serviced remotely from anywhere. In addition, detailed network reports allow you to quickly categorize and assess problem areas on your network, which reduces downtime and makes your network more efficient.

Enterprise-grade support at no additional cost

Cisco Meraki is a cloud-based service with full support for all of its products at no additional cost. All IT staff will be able to communicate with a dedicated Cisco support agent.

This ensures that any potential network problems are quickly resolved and that your IT staff have all the tools they need to keep your IT infrastructure running smoothly and efficiently.

Scalability, Availability, and Efficiency: The Power of the Cisco Meraki Cloud Network

Cisco Meraki Cloud is ideal for any small to medium business looking to invest in a long-term network architecture solution. It's scalable and affordable, so you only pay for what you use and can add more bandwidth as needed. With simple controls and the latest networking technology, it has never been easier to get the most out of all your wireless and wired networks.

Things You Should To Know About Managed Meraki Services For Successfull Business

 Cisco Meraki products are fully cloud-managed. From the Meraki dashboard, you can configure, optimize and monitor your networks, security devices and more. In addition, all software updates are carried out automatically to ensure the maximum security of your computer.

However, some of these features will be limited if Managed Meraki Services products were purchased from a non-certified reseller and configured incorrectly. Before purchasing or accepting used Meraki equipment, you should consider the possible implications of support, warranties, licenses and usability.

Here are three things you need to know about used Meraki equipment.

1) Cisco Meraki licenses are non-transferable.

Meraki cloud-managed platform requires license renewal, sold separately. Licenses can be purchased or renewed in increments of 1, 3, 5, 7, or 10 years. License purchase includes quality 24/7 customer service and technical support, hardware replacement, and firmware and operating system updates. Don't forget about the basic functionality. Your panel will notify you when licenses expire 30 days after they expire. Another notification will be sent three days after the expiration date. Thereafter, a 30-day grace period begins. If you don't renew your license after that, your devices will stop working.

The higher the markup, the lower the total cost will be. Meraki's license renewal operates on a co-termination formula. It simply means that all users upgrade their individual licenses at the same time. If you purchase a new access point license with a different expiration date, it is split between your existing licenses to standardize the renewal date. This is called co-completion.

All of this should be kept in mind when purchasing equipment from a third party, as licenses are not transferable. It doesn't matter if the previous owner had about 10 years left on the license. To use the equipment, you will need to buy a new one.

2) Used Meraki equipment is not subject to support or warranty.

Like licenses, valid warranties cannot be transferred to purchases by third parties. If a product fails that was not purchased from a certified reseller, that part will not be RMA compliant.

3) The previous owner should not make a claim for the goods.

Claim device

The devices operate on their assigned networks. This means that you will need to request an item. On the control panel, products can be requested by entering the serial number of the device. If that doesn't work, then the next section will probably fix the problem.

How Managed Meraki Services Is safe for Your Business?

 Cisco Meraki is a company that has built (and maintains) an extensive cloud computing network. They often partner with reputable IT companies like PCH to provide customers with customized cloud solutions. Of course, you won't get their support without earning it, and this is one of many ways to determine how good our people are.

Originally called Managed Meraki Services, this company grew out of a project called Roofnet. It was a computer science project that was designed to bring wireless Internet to the city of Cambridge. They solved a number of problems to achieve this goal, mainly by using the unique properties of radio waves to amplify fundamental signals.

From there, the company participated in a project to bring free Internet access to San Francisco residents. They distributed various gateways as access points to their free network. This experiment involved about 100,000 people before it was finally discontinued.

Following the acquisition of Cisco Systems in 2012 (approximately $ 1.2 billion), the company was renamed Cisco Meraki. Since then, they have specialized in cloud computing services and are considered some of the most respected names in their field.

How Safe Is Meraki Cloud Computing?

