Calnet

Our New Training Center for Staff and Clients

– May 14, 2012Posted in: Cal Net

Cal Net Technology Group has been around since 1995, and during that time, we’ve seen many changes in both the IT industry and Southern California business sector. We’ve been among the fortunate ones to witness our business grow consistently thanks to hard work, communication, and great clients – and because of that, we’re proud to announce the opening of our new Los Angeles headquarters. Our operations and staff are moving from our original location in Northridge to our new space located at 9420 Topanga Canyon Blvd #100, Chatsworth, CA 91311. Cal Net will also be maintaining an office in Anaheim.

The new office comes with 45% more space, which is important considering that our staff has grown by 22% in the last year. A significant part of this new office space will be dedicated to training staff, bringing incoming staff up to speed and helping existing staff hone new skills.

The new training and meeting room can be used for classroom style learning or executive meeting rooms. It has:

1. Seating for up to 24

2. Interactive projection screens

3. White board walls

4. State of the art video conferencing equipment (which can be used for remote class learning or remote meetings)

Training can be more efficient because staff from all over can participate just like they are there with the video conferencing equipment by being able to see not just hear what is going on in the classroom.

The Cal Net staff moved into the new Chatsworth facility on October 24, and we’re already making the best use of new space in an effort to provide Southern California customers with the best IT support available. We outgrew out Northridge facility in 17 years; who knows where we’ll be in another 17?

The Evolution of Windows

zschuler

– May 2, 2012Posted in: Cal Net, Microsoft

via techshout.com

From Windows 95 to Windows 7, iterations of Microsoft’s market-leading operating system have been an evolutionary step forward rather than a giant leap in innovation. There’s a good reason for that, as Microsoft knew well enough to keep people comfortable with their computer interface. However, the pending launch of Windows 8 will revamp the entire user experience, creating a consistent and streamlined look and feel across Microsoft devices.

It’s not just about the desktop or laptop anymore, as everything from new-in-box computers to Windows Mobile phones and XBox systems will have a similar interface. The traditional Start button has disappeared, and instead users will see a tile system with a Start screen – Microsoft is thinking forward as more and more touch screens are used in devices.

The consistency isn’t merely superficial; Windows 8 has been developed side by side with Windows Server 2012 [Source: http://news.softpedia.com/news/Windows-8-Client-and-Server-Developed-in-Parallel-144120.shtml]. For a systems administrator, this means better sync and more functional integration across all systems in the network, be they a workstation connected via ethernet, laptop on WiFi, or mobile device out in the field. As touchscreen tablets continue to have greater penetration for a variety of organizations ranging from businesses to schools, usability has to evolve in parallel. With a consistent operating system across devices, all managed by a compatible administrative hub, data and application sharing are now seamless. This centralization, along with the unified user experience, streamlines things for the user, no matter what shape or size of screen they’re looking at.

On the back-end, system administrators can look forward to several new features that will make life easier. Refresh recovery restores system files to their original state while leaving settings and application files untouched. Reset recovery is a one-touch restoration of factory default conditions. Authentication can now be gesture based (similar to mobile phones), and file transfers can be paused or troubleshot during conflicts. All of these options open up flexibility over system logistics, allowing administrators to fix issues with fewer headaches.

The current release window (no pun intended) for Windows 8 is this upcoming fall. Of course, most administrators will want to apply the customary wait time associated with a new Windows release, as patches and bug fixes are deployed. That does, however, leave the bigger question – in 1995, Microsoft spent $300 million to market Windows 95 [Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/business/longterm/microsoft/stories/1995/debut082495.htm], including paying the Rolling Stones a big chunk of money to make Start Me Up its official anthem. Circa 2012, what classic song will now forever be associated with an operating system – and how much will Microsoft have to pay for its rights?

Tags: microsoft, Windows, Windows 8

How Does Insourcing Change The IT Landscape?

zschuler

– April 9, 2012Posted in: Cal Net, IT Business, IT Insourcing

“Insourcing” is a prominent buzzword getting some media spotlight, partially because of the Obama administration’s push for insourced job creation. The term can mean a few different things, and for the IT industry, it often refers to the idea of taking jobs away from offshore support desks and fulfilling those needs with a local consultant. This trend is prevalent in the U.S. technology sector across services, as the difference from 2009 to early 2012 is stark, from 62% of companies outsourcing services to 32% (Source).

