What is Hardware as a Service? Hardware as a Service, also known as HaaS, allows you to convert a large capital expense into a manageable operating expense by leasing you the hardware that you need. The hardware is placed at your site and a service provider remotely monitors your hardware and software. This gives you [...]
Stimulate Your Business
May 14, 2012Stimulate Your Business used with permission from the Cisco Small Business Resource Center Q&A with the Small Business Administration on Recovery Act Opportunities for Small Businesses The economy is recovering, but it often takes longer for that recovery to trickle down to small businesses. To provide relief and encourage continued growth, the U.S. Congress recently [...]
Make the Best Even Better
May 14, 2012Make the Best Even Better used with permission from the Microsoft Small Business Center Windows 7 can help make your business more productive than ever, but why stop there? Add Windows Small Business Server 2008 – and take productivity to the next level. By now you may have already upgraded your business PCs to Windows® [...]
Three Ways to Thrive in an Uncertain Economic Upturn
May 14, 2012Three Ways to Thrive in an Uncertain Economic Upturn reprinted with permission from the HP Enterprise Center Signs of a possible upturn are reenergizing businesses. However, this recession isn’t ending in a sharp economic upturn. “We know that the fall has stopped, but we are not yet sure whether the economy is going to grow [...]
Are You Prepared for the Exploding ‘Digital Universe’?
May 14, 2012Are You Prepared for the Exploding ‘Digital Universe’? used with the permission from Symantec “A perpetual tsunami.” That’s how IDC describes the current growth of digital information throughout the world.¹ It may be an understatement. IDC estimates that last year, despite the global recession, the so-called “Digital Universe” grew by 62% to nearly 800,000 petabytes. [...]
Microsoft Office 365: A Fully-Loaded Productivity Suite | Technology Solutions | Increase Business Productivity
April 20, 2012Microsoft Office 365: A Fully-Loaded Productivity Suite Use with permission from Microsoft. Do you feel like you are tied to your servers just to make sure email is up and running every day? Are you able to keep up with demands from your users for larger mailboxes and more storage? Are you ready to expand, [...]
Cloud Computing for Small and Midsize Businesses | Cloud Computing | Business Productivity | Cloud Technology
April 20, 2012Cloud Computing for Small and Midsize Businesses reprinted with permission from the HP Small Business Center You’ve no doubt heard a lot about cloud computing (or the cloud). What you may not have learned is how this misty concept can help with the real problems of operating your business, especially in hard times. In short, [...]
The Benefits of an Office 365 Workspace | Virtualization Technology | Cloud Computing
April 20, 2012The Benefits of an Office 365 Workspace used with permission from the Microsoft Small Business Website Truth be told, no one wants to work 365 days a year. However, we do need our technology to be available around the clock because you never know when that hot sales prospect will want a product fact sheet [...]
Going Hybrid: Best of Both Worlds in Cloud Computing | Cloud Technology | Virtualization
April 20, 2012Going Hybrid: Best of Both Worlds in Cloud Computing used with permission by IBM ForwardView With all the chatter about accessing data and applications anytime, anywhere it’s little wonder that cloud computing has generated so much interest. Indeed, the proliferation of mobile devices, high–speed connections and data–intensive applications have challenged many organizations to continuously meet [...]
Ready to Dive into Software as a Service? | Software Technology | IT Support
April 20, 2012Ready to Dive into Software as a Service? Reprinted with permission from the Microsoft Small Business Center Randy Niederer had a problem. As director of marketing for Unico, a St. Louis-based manufacturer of specialty heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning equipment, he’d gathered leads, which were then sent to about 150 independent sales representatives. Unfortunately, the CRM [...]
7 Reasons Small Businesses Switch to Cloud Based Software | Cloud Computing | Virtualization
March 22, 20127 Reasons Small Businesses Switch to Cloud Based Software used with permission from the Microsoft Small Business Center Small business owners often have big dreams. Whether that dream is to keep your business small or to grow it into a big business, you want your business to run as smoothly as possible – every step [...]
Conjure Up Some Virtual Magic | Virtualization | Virtual Machine
March 22, 2012Conjure Up Some Virtual Magic used with permission from the Microsoft Small Business Center Do you remember wondering as a kid how a magician could put one scarf in a hat and then pull out ten? And wishing you could do the same, maybe with a candy bar instead of a scarf? Well, magic might [...]
Maximize Your Virtualization ROI | Virtualization | Virtual Machine
March 22, 2012Maximize Your Virtualization ROI reprinted with permission from HP Virtualization technology is a great way to increase business agility while reducing infrastructure costs. But it can also add another layer of management complexity, resulting in higher management costs and lower ROI. You need the right software tools to realize the full benefits of virtualization. Managing [...]
Let a Private Cloud Manage Your Technology Automatically | Cloud Computing | Cloud Technology
March 22, 2012Let a Private Cloud Manage Your Technology Automatically used with permission from Microsoft Business for Small & Midsize Companies Ask your company’s managers or employees what the cloud means to them and you’re likely to hear about creating and sharing documents online, storing and downloading music, or video conferences with distant colleagues. But ask your [...]
The Time is NOW for Virtualization | Virtualization Technology | Virutal Machine
March 22, 2012The Time is NOW for Virtualization By Blake Britton – VP, Axxys Technologies As we continue to look forward at the IT landscape nothing is growing faster than virtualization. The last 4 out of 5 projects completed by us have all involved creating a virtual strategy for our clients. I know this number does not [...]
4 Reasons ‘Virtualization’ Saves Money | Virtualization | Virtualization Technology
March 22, 20124 Reasons ‘Virtualization’ Saves Money by Heather Clancy reprinted with permission from the Microsoft Small Business Center Most articles about virtualization discuss the technology in the context of “big” business. They are glowing about the potential for “data center consolidation” or “reduced system maintenance expenses.” Or they rave about the prospects for a better disaster [...]
Seven Windows 8 Consumer Preview Calculator features you should utilize | Windows Tips | Windows Features
March 15, 2012You may already know that the Windows 8 version of Calculator performs basic arithmetic, as well as scientific, programmer, and statistical calculations. What you may not know is that it can also calculate mortgage payments, fuel economy, perform unit conversions, and more.
Here are seven Windows 8 Calculator features you may not know about:
Why You Need a Managed Services Provider | Technology Solutions
March 5, 2012Why You Need a Managed Services Provider Information technology (IT) systems are expected to meet high standards of operation, while offering 24/7 availability, security, and performance. In today’s environment, you have to keep pace with the constant changes in IT, performance demands, and pressure to deliver competitive IT functionality. To meet these challenges, many organizations [...]
What a VAR Can Do for Your Business | IT Support | Small to Midsized Businesses
March 5, 2012What a VAR Can Do for Your Business by Peter Alexander used with permission from the Microsoft Small Business Center Technology can go a long way in helping your business stay competitive, meet customer expectations and improve operational efficiencies. But most small businesses simply don’t have the resources to evaluate technologies and aren’t sure where [...]
Understanding the Value of a Value Added Reseller (VAR) | Technology Support | Small Businesses
March 5, 2012Understanding the Value of a Value Added Reseller (VAR) used with permission from the HP Site VARs have a variety of perceptions about them. Some of these perceptions are right on. Some of them completely miss the mark. The truth is the right VAR can help most businesses more than they realize. Can the right [...]
Thinking About Hiring Your Own Internal IT Staff – Think Again! | Small to Midszied Businesses
March 5, 2012Thinking About Hiring Your Own Internal IT Staff – Think Again! Outsourcing your IT brings additional business value by Stuart Crawford, President and CMO of Ulistic Republished August 2011 and used with permission. Businesses today wrestle and grapple with the thought of hiring their own technology support staff to support their daily need for IT [...]
Five New Tips: How to Find an IT Partner That Will Cut Your Costs | Small Businesses | Technology Support
March 5, 2012Five New Tips: How to Find an IT Partner That Will Cut Your Costs used with permission from the Cisco Small Business Resource Center Where does your business find the IT expertise it needs? Businesses that lack the staff IT expertise or time that a technology requires can outsource. A sea of techies will claim [...]
23 IT Tips and Tricks for Small Businesses in 2012
February 24, 2012IT tips and tricks that will save your small business money and time
Guide: How to select an outsourced IT provider
February 24, 201225 questions that will help you zero-in on a top-notch IT consultant
How Free Antivirus Software Can End Up Costing You | Technology Support
January 25, 2012How Free Antivirus Software Can End Up Costing You used with permission from Symantec Free antivirus software may seem like a bargain, but it’s not. Learn what issues you need to consider before you download this particular “freeware.” In this tough economy, getting something for free is always a good thing, right? Short answer: It [...]
The Weakest Link in Network Security | Network Security
January 25, 2012The Weakest Link in Network Security By Peter Alexander Reprinted with permission from Microsoft Small Business Center Your small-business network may be protected by firewalls, intrusion detection and other state-of-the-art security technologies. And yet, all it takes is one person’s carelessness, and suddenly it’s as if you have no network security at all. Let me [...]
Preserve and Protect Your Data | Network Security | Small to Midsized Businesses
January 25, 2012Preserve and Protect Your Data Summary As the amount of data being created continues to increase, and that info is accessed and shared by more people, SMBs can’t afford to ignore the need for data protection. Small and medium businesses are powered by information. Should your business lose that information or even suffer an interruption [...]
Watch What You Install On Your Server | Network Support | Technology Support
January 25, 2012Watch What You Install On Your Server by Christopher Elliott reprinted with permission from the Microsoft Small Business Center Download warning: Watch what you install on your server. Today’s server operating systems, including Microsoft Small Business Server 2003, are so user-friendly that you could be left with the impression that anyone with the ability to [...]
Is Your Infrastructure Leaking Money? |
January 25, 2012Is Your Infrastructure Leaking Money? reprinted with permission from HP Whoever said “don’t sweat the small stuff” never managed an IT infrastructure—and certainly never during turbulent economic times. According to independent analyst Forrester Research, global IT purchases in 2008 will grow by only 6 percent, versus 12 percent growth in 2007. So, although you’re already [...]
What is Green Computing?
December 29, 2011What is Green Computing? How can it impact my business? Two great questions that eMazzanti Technologies has answers for. Did you know that in addition to effecting your business communications, online threats also contribute to our growing climate crisis? Viruses, malware and spyware often draw on the processing power of your computer, even when you [...]
Microsoft’s busy year, A to Z
December 28, 2011A look back at Microsoft’s busy year, A to Z by Janet I. Tu used with permission from the author (Thank you Janet!) The year 2011 has been eventful for Microsoft, from its partnership with Nokia to the purchase of Skype and the first peek at Windows 8. Here’s Microsoft’s year, from A to Z. [...]
Windows 8 Key Features
December 20, 2011Windows 8 key features and benefits for the upcoming new operating system from Microsoft
Previewing ‘Windows 8′
December 20, 2011Microsoft demonstrates the next generation of Windows, internally code-named “Windows 8,” for the first time at the June D9 Conference.
THE TOP 25 WORST PASSWORDS OF 2011
November 18, 2011THE TOP 25 WORST PASSWORDS OF 2011 1. password 2. 123456 3. 12345678 4. Qwerty 5. abc123 6. Monkey 7. 1234567 8. Letmein 9. trustno1 10. Dragon 11. Baseball 12. 111111 13. Iloveyou 14. Master 15. Sunshine 16. Ashley 17. Bailey 18. passw0rd 19. Shadow 20. 123123 21. 654321 22. Superman 23. Qazwsx 24. Michael [...]
Windows Server 2008 R2 and Windows 7 – Better Together
October 31, 2011Lost in all the hype about the recent Windows 7 is the excitement around the simultaneous launch of Windows Server 2008 R2. There are probably a few reasons this launch has been so overlooked. First, as I mentioned, it came hand-in-hand with the desktop launch. Clearly, Microsoft’s marketing team doesn’t plan any “I’m a Windows [...]
Why Hackers Hate Windows 7
October 31, 2011A lot of the focus is on security and ways of protecting the network and threats from inside and outside. Every day, hackers work on finding exploits and unpatched systems to break into. In the 1990’s, virus’s were written by kids, and college students more for an annoyance then what they are doing today. Today, [...]