Of course, some people choose to restrict their use of the cloud for security reasons. Some people find it less secure than a regular Internet connection. However, this rarely happens. A normal Internet connection tends to be very open unless someone takes care of hardening the system in various ways. On the other hand, the cloud system will be constantly managed, including security monitoring.

To be truly safe on the Internet, you really need constant monitoring. Oh, but do you think you could do it all yourself? Okay, of course ... we'll give you an idea of ​​how you can do this. You can use a program called Nmap. It's free and not that hard to use. This program monitors all connections on your network and tells you how long they have been connected. Thanks to this, you can easily see a map of your network connections and disable anything that looks suspicious. But you're not done yet!

You will also need to download a program called Wireshark, which will track all the information that travels through the network. An Internet connection always exchanges information (in the form of "packets") with other computers. Wireshark allows you to monitor these packets in real-time. This requires a bit more technical knowledge, but still pretty basic. But here's the catch: you now have to watch these two shows all the time. This means hiring people to watch these monitors all day and trusting them to do a good job. In the end, you are better off delegating this task to a company that takes care of all the network monitoring for you.

In addition to this, Cisco Meraki offers a number of other high-security options, including VPN tunnels and firewalls. We're not telling you to uninstall your antivirus software, but the Meraki dashboard can definitely deal with some security issues. The firewall and virus definitions are improving with each update, so it is unlikely that anyone will be able to bypass this protection.

Top Underused Managed UPS Services Features?

 Energy management is one of the most important investments for any organization. It is not possible to operate the equipment depending on the local power source, as in most cases this is not enough, or a power outage can occur suddenly, or voltage fluctuations can damage your systems. Therefore, organizations invest in uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems to avoid power outages. Choosing from the many Managed Ups Services systems that best suits your needs can be a daunting task.

Check out these 6 must-haves to buy the right UPS systems for your organization:

1. Check the number of outlets.

You can't just pick any UPS system at random, whether you need it for business or personal needs. First you need to think about how many devices you need to connect to the UPS. Buy a UPS that has at least two more outlets than you need in case you need additional devices later.

Many UPS systems have more than eight outlets. Don't worry, it's best to make sure each plug is running on battery power. It is common to find certain UPS systems that are cheap but have many outputs. If you do a little research, you will see that only a few outlets receive battery backup. For many users this will not be a problem, but they should be aware of this before purchasing.

2. Check the power supply to the UPS.

Your UPS system must generate at least 25% more power than the devices connected to it consume. Therefore, at any time before purchasing, do not forget to calculate the total power required by the devices from uninterruptible power supplies.

If you plan to connect network devices such as Ethernet or a modem, also consider the power consumption of them. If your UPS is generating less power than the devices require, they will shut down. It won't do any good.

3. Select UPS systems with flexible options.

Every organization needs UPS support for server rooms and data centers. Flexible UPS systems are best suited for this purpose because they provide more options. Check where the cable can be inserted into the UPS cabinet. Is it above or below? Does the UPS have a front access function?

You should make your choice based on the purpose for which you are buying and where you intend to place it. For desktop computers, a tower UPS is usually used. If you need it for network and server management, a rack-mount UPS is better for you.

4. Learn about the different types of UPS.

To make the right decision, you need to gain a general knowledge of UPS types. Each type has its own characteristics, suitable for specific clothing. So think about the equipment that needs a power source and then decide which one to buy.

 

If you have money constraints, your best option would be to buy a backup or standalone UPS. They are mainly used for desktop computers. If you don't experience frequent power outages for a long period or excessive voltage fluctuations, you can certainly stick with this choice.

Another improved version of the standalone UPS is Line Interactive UPS, which is mainly used by small businesses to manage servers and small networks. It is faster than a standalone UPS to switch from utility to battery power.

The most advanced and cost effective UPS is the online UPS available only to large organizations. It can save any organization from downtime for a long time thanks to its powerful sinusoidal energy.

