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Category: Maintenance

Cost of Insuring Your “Digital” Employees

We were discussing the price customers paid for their monthly maintenance of computers and the comparison was brought up about insurance costs. As a business owner with employees, it is necessary these days to offer health insurance as part of their compensation package. If the company has vehicles that are used for business, then the government mandates that they be covered by minimum amounts of insurance. These costs are then built into the price the business owner then charges their clients for products or services.

Insurance Statistics: 

  • According to Business.com, the average cost of health insurance for a single employee was $645 per month and $1,850 per month for a family.
  • According to NerdWallet.com, the average cost of car insurance was $179 per vehicle per month. 

Questions:

So what about the “digital” employees of the company, aka the computers and network equipment that make business possible. How much are business owners paying to “insure” these assets? What are businesses willing to pay to make sure that their computers and network don’t have a sick day? Does the cost of insuring them include preventative care? Who does the business call in case of an accident or breakdown in the middle of the day? Does the cost of insuring include on-site service or transport to a service center?

If your company wants to keep their digital employees healthy and insure them from accidents, then contact us for assistance.

RMM Automation: Synology Resource Monitoring

As our business continues to focus on providing white labeled Tier 3 IT support services, RMM as a service, and co-managed IT services this blog will be highlighting tips for Synology resource monitoring. We have developed best practices for alerting on a Synology device for resources like CPU, Memory, and Disk Usage. When these Synology resource monitoring alerts are consistently triggered it show that the device is over utilized or if they remain triggered for long periods of time then it shows there is an issue on the device itself. We also setup weekly Storage Reports to get an accurate view of the changes and growth going on with client storage.

Setup Notifications

Make sure that Notifications are setup on the Synology first

  1. Open Control Panel
  2. Click on Notifications
    • Check enable email notifications
    • Choose Service Provider
    • Login to Gmail or use Custom SMTP server for Office 365 as the sender
    • Change Subject to indicate name of device
    • Add recipient email (Best to use one that ties into a PSA or RMM)
    • Click Apply
    • Send a Test Email

Setup Synology Resource Monitoring

  1. Open Resource Monitor app
    1. Click on Performance Alarm to the left
    2. Click on Rules tab
    3. Click Create
    4. Create the following Rules one by one
      1. Volume Critical
        1.  Select which volume [create multiple rules if more than one volume]
        2. Select Disk I/O utilization
        3. Greater than 90%
        4. Level Critical
      2. Volume Warning
        1.  Select which volume [create multiple rules if more than one volume]
        2. Select Disk I/O utilization
        3. Greater than 75%
        4. Level Warning
      3. System Memory Critical
        1. Memory Usage
        2. Greater than 90%
        3. Level Critical
      4. System Memory Warning
        1. Memory Usage
        2. Greater than 75%
        3. Level Warning
      5. System CPU Critical
        1. CPU Usage
        2. Greater than 90%
        3. Level Critical
      6. System CPU Warning
        1. CPU Usage
        2. Greater than 75%
        3. Level Warning
    5. Click Settings and check box to Enable usage history then click Save

Setup Storage Reports

  1. Open Storage Analyzer
    1. Select new location
    2. Create new shared folder named Log Files – hide from network
    3. Go back to Storage Analyzer and select new folder
    4. Set volume usage data to be collected Daily at 2am 
    5. Create report task
      1. Send to email (Best to use one that ties into a PSA)
      2. Generate reports at Monday 4am
      3. Keep 60 reports then click Next
      4. Select report items
        1. Volume Usage
        2. Shared Folders
        3. Potential Duplicate Files
        4. Large Files
        5. Least Recently Modified Files then click Next
      5. Analyze all folders then click Next
      6. Leave duplicate file defaults then click Next
      7. Click Done
    6. Close App

Once this is setup you will start getting email alerts sent to you or better yet your PSA / RMM for ticket creation and review.

If your company is a MSP or wants to become one and automation just seems out of reach, then contact us to run your RMM for you.

A Most Reviewed Global Productivity & Collaboration Consultant

At Farmhouse Networking, we provide professional support for small to medium business networks. Our mission is to bring grass-roots IT support to local and national businesses. We analyze the processes that make business happen, then help you develop long-term plans to ensure that your IT system fosters the growth your business requires to blossom.

For this reason, we proudly share a milestone for Farmhouse Networking. The Manifest has recognized us as a leading and most reviewed global productivity and collaboration company. The Manifest is a business blog and reviews platform aiming to link buyers with vendors that can help them with their ongoing or upcoming projects.

Since our establishment in 2015, we have worked with trusted hardware and software vendors to add the essential elements which provide a nourishing medium to make your business flourish. Since our founding, we have developed the breadth and depth of knowledge required to manage business-class networks properly.

Chief Aircraft Inc, an online aircraft parts retailer, engaged in an ongoing collaboration with us in 2016 for managed IT services. The project started when the client was transitioning, and we stepped in to help modernize their systems and set up a solution to back up and monitor their network properly.

