Whether it’s instant coffee, a quick commute or fast food, in today’s world, speed matters. And when it comes to websites, this principle could not be more true. 21st century Internet surfers expect a site to load in at least three, if not two seconds. So how does your WordPress site measure up? If you’re looking for ways to increase your site’s speed, here are some tips that can help.

Keep WordPress and plugins up-to-date

The Internet is constantly evolving. And if you want to keep up with it, you need to keep your site and plugins up-to-date. While you may already know that updating WordPress and plugins will keep your website secure, you may not know that doing this also increases your site’s speed. So if you want a fast site, install those updates as soon as they become available.

Choose a host wisely

Your host can make or break your website. A key reason for this is that website speed and uptime varies widely between them. So before you select your host, do some research on the various options out there.

Also, while your first impulse may be to choose shared hosting because of its low cost, be aware that it’s also going to be your slowest option in terms of speed because many websites are all relying on the same server for bandwidth. For many SMBs, however, using a dedicated server is simply not an option because it’s expensive. An alternative in the middle price and performance range is a Virtual Private Server (VPS). This acts like a dedicated server in terms of functionality, but still technically uses a shared server. Regardless, using a VPS will give you a boost in speed over typical shared hosting.

Keep your site lean

The leaner your site is, the faster its speed will be. So to create a lean site, be mindful of these four aspects:

1. Theme - it can be tempting to choose a theme that has a seemingly limitless amount of design options. While the promise of a versatile theme can spark the imagination, actually implementing one can come back to haunt you in terms of speed. When a theme has a ton of features on offer, the amount of code to produce those features can bog down your site. So to ensure you avoid this scenario, test the theme demos to see how long it takes for them to load. If it’s more than a few seconds, it’s probably best to avoid it.
2. Design - similar to theme, design elements also have the ability to dramatically slow down the speed of your site. Simple sites are faster, so think carefully about what ads, images and extras to use.
3. Plugins - not all plugins are created equal; some run fast and others slow. So how can you tell one from the other? While it may sound like a bit of an oxymoron, there’s actually a plugin for that. The P3 Plugin Profiler will show the impact a plugin has on your site’s load time. Another plugin rule to follow is that less plugins equals more speed. So think twice before your next plugin installation spree.
4. Images - bulky images can also slow down your site. And while many raw images are around 3,000 to 4,000 pixels wide, most featured images are 600-800 pixels wide. So to reduce image weight and gain a faster site, resize them to the exact size they’ll appear on your screen.

Mind your plugins

Yes, we just mentioned that you should get rid of plugins to speed up your site, but some specific plugins can actually have the opposite effect. A cache plugin, like W3 Total Cache and WP Super Cache are two that can provide more speed. Another plugin that can help is Lazy Load. It speeds up your site by loading the elements at the top of the website first, where viewers are looking when they first visit your site. Before installing the Lazy Load plugin, check your Theme Options to see if you already have it.

Create redirects sparingly

If a page on your site needs to be redirected to another page, it can really slow down your site. So use 301 redirects as little as possible. And to ensure you aren’t using any without knowing it, use Redirect mapper or other tools that can help you find redirects you don’t need.

Implement some or all of the speed tips above and you’re sure to see a noticeable difference in the speed of your site. If you’d like more tips to optimize your website or need help with any of your web or IT needs, we are just a phone call away.

Small and medium-sized businesses have been seeing improvements in cost reduction and disaster recovery with the adoption of virtualization. Over the last year, virtualization has enabled Strem Chemicals, a Massachusetts-based manufacturer and marketer of specialty chemicals, to see improvements beyond their bottom line. Here are some of the reasons why thousands of companies are saving a substantial amount of money from virtualization.

Virtualization puts IT in control

When a new product launches, virtualization lends a hand by matching spending with fluctuating workloads. For instance, ACI Speciality Benefits, a provider of employee assistance programs and other wellness services, virtualized its desktops with Cisco systems and VMware solutions. By balancing the workload with the introduction of virtualization, this allowed the company’s IT department to develop even more detailed budget reports. So how can this virtualization feature help your business? In your next meeting, virtualization can enable you to present a matrix with a direct correlation of how spending affects the total cost of ownership as well as return on investment (ROI).

Virtualization also helps with power savings because it reduces the number of physical servers needed, meaning less electricity and fewer backup batteries are required. But overall, the reason why it has gained traction amongst SMB's has more to do with the fact that it enhances control and management of technology.