An insourced IT position can mean different things to an organization depending on budget and needs. In some cases, it’s a local consultant with a dedicated on-site space and part-time commitment. In other cases, it’s a contractor brought in to tackle a specific support or configuration task. What are the benefits of this? The most immediate one is the most obvious: efficiency.

Outsourced support desks deal with many different hurdles, with time-zone differences being one of the biggest factors. A support ticket submitted in the afternoon stateside may require 24-48 hours to fulfill due to the different time zones involved — one person’s morning is the other person’s night. That doesn’t even factor the outsourced provider’s Service Level Agreement, which may factor into how the vendor’s resources are allocated to the organization. By having someone local, even at part-time hours, small fixes can produce immediate resolutions while bigger issues can be handled with face-to-face problem-solving sessions.

Insourcing may cost more on paper, but organizations can review their own internal productivity metrics to see if this type of increased efficiency produces a stronger bottom line. In many cases, insourcing can solve problems quicker, enhance communication, and allow for more innovation as a company grows — so while the hourly rate may not be as affordable as an outsourced provider, the benefits create a better big picture.

Flexibility and scalability are critical in today’s business world, particularly with the growing opportunities of a recovering economy. Insourcing allows for greater potential with both of these, as local consultants can be brought in based on specific needs or specialties. Outsourced support desks and IT services may not necessarily fulfill these due to SLAs or lack of core services. By addressing them immediately and locally, insourcing provides a means to take bigger steps forward.

Of course, there are two sides to every story, and insourcing isn’t just about greater productivity and homegrown jobs. By moving IT supervision back to the local level, this increases the top-down management responsibility to oversee insourced consultants. Without the proper time and training, this may create greater strain and chaos on an organization — something that’s under the microscope in a cost-conscious business environment.

Wholesale IT insourcing may seem like a good idea to many organizations, but the sensible approach is to transition slowly and involve experts to hold hands along the way. The worst-case scenario sees a rush towards insourcing, creating a trail of mistakes and overwhelmed staff. However, a smart and practical transition institutes proper training and systems, leaving the organization in good hands with the capability to scale up if necessary.

Tags: Insourcing, insourcing IT, IT insourcing

Get A Handle On Large IT Infrastructures

zschuler

– March 20, 2012Posted in: Cal Net, IT Business, Information Technology, Microsoft

There’s the freelancer who shares office space, then there’s small business, then there are corporations. When you’re dealing with 300 or more computers and mobile devices, that’s a lot to wrap your IT arms around.

Does your organization fall into that category? If so, it’s time to consider an IT environment management tool that encompasses all of the possible options for organizations that fall into the “big” category. Those situations are ideal to deploy Microsoft System Center, a combination server/cloud platform designed to help IT managers get organized and effective within large organizations.

Microsoft System Center is comprised of a number of tools and applications, all integrated to work with each other in an effort to streamline the management process. System Center’s 2012 iteration dabbles specifically in the latest standards in offices today, ranging from the traditional data center to clouds (private and public options) to individual mobile devices. Using System Center, IT managers have a bird’s eye view of critical factors such as usage, availability, and permissions.

Of course, that’s a lot of variations to take in, and that’s why System Center is a set of tools rather than a unique tool itself. Think of it as Microsoft’s toolbox for large organizations, but instead of having a hammer, screwdriver, and Exacto knife, it has:

Configuration Manager: The basics of IT management – remote control and monitoring, software and patch deployment, permissions, inventory, and more.

Protection/Security: Data protection through real-time backup management and data recovery in event of a data center crisis.

Operations & Updates: Comprehensive agent placement on end-user workstations for server notifications of alerts, events, and necessary updates.

Mobile Manager: Microsoft has conceded that most of us DON’T use Windows Mobile phones, and in the second beta of S Center, Android/iOS compatibility was implemented; wi System Center has complete management capabilities an organization’s mobile devices for permissions, access communication.

Virtual Machine: Virtualization of traditional data center possible and streamlined using System Center’s virtual manager. For some organizations, such a comprehensive suite of too be overkill. But for others, it could be just the remedy to effective control over a large-scale network of workstation mobile devices across multiple locations.

Unsure if System Center is for you? Contact us for an assessment – we’d be happy to help.

