Welcome to my TINCG's blog. I'm very excited to be sharing IT related information with you. My specialities are surrounded around VoIP Integration, Routing, Network Design, and Wireless Network Solutions. My background includes over 14 years of consulting experience in the Wireless Telecommunication Industry to the ownership and operation of a start-up Wireless ISP and IT Consulting Firm since 2004. I hope you find this information helpful. Please continue to take part in this experience by posting comments as follow-up to my specific blog posts.Welcome to my TINCG's blog. I'm very excited to be sharing IT related information with you. My specialities are surrounded around VoIP Integration, Routing, Network Design, and Wireless Network Solutions. My background includes over 14 years of consulting experience in the Wireless Telecommunication Industry to the ownership and operation of a start-up Wireless ISP and IT Consulting Firm since 2004. I hope you find this information helpful. Please continue to take part in this experience by posting comments as follow-up to my specific blog posts.If you've read any of my previous blogs, you may have noticed that I'm a very big fan of Adtran routers. I've used them across a wide spectrum of projects and have never been dissatisfied. If you've ever stepped into a telecom closet, you have most likely seen an Adtran router mounted on the wall being used by the local telecom carrier. Adtran routers are very effective for VoIP Network Design and/or the standard Small Business Network Design.
One model that I really like is the Adtran Netvanta 3438 Multiservice Access Router. It has a network interface module that will support up two T1s. In addition to the two Ethernet ports, there is a built in 8-port, non-blocking Ethernet switch with an optional PoE add-on. I've used the NV3448 for both hosted VoIP solutions Indiana projects and small business network solutions alike. I prefer getting the version with the Enhanced Feature Pack (EFP) more for the Voice Quality Monitoring (VQM) feature than the VPN capabilities although the VPN feature is very robust. The VQM comes in very handy when monitoring client's historical VoIP call quality.
Adtran offers both a good GUI and command line interface (CLI). I commonly use the CLI for my initial configuration setup as well as those times when I'm troubleshooting a tough problem. I use the GUI for general maintenance and monitoring tasks. Since you can see the raw SIP messaging at the CLI level in Adtran's Operating System (AOS), additional steps of capturing SIP messaging and importing into Wire Shark isn't necessary.
I would be remiss in my blogging duties if I wrote an article about Adtran routers and didn't mention their industry leading warranty. Adtran stands behind their products and offers a 5 year warranty on most products and a 10 year warranty on some select product lines. Adtran offers free firmware updates for their hardware for the lifetime of that hardware. Adtran offers free telephone support on their products which is staffed by English speaking, Engineering degreed US based staff. This is a very key selling point to me and my small business network design clients.
If you liked this Blog Post, then check out The Interconnect Group other Blog Posts:
One model that I really like is the Adtran Netvanta 3438 Multiservice Access Router. It has a network interface module that will support up two T1s. In addition to the two Ethernet ports, there is a built in 8-port, non-blocking Ethernet switch with an optional PoE add-on. I've used the NV3448 for both hosted VoIP solutions Indiana projects and small business network solutions alike. I prefer getting the version with the Enhanced Feature Pack (EFP) more for the Voice Quality Monitoring (VQM) feature than the VPN capabilities although the VPN feature is very robust. The VQM comes in very handy when monitoring client's historical VoIP call quality.Adtran offers both a good GUI and command line interface (CLI). I commonly use the CLI for my initial configuration setup as well as those times when I'm troubleshooting a tough problem. I use the GUI for general maintenance and monitoring tasks. Since you can see the raw SIP messaging at the CLI level in Adtran's Operating System (AOS), additional steps of capturing SIP messaging and importing into Wire Shark isn't necessary.I would be remiss in my blogging duties if I wrote an article about Adtran routers and didn't mention their industry leading warranty. Adtran stands behind their products and offers a 5 year warranty on most products and a 10 year warranty on some select product lines. Adtran offers free firmware updates for their hardware for the lifetime of that hardware. Adtran offers free telephone support on their products which is staffed by English speaking, Engineering degreed US based staff. This is a very key selling point to me and my small business network design clients.
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On the way home the other night, I was listening to the Clark Howard radio show on 93.1 WIBC. In his Rip Off Alert segment, he spoke of the Zeus Trojan Virus which has gotten a lot of news coverage of late. As a provider of Computer Support Indiana services to both business and consumer clients, I found the segment very interesting.
Putting the technical discussion aside for a moment, I was surprised to learn how the law provided protection to individual victims that got hijacked but did not afford the same protection to business owners who got hijacked. As Clark Howard put it, the law assumes that the business owner has a "shared responsibility to protect against the loss." I would recommend all business owners, entrepreneurs, and contractors to read the Clark Howard article.
From a technical perspective, it reinforces the importance for computer support Indianapolis clients to remain vigilant with respect to computer security. If you do not currently have Indianapolis IT Support resources maintaining your computer security, then at the very least make sure you and your employees are doing the following:
- Religiously Maintain Software Security Updates and Patches
- Maintain Antivirus Updates and Run Scans Often
- Implement a Strong Password Policy Company Wide
- Minimize Computers from which Banking Accounts are Accessed
If you liked this Blog Post, then check out The Interconnect Group other Blog Posts:
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Is there such a thing as a PCI Compliant Router? No, not in the out of the box model sense of the question. The validity of how "PCI Compliant" a router is relates to the programming of the individual router as it pertains to securing the network.
First off, who needs to worry about having a PCI Compliant router? A good place to start is to ask yourself if your business accepts and/or stores credit card information. PCI stands for Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS), but most people just say "PCI" for short. To read more about the actual standard, I'll refer the readers to the Wikipedia article on "PCI Compliance".
If your business does accept credit cards or stores credit card information of clients, then the next stop would be to speak to your specific credit card processing company to see what they require. Some require compliance even if you only utilize a credit card swipe machine in the premise where others require it only if you are storing credit card information on a server or in a database application.
