Disaster Recovery Planning to Maintain Oracle High Availability

The data stored in the databases of your organization's computer systems is extremely valuable. In many cases, this data represents your most valuable asset. Protecting this asset is crucial for any Oracle site.
As a DBA, system administrator, or system architect, you will probably have to use a variety of options and techniques to ensure that your data is adequately protected from a catastrophe. Of course, implementing proper backup operations is the foundation of any disaster-prevention strategy, but there are other ways to avoid a variety of disasters, from simple disk failures to complete failure of your primary database site.
Availability can mean different things for different organizations. For this discussion, we will consider a system to be available when that system is both up which means that the database can be accessed by users and working which means that the database is delivering the expected functionality to users with the expected performance. Oracle high availability features are called Oracle HA.
Businesses have always depended on their data being available. With the increased use of the World Wide Web as a way to share data with outside world, database failures can have an even more dramatic impact on business. Failure of web-based system with links outside a company's employees are unfortunately, immediately visible to the outside world and can seriously affect the company's financial health as well as its image and the loyalty of its customers. Consider the Internet service offered by UPS and FedEX to share package status and tracking with their customers. As customers come to depend heavily on a service offered over the Web, interruptions in that service can cause these same customers to move to competitors.

Some Insightful Information on the Analytic Platform

It was in the year 2010 that the concept of 'analytic platform' began to cause a stir with its untapped potential. Ever since, there has been no looking back, and this concept continues to spark a flurry of interest among the organizations. However, there are some organizations that are yet to come to terms with the fact that this platform is quite different from a traditional DBMS. There are many other facts that are still unknown to most of the organizations. Some of these facts are as follows:
• The functionality of this platform is not the same as that of an enterprise data warehouse (EDW); however, there are some similarities. For instance, both of these are supposedly used for data management.
• This platform needs to have some basis features, or else it would prove to be of no use. For instance, it should provide some native support for Map Reduce (MR). It is not unknown that Map Reduce acts as an interface, and provides the requisite framework for writing as well as deploying applications.
• There has to be some integration with SQL at any cost. Integration helps in a lot of ways. To begin with, it allows the SQL analysts to make use of the Map Reduce applications. Furthermore, SQL is known to have exceptional flexibility and power. These features cam be easily used by the MR data scientists in order to complement the MR applications.

How to Choose a CRM Software

There are many ways that you can use customer relationship management (CRM) to help your business thrive and flourish. CRM is a widely practiced strategy to manage your interaction with existing and prospective customers and clients. Technology is widely utilized in CRM to automate, organize, and synchronize business processes, including sales, marketing, technical support, and customer service. Here are the benefits of CRM software that you need to know, as well as the advantage of leveling up using phone lookup or telephone number lookup services online.
Your main goals in using this business philosophy are to take care of current customers and clients, bring back in the former ones, and streamline the costs of marketing and customer service. You also want to identify, understand, and better provide for your customers and maximize profits while building lasting relationships with them. And what is a better way to do this than knowing and responding to customer needs?
CRM begins with collecting the right contact data and information about your customers. But CRM does not end here - you should also organize and interpret data carefully. Computer technology - particularly a good computer-based CRM solution - plays an integral role here, and it has been found to increase sales by up to 50 percent.

Is Security Better in Windows 8?

The article depicts the security features in Windows 8, the forthcoming, cult operating system (OS) from Microsoft. The information provided here is reliable and correct to date. Besides, it does not necessarily present a biased view on the security feature in Windows 8.
Since the Developer Preview of Windows 8 has marked its presence in the market, everyone from individual users, businesses whether SMBs or big, to antivirus vendors have been reviewing its features to determine whether they will really enhance their computing experience in terms of security, reliability, performance, and speed among other things. Well, this makes sense because Microsoft has taken a step further to make Windows OS less vulnerable and attackable to offline and online threats like viruses, spyware, rootkits, Trojan horses, and keyloggers among others.
Offline threats, hmm what are they? Well offline threats are the same aforementioned infections residing in USB or other such external devices like CD that when plugged into computers execute themselves and start the destruction. So we can say that online threats spread via the internet, whereas the offline threats take a computer down via USB devices. Now that we know the difference between the two types of threats, the question is that how Windows 8 will live up to our security expectations.

What Is New in Windows 8?

