Is your Data Center As Cool as it Once Was?

Trends in data center cooling have changed dramatically over the past few years. Outmoded “maximum cooling” approaches have given way to more efficient heat-rejection systems. Utilizing sophisticated economizer technologies, modern cooling systems are not only reducing energy costs, but are also operating far more efficiently, and are highly reliable.

Other recent improvements in data center cooling technology have spawned different perspectives in addressing the use of chilled water vs pumped refrigerant vs air-cooling. Depending on the business needs, a company’s budget, and the geography, current cooling approaches may introduce waterless systems that may prove more suitable than say, a chilled water system.

The days of keeping the data center below 55 degrees are likely over. Old standards are being challenged and, in many cases, operating a warmer data center will be just as reliable, more efficient, and it will certainly be cheaper.  And that will make your data center much “cooler” than it used to be.

Are You Prepared for the Next Network Security Threat?

The recent wave of attacks on Windows machines is unprecedented, and these types of attacks, specifically ransomware attacks, have been on the rise. Ransomware is a type of malicious software virus that locks up your computer files and demands payment to unlock them.

If you managed to avert disaster this time around, do you know that your network is ready for the inevitable next attack? If your network is vulnerable, you won’t be able to dodge a bullet forever; the hackers will eventually discover that weak spot. PTS can help you find the holes before the hackers do.

What can you do to protect your network?

• Update your copy of Windows to the latest version
• Run Windows Update and apply all security patches
• Update your anti-virus software to the latest version
• Backup your important data
• Educate employees to exercise caution when opening email attachments or clicking on any potentially suspicious links
• Test your network’s security at least once a year for vulnerabilities
• Scan all emails for malicious code
• Formulate an IT disaster recovery plan, for preparation in case your network security is compromised

Contact PTS to discuss effective ways to secure your network. We offer a free cyber threat assessment to identify network vulnerabilities, as well as other useful information about your network and its users.

Sure it's Time to Upgrade your Data Center, but is your Plan Feasible?

So you've realized it's time to upgrade your data center and you're overflowing with "brilliant" ideas.  You've probably run out of space, power, and/or cooling and want to take advantage of newer technologies and operate more efficiently.  You've been googling every possible approach, but the daunting options are starting to overwhelm you.  So many choices.  So many trade-offs. You can't decide if you should focus on a short-term upgrades or invest and plan for the long haul.  And which approach is cheaper?  At this point, it's time to consult the experts at PTS to conduct a feasibility study to quantify the costs and benefits of your data center upgrade plans.

 

PTS will identify the risks and rewards associated with your project.  We will help you understand the requirements to design and build a new or upgraded data center, and clarify the ROI and impact of any proposed changes. Armed with the information included in a feasibility study, you will be fully prepared to approach your data center project with realistic expectations with a full understanding of the benefits of the chosen approach. And PTS can execute the plan to perfection, and will be with you every step of the way.

For more information, download a free copy of the PTS Brochure on:
Data Center Planning & Feasibility Consulting Services

The Reality of Virtualization

Virtualization is the process of creating a software-based (or virtual) representation of something rather than a physical one, as it applies to applications, servers, storage, and networks. It and is the most effective way to reduce IT expenses while boosting efficiency and agility.  The majority (over 80%) of business workloads today are virtualized, though small- to medium-sized businesses are lagging behind at about 40%.

Are you Ready to Virtualize?

The simple answer is that you can't afford not to virtualize.  You will be spending significantly more on IT than businesses that rely solely on physical resources. Additionally, your IT will be more complex, and thus, far less efficient, and as a result, you will more likely suffer disruptions in business, and experience lost revenue.

Today's Virtualization Platform Prepares you for Tomorrow

New business and IT initiatives will require the right technology platform. Virtualization allows greater flexibility in handling new opportunities, making deployment and scaling of resources faster, cheaper, and more efficient. Cloud, mobility, big data, social media, and IT consumerization are realities of today's workforce, and businesses must virtualize to keep up.