Once you have determined that your business location(s) is required to pass PCI Compliance testing, then your next step is to make sure you have a good business level router in place. I prefer using an ADTRAN router for this need, but as mentioned in the beginning, the level of PCI Compliance rests in programming of the router which most people will require a qualified Indianapolis IT Support professional to do.
In general, the router programming consists of closing open ports typically utilized by hackers to exploit the security of a network. Shutting down unnecessary and insecure services are also required. Making sure the router is running the most updated firmware and service version can also be a requirement. For instance during one PCI compliance project I worked on recently, the client utilized a router and firewall that was based on a Linux OS distribution. The testing agency hired by the credit card company kept failing the security test, because the version of the telnet service was outdated and considered a security risk. Unfortunately we were not able to update the telnet service version on this particular router, but we did manage to utilize more secure remote access methods which allowed us to shut down the externally facing telnet service, hence ultimately passing the security test. Eventhough access control lists (ACL) were utilized to protect the telnet service on the router, the testing agency required adding their tesing server to the ACL which forced a greater level of security in the end on the router.
Making a network PCI Compliant is a good step no matter if your particular credit card processor requires it or not. It is a sound, secure practice of making sure your particular network, servers, and devices are not vulnerable to know security risks. Good network security goes far beyond PCI Compliance, but it is always a good place to start.
Please contact us if you have been told by your credit card processing company that your network is required to be PCI Compliant. Our Indianapolis IT Support professionals can help your business achieve its PCI Compliance Indiana approval through proper router selection and programming.
If you liked this Blog Post, then check out The Interconnect Group other Blog Posts:
First off, who needs to worry about having a PCI Compliant router? A good place to start is to ask yourself if your business accepts and/or stores credit card information. PCI stands for Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS), but most people just say "PCI" for short. To read more about the actual standard, I'll refer the readers to the Wikipedia article on "PCI Compliance".
If your business does accept credit cards or stores credit card information of clients, then the next stop would be to speak to your specific credit card processing company to see what they require. Some require compliance even if you only utilize a credit card swipe machine in the premise where others require it only if you are storing credit card information on a server or in a database application.
Once you have determined that your business location(s) is required to pass PCI Compliance testing, then your next step is to make sure you have a good business level router in place. I prefer using an ADTRAN router for this need, but as mentioned in the beginning, the level of PCI Compliance rests in programming of the router which most people will require a qualified Indianapolis IT Support professional to do.
In general, the router programming consists of closing open ports typically utilized by hackers to exploit the security of a network. Shutting down unnecessary and insecure services are also required. Making sure the router is running the most updated firmware and service version can also be a requirement. For instance during one PCI compliance project I worked on recently, the client utilized a router and firewall that was based on a Linux OS distribution. The testing agency hired by the credit card company kept failing the security test, because the version of the telnet service was outdated and considered a security risk. Unfortunately we were not able to update the telnet service version on this particular router, but we did manage to utilize more secure remote access methods which allowed us to shut down the externally facing telnet service, hence ultimately passing the security test. Eventhough access control lists (ACL) were utilized to protect the telnet service on the router, the testing agency required adding their tesing server to the ACL which forced a greater level of security in the end on the router.
Making a network PCI Compliant is a good step no matter if your particular credit card processor requires it or not. It is a sound, secure practice of making sure your particular network, servers, and devices are not vulnerable to know security risks. Good network security goes far beyond PCI Compliance, but it is always a good place to start.Please contact us if you have been told by your credit card processing company that your network is required to be PCI Compliant. Our Indianapolis IT Support professionals can help your business achieve its PCI Compliance Indiana approval through proper router selection and programming.
If you liked this Blog Post, then check out The Interconnect Group other Blog Posts:
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I just finished speaking with a client who has gone several rounds with an insurance company in regards to damages sustained during an automobile accident last year. During the wreck, her laptop was damaged and she's been going round and round with the insurance company to get them to replace her laptop. Our computer repair Mooresville shop routinely writes letters to insurance companies for our clients verifying damaged sustained to computers and related computer hardware.
The typical process varies across insurance agencies, but typically your insurance agency will request that you have a computer professional diagnosis the problem. Our computer repair Mooresville store most frequently gets insurance claim requests during Indiana's storm season. Damaged sustained to a laptop caught up in a car hitting a semi truck that just pulled out in front of it was fairly easy to diagnosis as being bad. If one of your computers finds itself to be on the receiving end of a natural disaster, freak of nature, or motorist not paying attention, then you'll most likely need to following these steps when making a computer related insurance claim:
- Check with your insurance agent to verify their specific process first.
- When an examination is required, then bring all of the damage computer/laptop/hardware to us.
- Our computer repair Mooresville technicians will examine the damaged hardware and produce a write up on our corporate letterhead stating our findings.
- Submit the letter to your insurance agent.
- You may need to send the damage hardware to your insurance company.
- Some insurance companies require to have their own computer professional verify our findings.
- Typically, there are a few calls back and fourth between us and them.
- Once everyone agrees on the findings, the normal claims process resumes.
One word of caution, don't try to scam your insurance agency and even more important don't try to involve us in it! We will play no part in it! When people try to scam the insurance companies it makes it harder on clients like the one that I spoke with today who have a justified claim and just want some resolution without being hassled.If we can help you with a computer related insurance claim, please stop by our computer repair Mooresville store. We are open M-F 9AM-6PM W 9AM-4PM and Closed on Weekends and Holidays. Or you can call our main number (317) 831-0704 Option 1 and mention this blog to get a $20 Discount on your next computer repair.