5 Steps to a Trouble-free Windows 7 Upgrade
October 31, 2011Upgrading to the new Windows® 7 operating system can make your PC faster and easier to use. Many users fear that the upgrade process itself will be stressful and difficult — but fear not! Following these five simple steps will help you have a smooth and stress-free transition. 1. Check to ensure you meet system [...]
Surveillance NOT Just for Spies
October 10, 2011This eNewsletter will self-destruct in five seconds. . . Terms such as surveillance, undercover and covert conjure up images typically seen in a James Bond or Mission Impossible movie. These days, however, there are practical yet affordable surveillance applications and equipment businesses can use to creatively save time and money. Practical Application #1: “Eyes” for [...]
Business Resiliency Prevents Downtime, Data Loss & Disaster
July 28, 2011Business Resiliency Prevents Downtime, Data Loss & Disaster For years, midsize companies have protected themselves against downtime and data loss caused by disasters such as hurricanes and fires. But in today’s intelligent and interconnected world, where information is one of the most valuable assets a business can have, many midsize companies are not doing enough [...]
How to Bullet-Proof Your Data
July 28, 2011How to Bullet-Proof Your Data By Brian Renter, President, Universal Information Systems A recent study of companies experiencing a “major loss” of computer records discovered that 43 percent never reopened, 51 percent closed within two years of the loss, and a mere 6 percent survived over the long-term. For small and medium-sized businesses in particular, [...]
Summer Storms and Your UPS
July 28, 2011Summer Storms and Your UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) Devices and Surge Protectors by Michael Appollo, CTO, NST We hope you have have successfully weathered the summer storms. Now is a good time to check your UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) devices and surge protectors because there is a good chance they have taken some voltage hits [...]
When Times are Tough, There’s No Room for Risk
July 28, 2011When Times are Tough, There’s No Room for Risk used with permission from the HP Midsize Business Center Don’t Stop fortifying against risk Four ways to mitigate risk in a tough economy Every business deals with risk. But medium-sized businesses, with smaller IT staff and tighter operating budgets are often more exposed to risk than [...]
Seeing Double – Practical Productivity
June 30, 2011Seeing Double – Practical Productivity By Jane Cage, HTS COO Do you have the luxury of doing only one task at a time? If you’re like me, I would guess the answer is probably “No”. I find myself answering email, working on a spreadsheet, looking at an accounting issue and searching for info on [...]
Ten Tips for Making Your Business More Efficient
June 30, 2011Ten Tips for Making Your Business More Efficient used with permission from CiscoTo keep pace in an increasingly competitive world, your business needs to run as efficiently as possible. “Sooner or later, any company not operating efficiently will be out of business,” says Laurie McCabe, vice president of small and medium business insights and solutions [...]
22 Ways To Work Quicker on your Computer
June 30, 201122 Ways To Work Quicker on your Computer Used with permission from the HP Small & Medium Business Center Work, family, friends and a few hours for yourself? Sometimes it seems impossible to fit everything in one day. If you are looking to spend less time at your computer and more time somewhere else, check [...]
6 Keys to Boosting Productivity
June 30, 20116 Keys to Boosting Productivity used with permission from the HP Small Business CenterNow more than ever, companies are pushing their employees to work harder, better and smarter. In effect, many employees are drowning in work, are overwhelmed, less productive and don’t know which task to handle first. If this scenario sounds familiar to you, [...]
5 Sure-Fire Ways to Protect your Private Information
May 31, 2011used with permission from the HP Small Business Site Last year, the reputation of online security took yet another major hit when over 200,000 users of Gawker Media websites — including those users who log in via Twitter — had their usernames and passwords hacked and distributed across the web. This massive data breach just [...]
5 Career Survival Tips for the “Wherever” Worker
May 31, 2011used with permission from the Microsoft Business Site Today’s office worker isn’t always found in the office. Even if you’re not in sales, you may do a significant amount of work at a customer site, from conference hotels, or at home. Studies have shown that this kind of work flexibility leads to a more satisfying [...]
7 Reasons Small Businesses Switch to Cloud Based Software
May 31, 2011used with permission from the Microsoft Small Business Center Small business owners often have big dreams. Whether that dream is to keep your business small or to grow it into a big business, you want your business to run as smoothly as possible – every step of the way. You might start your business [...]
Disaster-Proof Your Business
April 29, 2011Disaster-Proof Your Business by Jeff Wuorio used with permission from the Microsoft Business Site If you’re a business owner, you need to know how to protect your business. Try as we might, there’s often no way to skirt disaster — whether it’s national, personal or weather induced. But there are strategies to cope with [...]
Find Out How To Get An Extra Hour Every Day
April 29, 2011Find Out How To Get An Extra Hour Every Day used with permission from the HP Small & Medium Business Site Time pressure is acute and frustrations such as commuting, inflexible working hours and tedious meetings make it worse. To get things started here are ten sure-fire ways to get an extra hour a [...]
5 Tips for Top-notch Password Security
March 31, 20115 Tips for Top-notch Password Security by Kim Komando used with permission from the Microsoft Small Business website Whether it’s a few PCs or hundreds on your network, there’s one thing that can separate your system from being compromised: a great password. Why? Hackers want access to anything and everything. If they can guess [...]
Learning to Actively Listen Will Close The “Gap”
March 31, 2011Learning to Actively Listen Will Close The “Gap” By Craig Kitch www.craigkitch.com There is nothing more fruitful for your business or career than the art of active listening. Unfortunately, most people would rather talk than listen and that’s why most people live lives of mediocrity. You learn nothing when your mouth is moving but [...]
4 Ways Social Media Can Improve Sales
March 31, 20114 Ways Social Media Can Improve Sales Performance used with permission from the Microsoft Small Business website Every salesperson knows that information is power. The more you know about your prospect, the more insight you have into what makes them buy. The Internet has made researching your customers easier than ever. You can visit company [...]
Software and the Taxman
March 31, 2011Software and the Taxman By Jeffrey A. Levenstam, Partner, Ernst & Young LLP—International Tax Services used with permission from the Microsoft Small Business website What do you consider when you’re buying new business software? How well the product addresses the needs of your organization? Naturally. The cost per seat? Sure. The ease of administration [...]
Buyer Beware
January 28, 2011Buyer Beware Don’t Expect Consumer-Grade Technology to Meet Your Business-Class Needs used with permission from the Cisco Small Business Website When you walk into a business meeting, do you wear pajamas? Do you let your children manage the accounts receivable for your office? When you buy business technology, do you choose products designed for [...]
It’s Time to Cut Down on Spam
January 28, 2011It’s Time to Cut Down on Spam used with permission from Symantec It’s no secret that spammers count on current events to hoodwink email users. In recent years, everything from the Beijing Olympics to the presidential campaign of Barack Obama to the Oscar ceremonies has provided fodder for their scams. But with the economy [...]
Microsoft Windows at 25
January 28, 2011Microsoft Windows at 25 Recently (November 20th to be exact) marked the 25th anniversary of the official release of Windows 1.0. If you’re in the mood for a laugh, check out this image (courtesy of Wikipedia) of what it looked like – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Windows1.0.png. And to think people actually thought that system improved productivity! Fortunately [...]
Eleven Things to Give Up in 2011
January 28, 2011Eleven Things to Give Up in 2011 by Marlene Chism Instead of trying to lose twenty pounds for your New Year’s resolution, what if you decided to give up eleven habits that keep you stuck in your relationships at home and at work. Here are eleven things, in the form of mindsets, habits and [...]
My IT Department – Why So Much Harder to Manage?
January 28, 2011My IT Department – Why So Much Harder to Manage Than the Rest? In the last 5 years PCS has evolved from an IT consultancy to an IT support organization, relying on our people, processes, and controls to achieve our performance objectives. Our focus on service level improvements has, at times, been revealing about [...]
Lending to your Business? Do It Right?
January 28, 2011Lending to your Business? Do It Right. by Joseph Anthony used with permission from the Microsoft SMall Business website Where does your business go when it needs a loan? For many small businesses, the answer is . . . right back to the owner. If you have to lend money to your business, do [...]
3 Essential Steps to Better Business Intelligence
January 28, 20113 Essential Steps to Better Business Intelligence used with permission from the Microsoft Small Business website Companies today have too much information. What companies don’t have enough of is intelligence – and no, we’re not talking about your staff. Business intelligence refers to the insights you discover when you turn all that data into [...]
5 Steps for Determining an Employee’s Salary
January 28, 20115 Steps for Determining an Employee’s Salary by Joanna L. Krotz used with permission from the Microsoft Small Business website Putting a price tag on a staff job can be a lot harder than pricing your company’s products and services. Pay packages have so few rules. They go up and down depending on geography, [...]
Go Green with Ease
January 28, 2011Go Green with Ease: 5 Steps for Small Businesses used with permission from the Cisco Small Business Center Easy IT Strategies that Save Money and Help the Environment Smart information technology (IT) practices can reduce the environmental impact of conducting business, and help small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) reduce expenses. With employee awareness and [...]
Look to the Cloud to Save Money and Build Business
December 27, 2010Look to the cloud to save money and build business used with permission from the IBM website Cloud computing is not pie in the sky. It offers tangible benefits that real-world businesses need to meet the demands—and take advantage of the opportunities—of today’s instrumented, interconnected and intelligent world. As the world grows smarter, cloud [...]
When You Wish Upon “The Cloud”
December 27, 2010When You Wish Upon “The Cloud” by Erin Griffin used with permission from the Microsoft Small Business Website It seems that every networking event this year, every tech magazine issue, and every vendor worth its salt is talking about “the cloud.” The cloud, in one of its many forms – public, private, or mixed – [...]
When You Wish Upon “The Cloud”
December 27, 2010When You Wish Upon “The Cloud” by Erin Griffin used with permission from the Microsoft Small Business Website It seems that every networking event this year, every tech magazine issue, and every vendor worth its salt is talking about “the cloud.” The cloud, in one of its many forms – public, private, or mixed [...]
Look to the Cloud to Save Money and Build Business
December 27, 2010Look to the cloud to save money and build business used with permission from the IBM website Cloud computing is not pie in the sky. It offers tangible benefits that real-world businesses need to meet the demands—and take advantage of the opportunities—of today’s instrumented, interconnected and intelligent world. As the world grows smarter, cloud [...]
Compliment Your Customers With Positive Statements
August 10, 2010Compliment Your Customers With Positive Statements by Debra J. SchmidtIf a customer calls and says he saw “the coolest software while he was at a convention in Las Vegas,” don’t immediately ask the brand and type of computer for which it’s needed. Instead talk about the convention in Las Vegas for a couple of minutes [...]
Does Everyone in Your Organization “Get” the Security Agenda?
August 10, 2010Does Everyone in Your Organization ‘Get’ the Security Agenda? reprinted with permission from Symantec Summary End users often understand the need for security only in a general sense, without grasping the vital role they play in maintaining security. This article looks at the steps IT can take to convey the message that all employees must [...]
Assessing Legal Threats
August 10, 2010Assessing Legal Threats reprinted with permission from HPIf you’re like most companies, as much as 90 percent of your corporate communications and business activities take place electronically. And, like most companies, you must live with the threat of legal actions that could trigger sweeping requests for this kind of information. Your current records retention programs [...]
File Storage: How to Use It So You Won’t Lose Your Data
August 10, 2010File Storage: How to Use It So You Won’t Lose Your Data used with permission from the Cisco Small Business Site File storage systems that provide automated, secure backup and additional storage capacity can play an essential role in your business’s success. The best file storage systems seamlessly help protect valuable data, make it easy [...]
Maximize Your Virtualization ROI
August 10, 2010Maximize Your Virtualization ROI reprinted with permission from HP Virtualization technology is a great way to increase business agility while reducing infrastructure costs. But it can also add another layer of management complexity, resulting in higher management costs and lower ROI. You need the right software tools to realize the full benefits of virtualization. Managing [...]