Tags: IT environment management tool, IT Infrastructure, IT management, Microsoft System Center

From Tapes To Clouds: The Changing Backup Industry

zschuler

– February 27, 2012Posted in: Cal Net, Cloud Computing and Services, IT Business

The face of digital backup has changed from decade to decade, with the actual media for data transfer and restoration evolving with technology. Tape drives were the gold standard for years, making their debut in 1951 and growing in storage capability over time – breaking gigabytes in the 1980s and tens of gigabytes in the 1990s.

The common thread through all of those things is that they stored data on something physical, something with size and weight in a local facility. But the latter half of the 2000s saw a move towards cloud storage thanks to greater broadband accessibility, speeds, and stability. Now cloud providers are a dime a dozen, but what makes for a good online storage solution?

When you used physical media for backups, chances are you didn’t analyze brand names for tape drives. However, cloud storage is a trickier beast — it’s trusting YOUR data to someone else. With any cloud application, certain service traits are key; be sure to review a company’s track record for redundancy, reliability, and availability. At the very least, that demonstrates that your data will be accessible on demand. Beyond that, security is critical — both online security and physical security of the data center. And depending on your own needs, scalability is something to be considered.

What are the benefits of cloud storage? For starters, you’ll no longer have stacks of physical media lying around. Assuming your provider is reliable, availability concerns should be minimal, and web-based anywhere/anytime access kicks open the door to usage flexibility. Web access also helps provide greater scalability, though storage/transfer rates may vary based on subscription fees.

There’s a flip side to that, of course. Third parties are in control — your own ISP for network access and the cloud storage provider for the actual data. If you can’t access the web, then you can’t access your backup. And while cloud providers SHOULD have minimal downtime — that is their primary revenue driver, after all — there’s always a possibility for downtime on their end. For larger organizations, bandwidth is a concern, and backups must be scheduled for low-usage times.

Everything is moving to the cloud these days, but that doesn’t mean that it’s the only solution. In fact, the smart way to ensure your data is safe is to go with the best of both worlds — a cloud-based solution combined with a local physical backup used for most recoveries done locally. By combining old-school and new-school, you’ll have the most comprehensive data backup plan available.

Tags: backup cloud, backup services, cloud, cloud computing, Cloud services

Unified Communications – Everything At Once

zschuler

– February 13, 2012Posted in: Cal Net

It wasn’t too long ago that office hallways were filled with people carrying a utility belt that would make Batman jealous. No, the belt didn’t have crime-fighting tools; instead, it usually had some combination of PDA, cell phone (one or two), a pager, and possibly even a small notebook with all possible logins for IM and email accounts — and none of those synced up wirelessly.

If that doesn’t seem like ages ago, it’s because it wasn’t. However, the rapid evolution of smartphones, VoIP, and collaborative sync platforms have changed quickly everything. Technology is consolidating, creating a synced-up world where communication is updating in real time, all streamlined down to a select few devices. That’s the big idea behind unified communications: providing users with a fast and easy way to maintain their data and communication without having to carry a Batman-esque utility belt.

Everything starts with the network platform for communication. Microsoft Lync is one of the leading choices because of its flexibility and compatibility. It’s Microsoft, of course, so it works seamlessly with the complete Office suite. On top of that, Lync allows users to maintain contacts and check availability, sync email, send instant messages, and start conferences (audio/video) for iOS, Android, and Windows Phone devices. Mobile devices are just the beginning. Lync extends fully out to desktops, creating an all-in-one package that integrates communication, collaboration, and Office applications.

How far out can this extend? VoIP phones are now becoming the norm for many organizations. These devices may look like a standard desk telephone, though they connect through an ethernet cable rather than a standard phone cable. This extended bandwidth opens up many capabilities, including sync with email servers. For example, Cisco’s VoIP phones can integrate with Microsoft Outlook servers so that voice mails are stored both on your phone system AND as an email with an audio file — and when you delete the message on your phone, the email disappears too.

VoIP phones have come quite a ways in just a few years. Polycom’s VVX 1500 media phone set the stage in 2009, bringing together integrated video conferencing and web access through a simple desktop phone. While this may seem like many extra bells and whistles, the goal for all of this is really to streamline communication, giving users the option of going with whatever method is most convenient at the time.

What’s next? The near-future may bring us even further leaps and bounds in the realm of unified communication. In October 2011, Microsoft acquired Skype, the leading video conferencing provider. While no formal plans have been announced, you can bet that Microsoft is hard at work integrating Skype’s proven system with its own Lync system. The results may take communication to the realms once left to the pages of Batman comics and science-fiction.