Scale your business

For iStreamPlanet, a video streaming provider for live events such as the London 2012 Olympics and Sunday Night Football, cozying up to virtualization required little persuasion. In 2010, the company incorporated virtualization into the development of a cloud-based Software as a Service platform for video workflow management.

“Media processing is an ideal service for a cloud-based, virtualized environment due to fluctuating workloads that require scalable compute, storage, hosting and management services,” Dan Penn, director of software engineering says.

It also aids in ensuring that software engineers and operating teams work closer together while testing and deploying across private and public clouds. Vince Tan, IT administrator for Strem Chemicals advises SMBs to embrace virtualization since they are the ones that normally have limited IT staff and resources. Establishing a virtualized environment grants you more scalability and reliability.

It seems that the adoption of virtualization would be beneficial in keeping up with the times, and since many have already made the virtual leap there would be no shortage of peers to consult with on the matter - yes, you are not alone.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact our experts for more information on virtualization and its benefits for small and medium-sized businesses.

When it comes to your technology, you have enough to worry about. New cyber threats appear in the news every day. And while you’re likely doing your best to keep your business protected, you may not think twice about the security of your phone. And why should you? Well, if you’re an Android user there’s a new malware that has the ability to wipe out all your personal data on your phone. So, how does it work? And, how can you protect your Android? Here’s what you need to know.

How does it work

Mazar, as the malware is known, spreads exclusively via links in a text message. Once the user clicks on the link, Tor software is downloaded, which hides the source of the malware by allowing anonymous Internet connections. Then with little chance of being noticed, mazar is downloaded onto the phone.

What’s the risk?

Not only can mazar erase all your personal data, but it can also wreak havoc on your phone in other ways. If your Android is infected, the malware can secretly monitor your device, send text messages, and take control of your settings and keys. Similar to trojan malware, mazar creates a backdoor to your smartphone for cyber criminals to enter. Once the hacker is in, he can control your Android as however he sees fit.

How can you protect your Android?

If the language setting of your phone is set to Russian, you are safe. So unless you’re looking to take up a second language, the best security measure is to be cautious of all text messages you receive on your phone. Just like your mother taught you not to talk to strangers, you should also avoid clicking on their links. But you should also be wary of texts from friends because, as most of us know, hackers can easily disguise themselves as those close to us.

Lastly, there is one small, practical step that may help prevent mazar from infecting your Android. Simply switch off the security setting that allows apps from unknown sources to be installed on your phone.

As an MSP provider, we know how stressful security issues can be. The worry can cause you to lose focus and be less productive. That’s why we want our customers to know that we’re always there to offer security tips and solutions to keep your data safe. Whether you’re looking for a security solution for your Android or for your business, give us a call and we’re happy to give you some peace of mind.

When it comes to your technology, you have enough to worry about. New cyber threats appear in the news every day. And while you’re likely doing your best to keep your business protected, you may not think twice about the security of your phone. And why should you? Well, if you’re an Android user there’s a new malware that has the ability to wipe out all your personal data on your phone. So, how does it work? And, how can you protect your Android? Here’s what you need to know.

How does it work

Mazar, as the malware is known, spreads exclusively via links in a text message. Once the user clicks on the link, Tor software is downloaded, which hides the source of the malware by allowing anonymous Internet connections. Then with little chance of being noticed, mazar is downloaded onto the phone.

What’s the risk?

Not only can mazar erase all your personal data, but it can also wreak havoc on your phone in other ways. If your Android is infected, the malware can secretly monitor your device, send text messages, and take control of your settings and keys. Similar to trojan malware, mazar creates a backdoor to your smartphone for cyber criminals to enter. Once the hacker is in, he can control your Android as however he sees fit.

How can you protect your Android?

If the language setting of your phone is set to Russian, you are safe. So unless you’re looking to take up a second language, the best security measure is to be cautious of all text messages you receive on your phone. Just like your mother taught you not to talk to strangers, you should also avoid clicking on their links. But you should also be wary of texts from friends because, as most of us know, hackers can easily disguise themselves as those close to us.

Lastly, there is one small, practical step that may help prevent mazar from infecting your Android. Simply switch off the security setting that allows apps from unknown sources to be installed on your phone.

As an MSP provider, we know how stressful security issues can be. The worry can cause you to lose focus and be less productive. That’s why we want our customers to know that we’re always there to offer security tips and solutions to keep your data safe. Whether you’re looking for a security solution for your Android or for your business, give us a call and we’re happy to give you some peace of mind.