Frequently Asked Questions

Essentially managed IT services provides IT support, maintenance and consultancy via a subscription model, with a contract between the client and provider outlining the service level agreement and any relevant performance metrics. It is an alternative to break/fix or on demand IT services where the client is simply billed for work as and when it is completed.

Outsourcing your IT to a managed service provider like Dynamic Networks can have a number of benefits for your business. Above all else, managed IT services allow you to easily monitor and control the cost of your IT. It also puts fully trained, experienced and quality IT experts and technicians at your disposal so you’re always getting the right advice and support. Other benefits of managed IT services include reduced risks, quick implementation of new technology, reduced labour costs and greater efficiency.
 

A data centre is a facility used to effectively centralise an organisation’s computer systems, IT operations and other associated equipment. It’s often made up of things like servers, routers, switches and firewalls. From the data centre, information (data) can be organised, processed, stored and disseminated.
 

Data centre services fall into two broad categories: services provided to a data centre and services provided from a data centre. Services provided to a data centre include the implementation, maintenance, operation and improvement of the data centre environment while services provided from a data centre include data processing, storage, networking and distribution.
 

Data centres can be secured physically as well as through software installations and cloud facilities. The physical side of data centre security involves surveillance systems and access control as well as environmental controls and UPS systems all of which work together to keep the data safe.
 

With the right set up and security measures in place then data centres can be extremely secure. Some of the biggest threats to data centres are DDoS attacks, web application attacks, DNS infrastructure, SSL induced blind spots and weak authentication. However, all of these threats do have solutions designed to limit the chances of them compromising data centres. A secure data centre should feature things like encryption, firewalls and two-factor authentication.
 

Networking is the process of creating and also using a complete system of computer networks. It relies on the right combination of hardware, software, wireless and wired technologies and protocols.

Switches are used to connect multiple devices on the same network with the data network. They are used to connect servers and create a network of shared resources. Essentially switches control how these devices communicate with each other and share information.

There are two main types of switches: managed and unmanaged. Unmanaged switches can’t be changed while managed switches allow IT experts like ourselves, to program them so you have more flexibility and greater control over how traffic travels across your network and who can access it.
 

Routers are used to connect multiple networks together and to connect your networked services to the internet. The router’s job is to analyse the data being sent over a network, change how that data is packaged and send it to another network or over a different type of network. As well as connecting your business to the outside world, they can also protect your business from security threats as well, depending on the router capabilities you choose.
 

A server is a computer program that provides a service to other computer programs and or their users. There are different types of servers and typically these are categorised by their main purpose e.g. a web server.
 

Virtualisation is the process of creating a virtual, as opposed to an actual, copy or version of something. Virtual versions can be created for things like computer hardware platforms, storage devices and computer network resources. 

Virtualisation is used to make software look and act like hardware and this has several benefits including greater flexibility, better affordability and of course, scalability. There are four main uses of virtualisation: to create virtual machines, to create virtual memory, to create virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) and finally to create virtual applications.

In a word, yes. Commercial cloud storage is very secure because it encodes its user’s data with a unique encryption key.

The cloud is a virtual space where information can be shared via satellites over the internet. By using the cloud, you can access information from anywhere, anytime and download it onto the device of your choice.

Cloud services are popular because you gain worldwide access to your documents from any device. It also is easy to set up and often inexpensive when compared to traditional data storage solutions. It is also incredibly scalable so you can increase your cloud storage as and when you need to.

Penetration tests safely simulate an attempted cyber security breach, which allows you to identify weak spots and assess the potential impact of a cyber attack on your network and data. You can then use the results of your penetration test to improve your cyber security. It's part of a proactive approach to cyber security. 

Penetration testing is important for understanding how secure your IT actually is and for continuing to improve that security by fixing any vulnerabilities that potential hackers could exploit. Ultimately it can help save your business money because it can inform your overall cyber security strategy, so you spend your money where it is needed most.

