New Cloud Server: redundant internet

Estimated reading time: 6 minutes

One of the biggest fears an IT team can have is data loss caused by a sudden lack of server connection. To meet the needs of our customers, present and future, we have decided to offer free the redundant internet functionality for our service Cloud Server . Today we want to explain what redundant internet means and how this functionality will give greater stability and infrastructure resilience.

As we know, corporate cybersecurity follows a priority path. It is unwise to postpone updates or use outdated tools. We know this well, and we are always looking for new features that improve our customers’ IT experience by increasing their security.

What does redundant internet mean?

The term redundancy means the duplication of functions and / or essential components of the server system with the aim of increasing its reliability, a bit like what happens with backups. The new feature offered is to apply the concept of redundancy to the network, so as to no longer suffer any downtime. For many companies, by now, being disconnected means losing customers and therefore making money.

Every hour without an internet connection, a small or medium-sized business could lose $ 8,580 to $ 74,000.

With the redundant internet functionality of the Cloud Servers, the core switches and related connections are replicated remotely, so that, in the event of a malfunction, the internet connection for the servers can be guaranteed. Switching to the “spare” core switch is immediate and servers are always available. There is no risk of any kind of service interruption.

The Single Point of Failure (SPF) between the server machines and the network is effectively eliminated.

This feature is not exclusive to SOD, but an option provided by several datacenters. Unlike the latter, however, with SOD it is provided totally free with Cloud Server services. With redundant internet, you can guarantee practically constant uptime.

What is a Single Point of Failure (SPF)?

The Single Point of Failure (SPF) are hardware and software components whose malfunction can generate anomalies or even the termination of service.

In system design, of course, we try to avoid the formation of SPF points. Especially when it comes to systems that are made to be constantly in production. The SPFs, in fact, are replaced by redundant components which, in case of failure, can still guarantee the correct functioning of the information systems.

It is therefore important that, in systems considered at risk, SPFs are avoided through specific strategies, such as, for example, the provision of a redundant internet. An analogy to better understand: for applications o Websites can be placed on different vendor nodes. In this way, the user has the one deemed most reliable at the time of connection, both in terms of geographic location and speed.

Should a failure occur, the user’s client, without even realizing it, connects to another node, which will keep the service always active, preventing it from being interrupted.

Similarly, if one of the core switches fails, another one will take over and replace the damaged one. This avoids downtime which can be a significant cost to the business.

4 reasons to adopt a redundant internet system

Sometimes redundancy planning can seem laborious for what appear to be abstract contingencies. However, it can mean the difference between thousands of dollars and customer trust. Let’s now take a look at five of the benefits your business will have once it starts adopting redundancy in your network strategy.

1. Uptime

This is certainly the most obvious advantage of opting for redundant networks. The network is always up and running. This is especially important for organizations that need to provide round-the-clock services to customers, patients or clients .

If a hospital goes down, it spells disaster for staff and patients. If a bank has ATMs that cannot be accessed at any time of day or night, it will likely lose customers who favor the versatility of institutions that offer 24-hour access.

If you don’t think downtime is a big deal, think again. As we saw earlier, downtime means thousands of dollars in losses . This is enough to give priority to the redundant internet function, especially since with our Cloud Servers it is free.

2. Security

Cybersecurity relies on redundancy for maximum effectiveness. Redundant networks give your business the opportunity to have effective security measures. With redundant networks, downtime does not expose data to breaches or losses while trying to resolve the original issue. If there is an opportunity to switch to another network, the business can continue to move forward without interruption, letting the IT staff continue their security and analysis work, for example via the SOCaaS .

Redundant Internet is a simple key solution that allows a company to recover from a cyber attack. For example: If a company’s network is attacked, having a solid redundancy strategy helps to prevent problems associated with losing users.

A recent example were ransomware attacks targeting US hospitals . The attackers blocked the network, rendering it unusable and demanding exorbitant sums of money to restore access. These events have been linked to at least one patient death . In today’s world, this is a risk that healthcare professionals cannot afford to take. By opting for redundant networks, you reduce the power of ransomware attacks that target networks.

3. Latency

Another advantage is the distribution of the workload. If the business feels the need for speed, redundant networks are the way to go , as they prevent the network from being overloaded. Since everything has become remote, it is possible that the company is experiencing slower speeds or even crashes due to the high volumes of traffic. Some factors can be: greater number of remote workers, greater number of online customers, decentralization of services.

Having multiple routes to access “the same places” means you are less likely to see slowed speeds due to high traffic volumes.

4. Business continuity

Ultimately, keeping your business up and running is the primary goal of choosing redundant networks. In the midst of any disaster or minor inconvenience, you need to be able to keep moving towards quarterly benchmarks and annual goals. The company and its employees need the ability to keep working no matter what problems arise.

When the network collapses, don’t waste valuable productive hours waiting for it to get up and running or for a technician. Redundant Internet will save you the loss of productivity, allowing you to treat that failure as just a small hitch.

What is the news introduced by SOD in its Cloud Servers?

The novelty introduced by SOD is to offer its customers the redundant internet functionality for free , therefore without paying a subscription fee, as happens with other competitors. Having a redundant network available is not just a matter of corporate security, but a convenience to guarantee stability.

Redundant Internet offers the security of always having access to your data, even in the event of a problem. The convenience is evident, especially when we think that many companies need constant access to their infrastructure. Think of a corporate VPN, remote working in general and remote data access.

Security, comfort and dynamism, these are the keywords that lead back to this functionality for the SOD Cloud Server service. You can also test the Cloud Server service, by clicking here .

To find out how this or other SOD services can be useful for your company, do not hesitate to contact us, we will be happy to answer any questions.

Useful links:

• BaaS with Veeam Cloud Connect
• Business VPN SaaS
• Demo Server
• Free trial of internet services with Demos
• Physical Security: add on to the VA&PT service