Three Quick And Easy Ways to Make Google Juice in your Business
August 10, 2010Three Quick And Easy Ways To Make Google Juice In Your Business by Stuart Crawford, Ulistic, Inc. In our world of constant advertising and marketing, more and more of our small business clients are researching for new ways of attracting their ideal clients. Electing to attract the right type of business versus spraying the market [...]
6 Interview Questions You Need to Ask
August 10, 2010Hiring? 6 Interview Questions You Need to Ask by Jeff Wuorio used with permission from the Microsoft Small Business Center When it comes to interviewing potential employees , you need to ask the loaded questions. That’s because hiring the right people is central to the continuing growth and success of your business. So you need [...]
15 Customer Service No-Nos
August 10, 201015 Customer Service No-Nos by Monte Enbysk used with permission from the Microsoft Small Business Center Sometimes it seems like rude customer service is the rule rather than the exception. But there’s rude — and then there’s rude. When it comes to getting customer service, what’s your definition of rude? What unprofessional behavior irritates you [...]
What is Voice over IP? The Basics
August 10, 2010What is Voice over IP? The Basics used with permission from the Cisco Small Business Center. What is voice over IP? How is it different from unified communications? And how can it help your small business? What is Voice over IP? Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology lets you use the Internet to make and [...]
The Virtual Office Checklist
August 10, 2010The Virtual Office Checklist used with permission from the Cisco Small Business Center. Here are some things to consider when choosing Cisco SMB Solutions that enable you and your colleagues to work from anywhere. Adding a VPN and firewall enables the security you need. The technology behind remote access is called a “virtual private network,” [...]
Two LinkedIn Security Settings You Must Set
August 10, 2010Two LinkedIn Security Settings You Must Set by Stuart Crawford, Ulistic, Inc. LinkedIn is one of the industry leading social networks and online communities in use today across multiple businesses and industries. LinkedIn’s focus on business-to-business networking and facilitating the sharing of ideas and strategies has won the trust of business professionals globally. Not unlike [...]
Managing Software Assets Pays Big Dividends
August 10, 2010Managing Software Assets Pays Big Dividends used with permission from the Microsoft Business Site Awhile back, we brought you the story of Ted , a CIO at a midsized company who was struggling to get a handle on his software licenses and IT costs. If you haven’t taken a systematic approach to managing your company’s [...]
Online Safety for Kids
August 10, 2010Online Safety for Kids Diana Johnson, Marketing, Wood Networks Our kids are a special gift entrusted to us to raise, nurture, and teach for about 18 years. They don’t come with an instruction manual and we often forget how different the world is from when we were growing up. One area parents often neglect is [...]
Sweeping OUT my Inbox
August 10, 2010Sweeping OUT my Inbox by Jane Cage, COO, HTS Do you live in your inbox? I do – and sometimes it gets a little crowded. I find myself using messages as a to-do list and a record of communication. When I can’t figure out where an important piece of information should really live, I [...]
Top 10 Reasons to buy Windows 7
June 17, 2010Top 10 Reasons to buy Windows 7 1. Get quicker access to all of your stuff use Pin and Jump Lists to keep the programs and files you use the most right at your fingertips. 2. Manage open windows more easily resize and arrange windows simply by dragging their borders to the edge of your [...]
3 PC Ways to Get Rid of an Old PC
June 17, 20103 PC Ways to Get Rid of an Old PC by Kim Komando used with permission from the Microsoft Small Business Center Are you getting a new PC, or a set of new PCs for your business? If so, the question becomes: What do I do with that old clunker? Don’t just cart it off [...]
Office 2010 – Love at First Sight
June 17, 2010Office 2010 – Love at First Sight! by Jane Cage, COO, HTS As your trusted technology partner, we feel duty bound to try before you buy. How can we make recommendations to you about products we don’t know how to use? It’s a dirty job, and sometimes risky, but someone has to try stuff first [...]
The Future of Cloud Computing
June 17, 2010The Future of Cloud Computing By Tommy Wald, President & CEO, RIATA Technologies, Inc. I remember when I started my career in computing in 1983, when our primary form of computing consisted of centralized mainframe/midframe computers accessed by simple dumb terminals. Since then our industry has swung from a centralized form of computing to a [...]
Five Red Flags of Resistance and Why Resistance Keeps You Stuck
June 17, 2010Five Red Flags of Resistance and Why Resistance Keeps You Stuck used with permission from Marlene Chism www.stopyourdrama.com Your boss doesn’t listen to your ideas. Your spouse refuses to try to understand. Your employees resist your leadership, and secretly you know you keep doing things you don’t really want to do but you feel stuck [...]
Drop Me In Dubuque
June 17, 2010Drop me in Dubuque I’ll survive anywhere! by Joel Weldon, Success Comes in Cans Schmitz’s reputation was legend!. They said, and rightly so, you could drop Schmitz off in any city in the U.S. at nine in the morning, and by 5 p.m. Schmitz would have made at least one sale. Schmitz was not only [...]
Unified communications security: Keeping your customers’ networks safe
April 30, 2010By Heather Clancy Be forewarned: While unified communications security incidents aren’t dominating headlines, the potential for vital corporate data to slip out via this technology solution is very real. “There has been zero recognition of this as being an issue for consumers, but grabbing voice packets out of places like people’s homes can actually be [...]
5 Steps to a Trouble-free Windows 7 Upgrade
April 22, 2010reprinted with permission from the HP Small Business Center Upgrading to the new Windows® 7 operating system can make your PC faster and easier to use. Many users fear that the upgrade process itself will be stressful and difficult — but fear not! Following these five simple steps will help you have a smooth and [...]
You’re In Sales No Matter What Your Title
April 22, 2010by Debra J. Schmidt – used with permission If I ask you right now whether or not you are in sales, chances are you would say, “No, I’m in accounts payable or customer service or marketing.” You might even say, “I’m the CEO.” No matter what your job is, you are in sales. Every time [...]
Greener, Leaner IT Lowers Costs, Boosts Efficiency
April 22, 2010The article re-printed courtesy of IBM ForwardView eMagazine www.ibm.com/expressadvantage/forwardview Market forces, such as the fluctuations of commodity prices, play a role in how SMBs operate and compete. These days, energy is perhaps the most influential of all commodities, and its impact upon SMBs can be tremendous. According to a recent report issued by IBM entitled [...]
How To Avoid Workplace Favoritism
April 22, 2010by Rieva Lesonsky reprinted with permission from the Microsoft Small Business Center Q: I know from past experience that bosses sometimes favor some employees over others based on personal reasons. Now that I’m a business owner, how can I be sure I’m treating my employees fairly and not showing favoritism? A: You’re right to be [...]
Protecting Confidential Information in a Down Economy
April 22, 2010reprinted from Symantec Did you know that an estimated 90% of data loss incidents are accidental? That may be surprising news in light of the fact that cyber-criminals have never been busier. But according to a recent survey by TheInfoPro Inc., data loss is “more the result of non-malicious activity as compared to malicious actions.” [...]
Put It In Writing: Your Business Has Ethics
April 22, 2010by Jeff Wuorio reprinted with permission from the Microsoft Small Business Center Ethics are on people’s minds these days, as newspaper headlines scream about insider trading, companies cooking their books, and other scandals involving business executives at mostly major corporations. Unfortunately, accounting fraud and other scandals can taint all businesses, large and small. Still, many [...]
Social Networking Can Attract Some Unwelcome “Friends”
April 22, 2010By Gene Marks – from Symantec David never considered himself a gossip. He wasn’t a big computer guy. And as the owner of a profitable business he barely had enough time to spend with his family. But still, he heard all about these social community websites and the need to do online social networking for business [...]
Top Seven Tips for Reducing Workplace Negativity
April 22, 2010By Marlene Chism used with permission Negativity is the number one productivity problem in the workplace. Signs of negativity include backstabbing, gossiping, power struggles and lack of teamwork. The end result is absenteeism, low morale and turnover. Here are seven tips for improving workplace relationships and reducing negativity. 1. Facilitate Regular Staff Meetings When done [...]
Social Networking: First Do No Harm!
April 22, 2010By: Robert H. Spencer, PhD & Randolph P. Johnston, Exec VP, NMGI It has been estimated that more than 76 million “millennials” (Americans born between 1978 and 2000) are ready to enter the workforce throughout the next decade. At the same time significant numbers of the “Baby Boomer” generation will be retiring. It seems that [...]
ROI: Extending the Benefits of Energy Efficiency
April 22, 2010The article re-printed courtesy of IBM ForwardView eMagazine www.ibm.com/expressadvantage/forwardview What’s good for the environment can also make incredibly good business sense. By taking advantage of green IT strategies such as virtualization and server consolidation, midsized businesses can realize immediate ROI in 2010. What’s more, today’s energy-efficient technologies do more than just alleviate power and cooling [...]
Five Essential Elements of Business Recovery
April 22, 2010The article re-printed courtesy of IBM ForwardView eMagazine www.ibm.com/expressadvantage/forwardview In the current business environment, the old adage “time is money” applies now more than ever. So what happens when everyday operations are disrupted? According to the U.S. Labor Department, more than 40 percent of all companies that experience a disaster never reopen – and more [...]
Six Steps to Smarter Printing
April 22, 2010reprinted with permission from HP Making changes to your printing and imaging systems is an easy way to reduce your environmental impact and show measurable cost savings. Selecting the right imaging and printing tools and implementing responsible in-office practices are crucial to developing a cost effective environmental strategy. Here are six key steps to getting [...]
Business Productivity with Microsoft Online Services
April 22, 2010In today’s competitive global market, businesses need technology that enables flexibility and cost-effectively adds value to their organization. Internet-based hosted services provide a way to meet these objectives. They deliver feature-rich productivity tools to users while helping to relieve the burden of managing and maintaining business systems — freeing up IT departments to focus on [...]
Avoid Virtualization Pitfalls
April 22, 2010Five best practices for getting started with virtualization reprinted with permission from HP To save money on equipment and time on system maintenance, more and more businesses are deploying virtual servers. Reduced overhead and simplified management can free up resources that can be applied toward innovation and other valuable projects that sharpen the business’ competitive [...]
The 8 Steps of Empowerment:
April 22, 2010Leadership Principles for Navigating Change By Marlene Chism www.stopyourdrama.com Change, whether it is wanted or unwanted brings out our best and worst. The Stop Your Drama Methodology incorporates 8 principles and multiple tools for navigating change or reinventing any part of your life or business. 1. Clear the Fog Where drama is, clarity is not. [...]
Lessons Learned From Bad Tech Hires
April 22, 2010by Kim Komando reprinted with permission from the Microsoft Small Business Center For many small businesses, a key hiring challenge is finding the right person to care for your computers and networks. These folks usually carry the title of network or system administrator. And as your business grows, you may need someone (or two) on [...]
5 smart green ways to save money for your business
April 21, 2010Skeptics suggest an economic crisis will stall sustainable business practices. They cling to the myth that going green costs more money. But many businesses are discovering green habits save big money, especially when it comes to information technology. The savings are many: Reduced power consumption, IT maintenance and hardware procurement costs. This can lead [...]
IT Business Risk Management
April 20, 2010Don’t stop fortifying against risk. Four ways to mitigate risk in a tough economy reprinted with permission from HP Every business deals with risk. But medium-sized businesses, with smaller IT staff and tighter operating budgets are often more exposed to risk than larger companies. This reality is never more evident than in a down economy: [...]
Your Business Really Blew It: What Now?
April 20, 2010by Jeff Wuorio used with permission from the Microsoft Small Business Center We all make mistakes. It’s the damage that really counts. Not long ago, Twin Partners, a Rochester, N.Y., advertising agency, signed on a media behemoth as a client. During the agency’s first media buy for the project, it switched to a less-expensive freelancer. [...]
10 Ways to Work More Securely
April 20, 2010used with permission from Microsoft At Work The security of your computer and data is crucial for you and the success of your company. Lost or stolen information can reveal company secrets, or expose your confidential or personal information. The more you do to keep your computer secure, the safer your information will be. Use [...]
The Future of Computing is in the Clouds
February 24, 2010By Shane Robison, Chief Technology Officer, HP reprinted with permission from the HP Small Business Center Technology is in the early stages of a big shift, one that will transform how companies and individuals access information, share content and communicate. This next wave will be driven by a new model of computing: people and businesses [...]