“In upgrading our network and data backups Scott has managed to lower the cost to us on a long-term basis and make everything easier to access as well as more secure.” – Josh Confer, Webmaster, Chief Aircraft Inc

The whole team at Farmhouse Networking would like to use this opportunity to communicate how much we value all our clients and partners. The feedback they’ve written means so much to us and will help us cement our name in the industry. If you need a caring expert to tend to your computers and network while you do business, get in touch with us. Our organic IT support is only a phone call away

Zero Trust – Software Patching

This is the seventh in a series about the concept of Zero Trust, which means in the IT sense that you trust nothing and always verify everything surrounding and connected to your network. Today’s discussion will be on software patching. 

Software Patching

Software patching is a neccesity because no person who writes code is perfect and hackers are actively looking for these mistakes. The hackers find the mistakes and then develop ways of using these to exploit the software, computer, or whatever else they can gain access to. The only way to combat both the mistakes and the exploits is to discover them before the hackers do and patch the hole in the software. This patch can however lead to unforseen consequences to the software, so a plan for testing and deployment of patches is needed to avoid unexpected downtime to businesses.Here are some questions to ask:

  • Do you know all of the hardware and software on your network?
  • Do you check for hardware, operating system, and other software regularly?
  • How do you check for updates, patches, or upgrades to software?
  • How do you install these patches? Is it automated?
  • Are these patches tested before installation?
  • What happens if a patch causes problems?
  • Do you have a log of all installed updates?
  • Are any systems or software on your network no longer supported for updates?

If your company is going to use full disk encryption or has compliance requirements that you need consulting for, then contact us for assistance.

Surviving a Flood

Had a client walk into their office to find it flooded with an inch and a half of water on the ground and it got me thinking about what could be done to mitigate the risks associated with this sort of “Act of God” at the office.

Can’t Stop the Flood

It goes without saying that there is no way to realistically prevent a flood besides the usual preventative building maintenance that most businesses are not in control of anyways. It makes sense then to choose an office space where the owner is into proactive repairs on the building, even if it costs a little extra per month. It would also be good to talk to your business insurance provider to make sure that such Acts of God are covered. Clean-up and recovery though usually covered by the building owner can get expensive if your contract doesn’t cover it. 

Prepare for the Worst

Practically speaking it may not be possible to keep computers out of the water in a flood. At this particular client we did have the computers up on blocks just in case of this very thing. All network equipment should also be in a safe place, ideally in a locked cabinet high off the ground.

Recovery can happen

If the worst does happen, the first thing to do is shut off the electricity to the building. After that take careful inventory of all that is plugged in and remove it from electrical outlets. If equipment is wet, keep it unplugged for a couple days in a dry environment to make sure it is free from moisture. Once sure it is dry, plug in the equipment and test whether it will come back online. If anything was submerged in water, it is best to plan on replacing it as most water has minerals in it that will stick to components in the computer and could cause and electrical short.

If your company is not ready for the worst, then contact us for assistance.

RMM Automation: Sort Files Into Folders Based on Filename

Optimize File Storage - Clackmas, OR

As our business continues to focus on providing white labeled Tier 3 IT support services, RMM as a service, and co-managed IT services this blog will be highlighting tips for RMM automation. Here is a script that we came up with to handle a particular client that dumps tons of PDFs into a folder unsorted and wants individual folders created for each unique file name. We have tailored this script to be used not only at that client but for any folder on any Microsoft Windows computer that needs to be sorted in this manner. This script could easily be modified to sort other types of files.

Variables

Here are the variables we are using for this script:

  • $SourceFolder = This is the target folder to be sorted

Script Snippet

# Defines the folder that sorted data will go into 
$TargetFolder = $SourceFolder + " Sorted"

#Defines how to match files with similar names, in this case we put files with the same name then a dash or underscore and other numbers or letters to be placed in the same folder
$MatchRegEx = "[-_]"


#Grabs only the PDF files in the folder being sorted (modify for other extension types or remove filter to sort all files)
Get-ChildItem -Path $SourceFolder -Filter *.pdf |
    ForEach-Object {
        #Creates folder name for child folders in sorted data
        $FileNameFolder = $_.Name -split $MatchRegEx
        $ChildPath = Join-Path -Path $FileNameFolder[0].Replace('.pdf','') -ChildPath $_.Name

        [System.IO.FileInfo]$Destination = Join-Path -Path $TargetFolder -ChildPath $ChildPath

        #Checks if folder exists and if not creates child folder
        if( -not ( Test-Path -Path $Destination.Directory.FullName -erroraction silentlycontinue) ){
            New-Item -ItemType Directory -Path $Destination.Directory.FullName
            }

        #Copies file into child folder
        Copy-Item -Path $_.FullName -Destination $Destination.FullName
        }

This script is non-destructive meaning that the files are copied and not moved. This script gives screen output of each new child folder created.

