Earlier this month, I posted an article about data loss due to natural disasters. With the impending Hurricane Earl paying New England a visit this evening, I figured now would be a great time to reiterate the importance of having a backup disaster recovery system in place.
Although the major cause of data loss is due to human error combined with the fact that naturally occurring disasters only account for roughly 3% of all data loss; it is important to note this form of data loss is the most severe.
Lightening Doesn’t Strike Twice
Park Oskar, a freelance writer for StellarInfo.com, posted an online article in September of 2006 profiling the different types of non-human data loss. He recommends keeping data in an offsite backup as it is “statistically unlikely for natural disasters to occur in two locations simultaneously.
Utilizing the Cloud (No Pun Intended)
Oskar’s article was published four years ago. Since then, the Cloud has become a viable option for seamless offsite data backup. As part of your organization’s Backup Disaster Recovery (BDR) program, you can set up a Cloud to send data offsite continuously.
One of the major benefits of utilizing the Cloud is that it can be accessed anywhere via an internet connection.
Always Be Prepared
So say for instance (Worst Case Scenario here) Earl’s winds damages your office. Some of your equipment is ruined and you can’t work in the office until repairs are made. Luckily because your data is backed-up in the Cloud, you can access the Cloud from your home computer and within minutes, it is business as usual.
Again, even though the probability of losing data due to an “Act of God” is incredibly slim, the aftermath of such an event can be detrimental to an organization. In this case, it is better to be safe than sorry.
For Immediate Release
Inc. Magazine Ranks NSK Inc Part of the Fourth Annual Inc. 5000
Boston IT Consulting Firm on Exclusive List of America’s Fastest Growing Private Companies
Boston, MA, August 30, 2010 – NSK Inc has been selected by Inc. magazine for its fourth annual Inc. 5000, an exclusive ranking of the nation’s fastest-growing private companies. NSK Inc ranks among some the most prominent brands in America including: Pandora, 7-Eleven, Brooklyn Brewery, and Radio Flyer. This recognition is evidenced by NSK’s commitment to excellence in business.
According to Inc. President, Bob LaPointe, “The leaders of the companies on this year’s Inc. 5000 have figured out how to grow their businesses during the longest recession since the Great Depression.” Despite the fact that this year’s measuring period of 2006-2009 took place during the latest recession, the aggregate revenue among the companies on the list actually increased to $321.6 billion, up more than 50 percent from last year.
The Inc. 5000 at a Glance
The New York City metro area has the largest group of Inc. 5000 companies (410), followed by Washington D.C. (363), Los Angeles (262), Chicago (203), and Boston (189). “Despite the current economic conditions, NSK has been able to see double digit growth year after year thanks to our commitment to our customers,” says Tim Lasonde, President of NSK Inc. “We as a company feel privliged to be among the 189 Boston based companies recognized for their fast paced growth and development.”
On the national level, Business Products and Services had the most companies on this year’s list with 640, followed by IT Services (607), Advertising and Marketing (410), Health (396), and Government Services (336). With roughly 8% of the Inc. 5000 companies focused on IT Services, NSK Inc is part of an elite selection of some of the nation’s fastest growing companies.
Complete results of the Inc. 5000, including company profiles and an interactive database that can be sorted by industry, region, and other criteria, can be found on www.inc.com/5000.
Methodology
The 2010 Inc. 500|5000 is ranked according to percentage revenue growth when comparing 2006 to 2009. To qualify, companies must have been founded and generating revenue by June 30, 2006. Additionally, they had to be based in the United States, privately held, for profit, and independent—not subsidiaries or divisions of other companies—as of December 31, 2009. (Since then, a number of companies on the list have gone public or been acquired.) The minimum revenue required for 2006 is $80,000; the minimum for 2009 is $2 million. As always, Inc. reserves the right to decline applicants for subjective reasons. The top 10 percent of companies on the list constitute the Inc. 500, now in its 29th year.