Managers Beware – Your Employees Are Watching you
February 24, 2010by Debra J. Schmidt used with permission Is “walking the talk” a tired old cliché or a bold new concept? Very few managers today are receiving formal management training. As a result, many are poor communicators and weak in their delegation and leadership skills. According to a Gallup poll, 25% of U.S. employees would fire [...]
Smile – You’re on the Phone
February 24, 2010Used with permission of Joel H. Weldon & Associates, Inc. http://www.SuccessComesInCans.com Forget the research evidence, the dozens of pages of documentation and the years of prodding by communications consultants. Do your own survey right now. Pick up your telephone and call ten companies or businesses in your area that provide some sort of customer service, [...]
What a VAR Can Do for Your Business
February 24, 2010by Peter Alexander used with permission from the Microsoft Small Business Center Technology can go a long way in helping your business stay competitive, meet customer expectations and improve operational efficiencies. But most small businesses simply don’t have the resources to evaluate technologies and aren’t sure where to find the right technology partner. That’s where [...]
Your Nonprofit Needs a Technology Plan
February 24, 2010by Monte Enbysk used with permission from the Microsoft Small Business Center To the surprise of the nonprofit sector, Internet technology is enhancing good works. Relief agencies such as the American Red Cross have demonstrated how effectively online systems can speed cash donations to tragedy-stricken parts of the world. Smaller nonprofits have found the Web [...]
Acceptable Computer Usage Policy
February 24, 2010Acceptable Computer Usage Policy -Eric Reynolds Wood Networks, Senior Technician Whether presented as part of the company handbook, or as a standalone document, an Acceptable Computer Usage Policy is a must in today’s workplace. Having a good policy in place will clearly communicate to the staff what is acceptable and what is not. The main [...]
8 Tips for More Effective E-Mails
January 31, 20108 Tips for More Effective E-Mails reprinted with permission from the HP Small Business Center Most business people receive dozens, even hundreds, of e-mails each day. Without question, e-mail is now the primary means of communication in the professional world. That’s why it’s very important to create messages that effectively communicate your point while presenting [...]
Are you an e-mail addict?
January 31, 2010Are you an e-mail addict? reprinted with permission from the HP Small Business Center What would be most harmful to your health: no food; no water; or no e-mail? All over the world, people are beginning to wonder why all roads now lead to our inboxes. In less than 20 years e-mail and its off-shoot, [...]
Unleash the Power of E-mail Signatures
January 31, 2010How to Unleash the Power of E-mail Signatures By Joanna L. Krotz Reprinted with permission from Microsoft Small Business Center Every time you send an e-mail message, you have an opportunity to share something personal or powerful or playful in an "e-mail signature." Yet few people realize its potential. E-mail signatures are the wise or [...]
Instant Messaging is Great…As Long as it’s Secure
January 31, 2010Instant Messaging is Great…As Long as it’s Secure Instant messaging has blossomed to become a staple mode of communication for millions of Internet users. Protect yourself from the risks associated with the use of IM. From its beginnings as a simple buddy-to-buddy chatting service, instant messaging (IM) has blossomed to become a staple mode of [...]
E-Mail Manners
January 31, 2010E-Mail Manners Convenience, timeliness and ease of use have made e-mail the principal form of business communication for many professionals. However, for all its convenience, e-mail can hurt your business if it isn’t used correctly. Sloppy writing, misunderstood subtleties, poorly labeled messages and other missteps can waste time, delay decisions or even fray relationships with [...]
Email on the Head of a Pin
January 31, 2010Email on the Head of a Pin Etiquette for wireless It’s now to the point you are never absolutely certain your important communication will actually get read. While spam and the volume of email are culprits, your missive now has another hurdle to jump, -. handheld. devices. Itty bitty screens and ittty bitty keyboards are [...]
6 Tips for Bridging the Communication Gap
January 31, 20106 Tips for Bridging the Communication Gap By Joanna L. Krotz Reprinted with permission from the Microsoft Small Business Center As you may have observed, women and men who work closely together often get tied up in communication knots, especially over issues that involve power, advocacy, and managing the troops. That’s because the sexes have [...]
10 Tips for Using Instant Messaging for Business
January 31, 201010 Tips for Using Instant Messaging for Business By Monte Enbysk Reprinted with permission from the Microsoft Small Business Center Blame it on instant messaging. Here’s the scene: A couple dozen professionals at a New York advertising agency quietly type away at computer screens congregated near each other, in an open room devoid of office [...]
Key Steps to a Secure Remote Workforce
December 31, 2009Key Steps to a Secure Remote Workforce Abstract The workplace has undergone fundamental changes over the past decade. No longer is the corporation housed within physical walls; it now transcends those buildings, even extending beyond distant geographic borders. The corporate network too, expands far beyond the corporate perimeter to provide access to partners, clients, suppliers, [...]
Beware This Latest Threat to Your Personal Identity!
December 31, 2009Beware This Latest Threat to Your Personal Identity! It is really too bad, but the reality today is that we can’t be too trusting any more. It seems like there is some criminal around every corner ready to dupe us into giving up personal information and then stealing us blind. The only solution is to [...]
Should sensitive data be stored on laptops?
December 31, 2009Should sensitive data be stored on laptops? BOSTON, Massachusetts (AP) — Every month seems to bring another episode of sensitive personal information escaping into the wild because a corporate or government laptop computer is lost or stolen. A common response is a lot of hand-wringing over how the data should have been encrypted. But some [...]
When Mobile Systems Fail
December 31, 2009When Mobile Systems Fail The deployment of mobile technologies has transformed today’s small businesses, fueling tremendous productivity gains. Even so, many of these organizations are at a loss when their mobile systems fail. This article looks at how to speed the recovery of the mobile client. For most of today’s small businesses, "going mobile" is [...]
Securing Your Smartphone or PDA
December 31, 2009Securing Your Smartphone or PDA Don’t overlook the security needs of these small devices. Here are some key security measures to take to protect your smartphone or PDA. Smartphones and personal digital assistants (PDAs) have become important business tools in recent years, and that trend appears to be continuing. According to Gartner Inc, worldwide PDA [...]
4 Ways Small Business Server Empowers Mobile Workers
December 31, 20094 Ways Small Business Server Empowers Mobile Workers By Christopher Elliott Reprinted with permission from the Microsoft Small Business Center at http://www.microsoft.com/smallbusiness. You probably know what a server can do for your office. But do you know what it can do when you’re out of the office? A 2003 survey of Small Business Server users [...]
Five Ways to Prevent Your Laptop from Being Stolen
December 31, 2009Five Ways to Prevent Your Laptop from Being Stolen When your laptop gets stolen, you lose a lot more than your computer and the cost of the replacement; that is why it makes sense to take these simple steps to protect it. DON’T let your computer out of your sight, even for a moment. Wi-Fi [...]
4 Battery Tips for Your Mobile Gadgets
December 31, 20094 Battery Tips for Your Mobile Gadgets By Christopher Elliott Reprinted with permission from the Microsoft Small Business Center Mention the words "battery life." The first gadget that comes to mind is probably the energy-consuming laptop computer — particularly if you’re on the go a lot. If not, it should be. There never seems to [...]
Need Security Help? Enlist a Partner
November 30, 2009Need Security Help? Enlist a Partner Sometimes it’s okay to ask for help — especially if you are a small or mid-sized business that doesn’t have the time, staff, or expertise to properly manage your IT security and availability. Security help is available — you just need to know how to find the right partner [...]
Having Trouble Finding Something Online?
November 30, 2009Having Trouble Finding Something Online? Then Look Smarter The last time the experts measured, we learned that we spend 6% of our time online just looking for things. Not impressed? Let’s look at your companies bottom line. Over an eight-hour workday, that little 6% adds up to 2.5 hours searching a week. With just five [...]
Do you suffer from feature fatigue?
November 30, 2009DO YOU SUFFER FROM FEATURE FATIGUE? If so, you’re not alone. Most of us do. What’s feature fatigue? The phrase was coined by Roland Rust, a marketing professor at the University of Maryland, and it refers to the feeling most of us get when we confront the range of possibilities today’s technology presents. Do [...]
Great Tips for Better Holiday Photos
November 30, 2009Great Tips for Better Holiday Photos This year, you don’t have to worry about making your holiday photos stand out. Here are some great tips that are sure to improve your pictures! Tip: Plan Ahead The classic problem with holiday photos is that they have to be taken weeks in advance so you can send [...]
The Weakest Link in Network Security
October 31, 2009The Weakest Link in Network Security By Peter Alexander Reprinted with permission from Microsoft Small Business Center Your small-business network may be protected by firewalls, intrusion detection and other state-of-the-art security technologies. And yet, all it takes is one person’s carelessness, and suddenly it’s as if you have no network security at all. Let me [...]
Security and Return on Investment
October 31, 2009Security and Return on Investment It’s not easy, but more and more businesses are looking at ways to calculate a Return on Investment for their security spending. All businesses take risks if they can lead to rewards. That’s partly what return on investment (ROI) is all about. In exchange for this much money spent, you [...]
Practical Approach to Security
October 31, 2009How to Take a Practical Approach to Security If your small business is like many, it is extremely dependent upon technology and electronically stored data. Many of the steps you need to take to secure your information infrastructure won’t cost your business money, or even much time. Here are some practical considerations and security precautions [...]
Are you using weak passwords?
October 31, 2009Passwords If you’ve ever lost your wallet, you know the sense of vulnerability that comes with it. Someone might be walking around with your identification, pretending to be you. If someone stole your passwords, they could do the same thing online. A hacker could be opening new credit card accounts, applying for mortgages, or chatting [...]
Multi-Tiered Approach to Email Security
October 31, 2009Multi-Tiered Approach to Email Security Taking a holistic, multi-tiered approach to email security is important. Learn how you can protect your business from email threats and spam. Securing the email environment is an important aspect of a business’ IT operations. In fact, a 2005 survey conducted by IDC found that 90% of small and medium-sized [...]
E-Mail Marketing for the Holidays
October 31, 2009E-Mail Marketing for the Holidays Creative e-mail marketing tactics to increase holiday sales. by Gail Goodman Ready for the holidays? You still have plenty of time to purchase all your gifts. You can even do your shopping as late as December 24, if you dare. But when it comes to holiday communication from your business, [...]
Thinking Beyond Antivirus
October 31, 2009Thinking Beyond Antivirus Taking advantage of the Internet to make your small business’ information more accessible to employees and outsiders can offer business benefits. If the Internet is a part of your business then you should be equipped to deal with the security issues that have been introduced. If your business is connected to the [...]
The Future of Authentication
October 31, 2009The Future of Authentication We’ve been saying it for a while – static passwords are on the verge of extinction – so where will business go for its future authentication solutions? According to Gartner … The Gartner Group predicts that in the next two years alone, two million US consumers will be using two-factor authentication [...]
Virtual Desktops: Dumber is Better
October 20, 2009By Ned Smith The traditional desktop PC computing model is an endangered species, at least in the corporate world. Desktops are expensive ― Gartner estimates that the annual cost of a typical desktop installation runs from $4,000 to $6,000 a year. Maintenance is a chore and security is a constant nag. And, by most measures, [...]
Virtual Desktops: Dumber is Better
October 20, 2009By Ned Smith The traditional desktop PC computing model is an endangered species, at least in the corporate world. Desktops are expensive ― Gartner estimates that the annual cost of a typical desktop installation runs from $4,000 to $6,000 a year. Maintenance is a chore and security is a constant nag. And, by most measures, [...]
Never Lose Another File
September 30, 2009Never Lose Another File Four Reasons Why the Time Is Right to Adopt Document Management Where’s the latest client services contract? What’s the medical history on this patient? Where is the case filing from last year’s lawsuit? Why can’t we seem to find the documents we need? If you’re like most small to midsize businesses [...]
Information Overload
September 30, 2009Information Overload Written by: David Tan, CTO Courtesy of CHIPS Experts estimate that as of 1999, there was a total of 9 exabytes of electronically created data in the world. To put that in perspective, 1 exabyte is 1000 petabytes; a petabyte is 1000 terabytes; a terabyte is 1000 gigabytes – you get the idea. [...]