To learn more about PTS’ Virtualization Consulting Services, contact PTS or visit:

• Data Center Infrastructure Virtualization Strategies
• Hardware Virtualization Consulting Service
• IT Assessment Service – Virtualization
• IT Needs Analysis – Virtualization
• IT Site Survey Service – Virtualization
• IT Virtualization Consulting Service
• Server Virtualization Consulting Services
• Storage Virtualization Consulting Service
• Virtual Data Center Consulting Service
• Virtualization Management Consulting Service
• Virtualization Software Consulting Service
• Virtualization Technology Consulting Service

Data Center Cooling Advancements Let you Leave Your Jacket at Home

Data centers that used to be 55 degrees are now running comfortably at 75 degrees, which means your company is saving money, and your IT pros no longer need to bundle up to do their jobs.

Pete Sacco, President and Founder of PTS Data Center Solutions, Inc., was interviewed for a recent TechRepublic article on data center cooling:

 "...the perception is that cooler is better.
The answer is that's not the case"  

- Pete Sacco, President, PTS Data Center Solutions, Inc.

Read the full article here: http://www.techrepublic.com/article/data-center-cooling-advancements-let-you-leave-your-jacket-at-home/

Is your Data Center or Telecom Closet Performing a Rain Dance?

A friend's Broadcast Operations Center got taken down because they had a water main break that flooded their supporting server room. Water can take unexpected paths in a building and can travel along cables and trays so it's important to fire-stop portals into IT rooms, but a water main break can overwhelm a large area of a building. Drip pans with leak detection should be placed under water lines especially under joints. AquaTray or another capture and divert water system should be used over mission critical equipment. Hermetically sealed rooms can be built for infrastructure that can never go down.  Figured I'd share to hopefully help some of my other friends and colleagues prevent a catastrophe.

Hermetically Sealed Server Room

PTS and SonicWALL Free Cyber Security Webinar

Cyber threats are becoming more devious. Are you prepared?

Register for Free PTS/SonicWALL Webinar:
Thursday, December 8, 2016, 9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. ET

Webinar Agenda
Peter Sacco, PTS Data Center Solutions: Introduction
SonicWALL: Cyber Threats are Becoming More Devious

Do you find yourself regularly worrying if you’ve done a thorough job at vetting your cyber-defense system? Is it really doing its job and keeping up with evolving threats and capacity demands?

Attend this webinar to learn what differentiates leading next-generation firewalls and walk away with a greater understanding of key performance indicators essential to the success of your network security strategy.

More information and Registration Form Here:
http://computer-room-design.com/computer-room-design-partners/sonicwall-products/sonicwall-webinar/

AFCOM Holiday Event and Symposium 2016

AFCOM Holiday Event and Symposium is to be held at the following time, date, and location:

Thursday, December 1, 2016 from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM (EST)  

Radisson Hotel Valley Forge
1160 1st Avenue
King of Prussia, PA 19406

Get More Information Here

Solve Data Challenges Like the Web Giants with this Free Ebook

Free Ebook: Hyperscale Storage for Dummies

• How hyperscale IT evolved and why it’s needed for a modern enterprise
• Ten reasons hyperscale storage reduces costs and improves business alignment for enterprises
• A scorecard to help determine the right storage strategy for your enterprise

This book, compliments of Hedvig and PTS, explores all the hype around hyperconverged and hyperscale storage and explains these storage technologies and architectures to help you understand the similarities and differences of both approaches. We’ll help you determine the best solution to support your organization and examine virtualization, OpenStack, Docker and backup use cases. You’ll be ready to make the business case – whether it’s hyperscale, hyperconverged, or a hybrid mix of both storage strategies for your enterprise.

AFCOM Midlantic Chapter Meeting: June 29, 2016, Claymont, DE

AFCOM Midlantic Chapter Meeting in Claymont, DE
on Wednesday, June 29, 2016, from 9:00am - 1:00pm

Please join Andrew Graham of PTS at AFCOM for their 2nd chapter meeting of 2016.