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We turned up a new client the other day in which we had the
opportunity to use an ADTRAN NV1335 router. This product is a multiservice access router platform that comes equipped with 24-port Ethernet switch and a single NIM slot in back. It is a 1U rack mountable case which looks really sharp. Our VoIP Integration Indiana team were actually able to mount this unit into the small wall mount rack used for patch panels.
Although ADTRAN offers both PoE and Wi-Fi optional models in the NV1300 series, our project only called for the bare bones NV1335 equipped with a single T1 interface populated in the NIM slot. I'm also a big fan of the new color scheme of this ADTRAN router as opposed to the old Blue/White combination. The new color scheme coupled with the 1U rack mountable out of the box case, offers a very professional looking router/switch combined product without even getting into how great it is once someone looks under the hood.
If you have a project that calls for VoIP implementation or if you are moving, have your VoIP Specialist take a look at the ADTRAN product line. Specifically, have them look into the NetVanta 1335. It is ideal for a client that is implementing a Hosted PBX VoIP system or premise based SIP based system. ADTRAN has built in several QoS Service features that make this router a major value play.
If you currently do not have a VoIP Integration Indiana contact to help guide you through the system selection/integration process, then contact The Interconect Group so we can help you get connected.
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A few weeks ago, I took a break from my Indianapolis IT Support practice and attended a morning seminar hosted by Franklin Covey entitled "The 4 Disciplines of Execution". Although the event was a sales pitch for Franklin Covey's consulting services, I felt the speakers did a great job of providing a great balance of useful information with sales pitch for their system. In other words, it was well worth my time.
In addition to taking away a few pointers on goal setting, leading and lagging measures, and setting accountability, I noted that they had a software program that they recommended using to track and follow their system throughout their consulting engagement. This interested me because it reinforced an idea that technology, specifically IT technology, can be helpful at all levels of organizations. It can even help organizations set and achieve goals when implemented correctly. I doubt however, that the technology alone would make a client successful. It was only one piece to a proven system that Franklin Covey was offering which in it's entirety benefited their clients tremendously according to their statistics.
Does technology work for your business or organization? Too often I've seen technology or the lack of technology work against prospective clients. Instead, organizations often cobble together several systems that inefficiently meet their needs, but often restrains growth. We've come across small business server Indiana clients using their server technology as a glorified desktop due to a lack of understanding of capability.
I believe in a "solutions" approach to technology. When I say solutions, I mean hardware, software and human interaction to help implement technology that will solve business problems or provide a foundation to enhance efficiency or improve sales. Some common technology solutions:
- Customer Relationship Management (CRM) System
- Trouble Ticket System
- Business Intelligence Management System
- Corporate Wikipedia
- Call Center Management/Reporting System
Depending on the size of your organization, I recommend including someone from both management and the front lines of your organization to work in conjunction on the planning and implementation of new technology. Make sure that the new technology being implemented is one component to implementing a new solution to a common small business problem.
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Does your IT Rack look similar to this?If your computer network wiring has gotten out of hand, then it is time to do something about it.
These are before and after pictures of a job we recently completed. Cleaning up this rack is a first of few steps to enable this client to upgrade other technology later this year.
We actually enjoy doing these types of projects because they are short in duration but maximize the noticeable and immediate impact.
How is it done? Well, there are several cable management products on the market, but in my opinion the "Neat Patch" offers the best solution that I've found when coupled with other vertical cable management solutions.
With respect to this project, we had to work around some existing cable management systems that we had to leave in place at one location due to being part of the punch down network. However, we blended it in so it looks like it is meant to be.
We also added some very inexpensive rack shelves to help distribute the equipment throughout the rack. A multiple outlet power strip mounted in the rack also got rid of the need for a few power strips that were laying on the floor.
Although it is hard to note from just the picture, we labeled each cable to/from port so that in the event that a cable does get removed, it can easily replaced into its proper location. We also opted to replace the over sized (in length) blue cables to correctly sized yellow patch cables.
We completed this job in one evening as not to impact the clients business day. The organization now allows for easy troubleshooting while not intimidating the staff that need to come into this room for other reasons. Future additions to the equipment rack can be made without worrying about disrupting other operational equipment.
If your computer network wiring has gotten out of hand, then it is time to tame it. With a little planning, some creative but affordable cable management add-ons and some old fashion elbow grease, you can claim your IT space back to a more organized area. Your Indianapolis IT Support firm will be very happy because it makes their ability to support you much easier.
If you are interested in having The Interconnect Group tame your IT rack, then please contact us today at (317) 831-0704 Option 2 or email bizsupport@tincg.com.
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We frequently field calls from new clients who are calling us because they just lost all of their data due to a hard drive crash, laptop theft, or even the occasional natural disaster (ie. Flood, Tornado, or Fire). Being that data loss is very preventable, I constantly try to educate everyone on ways to avoid it. If you do not have a backup strategy in place today, please implement one immediately upon reading this because it is only a matter of time before it will happen to you, if it hasn't already. I've listed key components that everyone should consider or include in a backup strategy.
Major Components of any Backup Strategy
"To Error Is Human" - The first line of defense against what I refer to as the "Oopps Factor". In my experience, a major portion of data loss is due to someone deleting the wrong thing accidentally. There are tools built into Windows 7 to help with this, but the best recovery strategy is having a backup to restore files from. This can be as simple as a single file, spreadsheet or email being accidentally deleted to a whole directory of important files. There have been countless times that our computer support Indianapolis clients have called us to rescue key files.
"Planning for Business Continuity is Smart" - The buzz phrase of the last few years has been "Business Continuity". If you've had anyone sell you on a hosted application or cloud computing, you've undoubtedly heard this buzz phrase. It is referring to the ability for your business to continue operating without requiring a specific physical structure (your current store front or office location) or physical hardware/software. We are big components of a Hosted PBX system that we integrate for some of our Indiana Telecommunications Provider Partners. It helps with Business Continuity because calls can be rerouted in real time to any phone number in the world with a few simple clicks within the portal. A good backup strategy should allow for business continuity in the same way. A remote backup strategy fits the bill. This is why we recommend a Remote Offsite Backup strategy to all of our computer support Indianapolis clients.