Get More from Your Data Center
September 30, 2009Get More from Your Data Center Creating An IT Infrastructure to Support Consolidation & Virtualization Server consolidation and virtualization can increase computing and data center performance while reducing costs. But they also change the power and cooling profile of your data center and can introduce potentially crippling power and cooling challenges. With consolidation and virtualization, [...]
Era of Electronic Discovery Drives Need for Data Management
September 30, 2009Era of Electronic Discovery Drives Need for Data Management By Brian Young, Trivalent Group Today’s technology has created information overload for companies worldwide. We are inundated with digital data every day. In a recent study, research firm IDC reports electronic information created and replicated within the workplace is growing at a faster pace than any [...]
Survive the E-Mail Flood with Better Storage
September 30, 2009Survive the E-Mail Flood with Better Storage If each e-mail was a drop of water, your company would likely find itself in the midst of a flood. That’s because e-mail has moved beyond business convenience into the role of strategic communication tool. Along with all of its tremendous benefits, however, e-mail systems have also introduced [...]
Drowning in Data?
September 30, 2009Drowning in Data? Tiered Storage Can Help You Stay Afloat The statistics are overwhelming. Researchers predict that more data will be produced in the next year than has been generated during the entire existence of humankind. Unfortunately, this onslaught means your company data may be growing out of control, and your staff could be struggling [...]
8 Signs You Need to Upgrade Your Server
September 30, 20098 Signs You Need to Upgrade Your Server By Christopher Elliott Reprinted with permission from Microsoft Small Business Center Your server hardware is a ticking time bomb. Don’t be alarmed. It may never actually "blow up" — which is to say, melt down and take lots of data with it. But one day, sooner or [...]
10 Financial Yardsticks for your Business
August 31, 200910 Financial Yardsticks for Your Business by Joseph Anthony reprinted with permission from the Microsoft Small Business Center Recently I’ve been doing some work with a nonprofit organization. Somewhat to my surprise, I’m discovering that many of the money issues confronting this nonprofit are similar to those faced by small, for-profit businesses. Things like: Understanding [...]
4 Tips for Using Mapping Tools to Increase Sales
August 31, 20094 Tips for Using Mapping Tools to Increase Sales by Christopher Elliott reprinted with permission from Microsoft Small Business Center Seeing is believing, at least when it comes to your customers. Put another way, it’s one thing to know your clients — to have a detailed profile of each one in your records. It’s another [...]
Use Testimonials to Attract Prospects and Win Sales
August 31, 2009Use Testimonials to Attract Prospects and Win Sales By Kendra Lee In today’s economy you need every advantage in your sales kit. Prospects are scrutinizing all requests for their time and each purchase decision. You want to pass their piercing investigation but the sales tools you’ve used in recent years aren’t cutting it. You need [...]
Make Your Biz Thrive with Technology: 6 Ways
August 31, 2009Make Your Biz Thrive with Technology: 6 Ways by Jeff Wuorio reprinted with permission from the Microsoft Small Business Center We all can recall a standout teacher, one whose insight and enthusiasm made a definite impact on our lives. For small businesses, technology and software can often prove to be the best teachers around. But [...]
Get Back In the Driver’s Seat
August 31, 2009Get Back In the Driver’s Seat Do you remember when owning a car used to be simple? 20 years ago we felt competent enough to do a lot more with our cars than just fill them up with gas. It wasn’t even uncommon for the average guy to carry out some solid repairs without ever [...]
4 Signs It’s Time to Start Hiring
August 31, 20094 Signs It’s Time to Start Hiring By Philipp Harper Reprinted with permission from Microsoft Small Business Center Entrepreneurs riding out the economic ups and downs may not have spent much time wondering whether to add new employees. As the economic recovery begins to take shape, however, they may want to start thinking about it. [...]
Make Documents Look Great in Word 2007
July 31, 2009Make Documents Look Great in Word 2007 With Microsoft Office Word 2007, you can quickly and easily turn a plain-looking document into one that looks professionally designed. Use styles to quickly format major elements in your document, such as titles, subtitles, and headings. Start with predefined, coordinated designs and then customize to suit your needs. [...]
Presenting with PowerPoint: 10 dos and don’ts
July 31, 2009Presenting with PowerPoint: 10 dos and don’ts by Jeff Wuorio reprinted with permission from Microsoft Small Business Center Cherie Kerr knows how PowerPoint can be both provocative and persuasive in a business meeting. She’s also aware that precisely the opposite can occur. "It can be the very best friend you have," says the Santa Ana, [...]
Planning for a Quick Recovery
July 31, 2009Planning for a Quick Recovery Learn about what you can do to quickly and effectively recover your business’ systems in the event of a disruption. For most small and mid-sized businesses, computing systems and electronic information are necessary to conduct business on a daily basis. You shouldn’t have to think about disasters causing you to [...]
Do You Know Office Secrets?
July 31, 2009Do You Know Office Secrets? By Alan R. Earls Reprinted with permission from Microsoft Small Business Center Microsoft Office 2007 has a wealth of features that you may have overlooked that could help your business. Here are four you may want to learn about. In Summary: • Microsoft Office 2007 is chock-full of useful features [...]
eMazzanti’s Open House – The Networking Event of The Year
July 31, 2009August 2009 In this issue: ► Open House ► Case Study ► Quote of the Month ► Just for Laughs Case Study Camera Retailer Focuses on Improved Customer Service with Windows 7 Camera retailer and imaging specialist Bergen Country Camera (BCC), Westwood, New Jersey, is a photography resource for its customers that range [...]
Business Continuity: Business as usual. No matter what.
June 30, 2009Business Continuity: Business as usual. No matter what. Five steps every business should take to prepare for a business interruption. When people think of disasters, they generally envision hurricanes, tornados or floods – catastrophic events that devastate communities. But for a business, a disaster can be something as small as a failed switch or computer [...]
Making Sure Disaster Plans Aren’t Disasters
June 30, 2009Making Sure Disaster Plans Aren’t Disasters It’s like practicing a fire drill and discovering that the fire alarm doesn’t work. Since the early 1990s, Countrywide Financial (NYSE:CFC – News) kept a well-honed and updated business continuity plan on how to keep running in the face of a disaster. The $10.5 billion company based in Calabasas, [...]
Annual IT Checkup — Have you had yours?
June 30, 2009Annual IT Checkup — Have you had yours? If we take our health seriously, we have an annual checkup. If you take your company’s technology seriously, you should consider an annual periodic review of the following: Can a new technology solve your business problems? Can technology help you increase customer satisfaction? Can technology help put [...]
Summer Storms and UPS
May 31, 2009Summer storms and your UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) devices and surge protectors by Michael Appollo, CTO, NST We hope you have have successfully weathered the summer storms. Now is a good time to check your UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) devices and surge protectors because there is a good chance they have taken some voltage hits [...]
Tips for greener printing
May 31, 2009Tips for greener printing reprinted with permission from the HP Small Business Center HP wants to make maintaining an environmentally conscious workplace a reality for businesses everywhere. Adopting a more environmentally responsible workplace doesn’t mean your company has to undergo a major reorganization of its daily operations. In fact, HP has a few tips that [...]
The Future of Video Conferencing
May 31, 2009The Future of Video Conferencing reprinted with permission from HP Science-fiction fans have long wished for life-sized communication devices that create a real-time image of the person/alien/robot you are talking with. Recently, holographic video technology has begun to surface, although at present the price means it’s restricted to only the wealthiest companies. More realistic options [...]
Be Prepared for AnythingNot Just Disaster
May 31, 2009Be Prepared for Anything—Not Just Disaster reprinted with permission from HP Most companies spend time anticipating and planning for disasters. But in a global economy, where opportunity and risk go hand-in-hand, other events can be as devastating to the unprepared as any hurricane. The corporate landscape is dotted with potential landmines that can take a [...]
Whos listening to your phone calls?
May 31, 2009Who’s listening to your phone calls? reprinted with permission from the HP Small Business Center Simple to use and cost effective, VoIP (Voice over IP) solutions have taken the communications world by storm. But with this increase in popularity come serious security issues. The problem with VoIP calls is the very thing that makes them [...]
Want better graphics capabilities?
May 31, 2009p>Want better graphics capabilities? reprinted with permission from HP If good graphics quality is important to you, you’re going to love the new DisplayPort technology. Even if you’re not an architect, graphic designer or someone who needs high resolution and better display performance now, these features are going to benefit everyone as we all [...]
Make Social Networking Work: 7 Tips
May 31, 2009Make Social Networking Work: 7 Tips by Christopher Elliott reprinted with permission from the Microsoft Small Business Center Social networking sites like Facebook, MySpace and Twitter connect millions of like-minded people every day through the Web. But did you know they also can help your small business connect with customers? "Social networking can help promote [...]
Ideas to Help You to Use SharePoint Effectively in Your Business
May 31, 2009Ideas to Help You to Use SharePoint Effectively in Your Business Top 20 ways that SharePoint can solve your common business needs. And I want to emphasize that these 20 are only a few of the many ways to utilize SharePoint. 1. Store all your emails on a secure and centralized Website for easy archive. [...]
No Socks Day: An Excuse to Prospect?
May 31, 2009No Socks Day: An Excuse to Prospect? by Kendra Lee, President, KLA Group reprinted with permission I’m always looking for a new reason to connect with a prospect that hasn’t yet responded to my emails. Clearly triggering events are the number one message to center on, but what if they haven’t responded? After 3 or [...]
Cloud Computing for Small and Midsize Businesses
May 31, 2009Cloud Computing for Small and Midsize Businesses reprinted with permission from the HP Small Business Center You’ve no doubt heard a lot about cloud computing (or the cloud). What you may not have learned is how this misty concept can help with the real problems of operating your business, especially in hard times. In short, [...]
Excel Tip: Excel on the Road
May 31, 2009Excel Tip: Excel on the Road reprinted with permission from the HP Small Business Center We all know Excel is a powerful application. But what about Excel Mobile? Does Excel’s functionality translate to the spreadsheet’s mobile version for use on your smartphone? The answer is yes and no. Excel Mobile can only offer a subset [...]
Chasing Too Much Paper?
May 31, 2009Chasing Too Much Paper? Making the Transition to Electronic Document Management If your company is exploring the idea of electronic document management, you may be thrilled with its promise of higher efficiency, but also intimidated — even overwhelmed — by the complexity of transitioning to such a large system. That’s because if your company is [...]
HP 2140 Mini Note
April 30, 2009HP 2140 Mini Note: Even Bigger Possibilities reprinted with permission from HP The HP 2133 Mini Note brought new levels of configurability and portability to the business notebook PC world. Now the second generation HP 2140 Mini Note ups the ante with: A bigger 10-inch diagonal screen Up to six different operating system choices Three [...]
Holding a Web meeting? 5 pitfalls to avoid
April 30, 2009Holding a Web meeting? 5 pitfalls to avoid by Christopher Elliott reprinted with permission from the Microsoft Small Business Center Think hard now. Can you remember your first virtual meeting? For many of you, it was in the latter decades of the 20th century, and you likely called it a "teleconference." If so, chances are [...]
5 Easy Ways to Speed Up Your Computer
April 30, 20095 Easy Ways to Speed Up Your Computer reprinted with permission from HP One of the most common complaints heard by IT helpdesks is: “My computer is running too slowly – what can I do?” There are actually a number of reasons why this could be happening, and luckily, a number of ways to solve [...]
The Weakest Link in Network Security Continued
April 30, 2009The Weakest Link in Network Security Continued by Peter Alexander reprinted with permission from the Microsoft Small Business Center Your small-business network may be protected by firewalls, intrusion detection and other state-of-the-art security technologies. And yet, all it takes is one person’s carelessness, and suddenly it’s as if you have no network security at all. [...]
HP can help you transition to ENERGY STAR 5.0
April 30, 2009HP can help you transition to ENERGY STAR 5.0 reprinted with permission from HP Nearly all current HP business desktops are ENERGY STAR® 4.0 qualified, but those standards will soon change. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will introduce new ENERGY STAR® 5.0 requirements on July 1st, 2009. What’s going to change? What do you have [...]
