Recently I was asked a question by an IT professional that had convinced the business owner that he would be able to perform an upgrade of system size capability and perform any necessary programming changes associated after the upgrade.

 

The question he ask was a very intelligent question:

 

“Is there any way to back these systems up in case of a problem?”

 

Darn it, I have skipped way to far ahead! Let me back up (play on words) and tell the whole story.

 

I get an emergency call one day from a friend of mine that sells refurbished equipment. He had sold a component that when installed in an ESI Telephone System it would increase the size of the system by 6 lines and 12 digital stations, and it will. The component, even though previously in use had value and the system it was being installed into was also quality equipment.

 

Everything would have gone just fine except for one minor detail, the IT professional did not power down the system prior to connecting the component. When working with anything electrical (no matter what voltage it may be) it is wise to error on the side of caution. In this case the “professional” decided to save 2 minutes of time and caused the telephone system to crash and corrupted the software within the system.

 

The keyword here is “SOFTWARE”!

 

Telephone systems are no longer the simple device Mr. Haney used at the top of the pole on Green Acres and they are not that cool touch tone princess phone your Mom installed herself in the kitchen. Today’s systems have software, Bluetooth compatibility, linkable with email and able to leap tall buildings with a single bound.

Telephone Systems are hi-tech computers and your nephew might be able to set up wireless access in the house to run the playstation on every TV via the iphone but when it comes to a commercial grade telephone system a business uses to conduct daily operations it is all greek to the geek.

 

Sorry, I’ll get back on track!

 

Anyway, as I was in conversation with the IT guy on what to do I told him the System would need a software reload by a certified tech and then the custom programming would need rebuilding, that is when the “IT PROFESSIONAL” ask me………………….

 

“Is there any way to back these systems up in case of a problem?”

 

I had to hesitate for about 3 seconds in order to fight off the spontaneous replies ricocheting around in my head in order to form the words to respond professionally………………………

 

Yes there is, it needs to be done prior to the problem though.

(what more could I say ?)

 

If a business operation is going to allow anyone to perform maintenance and/or programming above the end user level they need a back-up.

 

 

Prices range from $85 for the basics.

 

(Chump Change in an EMERGENCY)

ANSWER

Your business might have a great relationship with the company or individual that installed it and continue to maintain it but no matter how good they are they are not and cannot be a 3rd party.

 

Who backs up more Dell computers than anyone?

 

Dell or Carbonite?