The article intends to shed light on the new features of Windows 8, the forthcoming cult OS from Microsoft. Windows 8, the to-be successor of Windows 7, has a bit in common with Mac and Linux. So let's check out what all new additions have been made to Windows 8 whose beta release is much awaited by the consumers, technology companies, organizations, and bloggers among others.
Metro-style UI (user interface)- The user interface, better known as the Start screen has been totally overhauled to give a Metro-style look. You will see all your apps in one place from where these can be either shuffled or further customized. You can pin your documents, weather information, photos, videos, or favorite websites to the Start screen. The one-tap access allows you to open them immediately without having navigated to different sections like in previous Windows versions. Such a look is found only in tablets or Smartphones wherein you simply have to touch the app to open or customize it.
Now there is more space on the Start screen with hidden UI elements. You will get to see them only when you touch or hover around your mouse on the screen. Different apps like Shutdown, Restart, Sleep, and Network etc. appear on the right hand side when the mouse is moved. Such a feature is available only in Mac OS X Lion wherein you have to move your mouse even to see a scroll bar or a tablet that works only on the touch-and-play methodology.
Microsoft has added the touch-screen input style other than the traditional keyboard input to make it more convenient for users. Those who find it little difficult to type using the keyboard can now touch and play the programs and applications. For those who do not want to attach a keyboard to save space on their personal or official desk and still want to use one, there is a built-in virtual keyboard for them. There are actually two keyboards, one is a full-size and the other is a thumb style. You can choose either one as desired.
Copy, Rename, or Move- Since these are the most frequently used commands in Windows to deal with cluttered or tidy files or folders etc., Microsoft has introduced a more improved file management system. Now you will not only see the progress of each copy or move command's operation but also see a detailed throughput graph. It shows the amount and speed of data transfer and the pending data amount and also enables you to start, pause, continue, or stop each individual operation that is currently in progress. Thus if the graphs shows that it will take little longer to complete the data copy, rename, or move task, you know what to do in the meantime.

Why Should Businesses Test Their Software

A number of industries have benefited from the progress in technology. Several software, for example, empower several process of numerous organizations all around the world. They help make the entire world a lot more efficient. It is also a very fast paced industry and to be able to compete consistently, an individual has to keep on top of industry trends.
Not only that, you also have to follow efficient practices in order to write good software. It isn't easy to be efficient though; you need to understand what efficiency means in the first place, what it entails. For example, developing software isn't just about developing it; you also have to test it continuously under varied environments. Testing, in fact, is one of the most important steps of creating good software. For any business, the cost of developing and executing dysfunctional software across the organization is massive hence, they place a premium on software testing.
What entails software testing?

Help Desk Software Plays a Crucial Role in Customer Satisfaction

Help desk software plays a vital role in issue tracking as well as issue management. The system is designed uniquely to address issues that need to be managed from time to time also those issues that need be followed up on priority. Such systems and services are of great use to all types of organizations small as well as big. Putting a system like this in place helps in providing useful information about issues and how they can be diagnosed. Also, solving issues related to computers and other related devices becomes much easier. Different organizations follow different methods to deploy the advantage of the helpdesk software to their customers.
These days the most preferred method to deploy any new service is through the internet. Toll free numbers are also beneficial for people who still use telephone line. Apart from offering help desk services to customers, many companies these days have an in-house help desk system to address the issues that their employees may be facing. The help desk software has become very important for running any business and keeping customers satisfied. Today many management institutes offer training for help desk resources. This is being done in an effort to improve human resource skills of management trainees.
The advantages of using help desk software are extremely far reaching. It offers customers a point source of contact that will ultimately help them is diagnosing issues related to their computers. The software is capable of tracking customer issues through a unique number that it generates for a different customer. Companies with larger help desk services manage various different levels of customer's issues with a separate department and a process for every different category of issues. In comparison to large companies, smaller companies address primary issues. They also outsource their help desk services to large companies and third party enterprises.

A GPS Car Tracking System

When it comes to a GPS car tracking system, as with everything involving technology today, as quickly as you buy a system, it will be improved, changed or added to. But the best place to start is with the basics. What does a GPS car tracking system do? Well, it pretty much does what is says on the box. It enables you to track your car. The thing with today's systems is they can do so much more. Within your car, you will have a GPS navigation system. This helps you in the car, to find directions in places you do not know; these days you can even get them for golf courses which tell you where the pin is, complete with yardage, and in boats to give you concise and precise directions. It could be a great system for worried parents who want to know where their children have been and when (but as with all things, you must use your common sense and any system is only as good as the maps put into it).
Now, a GPS tracker system is for the other end of use. It is able to download information telling the tracker user where the vehicle is, the direction it is going and the speed it is doing. If you have a fleet of cars, maybe a taxi business or car for hire business, then a GPS car tracking system is made to enhance your income. It will be able to track all the individual vehicles you have and where they are at any one time. They will be able to tell you which direction they are traveling in, and if it is stationery it can tell you how long it has been stopped for. It is usually accurate to within fifteen meters of the vehicles position.
Choosing the GPS Car Tracking System which Suits your Needs
I think that this is where the beauty of the GPS car tracking system comes into its own. If you are running a business, especially a transport business, time really is money in all senses of the word. You must really think before you look when it comes to purchasing a GPS car tracking system. Start with the vehicle; do you want the tracker system to be portable, or installed in the vehicle at all times? This will determine the software you need to buy to use the system effectively. A lot will be determined by your budget, as in anything, but you will be able to get a system you can afford.
The more you want it to do, the more it will cost you in initial outlay. List the needs of your system in importance, and then look back at it. After you have double checked your list, you should start to do your research on different companies and what they have to offer. If you can, buy the best you can afford, quality is worth it. This is whether we are talking about a GPS car tracking system or anything else. The system will end up paying for itself again and again when it saves you time and money, it is an investment. Also, it will almost certainly be a tax-deductible expense for any business.