The Tale Of Two Dogs
March 31, 2009The Tale of Two Dogs A reminder about the benefits of positive reinforcement Used with permission of Joel H. Weldon Associates, Inc. As a first time dog owner, he failed. He would call, “Ginger!” but Ginger wouldn’t respond. She continued wandering and sniffing bushes, as dogs are wont to do, and only return when she [...]
7 Ways Technology Saves Money
March 31, 20097 Ways Technology Saves Money reprinted with permission from the Microsoft Small Business Center By Jeff Wuorio Every small business owner knows that new technology can be pricey. But technology can also pay in the form of significant savings-particularly over the long haul. Savings from technology isn’t just a matter of plugging in a [...]
Why outsource, isn’t that un-American?
March 31, 2009Why outsource, isn’t that un-American? by Mike Gonsalves, StrategicFusion Hardly! Outsourcing is as American as Mom and Apple Pie! A lot of people believe that outsourcing is the problem with America’s economy today. For the most part they equate outsourcing with sending jobs overseas (off-shoring). The fact is that outsourcing started long ago when production [...]
Don’t be an Unknowing Victim of the Downturn
March 31, 2009Don’t be an Unknowing Victim of the Downturn By Jack Safrit, AXXYS If you have listened to the radio recently, you may have heard commercials regarding the illegal installation of software. The Business Software Alliance (BSA) is a non-profit trade association supported by its vendor partners in an attempt to advance the goals of the [...]
Warning: Don’t Ignore COBRA Rules
March 31, 2009Warning: Don’t Ignore COBRA Rules reprinted with permission from the Microsoft Small Business Center By Joanna L. Krotz Fair warning: This is not fun. It’s exactly the part of running a business that entrepreneurs love to hate. And that’s undoubtedly why so many otherwise savvy business owners end up sidestepping COBRA regulations — a decision [...]
Laptop or Desktop: Which One is Right For You?
March 31, 2009Laptop or Desktop: Which One is Right For You? reprinted with permission from HP In the not-so-distant past, the choice between a desktop and a laptop computer was simple: do you want portability, or not? There were a few other clear-cut differences, too. Desktop models offered more power and features and were less expensive, while [...]
The 7 do’s and don’ts of Network Gatekeeping
February 28, 2009The 7 do’s and don’ts of Network Gatekeeping reprinted with permission from the HP Small Business Center There’s little doubt that the Internet has been a real benefit to organizations – providing instant communication capabilities and an almost bottomless source of valuable, up-to-date information on just about any topic. However, many employees won’t think twice [...]
Turning Distress into ‘De-stress’
February 28, 2009Turning Distress into ‘De-stress’ reprinted with permission from the HP Small Business Center How often do you see it? An IT project team starts out collaborating well, showing great thought leadership and proactive management, only to end up in firefighting mode three months later, constantly laying blame on others and treating contradictory points of view [...]
7 Things to Know about Virus Writers
February 28, 20097 Things to Know about Virus Writers by Monte Embysk reprinted with permission from the Microsoft Small Business Center I spend a growing percentage of my time getting rid of unwanted e-mails that contain viruses. If I open one of them, it potentially could overwrite files and disable my antivirus software. What exactly is in [...]
Enhance Microsoft Office with business add-on tools
February 28, 2009Enhance Microsoft Office with business add-on tools By Philipp Harper reprinted with permission from the Microsoft Small Business Center A new breed of solutions called Office Business Applications helps extend the usability of your desktop and line-of-business applications. For many companies, the ROI in enterprise software isn’t what it could be. Office Business Applications create [...]
Top 3 Sales Resolutions for 2009
January 31, 2009Top 3 Sales Resolutions for 2009 By Kendra Lee It’s a new year, with a fresh sales quota and a new set of sales resolutions. I’m always looking for ways to improve and January consistently finds me evaluating my performance from the previous year then setting goals for the coming one. While I’m ranked as [...]
Get a Second Chance when your PC Crashes
January 31, 2009Get a Second Chance when your PC Crashes reprinted with permission from the HP Small Business Center It’s a common scenario. You’re working at your computer when all of a sudden, with no warning, the PC freezes. Nothing seems to be working. The screen goes dark. You may even be unlucky enough to see the [...]
3 Easy Strategies to Pare Travel Costs
January 31, 20093 Easy Strategies to Pare Travel Costs By Christopher Elliott reprinted with permission from the Microsoft Small Business Center Pinching pennies is a time-honored tradition among many travelers. But it’s a practice that’s now gaining increasing popularity among an unlikely group: business travelers. Road warriors long have had rich tastes in travel. Back in the [...]
Avoid a Data Disaster on the Road: 5 Tips
December 31, 2008Avoid a Data Disaster on the Road: 5 Tips by Christopher Elliott reprinted with permission from the Microsoft Small Business Center Reliable information can make or break your next trip, whether it’s the ability to cultivate a business contact, ensure accurate company records or keep you safe. In other words, your PC data is [...]
6 Steps to Help Secure Your Brand-New PC
December 31, 20086 Steps to Help Secure Your Brand-New PC by Kim Komando Reprinted with permission from the Microsoft Small Business Center There’s nothing like cracking open the box of a brand new computer. But don’t be so quick to just connect it all up and hop right on the Internet. According to the software security company [...]
7 Instant Messaging Rules for the Workplace
November 30, 20087 Instant Messaging Rules for the Workplace reprinted with permission from the HP Small and Medium Business Website Because of its efficiency and speed, instant messaging, or IM for short, has become a valuable interoffice tool for employees to exchange information and collaborate in real time. The advantages of IM are clear. But there are [...]
Cut Prices in a Sluggish Economy? No Way
November 30, 2008Cut Prices in a Sluggish Economy? No Way by Rieva Lesonsky reprinted with permission from the Microsoft Small Business Center Q: This economy is really starting to affect my business. Business is down. People around here seem to be staying at home and not shopping. I’m thinking of cutting prices to bring people in. What [...]
Infrastructure Leaking Money
November 30, 2008Is Your Infrastructure Leaking Money? reprinted with permission from HP Whoever said "don’t sweat the small stuff" never managed an IT infrastructure—and certainly never during turbulent economic times. According to independent analyst Forrester Research, global IT purchases in 2008 will grow by only 6 percent, versus 12 percent growth in 2007. So, although you’re already [...]
Thinking about hiring your own internal IT staff think again!
November 30, 2008Thinking about hiring your own internal IT staff – think again! Outsourcing your IT brings additional business value by Stuart R. Crawford, V.P. Businesses today wrestle and grapple with the thought of hiring their own technology support staff to support their daily need for IT support without fully understanding the risks and the costs associated [...]
Life Without Internet?
November 30, 2008Life Without Internet? reprinted with permission from the HP Small and Medium Business Website When the Internet first came about, it was simply a source of knowledge and entertainment. Now, however, many people rely on it for everyday activities such as banking, doing business, storing information, mapping locations, communicating and more. This puts a huge [...]
Riding the economic rollercoaster
September 30, 2008Riding the Economic Rollercoaster reprinted with permission from HP Stephen Minton, vice president, Worldwide IT Markets and Strategies, IDC, offers insight on how outsourcing can help you ride out the economic downturn—and maybe even gain a leg up on the competition along the way. Rising gasoline prices. Falling consumer confidence. Subprime mortgages. Inflation. Budget cuts. [...]
New Uses for old PCs
September 30, 2008New uses for old PCs reprinted with permission HP We’ve got some good news and bad news. The good news? Computers and technology have changed our lives in amazing, life-altering ways. The bad news? The latest technology stands atop a mound of yesterday’s outdated or unwanted technologies and hardware. The constant cycle of innovation begs [...]
How Big is Your Mailbox?
August 31, 2008How Big is Your Mailbox? We have spent a lot of time recently (which translates to a lot of extra expense for our customers) troubleshooting, managing, and working with VERY large mailboxes. From a purely technical standpoint, once a mailbox gets over a GB in size, it starts to become a minor challenge in terms [...]
Laws You May Choose to Ignore
August 31, 2008Laws You May Choose to Ignore Moore’s law describes an important trend in the history of computer hardware: that the number of transistors that can be inexpensively placed on an integrated circuit is increasing exponentially, doubling approximately every two years. The observation was first made by Intel co-founder Gordon E. Moore in a 1965 paper. [...]
Excellent Customer Service
August 31, 2008Excellent Customer Service by Jeff Wuorio reprinted with permission from the Microsoft Small Business Center In the business world, good customer service often isn’t good enough anymore. Customers and clients are becoming increasingly disenchanted with the merely adequate. For them, extraordinary service is the rule, not the exception. Anything less, and they’re happy to vote [...]
Out Of Memory
August 31, 2008How to avoid ‘Out of Memory’ errors: 3 tips by Christopher Elliott reprinted with permission from the Microsoft Small Business Center There comes a time in the life of every computing device when it says "enough!" Can’t go on. Need . . . more . . . memory. The dreaded "Out of Memory" error is [...]
Wireless Threats
August 31, 20086 wireless threats to your business by Christopher Elliott reprinted with permission from the Microsoft Small Business Center If you think a promiscuous client is a scantily-dressed customer, you’re in trouble. And I’m not talking about having an affair. Think an evil twin is a horror-movie villain? Wrong again. The horror you should be bracing [...]
eMail Connector
June 30, 2008“Hey! Can you help me with my computer?””Do you know how to.”Boy, just walking down the hallway again and I got “hall-jacked”. No, that’s not a terrorist thing. That’s when you walk down the hall and someone stops you for help on your computer or asks about the server or network. But it gets worse. [...]
5 Chronic Small-Biz Mistakes To Correct
June 30, 20085 Chronic Small-Biz Mistakes To Correct By Jeff Wuorio Reprinted with permission from Microsoft Small Business Center To paraphrase Yogi Berra, chronic business mistakes are deja vu all over again. Missteps, miscalculations and outright duds are unfortunate, yet ever-present starters in any small-business lineup. If nothing else, if it weren’t for the battalion of snafus [...]
6 Cool New Online Banking Tips
June 30, 20086 Cool New Online Banking Tips By Joseph Anthony Reprinted with permission from Microsoft Small Business Center In ancient-financial times (say, in the year 2000), banks began offering small business customers the ability to bank online — for a price. Sometimes a hefty price. You can probably guess what happened next. Business owners responded with [...]
7 Good Reasons To Call A Lawyer
June 30, 20087 Good Reasons To Call A Lawyer By Jeff Wuorio Reprinted with permission from Microsoft Small Business Center For many small-business owners, contacting an attorney is akin to opening a faucet — everything gushes out but little comes back in return, short of a hefty water bill. OK, so this analogy is a little trite. [...]
Ensure IT Resilience
June 30, 2008Ensure IT Resilience Creating an IT Infrastructure for Business Continuity Business continuity is an issue that no organization can afford to ignore. In fact, according to The Definitive Handbook for Business Management, between 60 and 90 percent of companies without a proactive disaster plan find themselves out of business within 24 months of experiencing a [...]
Are You A Control Freak? 5 Ways To Stop
June 30, 2008Are You A Control Freak? 5 Ways To Stop By Joanna L. Krotz Reprinted with permission from Microsoft Small Business Center For entrepreneurs, the drive to be in control is the best of traits and also their waterloo. Certainly, infant businesses can’t thrive without a founder’s laser focus and passionate attention to detail. But as [...]
Watch What You Install On Your Server
May 31, 2008Watch What You Install On Your Server by Christopher Elliott reprinted with permission from the Microsoft Small Business Center Download warning: Watch what you install on your server. Today’s server operating systems, including Microsoft Small Business Server 2003, are so user-friendly that you could be left with the impression that anyone with the ability to [...]
How to ‘Undo’ a Big Mistake in Windows
May 31, 2008How to ‘Undo’ a Big Mistake in Windows by Kim Komando Reprinted with permission from the Microsoft Small Business Center It used to be, back in that last century, that people wished for a reverse time machine. This would allow them to go back in time after they messed up their computer. Well, Windows XP [...]