5. Find out how much battery life the UPS offers.

The main purpose of purchasing a UPS is to prevent computers from suddenly shutting down. In addition, the user needs enough time to complete and save their work. Therefore, one of the most important characteristics of a UPS is how much runtime it can provide. If your requirements match the capacity of the UPS, then there will be no problems with the purchase.

Some organizations look to UPS for support to keep them operating during power outages. If you need to, read the features carefully and then buy.

6. Check the warranty period.

Many companies today offer on-site warranties. This is a great option as you don't have to mess with getting your groceries to a service center. Someone from the company will come to you to diagnose.

Another important thing to be aware of is that there are separate warranties for different parts of the UPS, such as batteries and UPS systems. Be sure to check them before purchasing. The standard warranty is a minimum of 3 years. Compare several companies and decide which one is ideal.

How To Choose A Managed UPS Services?

At first glance, choosing an uninterruptible power supply seems like a daunting task. But essentially, whether you're buying a new Managed Ups Services system or replacing an existing unit, the choice comes down to two main factors: the required charge and the battery life.

To establish the required power consumption, separate critical loads (which must be protected by the UPS) from non-critical loads. In a call center, for example, phones and computers will be classified as mission-critical, but desktop fans will not. Production lines and equipment are critical to a factory, but secondary lighting and telephone lines are not.

Establishing the load requirements will determine which UPS topology is the most suitable (standby / standalone, online interactive, or online).

The second main criterion is the autonomy of the battery. How long does it take to shut down safely? When thinking about battery life, you should also consider how much space you have to install batteries.

Other factors that influence your choice of UPS

• Installation environment: Do you need a stand-alone vertical (typically industrial) or rack-mount (typically IT loaded) UPS? Where will the UPS be installed? UPS systems work best in dry, dust-free, and well-ventilated areas with a constant, controlled temperature. If the UPS is located at the back instead of the front, you will need to leave a clearance of 300 mm.
• Installation configuration: Do you need to create redundancy, such as an N + 1 parallel system, to reduce the risk of a serious system failure?
• UPS Maintenance: Does the UPS have front access for maintenance or does it require side access? If it is the latter, then it is important for system tuning.
• Warranties: The industry standard for UPS systems is a two- or three-year warranty. Riello UPS offers a standard five-year extended warranty on all UPSs up to and including 3 kVA.
• Accessories: It is recommended to always turn on the bypass switch. SNMP cards or other BMS connections may be recommended depending on your network and communication requirements.
• Features: Does the UPS have an LCD screen or even a touch screen that displays important performance information? What operating modes does it have (eg ECO mode, Smart Active, frequency converter)?

Managed UPS Services Circuit Diagram and Working

 The complete form of UPS is an uninterruptible power supply or an uninterruptible power supply. It is an electrical device that provides emergency power to various loads when there is generally no input power. A Managed Ups Services differs from an emergency power system in that it provides almost instantaneous protection against i / p power failures by supplying the energy stored in batteries, supercapacitors. Battery run times are relatively short for most UPS, but sufficient to enable backup power. The main purpose of a UPS is to protect equipment such as computers, electrical equipment, computers, and data centers when a power outage occurs. This device keeps the computer running for several minutes after a power outage and protects the data on the computer. Today, there are several types of UPS systems with a software component that allows you to back up your vehicle in the absence of a power outage while you are away from your computer.

Managed UPS Services

Below is a schematic diagram of a UPS, showing how the equipment's batteries function during a power outage. The input voltage of the primary winding of the transformer (TR1) is 240V. The transformer secondary winding (TR2) can be increased to 15V if the value is at least 12V to 2A. A fuse is used to protect the owl circuit from short circuits. The presence of electricity will make led1 shine. The LED turns off when the power is off and the UPS battery replaces it. This circuit is designed to provide a more flexible circuit where it can be modified with different batteries and regulators to provide both regulated and unregulated voltage. By using two 12V batteries in series and the positive input from the 7815 regulators, we can drive the 15V supply.