If your company is a MSP or wants to become one and automation just seems out of reach, then contact us to run your RMM for you.

Zero Trust – Endpoint Security

Endpoint Security - Clackamas, OR

This is the sixth in a series about the concept of Zero Trust, which means in the IT sense that you trust nothing and always verify everything surrounding and connected to your network. Today’s discussion will be on endpoint security. 

Endpoint Security

Endpoint security is a fancy term used to describe how the computers on the network are protected. This used to be done by antivirus but due to the complexity of the attacks hackers are using to compromise networks these days, the definition has expanded greatly. This now includes things like Enhanced Detection & Response software, Security Operations Centers, DNS Filtering, employee train and more. Here are some questions that you should be asking yourself:

  • Are your endpoints protected by antivirus or enhanced detection & response?
  • Is website traffic being monitored? Restricted?
  • Are your employees being trained in cyber security?
  • Are computer logs being monitored for malicious activity?
  • Would unusual or suspicious activity on a computer be noticed? Alerted on?
  • Do you have security permissions set on all file shares?
  • Do you have least privileged access configured on those shares?
  • Do you keep track of what software is installed on all workstations?
  • Do you block access to unauthorized software?
  • Are files encrypted on servers and workstations?
  • Are your mobile devices managed? Can you wipe them remotely?
  • Are USB ports blocking removeable storage devices?
  • Are endpoints set to automatically log-out?

If your company is going to use full disk encryption or has compliance requirements that you need consulting for, then contact us for assistance.

Zero Trust – Physical Security

This is the first in a series about the concept of Zero Trust, which means in the IT sense that you trust nothing and always verify everything surrounding and connected to your network. Today’s discussion will be on the physical security surrounding your network. 
 

Physical Security

Physical security can include the locks on the doors, where things are placed, and how they are protected from the unpredictability of the environment. Here are some questions that you should be asking yourself:

  • Do you know where your network equipment is located?
  • Is the server / network in a separate area from where work is done?
  • Is this separate area behind a locked door?
  • Is the equipment in a locked rack or cabinet?
  • Is there a separate air conditioning zone for this area (servers like it cold)?
  • Is there a separate alarm zone for this equipment?
  • Who has the codes?
  • Is there a security camera watching this area (we don’t install these)?
  • How long is the recording for?
  • Who has access to the recordings?
  • Are computers located in areas where customers can physically touch them?
  • Are unused USB ports on the computer turned off or locked?
  • Are all systems protected by battery backup devices?
  • Are all systems off the floor in case of a flood?

Take time to think about these questions and decide where changes can be made to better protect your IT investments, or contact us to do the thinking for you.

Did I see your Indicators of Compromise?

Nobody wants to be hacked, breached, compromised, or whatever else they are calling it now. Here is a quick list of things to think about to keep your company safe:

Compromise Prevention

  • Keep track of your inventory, both software and hardware.
  • Make sure to properly dispose of these things (recycle or responsible destruction)
  • Scan your network for vulnerabilities
  • Patch or remediate everything you find
  • Manage your antivirus & keep it up-to-date
  • Keep your passwords complex & safely stored
  • Remove all users / accounts when no longer in use
  • Look at best practices to harden your computers / network to attacks
  • Monitor your network for strange activity (indicators of compromise)

If your company is concerned about security, then contact us to take care of it for you.

How to make money back buying IT assets

IT Services Savings - Grants Pass, OR

Farmhouse Networking continues to make strides in providing our customers with the best, most cost effective, and environmentally friendly computing experience possible. Part of that process is what has come to be known as Lifecycle Management. Each piece of hardware has an expected amount of time in which it is cost effective to use and support it. Once this time frame has been exceeded the cost of supporting the device becomes greater than the cost as shown in the following graph:

FHN Lifecycle Management

So the question remains what to do with the old computers when the time comes to replace them. Previously here in Grants Pass, OR we could support a local charity by taking them to Southern Oregon Aspire to have the computers dismantled and hard drives shredded. Now that their doors are closed we are stuck with dropping them off at the local dump, but what if you could make money while being responsible with the environment? 

Farmhouse Networking is now partnering with a company called Arcoa, who do just that. Here is what they do in their R2 rated responsible recycling facility: 

“We help you recover value from retired electronic equipment through responsible methods of reuse and recycling. Resale offers the best potential for value recovery, but the fast pace of innovations in technology and short product life cycles can limit equipment’s potential for reuse. From there, the best option may be to recycle the items in an environmentally friendly manner. We’ve built a robust de-manufacturing process to offer additional options for asset value recovery by disassembling equipment for commodity grade materials, which can be diverted from landfills and be used to create new materials.”

Hard drives will be electronically wiped, magnetically degaussed, or shredded based on need. The rest of the parts will be dismantled and sold with part of the profit returning to your company to help offset the cost of buying new computers. What could be better than making money on the buy?

If your company is heading towards a hardware refresh, then make the environmentally sound choice by contacting us for assistance.

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