Virtual Private Network


A Virtual Private Network, or VPN, is a way of using the Internet to provide remote users with secure access to their network. Data is scrambled as it's sent through the Internet ensuring privacy. In other words a business which may be located in New York can use the company's network to send encrypted information to differentbranches of the business located in other parts of the country.

Information doesn't have to be sent office to office either. An individual choosing to work at home can have all of the same amenities (programs, email, etc) as working in the office, thanks to a VPN. Because all data is scrambled prior to being sent, and decrypted once it reaches its destination, there's no fear of interception since only authorized users can view the information.

With a VPN, data is carried over the Internet through a process called tunneling. Tunneling is when a package is placed within another packagebefore it's encrypted and sent to its destination. The path in which the packet travels is called a tunnel.

A firewall can be set up to prevent a barrier between a private network and the Internet. The firewall can be set up to only accept certain information and also reject packets containing unwanted information. For purposes of security, the firewall should be set up prior to installing a VPN.

The Benefits of a VPN are:

- Increased Productivity
- Improved Security
- Lower operational costs
- Simplified Network Topology
- Opportunities for Global Networking

While there are plenty of pros to setting up and using a Virtual Private Network, there's also a con or two. For instance, someone with in-depth knowledge of network security and dealing with VPNs will have to be on staff or specialized training will be required to ensure things run smoothly. Also, different vendors might provide different technologies so not all networks may be compatible. For sure there are kinks to be worked out. Once they are however, it would be worth it to look into Virtual Private Networking for your business - especially if the benefits outweigh the risks.

Source: http://www.articlecircle.com/computers/networks/what-is-a-virtual-private-network.html

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ERP Software Implementation Best Practice

ERP is being utilized by most of the organizations to fulfill their requirements and increase the productivity. ERP implementation best practices should be followed for a successful implementation of the ERP software.


Enterprise Resource Planning is being utilized by most of the organizations to fulfill their requirements and increase the productivity. A lot of planning is involved before implementing the ERP system since it is has an important role to play for the organization. ERP implementation best practices should be followed for a successful implementation of the ERP system. To make the most of the time, money and efforts put into the Enterprise Resource Planning implementation, the company should set certain levels which should be followed. The software has chances of failing even if the best software is implemented. There are many risks and challenges involved in the implementation like delays, low benefits and increase in costs. If the ERP implementation best practice is followed, it ensures a successful implementation of the Enterprise Resource Planning system.

Some of the ERP implementation best practices are as below:

1. Understanding: It is necessary to have proper defined goals and have an understanding of the goals. Take some time to validate the vendor’s understanding of the business needs. All the stakeholders and employees of the company should be informed well about the implementation of the ERP system. 

2. Plan: Planning is essential for the implementation and this is one of the ERP implementation best practices. Time should be given for proper planning, testing, customization, etc. 

3. Business needs: It is important to thoroughly understand the requirements of the business. This ERP implementation best practice focuses on the operation of the business. Give priority to the crucial requirements.

4. Return on Investment: There should be focus on obtaining a better ROI or return on investment. Establish a performance measure to track the post implementation performance as the business needs to realize tangible benefits too.

5. Management: The top management should be actively involved as the ERP implementation best practice. They should offer their support in order to reduce conflicts and establish regular reports with the team. The ERP system implementation project needs to be approved by the management.

6. Project: The project should be managed in a proper manner and there should be coordination between the functional departments and the IT department. The project should be managed by a project manager and develop a strong control over the project as the ERP implementation best practice. The employees need to be trained and educated as to how to use the software in the best practice. Reviews should be conducted during the implementation.

7. Data: Testing of data should be done and the scope of the data should be defined.

These are the ERP implementation best practices for a successful system implementation. Without the right planning and strategy, the risks increase and can cause failures. As there are many steps involved and ERP implementation is a complex process, it is wise to follow these best practices for reducing the risk of a failure. Also, the ERP implementation differs from company to companyArticle Submission, so it is important to keep the best practices in mind to make you aware while evaluating the implementation process.


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Disk Defragmentation: All You Needed To Know

Much like an automobile, a computer needs a little bit of maintenance every so often to keep it running smoothly. One of the most overlooked of these tasks is defragmenting the hard drive. Here are some frequently asked questions regarding defragmentation.

What Is File Fragmentation?
Think of your computer's hard disk drive as a largewarehouse for your data. Every bin in the warehouserepresents a file, and the boxes filling the bin represent the bytes of data that make up the file.