"Know the Limitations of Your Key Applications" - A thorough knowledge of key business software applications should be factored into any backup strategy. Certain applications, especially database driven ones, may require special steps to be properly be backed up. In other words, just backing up the physical files might not be enough.
"Servers Require Special Care" - If your company is running on a server, then additional steps many need to be taken to properly backup everything. This can range from a system state file to the Exchange store and log files. Typically, special plug-ins or software are required. The backup solution we use for most of our Indianapolis IT Support clients is Exchange aware as well as being able to handle most major databases. These are key requirements in my opinion.
In Review
I will admit that more and more people are growing aware of data loss and the fact that it is a very real threat to business and personal lives. All data loss can't be avoided, but at the very least its impact should be minimized with a good backup strategy. If you do not have a good backup strategy in place, then please make one today. If you own or operate a business, then ask an Indianapolis IT Support firm such as The Interconnect Group to help you create/implement one. If you are in need of a backup strategy for your personal data at home, then please read a blog I wrote last year regarding 10 Handy and Free Software Programs in which I listed a free backup service for consumers. At the very least backup key documents and files to an external hard drive or USB drive while you're implementing a proper backup strategy.
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Free Microsoft Antivirus Software
A funny thing happened to us the other day while out to lunch that I wanted to share with everyone. Daniel and I were out to lunch at a local Mooresville establishment known for
their pies and delicious food. We were taking a late lunch, so we strolled through the serving line fairly fast since we missed the main lunchtime rush. We paid for our meals at the cash register and proceeded to find a table.
We hardly got our food off of our trays and onto the table when we noticed two managers running toward us. They said, "Wow, It's the computer guys! You saved us a phone call. Our computer in back just went down and we were hoping you could come back and check it out." We happened to be eating lunch at one of our IT Support for Small Business customers. Since it was already a late lunch, I asked if we could finish our meal first and they both said okay.
Not five minutes later, the manager came back to our table. We had misunderstood her initially assessment. Come to find out that their whole computer system was down which included their cash registers. She asked if we could come back immediately since they were totally down and unable to conduct business. Obviously, we sprung into immediate action and dispatched to the back room. Someone had plugged a space heater of all things into a power strip. The space heater overheated, melted the power strip and tripped the breaker. They also had an electrician on site who tested everything out after replacing the power strip. We made sure that everything came back up gracefully and they were back up and running in a matter of 15 minutes...disaster avoided! You could see the relief on our IT Support for Small Business customer's face.
After returning to the table, the manager gracefully replenished the cold food as well as brought out a few pieces of cherry pie to compensate us for the quick service. Those of you who know whom I'm talking about will most likely agree that the cherry pie was more than worth the distraction. Supporting your local establishments and IT Support for Small Business customers at same time has its benefits.
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Over the past several months, our Computer Sales Indiana shop sold more prebuilt computer systems than custom computer systems. Perhaps you've seen some of our posts on the ACER Veritons or some of our HP Business Class Desktops. Thanks to the release of Windows 7, an opportunity to sell several custom built computer systems for some Small Business clients presented itself. We capitalized on the opportunity and delivered some very nice computers systems.
One such system that the client picked up on Friday was an Intel system that was just AWESOME! Since the client dealt with several photo editing applications such a Adobe Photoshop and Corel Draw, we specified a machine with plenty of memory and a better than average video card. The Windows 7 experience rating was 5.9 out of a possible 7.9 maximum. We setup the Virtual XP Mode on the computer to help with some legacy applications. To top it off, the client went with a 22" LCD dual monitor setup. It was a very impressive system which will most likely last this Computer Sales Indiana client for several years.
For a system that cost less than one thousand dollars, I was truly envious of this system we built. I tried justifying a need for such a system at my home or in my office, but for now I'll just have to live vicariously through my Computer Sales Indiana clients.
If you would like to learn more about our custom computers or how they can benefit you or your business, then please contact us at bizsupport@tincg.com or call (317) 831-0704 to place your order. I look forward to working with you.
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Due to the nature of my business, I need to have the ability to stay constantly connected via a barrage of remote worker solutions. Although my Blackberry fills a lot of the gaps, there are many times when a 3G/Broadband card is required. I've had a Verizon Wireless 3G card for a few years and always travel with it no matter if I'm traveling for business or pleasure. One of the drawbacks to using a broadband card is the inability to easily share it or have multiple devices connected to the Internet at the same time.
A wireless router would fit the bill because it would allow me to share my broadband Internet connection as well as plug in a computer via the Ethernet port. Until just recently the only options I had found were over priced and highly unreliable, not to mention bulky for a road warrior traveling.
If you own almost ANY carrier or almost ANY model of cellular broadband card, then the NexConnect 3G Wireless Router is a MUST HAVE remote worker solutions! For most business or home users, the consumer line will suffice. They also offer a Business Class version which offers some advance VPN features for the more stringent remote worker solutions.
Both models accept USB and PCMCIA style broadband cards (PCMCIA card plugs into the side of the unit not shown in attached pictures). Unlike some of the more expensive competitive products, the NexConnect router works with with broadband cards from multiple carrier networks.
The product has a very easy to use GUI interface. An auto configuration wizard basically makes the router as easy as plug in play with the broadband card. This makes it nice because most remote worker solutions users can configure this on your their own.
Have you ever thought about using your broadband card as a fail-over to your main Internet connection? This router comes equipped with a fail-over mode which senses when the main Internet connection goes down and then switches over to the broadband card Internet connection. One of the two Ethernet ports on the back are for this purpose.
