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7 Features to Look for When Choosing a Turnkey BDR Appliance

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StrategyDriven Risk Management Article |Turnkey BDR|7 Features to Look for When Choosing a Turnkey BDR ApplianceThe term “turnkey” pertains to a product or service that can immediately be used in its full capacity right out of the box. For products like backup and disaster recovery (BDR) appliances, this turnkey functionality is essential. It means that businesses that use the product can go about backing up large amounts of data from day one, and that they can depend on the solution even if data loss were to happen the next day.

For any business operating in this data-driven age, a turnkey backup and recovery solution is a must-have. But what kind of BDR appliance is worth the investment? If your own company is looking for a turnkey BDR solution, here are the top seven features you will want it to have.

Speedy Backup

The most important feature in your BDR appliance is fast backup and recovery from the get-go, creating multiple backup copies in multiple location. If it takes too long for the appliance to back up your business data, you’ll have an even harder time recovering from a disaster and getting your operations back to normal.

That said, you will want a solution that can back up and recover large amounts of data in a matter of minutes. It should also be able to leverage data compression techniques to ensure the most efficient usage of available resources.

Flexible Data Capture Capabilities

The next feature that you want in your BDR solution is flexibility in terms of how it can capture and store data. It should be able to accommodate data in a variety of formats, as your own business data can come in different forms and are used on multiple programs or platforms.

The flexibility in terms of data capture also determines the breadth of recovery methods your solution can offer. Currently, the most common way of backing up large amounts of data is by using snapshots. The more adaptable your solution is and the more recovery options it can offer in dire circumstances, the better it will be for your business.

Regular Automated Testing

BDR solutions require regular testing to see if the system is properly backing up data the way it’s supposed to. However, this is a burdensome task for staff to perform manually, and it takes away from the “turnkey” quality of the device.

It’s good to invest in an appliance that is able to perform regular automated testing. IT personnel can pre-configure the solution to run tests after a certain condition has been met—like after every successful backup. The results of the auto-testing can quickly reveal whether the backup process is has any issues that need to be resolved in order for the solution to perform as it should.

Simplicity and Ease of Use

You will also want a BDR appliance that truly lives up to its branding as a turnkey device—that is, something that’s easy to set up and maintain. Overly complex products may demand too much time, money, or effort just to configure. Not only will that make them less satisfying to own; they may also become an additional liability when a disastrous event occurs.

It’s important to look for a solution that you can simply “set and forget.” The ideal product will ensure swift and accurate data backup and recovery without too much effort on the part of your staff.

Full Protection Against Data Breaches

Data breaches occur, even on dedicated devices for data backup and recovery. These breaches can happen anytime, even when your business data is being backed up. Therefore, you’ll want a solution that can safeguard data when you are scrambling to recover your business operations.

Buy a product that encrypts of your data while it’s being backed up and after it’s been backed up. Get assurance from the BDR vendor that your data will be encrypted from the source before it’s saved to another network for storage.

Adequate IT Support

Though you may be purchasing a turnkey BDR solution, you’ll still need the help of human personnel from time to time. Your vendor’s IT support staff should be able to help you troubleshoot more advanced problems that may come up with the device.

Make sure to buy a solution from a company that has the best people behind it, and not only the most cutting-edge software. Read reviews not only for the product itself, but for the extent of IT support the vendor offered customers when something went wrong.

Scalability for Your Business’s Future

Lastly, you will want a BDR appliance that can keep up with your company’s growth. The larger and busier your company becomes, the more complex your requirements will be for successful data backup and disaster recovery.

Get a solution that will be able to meet your demands as your business grows. For this, you’ll need to properly size your BDR appliance and not go with the cheaper option that’s not properly sized. This will be much easier for you when you’ve outgrown the appliance that’s not properly sized because you’ll have to either replace your current appliance, or shift to a brand-new solution.

Conclusion

System failures, natural disasters, and data breaches could be financially devastating to your company. There’s no telling when these will actually occur. But regardless of when they happen, a dependable BDR solution like the one offered by Quorum will help you bounce back instantly. In the event of a calamity, you shouldn’t have to think too hard about what to do in order to get your business back to normal—and a turnkey BDR appliance will help you do just that.