In order to ensure fast access to your bins, you want to keep the bins at the front of the warehouse full, so they can be pulled from as quickly as possible. Let's say, however, that when you get a new shipment of product, you completely fill up the bin, have more boxes of product to store, and the bins next to it are full as well. In most warehouses, the extra product is moved to the back of the warehouse and a note left in the original bin as to where the overstock is stored.

Your computer works in much the same way. Space is allocated on the hard drive to keep each file. To keep your computer running smoothly, files are often stored right next to each other in the first available space. However, if you go back and add a few pages to that story you were writing, the computer doesn't see any space on the hard drive to store the new data. Therefore, it moves the new data into the next available spot on the hard drive and leaves itself a "note" of sorts as to where the rest of your file is. This splitting of the file into separate pieces is known as "file fragmentation".

Why Do I Need to Defragment My Hard Drive?
As more and more files get more and more fragmented, it takes the computer longer to access these files, whether you're opening, editing, or even deleting them. If we revisit our warehouse analogy, when someone purchases the entire stock of a product, the warehouse employees may have to visit 3-4 different bins to fill the order. This same exact thing is happening on your hard drive.

What Does Defragmenting My Hard Drive Do?
The disk defragmentation process takes all the pieces of a file and puts them back together in one single spot on the hard drive. Additionally, your file is moved toward the front of the drive so that it can be accessed faster.

How Often Do I Need to Defragment My Hard Drive?
This is going to depend on how you use your computer. If you access a lot of large files on a frequent basis, chances are your files will fragment more quickly than someone who only checks his e-mail a few times a week. Generally speaking, the average home user should defragment his or her hard drive 4-6 times per year (which is every 2-3 months).

How Do I Defragment My Hard Drive?
Your operating system should have a built-in utility for performing this task. Check your manual, help files, or favorite search engine for the full procedure. Although the process can take a long time, depending on the size of your files and how many files are fragmented, starting the process is usually straightforward.

If it's been a while since you last defragmented your hard drive, you should notice your computer running much faster and more stably than it was before.

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Overclocking your Processor


Overclocking, which was once the domain of power users and high-end gamers, has now gone mainstream. It's true that overclocking might prove to be a shot in the arm for your CPU. However, if things go awry, you could well have a fried CPU.

There are scads of information regarding overclocking on the Internet. But sadly, most of thewebsites tout overclocking as a walk in the park, misleading users by concealing the associated risks. A computer novice, unaware of the risks involved, may set out to overclock the processor based on some advice he got from such a website. This really makes me cringe. Is the whole process of overclocking a no-brainer?

In simple words, overclocking your processor requires an alteration in the hardware settings in order to make it run faster than the manufacturer's specification. The ideology is that the manufacturer's ratings are a result of stringent trials and tests performed against the CPU. Then onwards, the CPU is tagged with a particular clock frequency at which it can take up substantial workload on a regular basis without malfunctioning. This clock rate is often a notch lower than the maximum a CPU can sustain.

PC enthusiasts perceive this as a windfall, and try to breach the frequency barriers set by the manufacturers. This can be a viable option for CPUs which can be easily overclocked, since some CPUs have better overclockability than others. But in general, overclocking your processor can be a risk-prone endeavor.

Overclocking is also employed by a few unscrupulous component resellers. They overclock a processor, falsely remark it as a high speed processor, and then onwards sell it at profit. Major brands like Intel strive to curtail such swindling acts. Intel has employed a mechanism called CPU locking, where the clock multiplier is set to a permanent value. Therefore, overclocking your processor, especially if it's an Intel product, is a bit harder than usual.

A point to be noted is that Intel's CPU locking mechanism has much to do with unscrupulous vendors rather than end user overclocking. But at the end, it looks like you might have to seek out other means for overclocking your processor.

Let's say you really want something extra from your existing CPU, but you are on a shoestring budget, and the best possible option is overclocking. Even if you opt for overclocking your processor, you need to take a few precautions, lest it can be a real bummer for you.

The conventional heat sink and CPU fan won't do much good, since an overclocked processor dissipates a lot more heat. If not dealt with properly, you could face frequent hang ups, system crashes and random reboots. Though a rarity, your processor could also suffer permanent damage. It is recommended that you install an effective cooling mechanism for your overclocked processor, such as water cooling or Peltier cooling. Also ensure that you possess a computer case that enables proper ventilation for an efficacious cooling.

What I have presented here might appear dissenting to a few overclocking zealots, but it's the truth. I suggest you carry out some basic research before you plan on overclocking your processor.

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> Virtual Private Network
> ERP Software Implementation Best Practice
> Disk Defragmentation: All You Needed To Know
> Overclocking your Processor
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