In short, no. A true penetration test is always manual because it relies on a person or persons imitating the actions and behaviours of true hackers. Some elements of a pen test may be automated but overall it is orchestrated and driven by a human. Vulnerability scans can be automated and while this is similar to penetration testing, it is not the same. Luckily at Dynamic Networks, we offer both penetration testing and vulnerability scanning, so you’re fully covered!

Encryption is the process of converting information or data into code, usually with the aim of preventing unauthorised access to that data or information. Encryption is one of the most important methods for providing data security, especially for end-to-end protection of data transmitted across networks.

Disaster recovery involves a set of policies, tools and procedures designed to enable the recovery or continuation of vital technology infrastructure and systems following a natural or human-induced disaster.

Network cables typically come in three main types: coaxial cables, fibre-optic cables and twisted pair cables. Which one is used depends on a number of factors such as the network’s size. 

Structured cabling or network cabling as it is sometimes known, basically refers to the complete system of cables, components and hardware that is needed to deliver a comprehensive infrastructure for telecommunications. In other words, your structured network cabling provides the sockets at your required desk positions for computers, telephones, printers, CCTV cameras, door entry systems and so on. A properly designed and installed structured cabling system also delivers predictable performance as well as the flexibility to accommodate changes, additions and upgrades in the future.

There are five main benefits to investing in structured network cabling for your business. These are:

1. Simplicity
2. Speed
3. Flexibility
4. Growth
5. Cost

Structured cabling is simple because it reduces the overall quantity of wiring systems needed to support your business meaning the overall IT infrastructure is easier to manager. Speed is a benefit of structure cabling because it delivers faster transmissions. Structured cabling in flexible and therefor allows your business to grow because changes and upgrades can be implemented with minimal impact to the day to day operations of your businesses. When all these benefits are combined, a structured cabling network is often therefore very cost effective.

This is all about costs, future proofing and what network speeds your business needs. For example, Cat5e cabling will typically provide the lowest cost option, however, installing cat6 cabling specification will enable faster network speeds in the future. We always recommend investing in a site survey before embarking on any cabling work so you can make sure you are investing in the right cabling for your business.

A wireless local-area network (WLAN) uses radio waves to connect devices to the Internet and to your business network and applications. On the other hand, a wired network connects devices to the Internet or other networks using cables or wires.

• You can access network resources from any location within the wireless network's coverage area.
• Wireless access to network resources help your staff be more productive and collaborative.
• Installation can be quick and cost-effective because there is no need for cables.
• No cables also mean you can easily expand wireless networks where and as needed, to mirror your business growth.
• Wireless networks typically cost less to operate than wired networks.

 

The main difference between point-to-point and multipoint connection is that in a point-to-point connection, the link is only between two devices. In a multipoint connection, the link is between a sender and multiple receivers. For most businesses point to multi-point Wi-Fi is ideal as it can connect numerous devices to the network while still delivering reliable connectivity.
 

An Access Point is a radio transmitter and receiver that is typically used to bridge a wireless and a wired network. It may only provide an interface for wireless clients to connect to your existing LAN. A wired router allows multiple clients to connect to the Internet by serving internal IP addresses, it also has NAT capabilities and usually a built-in switch. A Wireless router, has both the functionalities of a router and an access point in a single unit.

This refers to a high-speed internet connection that is very distinct from the dial up internet connections of old (incidentally know as narrowband) which had a top speed of just 56Kb. The term broadband is independent of the type of technology used to supply the internet connection itself. Within the wide scope of the term broadband, there are now some more specific terms to define particular kinds of broadband connection

This describes the capacity of an internet connection.
 

It stands for ‘megabits per second’ and it is a measure of data transfer speed. As a general rule of thumb, the higher the number of Mbps, the faster the speed of the internet connection is. You can also measure data transfer speed in Gbps, short for gigabits per second. A gigabit is equivalent to 1,000 Mbps.
 

The router directs traffic on a network. Specifically, for broadband, the router usually includes a modem too so it also connects to the internet as well as providing networking in your property. Often routers are called hubs.