Free Download: Commercial Workplace Technology Planning Checklist

Planning a New Office Build? You need this FREE Commercial Workplace Technology Planning Checklist to save you $$$ by helping you budget for ALL the Technologies your people will need and use.

Our goal is to help you establish realistic and accurate cost estimates for all the Workplace Technologies you will utilize in your new space. Ideally, this will be done as early as 12-months in advance of signing any leases or hiring any professionals or contractors. Download this FREE CHECKLIST to ensure you don’t forget the cost of any of the technologies you will use in your next commercial/industrial workplace renovation or new construction project…

• Avoid cost overruns due to making moves, adds & changes during construction
• Eliminate delays of moving because the space is not ready to move into
• Deploy the right technology that meets your needs and that you can afford by considering design options early
• Retain Employees by creating an inviting, yet functional work space

Get your FREE Commercial Workplace Technology Planning Checklist Here

“Not many companies have the depth of knowledge across such a broad array of workplace technologies as PTS. Our clients end up with technologies that are appropriate for their needs, that they use, and they can afford”

– Pete Sacco, Founder & President
PTS Data Center Solutions, Inc.

NJCCIC Alert: Chinese APT10 Intrusion Activities Target Government, Cloud-Computing Managed Service Providers and Customer Networks Worldwide

The FBI is providing the following information with HIGH confidence – NJCCIC (New Jersey Cybersecurity & Communications Integration Cell) Alert: this FBI Flash is being provided, with no guarantees or warranties, for potential use at the sole discretion of recipients in order to protect against cyber threats.

The FBI obtained information regarding a group of Chinese APT cyber actors stealing high value information from commercial and governmental victims in the U.S. and abroad. This Chinese APT group is known within private sector reporting as APT10, Cloud Hopper, menuPass, Stone Panda, Red Apollo, CVNX and POTASSIUM. This group heavily targets managed service providers (MSP) who provide cloud computing services; commercial and governmental clients of MSPs; as well as defense contractors and governmental entities. APT10 uses various techniques for initial compromise including spearphishing and malware. After initial compromise, this group seeks MSP administrative credentials to pivot between MSP cloud networks and customer systems to steal data and maintain persistence. This group has also used spearphishing to deliver malicious payloads and compromise victims.

This FBI Flash provides technical details and recommended mitigation measures to assist organizations in guarding against the persistent malicious actions of cyber criminals. Contact PTS to help ensure your systems are properly maintained and safe from the latest threats.

This information is marked Traffic Light Protocol (TLP): WHITE. Disclosure is not limited. Subject to standard copyright rules, TLP: WHITE information may be distributed without restriction.

PTS Partner NJFX Welcomes Subsea Trans-Atlantic Data Cable

The Jersey Shore is becoming a major destination for your photos, status updates and Internet searches. A new trans-Atlantic subsea cable will land in Wall Township, NJ, ferrying European Internet traffic from Google and Facebook to the New York metropolitan area. The HAVFRUE cable, which was announced earlier this year, will land at the NJFX colocation campus in Wall, the company said today.

The HAVFRUE cable will connect New Jersey and Denmark, with branch connection to Ireland and Norway. The project is backed by a consortium that includes Google, Facebook subsea cable specialist Aqua Comms and Norwegian fiber provider Bulk Infrastructure.

Undersea telecommunications cables are now strategic assets in the growth of hyperscale Internet companies, with companies like Google, Facebook, Microsoft and Amazon emerging as key investors. As these cloud titans focus investment in cables and new routes, it has the potential to reshape how data flows across the ocean, onto the U.S. mainland, and into the cloud.

HAVFRUE is designed to deliver superior speed and lower latency design, capitalizing on advances in subsea cable construction since the original cable building boom during the dot-com era. NJFX CEO and Founder Gil Santaliz says that as existing transatlantic systems start reaching their 20-year life cycle, the HAVFRUE design will gain an economic advantage over its older rivals.

Read the complete article here:

https://datacenterfrontier.com/njfx-welcomes-subsea-cable-on-ramp-for-google-facebook/

PTS Modernizes State Data Center and Expands Network in Sergipe, Brazil

As the primary contractor of a technical team made up of US- and Brazil-based companies, PTS Data Center Solutions provided consulting services to the state of Sergipe. The Brazilian state had undertaken a statewide IT modernization project, with these priorities:

• Expand the state fiber and wireless broadband network
• Modernize the state government’s data center
• Data security
• Business continuity
• Backup data center

The IT system expansion benefited key government services, including the online emergency reporting system, the online tax collection system, remote monitoring, and expanded the CIOSP system. The expanded network now serves 100% of the population with connectivity, including 170,000 student on the SIGA System, and 192,000 student with IT Labs Distance Education. Additionally, a new system for hospital administration and telemedecine exams provide tremendous improvement.

The success of this project has increased the efficiency of public administrators, created jobs, and has grown the economy. Through the enhanced use of digital resources, companies have increased productivity, and can be more competitive. All of this came at a development cost of just $4USD per person in the state, with connectivity costs being reduced by up to 70%. What a bargain for such an improvement to the quality of life and the quality of services for Sergipe!

PTS’ Pete Sacco Presenting at AFCOM February 2018 NYC/NJ Metro Chapter Meeting

PTS President Peter Sacco will be presenting at the  upcoming February 2018 AFCOM NYC/NJ Metro Chapter Meeting at Bloomberg in NY, NY.