Agenda (*Subject to Change)

9:30 AM:  Presentation: J. David Winder, Suppression Systems Inc.
SigniFire Video Detection Imaging – This camera provides detection of fire and smoke faster than any of the traditional detection methods.  Where all of the standard devices require the smoke or flame to come to them, SigniFire “goes to the fire”. In tests on the camera with other devices, 88% of the time the SigniFire went into alarm first. This product can be used in support areas of Data Center facilities.  Electrical, Switch Gear, UPS, & Generator Rooms are ideal for these video detectors.  The technology can also be used with most existing cameras in the facility through our custom server.

10:30 AM:  Break

10:45 AM:  Presentation, Daniel Kane, Hedvig, Inc.,  The Impact of Hyper-Converged, Hyper-Scaled and Software Defined Storage on Data Center Services
Current approaches to storage are broken and can’t keep pace with the rate of change in today’s modern business. Businesses generate, analyze, use, and store more data than ever before. As a result, IT can’t even accurately predict data storage requirements three months out, never mind the three to five years that typify storage refreshes. A new approach to data center infrastructure is needed to help companies dynamically adapt to rapidly changing business requirements.

11:45 AM:  Lunch, Networking and Complimentary Wine Tasting!

Where: Total Wine & More, 691 Naamans Road, Claymont, DE 19703
Driving Directions Here
 
When: Wednesday, June 29, 2016, from 9:00am – 1:00pm

Click Here for More Information and To Register

Need Help Managing your Assets?

Ever wonder how PTS is able to manage our hundreds of clients and thousands of assets?

PTS' Data Center Maintenance Management Software solution (DCMMS) provides a complete & integrated management platform for operational maintenance of a data center and its support infrastructure.

DCMMS Features & Benefits

• Maps your entire asset inventory
• Manages your service & warranty contracts
• Reminds you when preventative maintenance is due
• Cost effective asset tracking solution
• Retains complete service history by device
• Prevents lapses in warranty and/or on-site coverage
• Easy to up and deploy system

Click Here to Request a DCMMS Demo

Hyperconverged Infrastructure Lives Up to the Hype

What's all the hype about Hyperconvergence?  Gartner says Hyperconverged Integrated Systems will be mainstream in five years; is it time for you to get on board and streamline your IT?

PTS can explain the benefits of hyperconvergence to you in just 15 minutes.We will explain how to operate your IT for a considerably lower cost, in less time, and how to reduce your disaster recovery time from hours or days to just minutes? 

Are you Interested in Hyperconvergence?

PTS' Hyperconverged Infrastructure solution offers the following benefits:

• Optimization - Reduce storage
• Integrated Disaster Recovery
• Backup - 1 minute to restore 1 TB
• Failover / Recovery - RPO/RTO’s in minutes
• Simplicity - Fully integrates VMware vCenter
• Manageability - Single global interface
• Flexibility - Suitable for any workload, at any location

PTS has prepared a short (15 minutes) personal presentation covering the clear benefits of converting to hyperconverged infrastructure.  You've heard all the hype, now start reaping the benefits. 

Click Here to Schedule a One-on-One Personal
Presentation on Hyperconverged Infrastructure

PTS Joins the Hedvig CloudScale Partner Program

Oakland, NJ - 03/23/2016 - PTS Data Center Solutions, Inc. announced that it has joined the Hedvig CloudScale Partner Program. As a member of the Hedvig CloudScale Partner Program, PTS Data Center Solutions is able to craft a simple, cost-effective storage solution for speedy implementation in your enterprise.

"The Hedvig partner program is designed to deliver new value to customers by enabling the development of a cloud-like storage infrastructure that takes advantage of emerging trends around commodity infrastructure, hyperconvergence, flash, and hybrid cloud. The Hedvig Distributed Storage Platform provides our partners with a new, modern data center solution, helping customers move faster and compete better," said Phil Williams, VP of Business Development & Channels at Hedvig. "We welcome PTS Data Center Solutions to the growing ecosystem of Hedvig partners advancing cloud and software-defined storage (SDS) practices."

"The Hedvig CloudScale Partner Program will allow PTS to enhance our practice around the software-defined data center (SDDC) and cloud space. Hedvig's program provides us with a range of benefits including training, reduced implementation costs, discounts, and access to Hedvig technology alliances. As a result, we will have a differentiated storage offering that helps our customers achieve greater speed with less risk than legacy storage - all by using a single, streamlined platform that supports any application in any server, VM, or container environment," said Pete Sacco, President and Founder of PTS.

