Cloud data, is it in the Cloud or on my computer

Cloud data, is it in the Cloud or on my computer

The most probable answer is Yes to both!
Which often answers the “Why is my drive full?” question.

If you installed the Cloud Software App (you don’t have to), your 150 GB of photos are on your Computer are Real-time Syncing with the Cloud storage provider.  I have to check if in all ‘both’ cases the Virus Protection of the synced data is your responsibility.  I believe paid cloud services have an available backup in case of catastrophes, but you should check if your Free cloud provider does backups for free plans.  Like DropBox does.

There may be more than the Google Platform as one example & maybe Zoho where, if you never install their Drive App, you can store documents & photos, etc. and edit them in the cloud using a web browser.

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A ‘more secure’ Small Business file server?

I posed a possible solution for a multi-user, multi-company accounting strategy and took the concept deeper using the PC Software mentioned in my post: Multi-User, Multi-Company Accounting on an internal LAN (idea?)

The PC Server OS can be Windows 7, 8, 10 or XP and Windows Server 2003 to 2016
You don’t need to use actual Windows Server grade tower or rack.  RAID5 is a recommendation or at least Mirroring.

The newest release of this PC Software has a powerful new feature called ‘Open files on Client Side’.  Before this new feature, what happened when opening a file through an isolated  ‘File Explorer Window’?

Did the PC Software computer Startup and Open an isolated Acrobat Pro window for the User that Clicked on the server PDF?

I haven’t found it explicitly stated in the online docs, but if it can?
Then a User’s PCs infected with any crypto/ransom file infections, opening a ‘server’ file through a ‘server’ application window could not endanger the File Data on the isolated PC?

This theoretical idea of implementing existing software would be an intermediate step towards a ‘Thin Client’ workstation.  The Thinner it is, the Less Powerful it has to be and the easier it is to Replace.

 

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Multi-User, Multi-Company Accounting on an internal LAN (idea?)

The Multi-User, Multi-Workstation Accounting Department quandary.

In another post I was imagining unusual ways a multi-user, multiple company accounting concept could be accidentally put in play.  I lay out one possible solution here.

The real-time speed requirements for a multi-user accounting department are successfully met by transitioning your company to a Cloud Accounting Solution.

The Cloud is a great way for SumCompanyUSA, Inc. to do the accounting of several other companies, but they must:

  • Calculate the Cloud Accounting Multi-User fees
  • Multiply that by the number of client companies they handle.

The good news is cloud accounting prices have been ‘slashed’, giving SumCompanyUSA a much more favorable ROI than before.

Before the ‘slashing’ occurred I was testing a PC Application version priced only for a LAN which was about $175 a user.

What it did NOT do was what Terminal Services, LogMeIn, TeamViewer, etc, do; give access to the PC’s Desktop as a User

  • I’m overestimating here; This Applications needs an i7 with 12gb ram.
  • The PC Server OS can be Windows 7, 8, 10 or XP and Windows Server 2003 to 2016
  • 5 Accounting people are setup as Remote Users at the same location.
  • A User clicking on a “Special” Desktop Icon would actually Open an individual Accounting Software Window on their own PC Desktop from the Isolated PC, which would be transparent to the User.
  • Multiple Users working on Multiple Companies Simultaneously in Real Time on the same Isolated PC would allow SumCompanyUSA to securely handle 100+ company accounts ‘Inside Their Office’, like an On-premises Cloud
  • Would it be totally safe from viruses, or settings tampering and No User would ever have administrative control of any files? I didn’t complete my evaluation, but the separation of human user from company data with this PC Application installed only on the Isolated Accounting PC, MS Office PC, etc. added a Protection Layer that I found compelling.
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Fictitious Memoirs of a Senior Tech Support Specialist

A fictitious Tech story to illustrate how people, with enough technical knowledge to make them dangerous, can create a business networking disaster.
(Remember, this is fiction as no real company could have all these problems. And if this fake company was hit with a Ransom Ware Virus it would literally be devastating). 