This router also ranks highly on my affordable router solutions list. The consumer version retails for $119 and the business class version retails for $189. We are selling both options at a discount from the retail pricing and can drop ship right to your home or business. In my opinion, most remote worker solutions business users will do just fine with the consumer version.
NexConnect 3G Wireless Router Spec Sheet
Business Class 3G/4G Broadband Router Spec Sheet
If you would like to learn more about these remote worker solutions products or how they can benefit you or your business, then please contact me at bizsupport@tincg.com or call (317) 831-0704 to place your order. I look forward to working with you.
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A wireless router would fit the bill because it would allow me to share my broadband Internet connection as well as plug in a computer via the Ethernet port. Until just recently the only options I had found were over priced and highly unreliable, not to mention bulky for a road warrior traveling.If you own almost ANY carrier or almost ANY model of cellular broadband card, then the NexConnect 3G Wireless Router is a MUST HAVE remote worker solutions! For most business or home users, the consumer line will suffice. They also offer a Business Class version which offers some advance VPN features for the more stringent remote worker solutions.
Both models accept USB and PCMCIA style broadband cards (PCMCIA card plugs into the side of the unit not shown in attached pictures). Unlike some of the more expensive competitive products, the NexConnect router works with with broadband cards from multiple carrier networks.
The product has a very easy to use GUI interface. An auto configuration wizard basically makes the router as easy as plug in play with the broadband card. This makes it nice because most remote worker solutions users can configure this on your their own.Have you ever thought about using your broadband card as a fail-over to your main Internet connection? This router comes equipped with a fail-over mode which senses when the main Internet connection goes down and then switches over to the broadband card Internet connection. One of the two Ethernet ports on the back are for this purpose.
This router also ranks highly on my affordable router solutions list. The consumer version retails for $119 and the business class version retails for $189. We are selling both options at a discount from the retail pricing and can drop ship right to your home or business. In my opinion, most remote worker solutions business users will do just fine with the consumer version.
NexConnect 3G Wireless Router Spec Sheet
Business Class 3G/4G Broadband Router Spec Sheet
If you would like to learn more about these remote worker solutions products or how they can benefit you or your business, then please contact me at bizsupport@tincg.com or call (317) 831-0704 to place your order. I look forward to working with you.
If you liked this Blog Post, then check out other IT Related Posts:
- 5 Reasons To Deploy a Small Business Server
- Doesn't The Phone Company Extend The Demarc
- 10 Handy and Free Software Programs
- Don't Over Pay For Your Router and Network Hardware
- 5 More Features of Windows 7
- Free Microsoft Antivirus Software
It has been my experience that most smaller businesses have a hard time making the move from a simple Windows Workgrouped architecture to a Windows Server Domained architecture. Often the move is dictated by a business application that requires a server-client environment to run. In our small business server Indiana practice, we are able to show business owners many other benefits to further justify the expense. It is always an educational process. For some business environments, that learning curve is steep but not a task that our small business server Indiana implementation crew shies away from.
Microsoft started to aid the small business community when it released its Small Business Server (SBS) product. Originally released as Microsoft Small Business Server 2000, the product has undergone drastic improvements over the past few releases with its newest release being Small Business Server (SBS) 2008. The product included easy to use wizards that aided small business owners in basic server administration. The product also provided in a single package all the major items that a small business would require in a server.
The following are five (5) reasons a business owner should deploy a Microsoft Small Business Server in their business today.
1. Centralized Security and Administration
The SBS platform comes equipped with easy to use wizards that allow less technical staff members to easily administrate network resources and user accounts. The system sends out daily, weekly, and/or monthly update reports to administrators detailing potential security risk and resource utilization. Creation of security policies to limit access to business sensitive data such as accounting and finance files where as general access can be give to group drives.
2. Remote Web Workplace
This feature allows users to login into their computers remotely via a web browser without installing additional programs. It allows for secured access to company resources and email. It also allows for secured remote administration of the server.
3. Windows SharePoint Services
This is Microsoft's Integrated Internet solution to access company resources via web browser. There are many premade templates available to allow for Intranet style sites to be created for the SMB market. There are even Help Desk and Document center templates available. This allows access to once Enterprise only level functionality at the SMB market segment at little to no additional price. It also provides out of the box solutions for workflow automation and approval needs. If you are tired of emailing around a word document for multiple people to edit and approve, the you would really enjoy the additional control offered in version tracking by a SharePoint site.
4. Exchange Server
This is an Enterprise level email service that allows for the SMB market to host their own email, share contacts and calenders across the company network and integrates with Office Outlook. The Exchange Server can also be used in a PoP Extension configuration to minimize outside security threats.
5. Centralized Shared Files, Printers and Backup
Storing data on a single hard drive workstation as typically found in a workgrouped environment can be disastrous and confusing. A centralized shared file system as provided by in a Small Business Server allows for individual private folders and public folders that can be easily accessed from any computer/users with the proper credentials. This simplifies administration, backup and disaster recovery.
Working with clients in our Small Business Server Indiana practice allows us help business elevate their game. Efficient use and implementation of technology such as the Small Business Server Indiana helps our SMB clients be more productive and better secured towards the challenges and threats of tomorrow.
If you would like to learn more about how our Small Business Server Indiana solutions could help your business, then please contact me at bizsupport@tincg.com. I look forward to working with you.
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Microsoft started to aid the small business community when it released its Small Business Server (SBS) product. Originally released as Microsoft Small Business Server 2000, the product has undergone drastic improvements over the past few releases with its newest release being Small Business Server (SBS) 2008. The product included easy to use wizards that aided small business owners in basic server administration. The product also provided in a single package all the major items that a small business would require in a server.
The following are five (5) reasons a business owner should deploy a Microsoft Small Business Server in their business today.
