The world runs on digital networks. Once upon a time, Ethernet-based wired networks dominated the business landscape. These days, however, WiFi and cellular technologies have enabled organizations to network wirelessly. Maybe you’ve been trying to decide whether you switch from your wired network to a wireless one, or whether your new business should start out with one or the other – or even whether you should mix the two. Let’s look at some key factors that might influence your decision.

You know you need to backup your data thoroughly in case an unanticipated disaster strikes. But what’s the best way to cover your bases? Let’s examine the pros and cons of two potential solutions, RAID drive arrays and disk striping.

In today’s fast-evolving technological world, it’s only natural to look for comforting signs of familiarity. For some, that means preferring old-school keyboards to modern touchscreen input, or keeping that reliable old printer or server going matter what. For still others, familiarity resides in a familiar software program – but this kind of familiarity often breeds contempt. Here are some potential complications of hanging onto old software.

You’ve discovered an exciting new software program with tremendous potential for your company’s workplace needs, only to have an IT professional point out that “it’s still in beta.” What does this mean, why does it matter, and how should you let it affect your decision to pursue the program in question? Here’s a brief look at those questions, courtesy of your Austin IT tech support gurus at Gravity Systems.

The last couple of years have been all about protecting ourselves, our family members, and our coworkers against a certain dangerous virus. However, you mustn’t forget about other viruses that can prove catastrophic to your business – viruses of a digital nature.

Today’s world is a gigantic, interactive business arena. Thanks to global communications and related technologies, businesses all over the planet can do business across multiple time zones and cultures as easily as if they were all located in the same town. Maybe your business has grown to the point that you’re ready to take it international. But before you can take that massive step, you’ll want to make sure that your IT capabilities will facilitate such expansion as effectively and painlessly as possible.

If you work with figures, codes, and calculations on a constant basis, the last thing you probably want or need in your life is more numbers to puzzle over. So when you start examining your business network’s Wi-Fi capabilities, you may find yourself scratching your head over designations such as Wi-Fi 5, Wi-Fi6, Wi-Fi6, and 802.11. What do these standards mean for your network’s speed and effectiveness? Let’s take a basic look at the world of Wi-Fi standards.

Do you remember the Heartbleed “bug?” Our Austin business IT support techs here at Gravity systems sure do. That little bit of code exposed millions of online accounts to scam artists, creating enormous problems for individuals and businesses alike. But Heartbleed didn’t exist in a bubble; as we’ve related in previous posts, new malware concoctions attack computers year after year. You’ve got to set your IT system up with the proper barricades against these evil operators – and that means implementing two-factor authentication, or 2FA. It’s not only good sense; it’s also a requirement in many cyber insurance policies.

Spring isn’t quite in the air just yet, but the warm feelings generated by Valentine’s Day can’t be denied. While you’re planning whatever romantic gestures you want to extend to a special someone, you might want to think about lavishing a bit of love on that hard-working IT department of yours. When you fix or upgrade essential technology, you’re not just boosting efficiency and productivity; you’re also boosting your technicians’ morale by making life easier for them. Let’s look at a few examples of technological TLC you might want to provide this year.

“Home for the holidays” can mean different things to different workers. For some, it simply means taking several days off from the daily commute to a nearby job. For others, it may mean a dream trip to the other side of the country or even the world. But many of these holiday-bound employees may share one thing in common: the use of mobile devices to keep in touch with colleagues and get some unavoidable work done during the break. But these devices can cause trouble for your business -- and trouble doesn’t observe vacations.