Request a Hedvig Demo

To learn more about Hedvig:
Visit: Hedvig Distributed Storage Platform
Download: Hedvig Brochure

Video Surveillance: Panasonic Video Insight 60-Day Trial

Video Insight is a powerful, yet easy-to-use video management software that allows organizations in education, law enforcement, healthcare, commercial, and transportation the ability to deploy a customized and robust video surveillance system. With support for over 3,000 camera models, a variety of encoders, virtualization, centralization, and integration with the most popular access control systems, the Video Insight solution provides a wide range of benefits to meet all of your organization's physical security demands.
 

Click Here for Video Insight Free 60-Day Trial
(Demo works with up to 99 cameras)

Available Lease Space in PTS' Headquarters Building (Oakland, NJ)

Lease space inside PTS Data Center Solutions’ Headquarters building, located at 16 Thornton Road, Oakland, NJ 07436.  This flexible space can be utilized as a new location, colocation, or relocation. PTS’ own data center and staff being onsite makes this is the ideal space for a tech-based company to set up shop.

 

Facilities

• Office Suites up to 20kSF
• Warehouse Space Availability
• 7×24 Generator (Optional)
• Private Entrance (Optional)
• On-Premise IT Services Available
• On-Premise IT Hosted Services Available

Location

• Located in the Oakland-McBride Corporate Park in Oakland, NJ
• Close to Restaurants and Shopping
• Convenient Access to Major Highways

Click Here for More Information:
Space is Available Immediately

PTS and Panasonic Event (1/7/2016): Physical Security in the Public Sector

PTS and Panasonic Physical Security Event
Panasonic Headquarters, Newark, NJ
January 7, 2016, from 11:00am to 2:00pm

Please join PTS Data Center Solutions, Panasonic, FST Biometrics, and Dell in welcoming the new year by exploring enhanced security technologies for a safer work environment.
 

Our guest, Aida Sanchez, will be presenting:
"Building Bridges: Teaching the Public Sector How to Leverage the Best-in-Class Commercial Technologies"

Additional Event Highlights:

• A Panasonic Innovation Center Tour
• Product Showcases: Panasonic, FST Biometrics, and Dell

First 20 attendees Will Receive a $25 Amazon Gift Card

Registration Closed -- View Other PTS Events Here:
http://www.ptsdcs.com/news.asp
 
We Hope to See You There!!

PTS Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) Assessment Solution

The PTS VDI Assessment Solution supports the desktop transformation process across all platforms including the VMware Horizon Suite as well as Citrix XenDesktop and XenApp. We collect desktop and end-user computing details about your environment, and offer granular visibility to support the move to VDI.

PTS's VDI Assessment Solution allows you to:

• Quantify machine, user, application, operating system and infrastructure metrics
• Define "normal" performance thresholds and baseline the user experience
• Gain visibility into user persona and authored data
• Access applications for usage and master image strategy
• Pool users in tiered groups, supporting an optimal desktop architecture
• Support a thoughtful application strategy based on actual use and consumed resources
• Design and right-size the supporting infrastructure capacity (CPU, RAM, GPU, Storage, IOPs)

Register Now for your Free VDI Assessment

Save Time

• Quickly identify the machines, users and groups that will benefit most from a desktop transformation
• Confidently categorize users and groups into appropriate resource tiers
• Easily inventory hardware, operating systems and applications

Save Money

• Right-size the virtual infrastructure design for cost and performance
• Optimize and define the appropriate application and master image strategy
• Lower both CAPEX and OPEX using a proven methodology

Register Now for your Free VDI Assessment

Forrester Report: Identifying the Total Economic Impact of SimpliVity's Hyperconverged Infrastructure

SimpliVity commissioned Forrester Consulting to conduct a Total Economic Impact™ (TEI) study and examine the potential return on investment (ROI) that enterprises may realize by deploying its hyperconverged infrastructure technology.
 