The Pros & Cons Of Developing Your Own Business Software

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StrategyDriven Managing Your Business Article |Business Software|The Pros & Cons Of Developing Your Own Business SoftwareNo matter what business you run, you will use various software products throughout the day. These could include HR software, accounting software, marketing software, and so on. Some of these things you will use every single day, and form a key role in how your business operates. As a result, you might start to wonder if it’s beneficial to develop your own software. After all, you know what your business needs to do, so doesn’t it make sense for you to develop your own custom software product?

In some cases, this can be a genius idea. In others…not so much. How do you know if this is the right approach for you? It starts by understanding the main pros and cons of developing your own business software:

Pro: Software created for you, by you

In theory, your own software will be perfect for your business. There will be no irrelevant features; everything is built for you and your daily operations. As such, you don’t waste money on software products that might provide you with some of the features you need, along with a host of things you never use. This means a lot of businesses end up paying for multiple software products as Product A provides some of the features they need, then Product B might provide the rest. If you develop your own software, you can eliminate the need for multiple platforms, making it so much easier for everyone in your business.

This would mean you only need to learn how to use one software program, which helps you when training your employees. As mentioned already, you also don’t waste any money on programs with features that are never going to be used.

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Con: An expensive process

Software development is not cheap at all. The entire process can set you back thousands of dollars very easily. After all, you have to pay for a lot of different things. For one, who is going to develop your software? If you want it all done in-house, this means creating a load of software development and software QA jobs for people to apply for. Your new hires will need to be paid, so you’re forking out a lot of money on an ongoing salary. The other option is to outsource, but this will also cost a fair bit of money – not to mention the fact you may need to keep paying for support after the app has been developed.

For a business that already has a series of outgoings and expenses, is this a wise idea? On reflection, you might realize that it is way more cost-effective to pay for software that’s already been made.

Pro: Can sell your software

As a counter to the argument about costs, you could sell your software to other businesses. Much like you pay a fee to use someone else’s software, other companies can do the same to you. This could be a genius idea if you develop software and are in a very niche industry where there aren’t many other options available. Fellow businesses might recognize that your software does everything they need to do, so it makes more sense for them to pay for yours.

The only caveat to this is that, if you develop custom software that’s meant for your business, will it be relevant to other businesses? There is a chance that it could be, but if it isn’t then you won’t really be able to sell this product.

Con: It’s a risk

Custom software development can be a big risk. If things don’t go according to plan, you’re left with an expensive software product that doesn’t do its job. A lot of businesses have ended up reverting back to their old software because the custom one ended up being rubbish.

The only way to avoid this is by being patient throughout the development process. Don’t rush things, be clear on what you want your software to do, and test it thoroughly! Ensure that you test your software to iron out any bugs and make it work perfectly for you and your employees. This’ll mean that, when it’s ready to launch, it should be perfect.

On both sides of the argument, there are some pretty strong arguments. It really depends on the type of business you run, and the software you need to use. If you run a business that uses a lot of generic software, it probably isn’t wise to develop your own as there are already great products out there that work for you. If you have a niche business and find that you’re struggling to use multiple products every day, custom software could be a good shout.

4 Ways You Can Manage The Risk Of A New Business

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StrategyDriven Risk Management Article |New Business|4 Ways You Can Manage The Risk Of A New BusinessAre you thinking about setting up your own business? If so, it’s important to remember that the majority of new companies fail on the market. Indeed, some reports suggest that up to 90% of new businesses are likely to fail within their first year. That’s why it’s important to make sure that you are managing the risk effectively when setting up your company. Here are some of the ways that you can do this.

Kill The Costs

First, you need to think about the issues with costs in your business model. If you want to effectively manage the risk of setting up a new company, then you need to make sure that the costs remain under the right level of control. One of the ways that you can do this is by making your business more green. A green friendly company will always be far more cost friendly overall and that’s exactly what you need. One of the best ways to do this would be to consider investing in renewable power solutions for your business.

Set Your Business Up As An LLC

During the initial set up process of your business, you should consider establishing your company as an LLC. With an LLC, you can make sure that if you ever do run into money trouble with your business, then you can keep the debt confined to your company. You won’t have to worry about it spreading over to your personal finances at all. You’ll need a legal firm to help you here, one with years of experience.