1. Centralized Security and Administration
The SBS platform comes equipped with easy to use wizards that allow less technical staff members to easily administrate network resources and user accounts. The system sends out daily, weekly, and/or monthly update reports to administrators detailing potential security risk and resource utilization. Creation of security policies to limit access to business sensitive data such as accounting and finance files where as general access can be give to group drives.
2. Remote Web Workplace
This feature allows users to login into their computers remotely via a web browser without installing additional programs. It allows for secured access to company resources and email. It also allows for secured remote administration of the server.
3. Windows SharePoint Services
This is Microsoft's Integrated Internet solution to access company resources via web browser. There are many premade templates available to allow for Intranet style sites to be created for the SMB market. There are even Help Desk and Document center templates available. This allows access to once Enterprise only level functionality at the SMB market segment at little to no additional price. It also provides out of the box solutions for workflow automation and approval needs. If you are tired of emailing around a word document for multiple people to edit and approve, the you would really enjoy the additional control offered in version tracking by a SharePoint site.
4. Exchange Server
This is an Enterprise level email service that allows for the SMB market to host their own email, share contacts and calenders across the company network and integrates with Office Outlook. The Exchange Server can also be used in a PoP Extension configuration to minimize outside security threats.
5. Centralized Shared Files, Printers and Backup
Storing data on a single hard drive workstation as typically found in a workgrouped environment can be disastrous and confusing. A centralized shared file system as provided by in a Small Business Server allows for individual private folders and public folders that can be easily accessed from any computer/users with the proper credentials. This simplifies administration, backup and disaster recovery.
Working with clients in our Small Business Server Indiana practice allows us help business elevate their game. Efficient use and implementation of technology such as the Small Business Server Indiana helps our SMB clients be more productive and better secured towards the challenges and threats of tomorrow.
If you would like to learn more about how our Small Business Server Indiana solutions could help your business, then please contact me at bizsupport@tincg.com. I look forward to working with you.
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Does your company have multiple facilities within a few miles of each other that require data/voice communication connectivity between them?
I've come across several situations where companies opt to pay reoccurring monthly fees to the local Telco carrier for a Point-to-Point (PtP) T1, because they most likely didn't know of other solutions available to them. Although one solution does not fit all, I wanted to make you aware of some alternative connectivity solutions which saved our clients several thousand dollars over traditional carrier connectivity products.
Private PtP Wireless Network Solutions
My wireless network solutions Indiana consulting and implementation practice takes proven, carrier grade wireless network solutions to the business market. One project we did last year helped a manufacturing plant in Indianapolis connect their sales office to the main building located 3/4 mile away. A PtP T1 from the phone company would have cost them $350-450/month for a 36 month term and would have only yielded them 1.5 Mbps upload and download speeds. The PtP wireless solution we implemented for them provided 20-25 Mbps of upload and download speeds at a 35% cost reduction over the same 36 month term. At month 37, the PtP wireless system is paid for minus normal maintenance, so our client's Return on Investment (ROI) will rapidly excell from then on through the life of the equipment.
Commercial carriers have been using wireless solutions for decades. Today's market offers affordable licensed and unlicensed radio solutions. I often provide WISP business consulting clients both the business case and technical support required to implement wireless network solutions. These systems can and have been deployed in private systems where connectivity for both voice and data are required between multiple facilities.
If you are looking for more affordable alternatives to keep multiple facilities connected, then benefit from our wireless network solutions Indiana experience. Getting started is as easy as 1-2-3:
- An extensive site survey is required of all involved facilities
- A path study will need to be completed by our engineering staff
- A feasibility study will be made to determine cost per alternative options
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I am amazed by all the options available to today's business community as long as you are located in a somewhat populated community. Being an Internet connectivity solutions provider, I've been able to design and implement several Internet solutions that meet client's business needs. Internet connectivity has developed for many businesses to be more and require more than just choosing the best rate for the greatest connection speeds. I recommend considering the following:
- Reliability
- Redundancy
- Efficient Utilization
- Remote Office Connectivity
- Scalability
Redundancy may go hand in hand with your reliability requirements. Depending on the size of your business, redundancy may be met by having a Cellular 3G Card on hand at all times. For larger organizations, a backup broadband connection or T1 might be required to offer the necessary redundancy that is required. If redundancy is important, then I recommend Internet connectivity solutions that implement a dual carrier, dual delivery approach when possible. For example, two T1s from different carriers may still ride over the same Local Loop network which still offers a single point of failure. Where as a T1 and a Cable broadband connection offers two separate paths and two separate carriers.
Efficient Utilization means that I recommend leveraging both your voice and data connectivity requirements in one common connection. Through the use of Voice Over IP (VoIP) deliver strategies found in many new small business telecommunications implementations, PRI T1s and Internet T1s can be combined. The combined connection can be programmed to meet peak demands of both types of use.
Remote Office Connectivity requirements should be considered simultaneously with the main HQ location. Advance Internet connectivity solutions such as MPLS networks can be utilized to connect multiple facilities (typically more than 3-5 locations). I have worked with clients that have over thirty geographically diverse locations all over the United States that implemented an MPLS Network that carried both their voice and data at a highly reduced reoccurring monthly costs over their previous data only interconnection strategy. As with all complex implementations, it requires proper design and implementation to be successful.
Scalability is often overlooked. All good Internet connectivity solutions should take into consideration a communication growth projection analysis. Depending on the company size, growth projections might dictate the need for greater bandwidth over the next few years. If so, look into adjustable bandwidth products such as DS3 Circuit, Ethernet Over Copper or Fiber Connectivity. These products typically allow for easy bandwidth increases. I also recommend that all good Internet connectivity solutions should also review equipment scalability as well as circuit scalability. For instance, it might be cheaper to purchase a larger router up front with the ability to add extra T1 cards than to purchase a lower model limited expansion model.