Tags: Unified Communications

Microsoft SharePoint and Your Workflow

zschuler

– February 1, 2012Posted in: Cal Net, Microsoft, Microsoft

The cloud — it’s changing the way we collaborate. Just a few years ago, cloud computing was a buzzword that only tech-heads understood. Today, it’s everywhere, from start-up applications to Google’s plethora of cloud-based technology. The cloud has revolutionized the way we work together. Consider the old days of collaboration — you may have burned photos on to a CD for a coworker or saved a document on a 3.5″ floppy for a late-night work-from-home session. You may have printed out pages, made redlines with an actual red pen, then dropped them off at a desk or used the dreaded copy machine to distribute notes.

That was then. The modern form of collaboration involves the use of cloud computing for anywhere/anytime access, presenting employees with a consolidated space where updates, notes, and file sharing can be done with a few mouse clicks. It’s faster and easier, optimizing workflow efficiency so that the only thing that really matters is communication — not the logistics of communication.

Microsoft’s applications are pretty much the standard in most offices, and SharePoint is Microsoft’s web application platform. Much more than just a content management system or file management system, SharePoint focuses on six different areas:

-Sites: Create intranet or public sites to share and manage online information.

-Communication: Collaborate and communicate through social media features based on specific communities, from teams within an organization to vendor/client groups.

-File management: Centralized storage for media and document files, all accessed through the web for anywhere/anytime usage — including one-touch editing (through Office 2010).

-Data search: Using internal file metadata and external content, find what you need through a comprehensive search that reaches across sites, communities, centralized files, and user profiles.

-Data analysis: SharePoint logs user data, giving critical decision makers key statistics ranging from download numbers to access volume.

-Extensions: By custom coding (using Microsoft Visual Studio 2010), IT teams can extend the functionality of Sharepoint to meet the specific needs of the company, external vendor/client, or internal organization.

How can SharePoint impact your workflow? When fully integrated and adapted by an organization, SharePoint becomes a virtual office hub for all types of data/information exchanges. Here are just a few ways SharePoint can help your organization maximize time and effort:

-Digital asset management: With its centralized file repository, assets (media files, documents, and more) can quickly be shared by team members, eliminating the need to email file attachments or use physical media to get the latest revision.

-Feedback and collaboration: When many people work on the same project, physical media creates a huge barrier in terms of finding the latest revision. Using a centralized system, team members can provide feedback and updates in real time, ensuring that everyone sees the latest revision and is on the same page.

-Making the right decision: SharePoint collects a wide range of data, providing the necessary analytics to view just how data is being used across projects, users, and communities. By understanding how information flows — and where the roadblocks are — managers can quickly determine how best to optimize team structure and workflow.

-New ideas through social networking: Through SharePoint’s communities, members get the latest updates and notifications through social media features, making it easier than ever before to voice an opinion or toss out a new idea — and the more ideas, the greater the innovation.

Anytime/anywhere access generated a tremendous step forward in the evolution of business applications. Microsoft SharePoint is a launching pad for many businesses to enter the cloud revolution, and because it easily integrates with Office, SharePoint is a sensible choice for many IT managers. In the end, of course, it’s not about the software — it’s about the individual users and giving them the best tools to maximize their productivity.

Tags: Cloud services, microsoft, Sharepoint

Virtualization: what you really need to know

zschuler

– January 20, 2012Posted in: Cal Net, Virtualization

Virtualization is a tech buzzword that’s gaining momentum, so much so that you’ll even catch it on billboards around Silicon Valley (seriously, drive up Highway 101 and you’ll see it). Technically, virtualization can cover a number of things, all focusing on the ability to create multiple virtual machines within a host machine for the purposes of platform, operating system, virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI), storage, or resources. In particular, VDI is becoming an increasingly popular way to work, particularly for businesses with constantly traveling employees or 24/7 operations.

In the virtualization market, VMWare has led since its GSX Server hit the market in 2001. Today, VMWare is still the frontrunner and continues to serve most Fortune 500 companies. However, Microsoft and Citrix offer compelling alternatives. And while virtualization is commonly found in today’s IT infrastructures, much of the market hasn’t fully converted yet. What does that mean for the leading virtualization systems? Competition is fierce as the three companies duke it out for virtualization supremacy – but regardless of who comes out on top, the IT administrators wind up with greater options and flexibility; they’re the true winners in this battle.

There isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer for virtualization. All three heavy hitters have their pros and cons, and finding the right fit has more to do with individual needs and resources rather than the name on the box. Let’s take a closer look at what VMWare, Microsoft, and Citrix have to offer:

VMWare: VMWare’s vSphere is their flagship platform for cloud infrastructures. Currently at vSphere 5, VMWare’s solution is scalable with dynamic load balances and hot storage/network management without disruption or downtime; it also boasts significant hardware muscles with support for up to 1 TB of RAM and 32 virtual CPUs per virtual machine. vSphere 5′s Auto-Deploy function automatically provisions hosts based on user-defined rules while its High Availability feature provides the industry-standard safety net for downtime.

For VDI purposes, VMWare View 5 offers strong media and graphic support, including support for 3D applications using DirectX. Built for efficiency over both LAN and WAN networks, View 5 also provides strong administrative management while accommodating a high level of user customization — the best of both worlds. VMWare went for exclusivity with View 5, as it does not support Citrix or Microsoft hypervisors.

Microsoft: Virtual Server is Microsoft’s entry into the market, and like all things Microsoft, Virtual Server utilizes a Windows-based infrastructure. That, along with its out-of-the-box functionality, makes it play nice with existing Windows-based hardware. In addition, since Windows is so ingrained with most office machines, this creates an efficient big-picture rollout. With public and private cloud options, a custom solution can be tailored for a streamlined infrastructure, complete with integrated monitoring and management.

Microsoft’s VDI solution is named, quite simply, VDI. Keeping it all in the family, VDI tends to only work with Internet Explorer — other popular browsers are not supported. In addition, its overall feature set isn’t as robust as its competitors. However, because it is a Microsoft product, its support for clients using Windows is rock solid.

Citrix: XenServer is Citrix’s answer to vSphere and Virtual Server. Built on the open-source Xen hypervisor, XenServer uses a combination of paravirtualization and hardware-assisted virtualization for optimized performance. XenServer’s backup-and-recovery functionality dives a little deeper than vSphere with application-level awareness; in addition, Citrix StorageLink provides administrators with array support from major providers (HP, Dell). While XenServer matches many of vSphere’s features, it does require a larger footprint than its competitors.

Its VDI sister is XenDesktop 5.5, which has many similar features to VMWare View 5. One notable standout feature is its ability to stream a virtual desktop (client boots from server-base desktop images). XenDesktop also offers greater flexibility, capable of working with Citrix’s XenServer, VMWare’s vSphere, and Microsoft’s Hyper-V, as well as all major web browsers.

VMWare, Citrix, Microsoft — which one should you use? It’s important to note the price points. Microsoft offers Virtual Server as a free download, which almost makes it a gateway drug to other Microsoft products. Citrix and VMWare have different price points, but the per-license cost for Citrix’s highest-end version is more than VMWare’s.

Ultimately, there’s no easy way to choose; it depends on your needs, budget, and expertise. Of course, we’re here to help. Need some assistance untangling the maze that is virtualization? Contact Cal Net Technology Group, we’d be happy to answer your questions.

PCI DSS: Protecting Credit Card Data

zschuler

– January 4, 2012Posted in: Uncategorized

When you enter a credit card number into a website, have you ever considered what happens after you hit the Submit button? Does that data travel in a bulletproof collection of ones and zeroes or is it open to any passing threats? Every day, millions of credit cards are processed through online transactions; hence, the need for data security — and not just encryption, but top-to-bottom security built to an industry standard. That’s where PCI DSS comes in, and if you use a third-party vendor for your payment transactions (or if you process payments yourself) compliance should be on the top of your to-do list.

PCI DSS stands for Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard. At the turn of the millennium, there were five standards, one from each of the major credit card companies (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, and JCB). While the standards were developed by each company, enough overlap existed between the five protocols to create an industry-wide version. In 2004, the Payment Card Industry Security Standards Council (PCI SSC) was formed and the first PCI DSS standard released before the end of that year. Today, those same groups oversee the council with additional input from key stakeholders, such as merchants, banks, and security software developers.

Like many IT security standards, PCI DSS offers a multi-faceted approach that involves software, hardware, and logistics. From software design to network architecture to compliance practices and procedures, everything in PCI DSS is designed to keep the end consumer safe. Specific objectives include items such as encrypted transmission of cardholder data across public networks and implementation of appropriate access restrictions to cardholder data. When all of the objectives are combined together, the result is a strong foundation for credit card data safety across transactions.