Invest In The Right Insurance

Next, you should consider the insurance options that are going to benefit your business. The right choices with insurance will guarantee that your company is not left exposed to potential storms on the horizon. There are lots of insurance plans that could be beneficial to your business model. For instance, you might want to think about investing in general liability insurance. This will protect you and your company if anyone is injured or negatively impacted by the actions of your company. Cyber-security insurance can also help you handle the costs caused due to a hack or attack on your business.

Keep It Flexible

Finally, you might want to think about taking steps to ensure that you improve flexibility levels in your business model. By improving the flexibility, you can make sure that you will be able to adapt your business for different challenges that might exist on the market. One of the ways that you can keep your business flexible would be through hiring outsourcing services or freelancers. You might also want to think about avoiding the office altogether, instead allowing your team members to work from home.

We hope this helps you understand some of the key steps that you can take when you are managing levels of risk setting up your business. By exploring the best possibilities you can ensure that it won’t be a complete disaster if your business does fail while also improving the chances of longevity.

Diversifying Your Product Line: Tips for Start Up Clothing Brands

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StrategyDriven Starting Your Business Article |Start Up Clothing Brands|Diversifying Your Product Line: Tips for Start Up Clothing BrandsIt’s an exciting time when you’re starting your own clothing brand. You get to decide what pieces are your signature pieces and how much they’ll cost. But there is one decision that can be difficult – diversifying the product line! Should you include more than just shirts? What about hats or shoes? How many colors should each item come in? The following tips will help you make this important decision for your business.

Diversify Into Uncomplicated Product Lines

If you’re starting a brand from scratch, it’s best to diversify into uncomplicated lines. This means that each product should be relatively simple in design and construction. When you’re first starting out, it’s important to focus on quality over quantity. You want customers to be impressed with your products, not overwhelmed by them. For example, if a student brand launched with a baseball cap in 3 variations at the start, it would be safer for them to diversify into snapback caps or flat caps. The key is to understand how well your supply chain is geared for change and variation.

Look For Low MOQ Suppliers

Another way to simplify is by looking for low MOQ suppliers. Instead of purchasing a large batch from one supplier, you can purchase smaller batches from multiple suppliers and test the market response. If successful, you can then begin making larger orders with those same suppliers and others that have proven their quality and reliability over time.

Experiment With Branding Alternatives

Once you begin diversifying, it’s important to experiment with branding alternatives. For example, you may want multiple logos or brand names representing different styles within your product line. This makes it easier for each item in the collection to stand alone and be marketed separately from one another.

For example, An athletic clothing company could have a logo representing their casual wear and a different logo for their performance wear.

This gives customers the option to choose what they want to buy based on style or function, making them more likely to purchase multiple items from your brand!

Research Your Size Ratio On Production

When you’re ready to start production, it’s important to research your size ratio on production. This will help you understand how many of each size to produce. If a style is popular among a certain group, make sure to increase the quantity of that size in your next order!

On the other hand, if there is one size that is consistently not selling, you may want to discontinue it from your product line.

Clothing brands are always changing and evolving, so it’s important to be willing to make changes to stay competitive. Use the tips above as a guide, and continue experimenting until you find what works best for your business!

Ask Your Market What They Want

The best way to find out what products to add to your line is by simply asking your market what they want. This can be done in a number of ways, such as surveys, focus groups, or social media polls.

Once you have an idea of the types of products that people want, it’s time to start designing and producing them! This route also has the added benefit of giving your customers a sense of ownership in the brand. They will feel more invested and loyal if they were involved with creating it themselves!

Diversify With Cheaper Up-Sell Products

Another way to diversify your product line is by offering to upsell products. These are items that complement the original purchase, making it more likely for customers to buy them together. For example, if you sell a pair of trousers, offer private label socks complementary to the trousers.

This strategy is especially effective if you’re selling high-end items, as it gives customers a way to personalize their purchase and show off their unique style!

In conclusion, there are many ways to diversify your product line as a start-up clothing brand successfully. By following the tips above, you can increase your chances of success while keeping things simple and manageable!