Blog

Practical knowledge on IT infrastructure and software

Network, security, cameras and custom software — articles from day-to-day work at NDVDL, for SMBs and mid-sized companies.

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Two people comparing documents and quotes at a table
9 min read

Making IT provider quotes actually comparable

What belongs in a serious IT quote, which line items are often missing, and which questions to ask before signing so you're really comparing like for like.

IT ProviderCost
Rows of servers in a data centre, symbolising data backup
7 min read

A backup strategy for SMEs that actually works

The 3-2-1 principle, offsite storage, restore testing and ransomware resilience: what actually makes a backup strategy work in a real emergency.

BackupIT Security
IT technician configuring access rights at a network cabinet
7 min read

GDPR in IT infrastructure: what to build

Access control, logging, deletion concepts and processor agreements: what actually belongs to GDPR compliance in a business's IT infrastructure.

GDPRIT Infrastructure
Server rack with network equipment for a firewall and security infrastructure
7 min read

Firewalls for SMEs: what actually matters

Segmentation, rule sets, updates and monitoring: what actually matters for a firewall in an SME – and what "best effort" in a support contract really means.

FirewallNetwork Security
Firewall hardware in a server rack, illustrating the comparison of firewall classes
7 min read

Firewall types compared for your business

Router firewall, dedicated appliance or UTM/next-gen: performance, licensing and maintenance effort compared – and which class fits which business.

FirewallNetwork Security
Handover meeting between two IT teams during a provider switch
8 min read

Switching IT providers without disruption

What to request before you switch, the typical pitfalls, and how a proper handover runs – a practical roadmap for changing your IT provider.

IT ProviderSME
Server and network hardware in a rack, ready for installation
8 min read

Buying vs. leasing IT hardware: what fits when

Capital tied up, replacement cycles, growth, warranty and returns: what actually matters when choosing between buying and leasing IT hardware.

IT HardwareCost
Server rack with network equipment, symbolizing guest network and POS infrastructure
7 min read

IT in Hotels and Hospitality: What It Needs

A properly separated guest network, enough bandwidth per room, a reliable POS system and cameras within data protection limits: what hospitality IT needs.

HospitalityHotels
Network cabling, symbolizing Wi-Fi connectivity in a warehouse
7 min read

IT in the Warehouse: Wi-Fi, Scanners, Connectivity

Full Wi-Fi coverage between racking, seamless roaming for scanners and forklifts, and resilience at goods receiving: what warehouse IT actually needs.

LogisticsWi-Fi
Network cabling as a symbol for connecting several company sites
7 min read

Connecting IT across multiple sites

VPN or a leased line, central or local services, what happens on failure: what actually matters when connecting several company sites across regions.

Multiple SitesNetwork
Team discussing the emergency response procedure using a plan
6 min read

IT down? An emergency plan for when it happens

Who decides, which systems come back first, and why documentation and contact chains are what actually make an IT emergency plan work in practice.

Emergency PlanIT Infrastructure
Technician connecting network equipment, symbolizing the integration of production equipment
7 min read

IT in Manufacturing: Where Office IT Ends

Separating production from office networks, securing legacy machine OS and shift-time availability: what IT infrastructure in manufacturing needs to deliver.

ManufacturingIT Infrastructure
Technician documenting existing network equipment during an IT infrastructure audit
7 min read

Taking over organically grown IT infrastructure

What gets inventoried when taking over organically grown IT infrastructure, how to handle undocumented systems, and in what order to remediate.

Infrastructure AuditIT Infrastructure
Network camera mounted on a facade, illustrating the comparison of different camera systems
8 min read

Comparing camera systems for your business

Image sensor, bitrate, PoE, local recording vs. cloud, and access rights compared – and when which camera system makes sense for a business.

Video SurveillanceCameras
Technician wiring a network cabinet with patch panels and switches
7 min read

Network planning for SMEs: what to clarify first

Before you run a single cable: port counts, VLANs, Wi-Fi coverage, cabling and documentation – what SMEs across Austria and Slovakia should settle first.

NetworkSME
Network cables organised into separate segments at a switch
7 min read

Network segmentation: why a flat network is a risk

VLANs, separating production, office, guest and cameras, practical implementation: how network segmentation works and what a flat network costs you.

NetworkIT Infrastructure
Technician working on a server rack inside a server room
7 min read

Server room in a business: what belongs in it

Space, power, UPS, cooling, access and fire safety: what actually matters when planning a server room in a business – and what you can skip.

Server RoomIT Infrastructure
Network cables and switches in a company network that grew over several years
5 min read

Common mistakes in networks that grew over time

A flat network, undocumented changes, consumer hardware, switch cascades, forgotten port forwards: the typical mistakes found in networks that grew over years.

NetworkIT Infrastructure
Network camera on a building facade monitoring company premises
7 min read

GDPR-compliant video surveillance for businesses

Legal basis, retention periods, signage and access rights: what actually matters, from a technical standpoint, when running video surveillance at your business.

Video SurveillanceGDPR
Technician checking access and documentation at a server rack
5 min read

Warning signs with your IT provider

No documentation handed over, credentials kept only by the provider, quotes without a site visit: five checkable warning signs with an IT provider.

IT ProviderSME
Network cabinet with patch panels and switches in a server room
8 min read

What does a company network cost? The cost drivers

Six factors determine what a company network costs: port count, cabling, hardware class, redundancy and operation – an overview before you request a quote.

NetworkCost
Access point mounted on the ceiling of a warehouse hall as part of Wi-Fi planning
7 min read

Planning Wi-Fi for halls, offices and outdoor areas

Coverage surveys, channel planning, roaming and clean separation of guest and business networks: what actually matters when planning Wi-Fi at work.

Wi-FiIT Infrastructure
Access point mounted on a ceiling, illustrating the comparison of Wi-Fi standards in business use
7 min read

Wi-Fi standards in business compared

Wi-Fi 5, 6, 6E and 7 compared: why client density matters more than peak bandwidth – and when a Wi-Fi upgrade in a business actually pays off.

Wi-FiWireless
Project meeting between an IT provider and the client's contacts
5 min read

Why IT projects fail in mid-sized companies

Unclear scope, no clear contact on the client side, changes made live without a fallback, sign-off without documentation: why IT projects fail in practice.

IT ProjectsSME