Forrester found that organizations using SimpliVity:

• Reduced costs by 73%
• Experienced a risk-adjusted ROI of 224% over three years
• Avoided or reduced costs of: storage, hardware, labor, floor space, system updates, and more
  

“SimpliVity gives us a significantly lower cost, significantly lower application complexity, and an improved disaster recovery solution.”
~ Backup manager, educational institution

 

Download your Free Copy of the Forrester Report: Total Economic Impact of SimpliVity Hyperconverged Infrastructure

 
About Forrester Consulting: Forrester Consulting provides independent and objective research-based consulting to help leaders succeed in their organizations.

Free IT Assessment: How Optimal is Your IT Environment?

The IT Solution Experts at PTS are offering an innovative, new, complimentary assessment service: the PTS Virtual Environment Performance Analysis, or VEPA. With VEPA, PTS will take a snapshot of your current IT environment, and will determine the optimal balance between physical, virtual, and hyperconverged infrastructure for your enterprise.
 
As part of your Free IT Assessment, PTS will:

• Furnish software tools to scan your existing IT environment
• Offer guidance in performing the scan
• Provide a detailed report with the resulting accumulated metrics
• Review the results in terms of impact to your business
• Recommend the optimal balance of physical, virtual, and hyperconverged infrastructure

Register Here for Your Free IT Assessment 

As your Total Solution Partner,
PTS will work with you every step of the way.

Join PTS and AFCOM at These Upcoming Events

PTS is an active member of both the NY/NJ AFCOM Chapter and Midlantic AFCOM Chapter. PTS will be participating in these upcoming (December, 2015) AFCOM Events:

AFCOM Midlantic Holiday Networking Event: December 3, 2015  This annual event will be held in King of Prussia at the Valley Forge Casino Resort which will feature a cocktail reception and networking, buffet dinner and raffle drawings!


AFCOM Symposium NYC: December 10, 2015 Working in conjunction with AFCOM Corporate, the New York City/New Jersey Metro chapter will hold the annual AFCOM Symposium providing data center and facilities management peers a day of deep-dive education and valuable networking. This Symposium is designed for anyone involved with IT, data centers, disaster recovery, facility or building managers, supervisors and/or engineers.

Know Your Network Security Vulnerabilities: Free Cyber Threat Assessment for Your Enterprise

Secure network architectures need to constantly evolve to keep up with the latest advanced persistent threats. There are two ways to find out if your solution isn’t keeping up—wait for a breach to happen or run validation tests.
 

A Cyber Threat Assessment can help you better understand:

• Security and Threat Prevention – which application vulnerabilities are attacking your network, which malware/botnets were detected, and which devices are “at risk”—for firewall assessment and security breach probability

• User Productivity – which peer-to-peer, social media, instant messaging, and other apps are running—for application visibility control

• Network Utilization and Performance – what are your throughput, session, and bandwidth usage requirements during peak hours—network utilization and monitoring tests for performance optimization

Register Here for a Cyber Threat Assessment
...Before It's Too Late

Are You Ready to Avoid an IT Disaster?

In order to avert an IT disaster, you need a simple, effective, virtual-ready BC/DR solution in your enterprise. A solution that is easy to deploy, simple to manage, and is both scalable and cost-effective would be ideal, if such a solution existed. It does exist.
 

Click Here to Avoid IT Disasters
 

Prepared customers realize:

• Aggressive service levels
• Automated failover, failback and DR testing
• Robust application protection
• Freedom to innovate
• Further cost reductions
• A seamless cloud strategy

Contact PTS about disaster recovery solutions, or view this disaster recovery webinar.

Is It Time To Decommission Your Data Center?

Data centers are extremely complex to manage, and the task of decommissioning a data center is far from trivial. Decisions must be made regarding which equipment, if any, can be reused in the new data center. Some of the equipment will need to be disposed of and/or destroyed, and some of the equipment may be resold. These tasks alone present their own set of unique challenges, and require significant amounts of time and labor to find an appropriate facility to decommission the equipment in question, and to transport the decommissioned equipment to that facility.