The next time you are in the market to get one or many of your facilities connected to the Internet, allow some time to review the greater connectivity strategy. Hopefully, these five points will allow you to select the correct Internet connectivity solutions for your business.
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Just because you order a T1, Business xDSL, or even DS3 circuit, doesn't mean that the carrier will deliver the circuit to your business suite. The phone company is only responsible for getting the circuit to their demarc location in your building. In the case of leased circuits such as T1s and DS3s, our demarc extensions Indiana services are commonly required but often overlooked until the circuit is actually delivered.
What is a Demarc?
The word Demarc is short for Demarcation Point which is a catch all phrase for the more technical name called the Network Interface Device (NID). It is at this point where the phone company or "carrier's" network/wiring meets the customer's network/wiring. Most people could identify it at their home by the grayish color plastic box that hangs on the outside wall of their house as shown below (following picture is from broadbandreports.com)
In the residential realm, the network is typically already extended into the house so no additional work is needed. That is not always the case in the business world. As we go to setup clients in new locations or if we add a new service, our DSL setup Indiana technicians often have to extend the DSL circuit into the client's suite from a centralized demarc point in the building. If it is multi-story building or high-rise building, then our demarc extensions Indiana crews often extend the demarc up several floors and then into the clients suite. If the client is lucky, we can sometimes utilize existing wiring but even that requires additional time to tone and test the wiring.
Demarc extensions for T1 and DS3 circuits are the norm rather than the exception. Always budget at least an extra $250 for customer premise wiring/demarc extensions to be on the safe side when ordering a new T1 circuit. DS3 circuits can be a completely different ball game, so I'll go into them further in future articles.
The demarc point for a T1 circuit is called a SmartJack. The SmartJack device will typically be installed in a common Telco Equipment area within your building. An example of one is shown in the picture to the right. This picture shows four different SmartJack cards installed in the cabinet. A Cat5 cable can be plugged into the appropriate port at the bottom that corresponds with your particular T1 circuit. Standard Cat5 cable can be used to extend the demarc of several hundred feet, but for runs over 150' special programming of the T1 card in your router will be necessary. It is also good to note where the SmartJack is located in your building and to note which card is your circuit. There are red/amber/green warning lights on these cards that can warn of potential problems with the circuit.
Please note that the SmartJack cabinet as shown in the picture to the right, typically serves multiple tenants in your building. Only qualified persons should unplug cables from the SmartJack.
In instances where a T1 is delivered to a residential dwelling or a single unit business location, carriers may opt to install an outdoor SmartJack unit which serves as the demarc location. Our demarc extensions Indiana crews typically encounter these type of SmartJacks on clients who have T1s delivered to their home office or residential dwelling. The advantage to an outside SmartJack is that it allows for easy 24/7 access by the carrier's technicians. Our
demarc extensions Indiana crews typically utilize special UV protected and moisture resistant Cat5 cable when extending the demarc. Again it is good to note where the SmartJack for your T1 is located. Unfortunately, the outdoor SmartJack enclosures typically do not offer easily accessible observation windows for noting warning lights on the SmartJack card as does the indoor SmartJack option. If you are given the option of going with an indoor or outdoor SmartJack, I would recommend selecting the Indoor option. Access limitations can easily be overcome. The outdoor options brings into play another unpredictable element called weather which can reduce the reliability of your circuit.
The time to plan for a demarc extension is before the actual circuit order is placed. Our demarc extension Indiana crew will work with you estimate the associated costs of the demarc extension before the circuit order is placed. Proper planning for items like this can mitigate surprise costs the next time you order a new Internet circuit.
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What is a Demarc?
The word Demarc is short for Demarcation Point which is a catch all phrase for the more technical name called the Network Interface Device (NID). It is at this point where the phone company or "carrier's" network/wiring meets the customer's network/wiring. Most people could identify it at their home by the grayish color plastic box that hangs on the outside wall of their house as shown below (following picture is from broadbandreports.com)
In the residential realm, the network is typically already extended into the house so no additional work is needed. That is not always the case in the business world. As we go to setup clients in new locations or if we add a new service, our DSL setup Indiana technicians often have to extend the DSL circuit into the client's suite from a centralized demarc point in the building. If it is multi-story building or high-rise building, then our demarc extensions Indiana crews often extend the demarc up several floors and then into the clients suite. If the client is lucky, we can sometimes utilize existing wiring but even that requires additional time to tone and test the wiring.Demarc extensions for T1 and DS3 circuits are the norm rather than the exception. Always budget at least an extra $250 for customer premise wiring/demarc extensions to be on the safe side when ordering a new T1 circuit. DS3 circuits can be a completely different ball game, so I'll go into them further in future articles.The demarc point for a T1 circuit is called a SmartJack. The SmartJack device will typically be installed in a common Telco Equipment area within your building. An example of one is shown in the picture to the right. This picture shows four different SmartJack cards installed in the cabinet. A Cat5 cable can be plugged into the appropriate port at the bottom that corresponds with your particular T1 circuit. Standard Cat5 cable can be used to extend the demarc of several hundred feet, but for runs over 150' special programming of the T1 card in your router will be necessary. It is also good to note where the SmartJack is located in your building and to note which card is your circuit. There are red/amber/green warning lights on these cards that can warn of potential problems with the circuit.
Please note that the SmartJack cabinet as shown in the picture to the right, typically serves multiple tenants in your building. Only qualified persons should unplug cables from the SmartJack.