UPS Types

Power outages can take many forms such as surges, sags, surges, and harmonics. These problems can cause serious damage to electrical transmissions, especially during the critical manufacturing or handling phases of action. To reduce the risk of power distortion, UPS systems are often integrated into electrical networks. Manufacturers of electronic power supply equipment can provide a high-quality steady flow of power for a variety of electrically charged devices, and these devices are commonly used in industrial applications, medical services, emergency equipment, telecommunications, and computerized systems.

Uninterruptible power supplies are classified into three types:

• Standby UPS
• Line-interactive UPS
• Online UPS

Standby UPS

A redundant uninterruptible power supply is also called a standalone UPS, which is commonly used for a PC. The block diagram of this UPS is shown below. This UPS includes a battery, an AC / DC / DC / AC inverter, a static switch, and an LPF that is used to reduce the switching frequency of the output voltage and a surge suppressor. The backup UPS system works with a transfer device. to select AC I / P as the main power source and switch to battery and inverter as backup sources in case of main power failure. The inverter generally operates in standby mode, it only operates in case of power failure.

Line-interactive UPS

The Line Interactive UPS block diagram shown below is the most common UPS used for small businesses. The line-interactive UPS design is similar to the standby UPS, furthermore, the line-interactive design generally includes an automatic voltage regulator (AVR) or a switching transformer. This improves voltage regulation by adjusting the transformer taps when the i / p voltage changes. Voltage regulation is an important function when there is low voltage, otherwise the UPS would switch to battery and eventually disconnect the load. Using a more common battery can lead to premature battery failure. The characteristics of this UPS are small.

Online UPS

Online UPS is also called online double conversion uninterruptible power supply. This is the most widely used UPS, the block diagram of which is shown below. The design of this UPS is similar to a standby UPS, except that the main power source is the inverter and not the AC grid. In this UPS design, an AC i / p failure does not cause the transfer switch to trip because the AC i / p charges the backup battery source that supplies power to the inverter. Therefore, when AC i / p power is disconnected, this UPS operation does not generate transfer time.

10 Advantages and Disadvantages of Cloud Managed Storage Services

Cloud Managed Storage Services gave users the ability to share files and access them remotely without accessing their local storage systems.

While this has opened many doors for video equipment, there are a few considerations to consider before integrating cloud storage into your video workflow.

Here are the 5 advantages and 5 disadvantages of Cloud Managed Storage Services:

 Benefits of Cloud Managed Storage Services

Cost Buying physical storage can be expensive. Without the need for hardware, cloud storage is exceptionally cheaper per GB than using external drives.

Availability

Using the cloud for storage gives you access to your files from anywhere with an internet connection.

Recovery

In the event of a hard drive failure or other hardware malfunction, you can access your files in the cloud. It acts as a backup solution for your local storage on physical disks.

Synchronization and update

When you work with cloud storage, every time you make changes to a file, it will be synced and updated across all your devices from which you access the cloud.

Security

Cloud storage providers add additional layers of security to their services. Since there are many people with files stored in the cloud, these providers work hard to ensure that their files are not accessible to those who should not.

Disadvantages of Cloud Managed Storage Services

Internet connection

Cloud storage depends on your internet connection. If you have a slow network, you may have trouble accessing the storage. If you are somewhere without Internet, you will not be able to access your files.

Costs

There are additional costs for uploading and downloading files from the cloud. They can add up quickly if you frequently try to access a large number of files.

Hard drives

Cloud storage is supposed to eliminate our dependency on hard drives, right? Some enterprise cloud providers also require physical hard drives.

Support for

The cloud storage support is not the best, especially if you are using the free version of the cloud provider. Many vendors refer you to the knowledge base or FAQ.

Confidentiality

When you use the services of a cloud provider, your data is no longer on your physical storage. So who is in charge of data security? This is a gray area that remains to be seen.