Service Pack vs
May 31, 2008Service Pack vs "Patch" contributed by the Technical Department at ITsynergy Microsoft has been busy the last several months, and among other things has released two new major service packs that will affect most of our customers. We thought that we first might provide some benefit by discussing the difference between a service pack and [...]
Collect on Debt: 5 Ways to Make Them Pay
May 31, 2008Collect on Debt: 5 Ways to Make Them Pay By Jeff Wuorio – Microsoft Small Business Center You thought you had been so careful, so very prudent. A customer, perhaps even a supplier, seemed so above-board, so solvent, so trustworthy. But you’ve been left high and dry. Maybe a client owes you money for products [...]
Business Interruption Planning Not Just for Big Business:
May 31, 2008Business Interruption Planning Not Just for Big Business: 10 misconceptions about disaster recovery Paul Sullivan has seen it all. A 25-year veteran of disaster recovery and business continuity management, Sullivan witnessed the growth of continuity planning among the Fortune 1000 in the 1980s. He watched, first hand, the successes and failures of business continuity plans [...]
Sit Up Straight and Keep Your Wrists in Neutral
May 31, 2008Sit Up Straight and Keep Your Wrists in Neutral By Monte Enbysk Reprinted with permission from the Microsoft Small Business Center Ergonomics is not a four-letter word — even though many business owners may think otherwise. That’s because when business people hear the word ergonomics, they immediately think of dollar signs — as in what [...]
The Problem With Power
April 30, 2008The Problem With Power We live in the Information Age where countless data is created, transmitted, and stored. We live in the Electronics Age where numerous electric-powered machines aid in business and household tasks, as well as entertain and inform us. The reality of living in this time of technological innovation is that the power [...]
Do You Need to Turn Off Your PC at Night?
April 30, 2008Do You Need to Turn Off Your PC at Night? by Monte Enbsyk Reprinted with permission from the Microsoft Small Business Center For many years now, I’ve been shutting off my computer at night. But I’m now convinced you can leave your computer on at night and still conserve as much energy. If you’re a [...]
4 Tips to Extend the Life of your Laptop Battery
April 30, 20084 Tips to Extend the Life of your Laptop Battery by Christopher Elliott reprinted with permission from the Microsoft Small Business Center On a recent stopover at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, I flipped open my laptop PC, hoping to chip away at the 7,000-some e-mail messages that had accumulated since leaving Anchorage, Alaska, four hours earlier. [...]
Declare War on Paper
April 30, 2008Declare War on Paper by Jane Cage, COO, HTS Here at the office I refer to myself as the “Anti-Paper” . . . It drives me crazy when I see the amount of information everyone sends to the printer when that same information is available on the screen. In this special “green” issue of our [...]
It’s Not Easy Being Green!
April 30, 2008It’s Not Easy Being Green! Written by: David Tan, CTO Traditionally, standard business practice for Information Technology has dictated that the primary focus of IT decisions and initiatives is based on the economic impact and viability. In other words, how much will it cost, and how much will it save me over time, and when [...]
5 Key Tax Code Changes Affecting Small Businesses
March 31, 20085 Key Tax Code Changes Affecting Small Businesses by Joseph Anthony Reprinted with permission from the Microsoft Small Business Center The tax bill signed into law by President Bush in late October 2004 was widely derided by editorial writers as a special-interest giveaway, an early “corporate” Christmas tree. Indeed, many provisions of this bill apply [...]
4 tips for Troubleshooting your Broadband Blues
March 31, 20084 tips for Troubleshooting your Broadband Blues by Kim Komando Reprinted with permission from the Microsoft Small Business Center Many small-business owners shell out big bucks for high-speed Internet access. The savings in time are usually rewarded with higher productivity. If your high-speed system happens to be running slower than a clogged drain, don’t complain [...]
6 Tips for a ‘Paperless’ Office
March 31, 20086 Tips for a ‘Paperless’ Office by Joseph Anthony reprinted with permission from the Microsoft Small Business Center Many people who use computers — whether it’s for their home or business — are moving toward a "paperless" office. Simply, they are tired and overwhelmed by scraps of paper, clunky old file folders, envelopes — and [...]
Preserve and Protect Your Data
March 31, 2008Preserve and Protect Your Data Summary As the amount of data being created continues to increase, and that info is accessed and shared by more people, SMBs can’t afford to ignore the need for data protection. Small and medium businesses are powered by information. Should your business lose that information or even suffer an [...]
Ten Security Recommendations for SMBs
March 31, 2008Ten Security Recommendations for SMBs Small and mid-sized businesses can be the hardest hit by new malicious code, spam, and phishing. Disruptions and down time can be avoided, however, by following the measures outlined in this article. Introduction The security landscape is constantly changing, so the threats your business faces today are different from the [...]
Delete These Scams Now
February 29, 2008By Kim Komando Reprinted with permission from Microsoft Small Business Center How’s this for amazing: A Michigan woman got a request via e-mail from someone billing himself as a Nigerian to help him steal $18 million. All she had to do was set up a bank account in the United States. And she needed to [...]
Top Resolutions for 2008
February 29, 2008Written by Laura Steward January, 2008. Time for the annual list of things you must do this year to make sure your technology and business will run smoothly and successfully and have minimal unplanned downtime. For those of you who are regular readers of this column, you will see some familiar items on the list [...]
Using the Web for hiring: 6 tips
February 29, 2008By Kim Komando Reprinted with permission from Microsoft Small Business Center If you’ve been in business for any length of time, you’ve done the painful hiring dance. I sometimes refer to it as, "The revolving door policy." I’ve hired some good ones and some bad ones. I’ve used newspapers, college Web sites and the [...]
Windows Vista and the 2007 Office system better together
February 29, 2008The first time you see the 2007 Microsoft Office release running on the Windows Vista operating system with the Windows Aero user experience, you’ll notice a difference. And what you see on the surface is just the beginning. Microsoft conducted extensive research to find ways to make it quicker, easier, safer, and more fun to [...]
Virtualization Overview
February 29, 2008Virtualization has proven to be a successful strategy for large corporations in the last year. What we have learned from these large scale projects is now being used to assist medium sized enterprises. This is the first in a series of Virtualization articles exploring the opportunities available to our customers. Introduction Among the leading business [...]
7 Rules for Managing a Mobile Workforce
February 29, 20087 Rules for Managing a Mobile by Joanna L. Krotz reprinted with permission from the Microsoft Small Business Center It’s 10 a.m. Do you know where your employees are? The ranks of mobile workers are swelling, fueled by the wireless Internet, powerful handheld devices, VPNs (virtual private networks), and WLANs (wireless local area networks). As [...]
10 Things Never to Say on a Business Call
February 29, 200810 Things Never to Say on a Business Call by Joanna L. Krotz reprinted with permission from the Microsoft Small Business Center It’s the 21st century. Do you know how your employees answer the phone? Good phone manners have always been important, of course. Yet too few companies make any effort to train employees in [...]
Office Hours: How Bill Gates Uses Office
January 31, 2008Written by William (Bill) H. Gates, chairman of Microsoft Corporation. Reprinted with permission from Microsoft Office. If you visit my office, you will probably notice right away that I have three large flat screen displays that sit together and are synchronized so they work like a single very wide display. The large display area enables [...]
5 Frequent Tax and Bookkeeping Mistakes
January 31, 2008By Joseph Anthony Reprinted with permission from Microsoft Small Business Website The U.S. tax code is so complicated that it’s no surprise many small businesses and individuals make mistakes in their bookkeeping and filing. But don’t count on any mercy from the IRS. Take it from a tax professional. Here are five of the more [...]
Top Eight Computer Myths
January 31, 2008Since most computer problems are resolved either by random or ritualistic action on the part of the user, or by following mysterious instructions from an allegedly knowledgeable support person, it’s hardly surprising that there are lots of pseudo-religious myths about PCs. Between them, these stories can waste a lot of your time and money. Worse [...]
WiFi Connection Anywhere
January 31, 2008The promise of a free wireless Internet connection enticed Lynn Fox into booking a room at the Holiday Inn Express in Madison, Wis. Who could blame her? Fox, a community relations professional from Iowa City, Iowa, relished the thought of no more wires. No more clunky dial-up connections. No more phone bills. When she checked [...]
Stay Fit While You Sit
January 31, 2008Do you sit at your desk for long periods of the day? Have you ever experienced back, neck or shoulder pain after a long day at the office? Perhaps you put on a few pounds after taking a desk job. Research has shown that people who work desk jobs are likely to lose muscle tone, [...]
Treatment for eMail Overload
January 31, 2008By Craig Davis,SLPowers Corporate workers are now spending as much as 40% of their time dealing with email. I personally have come to expect between 100 and 150 emails every business day. From the important, such as a new customer requesting information to the mundane, such as an endless chain of email discussions between colleagues. [...]
How To Determine Time To Change OS
January 31, 2008Here are some things for you to consider before taking the OS upgrade plunge. After much hype, Microsoft’s newest operating system release in almost five years, Vista, became available to business users in November 2006. Vista has flashy features and updated capabilities that can only run on hardware that has enough power and memory to [...]
Why "Elevator Pitches" Help Win Customers
December 31, 2007By David Coursey Reprinted with permission from Microsoft Small Business Center If I asked everyone who works at your company to tell me about the business, how many different answers do you think I’d hear? I’m willing to bet I’d hear about as many different stories as you have employees. That’s unfortunate because your employees [...]
RSS Feeds in Microsoft Office
December 31, 2007RSS Feeds provide easy, up-to-date information, delivered to you straight from the Internet. Learn the essentials here so that you can find, add, and read the articles or blogs in an RSS Feed right in Microsoft Outlook 2007, as conveniently as you receive and read your e-mail. The Internet contains a lot of information on [...]
Security Quickies that could save your bacon
December 31, 2007Choose a password that’s hard to crack When choosing a password, try to make it by writing a sentence that you can easily remember. For example: "Los Angeles Lakers will win the NBA tournament this year". Then pick up the first letters of each word and also add at the beginning or at the end [...]
It’s Your Choice: Your headache or theirs
December 31, 2007Hear that sound? Feel the rumble? There is a geologic shift taking place under the feet of small and medium-sized companies and chances are you don’t know it, yet. The ruckus is managed care. Their promise is to liberate you from the awful side of computer ownership. "Awful? Define that, please." Fair enough. aw•ful [aw-fuhl] [...]
Get Paid to Implement Office 2007!
December 31, 2007Increase productivity by implementing Microsoft Office 2007 and qualify for up to a $150 per license subsidy. From now until January 31, 2008 qualifying open license purchases of Microsoft Office 2007 can result in up to $30,000 of partner subsidy dollars. These subsidy dollars can be spent on any combination of hardware, software or services [...]
Leveraging Technology Mitigates Risks, Controls Costs and Helps Meet Demands of Growing Businesses
December 31, 2007As a small business expands, the need to manage this growth with updated technology should rate high on a company’s list of priorities. Should an organization experience rapid growth in a short period of time and fail to advance its technology to meet these new demands, the business owner may face significant challenges in the [...]
What Should Be Secured?
December 31, 2007Recently at an IT security conference in Chicago and the keynote speaker’s address reminded me that IT people and business owners often have different views on what are your company’s assets and what constitutes adequate security. Dave Stelzl, author of The House & the Cloud, simplified the security model for business by comparing a business’s security [...]
Take Back Your Bandwidth
November 30, 2007For businesses today the Internet has evolved from a being a convenience to have to a business necessity. The Internet delivers business critical applications, e-mail, and telephone conversations, while providing your company’s image to the general public. The Internet is also often accused of being the biggest productivity killer for a lot of businesses. The [...]
Practical Productivity Seeing Eye to Eye
November 30, 2007I will admit – when I talk with you by phone, you might not have my undivided attention. And I bet I don’t have your complete attention either. At the office, we have all become notorious multi-taskers. When I receive a call from a fellow employee, I may be answering an email or sorting out [...]