The best way to simplify your decommissioning project is to enlist the help of a company having both the experience and expertise in managing the project for you. PTS can manage all aspects of your decommissioning project, having in-house experts in facilities, IT and cabling. PTS can professionally plan, disassemble, transport, dispose/recycle, and restore all your data center equipment. The service technicians at PTS have a long track record in both building and decommissioning data center equipment.

PTS’ Decommissioning Services include:

• Establishing a Decommissioning Plan
• Disassemble Equipment
• Prep & Removal of Equipment to be Transported
• Disposal/Destruction
• Restoration

PTS Reaches Hiperwall Premier Gold Reseller Status

PTS has reached Premier Gold Reseller status with video wall manufacturer Hiperwall. Hiperwall is an innovative video wall and distributed visualization system manufacturer that lets you see the big picture in a brand new way. They make a powerful video wall system that is software versus hardware driven, providing unmatched speed, flexibility and functionality in extremely high resolution.
 

Breakthrough Architecture
The key breakthrough of the Hiperwall system is their distributed architecture that applies classical parallel processing techniques to overcome the performance limitations typically associated with the display of large or numerous items on multiple display devices.The result is a high performance, high resolution visualization system that gives you scalability without specialized or customized hardware, giving you multiple technical and business advantages:

• Scalability
• Flexibility
• Reliability
• Usability
• Affordability

Contact PTS to discuss your video wall system options, or visit our Audio/Visual Solutions site to review complete A/V solutions for your enterprise.
 

PTS CloudCover & P-POD: Converged IT, Facility, & Cabling Solution

http://pts-cloud-solutions.com/

PTS Educational Facility Services are Cool for Schools

The experts at PTS can help you integrate technology effectively into education and help you realize the full benefits of current technology. Following are a some of our services tailored toward educational facilities: Physical Security Solutions: www.physical-security-solutions.com Door Access (including Facial Recognition) Video Surveillance Visitor Management Audio/Visual Solutions: www.ptsdcs.com/noc-av-solutions.asp Classroom A/V Control Interactive Whiteboards Video Display Wall Systems  Data Cabling Services: data-cabling.ptsdcs.com Data and Voice Cabling Installations WiFi Plan, Design, and Install Copper and Fiber Optic Cabling

RackLift Data Center Lift System

As rack equipment grows in size and weight, so too grow the risks of serious employee injury and equipment damage. That’s why leading data centers depend on RackLift. During your next data center migration or relocation, leave the critical task of migrating heavy enterprise servers to RackLift.

RackLift Benefits: Far less expensive than powered units No electrical components to fail No batteries to charge Light weight, small footprint Reduces lost-time injuries Improve employee morale Increases productivity Reduces equipment damage Accurate alignment Easy-to-use powerful hand crank Crank auto-locks when handle is released Lift up to 650 lbs. Precise height control Slide equipment into rack on glide rails Fits into standard 19″ racks Security straps for enhanced safety

10 Things to Know Before Buying a Data Center Lift System

Seamlessly Integrated Physical Security Solutions

PTS Physical Security Solutions offers a turnkey solution to address all your physical security needs. Utilizing cutting edge technologies offered by our partners, PTS offers the following solutions:

• Video Surveillance
• Door Access Control
• Central Management Platform

PTS’s primary Physical Security platform is Genetec’s Security Center (Unified Platform), which has applications for Video Surveillance, Door Access control, License Plate Recognition, Alarm Panel Integration and other third party capabilities. These applications are all viewable on one simple Customer Interface. Genetec works with most major hardware manufacturers, and is considered an open-ended security solution.  Please contact PTS for a list of products that are compatible with Genetec.
Additionally, PTS offers advanced facial recognition capability, voice recognition, and body behavioral analytics for various applications such as door access to your buildings and data centers. This product line has been proven reliable with apartment complexes, data centers, schools and other facilities where this level of security is required. Facial recognition software is truly a marvel to see. Contact PTS to schedule an on-site demo.
With each of our vendors, PTS has certified System Engineers and we keep all our certifications up to date. Our employees are informed of the latest technologies, and can extend that knowledge to an existing application, where improvements could be made. This is critical in ensuring that clients are presented with the best solution today, in order to secure their facility tomorrow.