About Inc. Magazine
Founded in 1979 and acquired in 2005 by Mansueto Ventures LLC, Inc. (www.inc.com) is the only major business magazine dedicated exclusively to owners and managers of growing private companies that delivers real solutions for today’s innovative company builders. With a total paid circulation of 712,647, Inc. provides hands-on tools and market-tested strategies for managing people, finances, sales, marketing, and technology. Visit us online at www.inc.com.
About the Inc. 500|5000 Conference
Each year, Inc. and Inc.com celebrate the remarkable achievements of today’s entrepreneurial superstars—the privately held small businesses that drive our economy. The Inc. 500|5000 Conference & Awards Ceremony brings together members of the Inc. community, both a new class of Inc. 500|5000 honorees and the list’s alumni, for three days of powerful networking, inspired learning, and momentous celebration. Please join us September 30–October 2, 2010, at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland, located minutes from downtown Washington, D.C. For more information about the 2010 Inc. 500|5000 Conference & Awards Ceremony and to register, visit www.inc500conference.com or call 866-901-3205.
About NSK Inc
NSK Inc is a leader in information technology consulting, with a focus on IT management for SMB companies. Headquartered in Boston, MA the company offers a wide array of IT services for business driven information challenges. They provide service and support for small and medium-sized businesses and groups working within large organizations. NSK Inc also creates custom software products for investment banks, equity management organizations, and other specialized industry areas. For more information, please visit http://www.nskinc.com.
Press Contact
For more information, please contact:
Cathie Briggette
NSK Inc.
(p) +1 617 303-0480
(e) cathie@nskinc.com
(w) http://www.nskinc.com
The End Of The Internet?
There has been a lot of buzz from people stating we are reaching the end of the internet's capacity. To be honest, all I can ever think of is the episode of South Park where the internet access starts to dry up. In the episode, the "internet" is actually a giant Linksys router and Kyle reestablishes the internet by resetting the device. Although hilarious, the probability of the internet disappearing is pretty low (notice how I didn't say impossible).
Fiction aside, the internet is in essence a network of networks that connects computers and other devices across the globe. The internet isn't one specific device but rather a combination of billions of components. Despite its seemingly endless coverage area, a recent article from CNN.com reported that the internet may be reaching its user limits. Soon we may not be able to add more devices to the current configuration.
Here's the kicker; it all has to do with the internet's current configuration. Right now the internet runs on what is called Internet Protocol Addressing Scheme version 4 (IPv4). Within this particular set up - IPv4 only provides slightly more than four billion IP addresses because it is based on a 32-bit format. These addresses are usually represented with decimal points separating the address into four parts (i.e. 192.0.0.000).
IPv4 operates on two basic functions: addressing and fragmentation. The protocol uses the IP addresses to transmit internet datagrams to their destinations (also known as routing). Then these datagrams are fragmented and then reassembled once they reach the destination address. (More information on IPv4 operations can be found in the IETF Publication RFC 791).
Anything hosted on an IP network (computer, printer, smart phone, etc.) is assigned its own unique IP address. Thanks to advancements in technology, ownership of mobile phones, net books, Ipads, and other web enabled devices has exploded. These new devices are gobbling up IP addresses at an alarming rate.
I spoke with Senior QA Associate Apollo Catlin, at NSK Inc, and he mentioned that a smart phone itself "probably has three different IP addresses associated with it." Numerous reports have speculated that within the next two years, we will run out of IP addresses. According to Catlin, when IPv4 was first instated in the 1970's there wasn't any thought of running out of addresses as "they didn't ever think people would have a personal IP address." Back then, IPs were reserved for mainframe computers used by large organizations not individuals.
So What Can Be Done?
The most viable option is to transition from the current IPv4 configuration to IPv6. IPv6 operates on a 128-bit system meaning there are trillions of new IP addresses available under this protocol.
Unfortunately content providers are reluctant to transition to the IPv6 protocol. Catlin states that the transition would require a complete overhaul of the Internet infrastructure in that the "entire middle structure of the system needs to be replaced."
Although tedious, this transition needs to happen soon. Otherwise in a couple of years, internet access may only be available to current users as we may not have any new IP addresses to hand out. The internet is open to everyone; let's not start having to ration it out.