Bloomberg and the AFCOM – NYC/NJ Metro Chapter have teamed up to sponsor a wide range of capabilities to assist Data Center Professionals to maintain the utmost uptime. Please join us to celebrate our collaboration, view presentations, and hear real-time customer testimonials on how they overcame their data center pain points.

When: February 28, 2018, 11:30 AM – 7:00 PM

Schedule of Events: 

• 11:30 – 12:30 –  Registration, Lunch & Networking
• 12:45 – 1:30   –  CAPEX/OPEX of an On-Premise Data Center vs. Colocation Operations vs. Public Cloud Operations, Peter Sacco, PTS 
• 1:45 – 2:30     –  Presentation “To Be Determined”
• 2:30 – 3:00     –  Coffee Break and Networking
• 3:00 – 3:45     –  Bloomberg’s DCIM, “No more sales pitch, we just built it!”, Nathaniel Brown, Bloomberg Data Center Applications
• 3:45 – 4:00     –  State of the Chapter
• 4:00 – 5:30     –  Cocktails, Appetizers, Networking and Raffle

Where: Bloomberg LP, 120 Park Avenue, 22 MPR A, New York, NY 10017

Register Here

NOTE: If you are not a member of AFCOM, you can join prior to the meeting or onsite with any of the local board members.

Prepare A Cyberdefense Plan Beyond Meltdown and Spectre Security Risks

Virtually all modern CPUs have a major security vulnerability.

Nearly all CPUs built over the past two decades have a design flaw, creating a vulnerability that could allow hackers access to the data that runs through the CPU itself. This data might include passwords, keys, and other critically sensitive data. The vulnerabilities, dubbed Meltdown and Spectre, are currently being addressed via software patches, as many software vendors, including Microsoft, have rush-released these patches in an attempt to limit exploits.

Unfortunately, these patches are reportedly slowing down systems by as much as thirty percent. This is discouraging many enterprises from applying the patches altogether, which leaves the system open to attack.

A better solution: although applying patches and updating software may address the immediate threat, this is only part of a solid cyberdefense plan. A better approach would be to have a thorough defense plan in place, including, but not limited to: constant network monitoring/analysis, performing regular backups, and having a solid recovery approach. This plan enables you to immediately become aware of any security breaches, provides evidence to identify the security hole, and allows you to restore systems to a state prior to the infraction.

PTS can perform a free cybersecurity threat assessment to analyze your network and identify security holes. This is the first step in creating a comprehensive cyberdefense plan to protect your enterprise from attack, and/or recover from any existing attacks to keep your business running smoothly.

What are YOU doing about VM Sprawl?

There is no question that virtualization has revolutionized how we set up our business networks. Greater security, improved IT support, smoother migrations, and huge cost savings are just a few of the many benefits of virtualization. However, quickly set up virtual machines (VMs) are often unplanned, and are created without regard to the resources they consume. Eventually, you end up with many VMs on your network, but without the appropriate IT management or control in place. This is called VM sprawl.

VM sprawl has become a very real concern in data centers. On top of VM sprawl, add to the mix: snapshot sprawl, zombie VMs, orphaned files, etc, and your virtual infrastructure’s overall efficiency is greatly reduced. Left unchecked, the stability of the virtual environment is in serious jeopardy, and is well on the way toward crashing or at least experiencing severe performance hits.

PTS offers a free virtual infrastructure assessment to identify problem areas, reclaim your wasted resources, and optimize your virtual environment. In just minutes, we can identify issues, then help you right-size (cpu, memory, storage) your virtual environment, provide better management, and save money in the process.

Request your Free Virtual Infrastructure Assessment

PTS Event 9/28/2017: The Seven Tastes of Data Center Management

PTS and partners Asset Vue and Tuangru are hosting a panel discussion that will cover successful DCIM implementations, current trends in DCIM, and what is needed to deploy DCIM solutions successfully in the future. Free registration includes a winery tour and tasting at the Hopewell Valley Vineyards in Pennington, NJ (just outside of Princeton).

Don’t miss this first ever Data Center Management Panel
Discussion to include wine tastings throughout its duration!

Hopewell Valley Vineyards

When: Thursday, September 28, 2017 from 3:00PM to 6:00PM EDT

Where: Hopewell Valley Vineyards, 46 Yard Road, Pennington, NJ 08534

We look forward to seeing you at this, and future PTS events.

REGISTER HERE (FREE)

Free ebook: Upgrade your IT Systems to Maximize Business Potential

Are you and your staff wasting valuable time on run-of-the-mill tasks due to a sluggish network that struggles to handle routine traffic? Is adding more users likely to add more burden to your struggling infrastructure?

Your business might be overdue for an IT system upgrade. If you put it off any longer, you might end up costing yourself a fortune.

This short ebook can help you make the right upgrade choices.

Enjoy Summer Vacation without Worrying about Data Center and IT Infrastructure Monitoring and Management

PTS has the experience with many tools in the Data Center Monitoring and Management space to develop, implement, and integrate an effective DCIM tool set. These tools will help your team proactively manage your Data Center, reducing the chances of user error and reducing downtime.

PTS partner Asset Vue has introduced Real Time Physical Asset Management using Passive RFID and Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) to effectively track physical assets inside Data Center enclosures. These are much smaller than Active tags to allow sub-component asset management and more cost-effective tags not requiring batteries nor device replacement when internal batteries expire.

Additionally, RAMP DCIM software offers the most extensive agentless auto-discovery through numerous network, systems and facilities protocols. With full analytics and an open Web API, successful integrations with BMC Remedy, Future Facilities and ServiceNow are easy!

Armed with these tools, you can enjoy a worry-free summer vacation!

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)