Time Management Software: Ideal for Freelancers

With the online business in boom today, many skilled professionals and non-professionals are turning their sights on the net. Due to these increased demand for writing and web designing skills, many freelancers are looking for ways to manage their time well in order to attend to all client orders. And since time lost is money lost as well, the use of time management software in their business is extremely important.
Since every working man's desire is to attain success, there is a need for a system that will help manage time effectively so that more things can be done in such a short notice. This urgent need then is answered by time management software. Some of the great tools packed in this kind of software that is simple and easy to use include:
To-Do List Manager
To work harmoniously with time and not against it, the need for a tool that will provide an area to list things that need to be accomplished for the day or for the week is essential. This need is supplied by the to-do list manager tool that offer an unlimited entry space to encode important tasks that have to be finished. Some advanced tools have the feature of arranging tasks according to the prioritization commanded by its user. By this hierarchical formatting, users are reminded of specific entries that should be done first or last.

Insurance Software For The Advancement And Edge Over The Competition

Simultaneously it enables the company to automate the procedure, escrow closing and allows better integration and communication with lenders, estate brokers, vendors, buyers and sellers more efficiently.
Most of the people own insurance, be it a life, medical, general or automobile. It works as an excellent tool to manage the financial risk and reduce the losses in case of mishap. Automated insurance system has been one of the key factors in revolutionizing and driving insurance industry to the current stage. It helps organisations to run into the competition with the product innovations and effective cost maintenance. It helps insurance organisations to manage large number of clients with enhancing and flourishing the basic customer requirements. Simultaneously it maintains the customer database with all necessary information and integrates it with the day to day operations to make the process fast and efficient. Any good insurance accounting software packs with almost all basic aspects and functions that are required by the companies. Such functions are simple to use and operates much like the manual for the insurance practitioners. It helps to identify and register the payment made to the individual and let you aware of what has been paid by whom and what still remains unpaid.
While working with insurance software, one thing that always requires to be kept in mind is that the customer support, it is factor that require highest considerations. If the support is not well to deal with the query that arise by the customer, including putting it into process of simple data calculations, chances of mess up with customer is high. So, when you are going to decide on your insurance accounting software for your organisation, lay stress on the output and how it can answers queries at customer end.

Why You Need an iPad VPN

With the growth of the internet through tablet devices most notably Apple's iPad, the need for mobile internet security to cater to that demand is also rising. Of course, we have been bombarded with advertisements that say Apple's operating systems are more resistant to viruses and malware infestation so much so that the need for security might be a little exaggerated especially on an iPad; but is this really the case? Or are we just turning a blind eye on something that is just as serious as everyday forms of internet threats but on a less emphasized level?

Consider the kinds of risks you are subjecting yourself into every time you logged on to the internet using your iPad:

The risk that your information may be stolen and used for unscrupulous activities leading to identity theft. Passwords get stolen on an everyday basis and these can have lasting and damaging effects to your personality if it falls into the wrong hands.

Compromising your financial stature. Hacked credit cards have long existed since the internet first started accepting virtual payment schemes for online purchases of goods and services. With the iPad, the threat remains real and serious.

Add to this, there are accessibility options that you have to be mindful of if you want to maximize your usage of Apple's marvelous tablet. For example, geographic IP restrictions can limit your access to content that you might want to follow on a regular basis. What use is an English Premier League iPad app if you are blocked from accessing the UK network? The same applies to cases in China, Dubai, Syria, Iran, Egypt, and many other countries where information is censored. Your iPad falls magically short of its promises if it is not given the leeway to access these preferred websites.

The solution to all this is with the use of a personal VPN network. VPN has been a long existing corporate method to guard confidential data within intra-company communication. The same method can be used to protect your data when browsing the internet through your iPad.

A VPN can do two important things to ensure that you have the full iPad experience while remaining secure in doing it. First, virtual private networks are equipped with various security protocols like PPTP, L2TP/IPSec and Open VPN among others to restrict your connection to within a tunnel. This means that all your data is first encrypted and then passed through secure channels so it cannot be hacked, intercepted, or decoded.