The Company Minds I will call:  Jackoff, Rudolph & Shitler.

In the beginning of this tale, Jackoff and Rudolph decided to (A) purchase nine Windows 7 Home computers at a discount store. (B) They were put Online without removing any 3rd party Bloatware and had either Expired Antivirus subscriptions or no Antivirus at all. (C) They attached the LAN cables and also activated the Wireless.  (D) A Desktop Synchronization Application was installed on all PCs to download and keep in Sync a constantly updating 50GB Cloud Database.

Next, (E) 8 iMac Desktops were connected to the company wired LAN and the company Wireless LAN. The iMac Users then chose to use the Wireless connection and not the Wired LAN connection.  (F) The iMacs were not Synchronizing with the Cloud Database, but they were uploading and downloading large graphic files or movies over Wireless.  (G) Hardware for the 18 internal computers using wireless was provided by two Apple Express Routers.

More to come, like…

  1. Important Passwords not being written and saved
  2. Problems managing the Accounting Books of Client companies
    (a solution?)  Multi-User, Multi-Company Accounting on an internal LAN (idea?)

    • The first approach was to connect the 3 PCs Accounting software to use the Client Company Cloud Synced Accounting files.
      • Permission issues and multiple PCs Updating the same Cloud Client Accounting data resulted in the Accounting files never being Saved OR Overwriting recently Synced Accounting files losing Transactions that were Saved previously.
    • The Second approach was to keep the Client Account files on 1 local PC and the other 2 PCs would connect to the PC with all the Client Accounting files.
      • The PC Sharing the Client Accounting data was infected with the most malware
      • 2 other PCs using the Accounting PC Data would sometimes update the wrong Client Accounting data file and Client Accounting Backup files were being saved to the PC Users cluttered PC Desktop
  3. Installing the Freely offered Windows 10 Beta upgrade on all PCs.
  4. The design of Cloud Database verbose folder and sub-folder names quickly reached the 256 character Path Limit
  5. On all the PCs, technical maintenance was never done; Windows 10 Major Fix upgrades were failing to install; Right-Clicking anything produced an invisible sub-menu
  6. I’m back, Let’s talk about Wired vs. Wireless Networks.
    After troubleshooting many of my client’s home networks including PC Desktops or iMAC Desktops, ( of course, Laptops, Tablets, Smart Phones, Smart TVs, Smart Printers, etc.), the pattern or preference was for the Desktop Computer to use the Wireless Network even when the Home Router is either under or on top of the same Desk.
    Fine for a Home Network.
    But many new business startups bring their successful Family of 5 Network design knowledge into a commercial office 9am-5pm working environment with 14 PC Desktops and 10 I-Mac Desktops, plus 4 laptops connected to the network by two Apple Airport Express wireless routers. They’ll defend their design as it works fine at home and new wireless speeds are as fast as wire.
    But I’ll add a bizarre twist, every Desktop currently HAD a network wire plugged in.  It could happen! And still their decision was wireless.  Add more wireless access points?  No 2 is enough.
    For a  Techie / Trekkie this is a Kobayashi Maru situation.

    The prideful new business owner’s shields will deflect anything you submit; White Papers, Tech Journals, Books.  
  7.  #6 above Plus the addition of, as (D) in the opening paragraph of this tale stated “A Desktop Synchronization Application was installed on all PCs to download and keep in Sync a constantly updating 50GB Cloud Database.”, using Wireless.
  8. How about Backups of sensitive company data?
    How about using a single External USB 5TB drive?  That Failed & was 100% unrecoverable
    It could be that the Home networking practices never see the need to invest in a Raid Backup or Server or up to date Working Antivirus.
    How much damage could a Ransom Ware Virus do to this imaginary Company?
  9. Imagine submitting evidence of the many exploits into the sensitive Company Data and the reply is “We don’t need so-and-so’s email account. Delete it please.”
    speechless…
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