Technology Solution Wish List Suggestions 2008
November 30, 2007This time of the year many businesses are working hard to develop their budget or technology “wish list” for the coming year. I have spoken with many businesses over the last couple of months and have compiled a common list of technologies solutions that are being budgeted for 2008. Take a look at the list [...]
Budgeting for 2008
November 30, 2007“IT budgeting can’t be that difficult, right? You just add up the cost of your computers. Simple! Oh wait, we have to factor in the cost of software. So it’s still a piece of cake. Oh yea, what about staff training? And repairs? And tech support? And consulting fees? What happens if my server crashes?? [...]
Good, Bad, or Indifferent: Microsoft Outlook Anywhere
November 30, 2007While most of us can receive and send email from any computer that has an Internet connection via Outlook Web Access (OWA) or through a mobile device (Windows Mobile, Palm, or Blackberry), what I miss is the full functionality and speed of Outlook. With Exchange 2007 and Outlook, you can now have that functionality wherever [...]
The E-Mail You Save Can Be Held Against You
November 30, 2007Reprinted with permission from the Microsoft Small Business Center When it comes to e-mail, I’m a packrat. No, it is not true that I still have the first e-mail I ever received. But I probably have my first e-mail from the year 2000. In fact, I probably have all my e-mails from the year 2000. [...]
10 Tips for Finding Information on the Internet
November 30, 2007Sometimes looking for quick information on the Web can be like searching for a needle in a haystack. With so many billions of Web pages in cyberspace, finding specific information can be a daunting task. "Often when I use search engines I get so many irrelevant results that I just give up," admits a frustrated [...]
Practical Productivity Being Productive Anywhere!
October 31, 2007Practical Productivity – Being Productive Anywhere! By Jane Cage, COO I’ve always worked beyond normal business hours. Twenty years ago that meant going back to the office after dinner if I needed access to files that were on our network. In those early days, there was no internet, no connection to the office and having [...]
Making Telecommuting Work for your Business
October 31, 2007Making Telecommuting Work for your Business By Monte Enbysk Reprinted with permission from the Microsoft Small Business Center Telecommuting has gotten a bad rap. Some say that employees can’t be serious about their careers if they’d rather work from home. Others insist that work groups fall apart if team members aren’t physically in the office. [...]
Illegal Software Can Cause Big Problems
October 31, 2007Illegal Software Can Cause Big Problems Small businesses that grow swiftly or that frequently acquire new hardware sometimes find it hard to stay on top of their software licenses. Unlike most things you buy, software doesn’t necessarily belong to you. When you pay for a program, you become a licensed user — not an owner. [...]
Travel Expense Deduction Strategies
October 31, 2007Travel Expense Deduction Strategies By Joseph Anthony Reprinted with permission from the Microsoft Small Business Center When you hit the road for business trips, you have to know the rules for deducting your hotel and meal expenses. While the rules haven’t changed much lately (proposals to increase the percentage of a meal that can be [...]
You may know the Internal Revenue Code’s Section 179 as the tax loophole that lets some …
October 31, 2007Congress clamped down on the SUV loophole in October 2004, but the rest of Section 179, designed to stimulate business spending with an up-front tax break, remains in force and has even improved with age. Most business property that is useful for a few years is accounted for as depreciating over time. For tax purposes, [...]
Create and Use an E-mail Signature
October 31, 2007Microsoft Tips and Tricks If you’re like many people, e-mail is a regular part of your workday. You send mail to business associates, customers, friends, and family — and you most likely end your message with a different closing depending on the recipient. Over the course of a day, that can add up to a [...]
Seven Rules for Using Laptops in Meetings
September 30, 2007Seven Rules for Using Laptops in Meetings By Jeff Wuorio Reprinted with permission from the Microsoft Small Business Center Not long ago, Frances Altman agreed to present a talk to some of her colleagues. Everyone arrived on time. Unfortunately, at least from her point of view, so did their laptop computers. "Several people came in [...]
Do You Need Managed Services?
September 30, 2007Do You Need Managed Services? Four questions for you to answer Are managed services a better choice than the way you are doing things now? Like everything else in your office, the answer will depend on how you want to measure it. Your first step is to answer these four questions. Do your employees [...]
Did The Wall Street Journal sabotage businesses by publishing tips on how to circumvent IT?
September 30, 2007Did The Wall Street Journal sabotage businesses by publishing tips on how to circumvent IT? In the Monday, July 30 edition of The Wall Street Journal, there was a special section on technology that led with the article "Ten Things Your IT Department Won’t Tell You" by Vauhini Vara. If you haven’t read the article, [...]
Seeing Double – Practical Productivity
September 30, 2007Seeing Double – Practical Productivity Do you have the luxury of doing only one task at a time? If you’re like me, I would guess the answer is probably “No”. I find myself answering email, working on a spreadsheet, looking at an accounting issue and searching for info on the internet all at the same [...]
8 E-mail Mistakes That Make You Look Bad
September 30, 20078 E-mail Mistakes That Make You Look Bad By Kim Komando Reprinted with permission from Microsoft Small Business Center I get an awful lot of e-mail. Sometimes, people are looking for help with their computers. Some of it is fan mail. Other folks are mad about something I said or wrote. Add to this the [...]
Sometimes You Need A Pro
August 31, 2007Sometimes You Need A Pro Buying and installing a new server So, you’re going to run to your favorite PC store and slap in a new server? Unless you are a certified IT person, allow us to politely offer this piece of advice: "No slapping without a professional, please." In past issues of eMazzanti’s Technologies [...]
Are you Doomed if your Office Computer Tech Quits?
August 31, 2007Are you Doomed if your Office Computer Tech Quits? By Kim Komando Reprinted with permission from the Microsoft Small Business Center It’s the nightmare that most small businesses aren’t prepared to face: What would happen if you suddenly lost your office computer expert? Would you be in big trouble? The answer usually is "Yes!" But [...]
A Perfect Virus for Imperfect Users
August 31, 2007A Perfect Virus for Imperfect Users Getting back to the basics Here’s a little special something to brighten your day. That nice virus protection software you own isn’t worth diddly squat – at least when it comes the new ecard attack that is currently sidestepping even the once adequate defenses of companies who are doing [...]
Are You IT Strategic? – Part II
August 31, 2007Are You IT Strategic? – Part II Last month we looked at questions to be asked when looking into new or updated technologies for your business. These questions focused on building a long term IT strategy rather than taking care of the "now." Keep in mind the question to be asked: What is the strategy [...]
What Should Be Secured?
August 31, 2007What Should Be Secured? I recently attended an IT security conference in Chicago and the keynote speaker’s address reminded me that IT people and business owners often have different views on what are your company’s assets and what constitutes adequate security. Dave Stelzl, author of The House & the Cloud, simplified the security model for [...]
Exchange 2007 What you need to know
July 31, 2007Exchange 2007 — What you need to know Many of today’s small to mid-sized businesses operate in a Microsoft Exchange environment. Most of these businesses have invested in Exchange and Exchange-compatible systems over the years, and now they are both loyal to and dependent upon Exchange for email. Now that Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 has [...]
Clean the Hard Drive Before Dumping Your PC
March 31, 2007Clean the Hard Drive Before Dumping Your PC By Kim Komando Reprinted with permission from the Microsoft Small Business Center If you’re getting rid of your old computer, or even if you aren’t just yet, there are some things you should know about it. Chances are great there’s sensitive data on it. If you’re like [...]
Up to speed with Outlook 2007
March 31, 2007Microsoft Office Up to speed with Outlook 2007 Take a look at Microsoft Office Outlook 2007, and see how much easier it is to do the things you’ve always done. Learn how the Ribbon and the Quick Access Toolbar put the commands you need right at your fingertips. You’ll see that it’s quick and easy to [...]
Microsoft Office 2007
March 31, 2007Microsoft Office Get an introduction to the new look in familiar programs of the 2007 Microsoft Office system. Then try out the changes with a hands-on test drive. See how Microsoft Office has changed, and why. Use the Ribbon to do what you’re used to doing. See what the new file formats mean to you. When [...]
Virtual Meetings Cut Travel Costs
March 31, 2007Virtual Meetings Cut Travel Costs By Monte Enbysk Reprinted with permission from the Microsoft Small Business Center at http://www.microsoft.com/smallbusiness The travel industry has taken its hits in recent years, and I hate to add to it. But in good times or bad, your business needs to scrutinize its travel budget to find ways to cut [...]
Up to Speed with Word
March 31, 2007Microsoft Office Up to Speed with Word 2007 When you open Microsoft Office Word 2007 for the first time, you’ll notice that it looks very different. That’s because it’s been redesigned to make your work easier, faster, and more efficient. How does it do that? For starters, it introduces a new feature, the Ribbon, which [...]
Preparing for Vista
March 31, 2007Preparing for Vista Learn how you can enjoy the benefits of the new Windows Vista operating system without compromising your business’ security. After many years in development, Microsoft�s new operating system, Windows Vista, became available to businesses with volume license agreements on November 30. The home version of Vista will be available on January 30, [...]
4 Ways to Protect Your Network
February 28, 2007Ways to Protect Your Network Data By Kim Komando Reprinted with permission from the Microsoft Small Business Center You have auto and homeowner?s insurance. But what about your computer data? The precautions needed to protect against disaster are like an insurance policy. You may not necessary ever need it but when you do, you?re sure glad [...]
Is Your Business Disaster-Ready?
February 28, 2007Is Your Business Disaster-Ready? By Jeff Wuorio Reprinted with permission from the Microsoft Small Business CenterHurricanes, earthquakes and other natural events are disasters in every sense of the word. Lives are lost, property decimated and entire communities disrupted. For your small business, these events can be just as devastating. But there’s a great deal you [...]
Flat-panel Monitors: 5 Things to Know
December 31, 2006Flat-panel Monitors: 5 Things to Know by Kim Komando reprinted with permission from the Microsoft Small Business Center It’s hard not to admire the sleekness of flat-panel displays. They are a perfect example of form melding with function to create a superior product. Is it time for you to trade in your trusty cathode-ray tube [...]
How to Get Repeat Customers: 7 Steps
December 31, 2006How to Get Repeat Customers: 7 Steps By Jeff Wuorio – Reprinted with permission from the Microsoft Small Business Center “Don’t be a stranger now.” You’ve surely heard that expression, a most hospitable one. But for small business owners, a returning customer is essential to survival. For the entrepreneur, it’s important to understand how to [...]
Why your small business needs an intranet
December 31, 2006Why your small business needs an intranet by Kim Komando Reprinted with permission from the Microsoft Small Business Center One thing I like about running a small company is the ability to act quickly. Decisions are not bogged down by layers of management. In fact, most moves are made with the interested parties meeting [...]
Let Me Connect You
December 31, 2006Let Me Connect You Jane Cage, COO, HTS Not too long ago, the phrase ‘Let me connect you’ would have only come from a telephone operator. Today, it’s just as likely to come to my inbox as I receive emails from colleagues, business partners, friends and relatives who want to connect to me through one of [...]
Common PC Problems
December 31, 20064 Common PC Problems You Can Fix Yourself By Kim Komando Microsoft Small Business Center Computer problems may seem immensely complicated at first glance. But some are relatively easy to fix. That doesn’t mean they will be cheap if someone else does the job. Replacing a hard drive is probably a minimum $250-$300 job at [...]
Practical Productivity The Power of Presence
December 31, 2006Practical Productivity – The Power of “Presence” Where is he? Is he at his desk? Is he on the phone? Is he even at the office today? Can he answer one quick question? Have you ever asked any of the above about a fellow employee? These kinds of questions can become real productivity blockers [...]
The Elephant Name Sharepoint
December 31, 2006The Elephant Named Sharepoint Many of us have heard the fable about the blind men and the elephant. When the men were asked to describe what an elephant looked like the descriptions ranged from a snake to a tree to a fan depending on whether the blind man had touched the trunk, the leg or [...]
Manage your Contacts, Join an IM Conversation
December 31, 2006Manage your Contacts, Join an IM Conversation Are you new to Communicator 2007? In this demo, you will learn how to log on, add contacts and set their access level, start an instant messaging (IM) conversation, and escalate that IM session to a voice call. How to do it (Text Version) Managing your contacts and [...]
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