Credit card companies require PCI DSS for all entities involved with the processing, storing, or transmission of credit card data of their account holders. For most organizations, that means that their payment processing merchant or service provider is the responsible party. Responsible is the key term there, as formal validation isn’t mandatory in all circumstances, and that leaves the entity themselves as the overseer of implementation and maintenance. Outside vendors can assist this process, and the PCI SSC website (www.pcisecuritystandards.org) has guidelines on compliance, along with assistance on getting started.

For many security protocols, the benefits aren’t tangible — it’s only when there’s been a violation that the effects ripple through a company. PCI DSS is the same way. You won’t notice an uptick in speed or customer volume simply by complying to it or using a complying merchant; if PCI DSS compliance is done right, then there will be no data hiccups and things are simply business as usual. What happens if you are NOT compliant? One little problem can quickly unravel into a disaster. A single data breach can lead to exposed data, which in turn tarnishes your reputation with all business partners and can lead to lawsuits, insurance claims, even fines — not to mention the shaken confidence of vendors and customers.

Security and stability — that’s the goal of PCI DSS. And while you may not notice it on the outside, the internal workings of a PCI DSS system do plenty to keep your organization’s engine running smoothly. And that promise, more than anything else, is the best way to provide peace of mind for every customer and vendor you work with.

Five New Personal Cloud Services: In Review

zschuler

– December 9, 2011Posted in: Uncategorized

More consumers than ever before are using personal cloud-based services? Many without the knowledge that popular sites like Gmail are such a service. A recent article in Computerworld hoped to better inform consumers about “the latest” in cloud based storage. Here are some helpful nuggets from that article.

Amazon Cloud Drive/Player- is for consumer music storage. Offering “5 GB of free storage” for streaming on “up to eight devices.” A tip if you get music from Amazon, is to use the free storage their currently offering through Amazon Cloud Drive- which temporarily also allows consumers to store “music from other sources.”

Apple iCloud – Touted as one of the “most advanced personal could services out there,” the Apple iCould offers (similar to the Could Dive) 5 GB of storage. For competitive reasons Apple doesn’t count “Apple purchased music, apps, books, and TV shows [or one’s] Photo Stream” into the allotted quota- so you’re free to add as many of those products without eating into your free storage. If that sounds exciting, then you’re really going to be really impressed by iCloud’s extended offerings.

While basic iCloud is “available via the Web on any platform,” it’s recommended that one use Apple’s most up to date operating systems like Lion or Snow Leopard. As “more than just storage and an online music server,” the iCloud “also includes all of Apple’s wireless services,” like email, mobile backup and location data for finding lost or stolen Apple products. And if or when one goes beyond the allotted free storage, the pay-to-play rates are much lower than the Cloud Drive. In comparison, 10 GB of space through Apple costs $20 per year, while Cloud Drive’s cost is determined by month and per GB, at $1/GB/month.

Both of the above services require the web to function while Dropbox, one of the original cloud-based storage services, “doesn’t need a Web browser interface and will run on “almost any PC.” Thought of a primarily a storage device, Dropbox remains a tough competitor and lasting veteran.

Google Music, a true Apple competitor, is current being tested in its beta stage and like iCloud offers music storage. Possible drawbacks are that this service, like the iCloud and Cloud Drive, requires access to the Web- and can only be used on “one PC or device at a time.” As far as the article states, none of the other services reviewed are device specific in this way. An additional disclaimer is that one music purchase music to store here through Google’s new Music Store and via their Google Music Manager service. Overall this particular service requires a lot of Google specific focus, rather than allowing users to pick and choose where they derive content.

Ubuntu One- offers 5MB of free storage and one can stream music with an extra fee. If one needs more than the offered free storage, it will cost $2.99/month or $29.99 for 20 GB for one year.

What most of these services have in common is the free 5MB of storage- a contemporary plus for any music lover and document creator. So, happy storing everyone!

CLICK HERE to read the original article and learn more about five of the newest cloud storage services.

Tags: Apple iCloud, Cloud services, Cloud storage, Dropbox, Google Music, Ubuntu

Calnet

Our New Training Center for Staff and Clients

The Evolution of Windows

How Does Insourcing Change The IT Landscape?

Our New Training Center for Staff and Clients

The Evolution of Windows

How Does Insourcing Change The IT Landscape?

Get A Handle On Large IT Infrastructures

Unified Communications – Everything At Once

Virtualization: what you really need to know

PCI DSS: Protecting Credit Card Data

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