In instances where a T1 is delivered to a residential dwelling or a single unit business location, carriers may opt to install an outdoor SmartJack unit which serves as the demarc location. Our demarc extensions Indiana crews typically encounter these type of SmartJacks on clients who have T1s delivered to their home office or residential dwelling. The advantage to an outside SmartJack is that it allows for easy 24/7 access by the carrier's technicians. Our demarc extensions Indiana crews typically utilize special UV protected and moisture resistant Cat5 cable when extending the demarc. Again it is good to note where the SmartJack for your T1 is located. Unfortunately, the outdoor SmartJack enclosures typically do not offer easily accessible observation windows for noting warning lights on the SmartJack card as does the indoor SmartJack option. If you are given the option of going with an indoor or outdoor SmartJack, I would recommend selecting the Indoor option. Access limitations can easily be overcome. The outdoor options brings into play another unpredictable element called weather which can reduce the reliability of your circuit.The time to plan for a demarc extension is before the actual circuit order is placed. Our demarc extension Indiana crew will work with you estimate the associated costs of the demarc extension before the circuit order is placed. Proper planning for items like this can mitigate surprise costs the next time you order a new Internet circuit.
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- PCI Compliance = Network Security!
One of our distributors held a Technical Solutions Tour last Thursday and Friday in St. Louis to which we attended. I felt the conference was a success for many reasons other than the normal medicinal reasons attributed to getting out of the office. The conference provided us the opportunity to speak with other business owners that were similar to ours which provide IT Support for Small Business while also being Value Added Resellers of hardware and software products.
Most of the feedback I heard was very similar to what we are seeing here in our PC Repair Indiana and IT Support for Small Business practice.
- Most were looking forward to 2010 while seeing a recent up-tick in business
- Prepare to take advantage of Health Care and Government spending
- The software segment has seen positive growth throughout 2009
- Cash is still King, so conserve it when possible
It is always good to get away from the office and talk to ones peers. I was amazed by several niche markets that attendees serve in their respective areas despite big block store competition. For instance, one attendee sells toner to the pharmacy of a large retail operation throughout the country, even though the client sells the same toner themselves.
I look forward to adding a few new vertical market products to our portfolio that we discovered while at the conference as well as rolling out new products in our existing PC Repair Indiana and in our IT Support for Small Business practice. Not to mention that I learned about a few additional rebates and incentives from existing vendors such a HP Procurve that already helped me close a deal. In all, it was a great success!
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- PCI Compliance = Network Security!
Our credit card processor decided earlier this year that our physical premise was required to meet their PCI Compliance standards. Not a bad thing by any stretch even though our website is hosted off premise and our credit card processing is handled via a secure card terminal. They contracted a third party to provide the PCI Compliance testing which included both a multiple choice questionnaire about policy and procedures and a physical security test of our data network.
First off, you may be asking who needs to be PCI Compliant and what is it exactly. PCI Compliance is the Payment Card Industry's Data Standard. If you are handling credit card numbers/payments at your premise and those numbers are stored on a premise based system or server, then you are responsible to make sure your data network is secure. If you are using a credit card processor terminal to run your credit card numbers, then most likely that data is being stored and transmitted in a secure method. However, it is better to be safe than sorry.
Since we secure data networks as a part of our computer support Indiana practice, we took on the challenge as a learning opportunity to help our clients in PCI Compliance Indiana. Our goal was to find out what exactly this third party would be scoring us on. Although our network typical denies outside originated access for all devices other than those added to our Safe Sender List, the third party testing facility made us add their Public IP address to our list in order to allow them to fully test our systems.
We utilize a MikroTik router as our main firewall/router at our office. The MikroTik platform is based on a Linux OS platform and subsequently utilizes a few Open Source applications. Although our initial testing didn't prove to have too many security issues, the third party testing recommended a few changes that improved our game.
A few parting thoughts with respect to the process we successfully completed:
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First off, you may be asking who needs to be PCI Compliant and what is it exactly. PCI Compliance is the Payment Card Industry's Data Standard. If you are handling credit card numbers/payments at your premise and those numbers are stored on a premise based system or server, then you are responsible to make sure your data network is secure. If you are using a credit card processor terminal to run your credit card numbers, then most likely that data is being stored and transmitted in a secure method. However, it is better to be safe than sorry.
Since we secure data networks as a part of our computer support Indiana practice, we took on the challenge as a learning opportunity to help our clients in PCI Compliance Indiana. Our goal was to find out what exactly this third party would be scoring us on. Although our network typical denies outside originated access for all devices other than those added to our Safe Sender List, the third party testing facility made us add their Public IP address to our list in order to allow them to fully test our systems.
We utilize a MikroTik router as our main firewall/router at our office. The MikroTik platform is based on a Linux OS platform and subsequently utilizes a few Open Source applications. Although our initial testing didn't prove to have too many security issues, the third party testing recommended a few changes that improved our game.
A few parting thoughts with respect to the process we successfully completed:
- Always Restrict Access Using Access Control Lists (ACL) or "Safe Sender" List
- Stop Services Not Absolutely Necessary on your Border Router
- Keep Router Firmware Updated (Although It Doesn't Always Equate to Security)
- Remain Mindful of Open Source Based Code Vulnerabilities
- Utilize Qualified IT Network Support Resources To Setup Critical Devices
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An article in the September 2009 Inc. magazine offered 10 free software programs worth checking out. The author had the following to say in the opening comments of the article:
Paying is Passe
Use free software programs instead
Free is a lovely word; unfortunately it's often followed by a disappointing product. We have found 10 great free apps that will help you run yoru business. Some are so good, you might even be willing to (shudder) spend money on them. -Mark Spoonauer
-Click here to read the full article-
We've been using a few of these free applications throughout the shop and have found them very handy in our computer support Indianapolis practice. Although I'll refer you to the Inc. article for the full list of 10 applications, I wanted to highlight a few of them in this blog article.
2. Basic Accounting Program
Most people have heard of Quickbooks becuase it is the defacto Small Business accounting package of choice. What I learned from the article was that Quickbooks offers a version called Quickbooks Simple Start. The free version lets you create invoices, print checks and figure payroll, but it does limit the user to 20 customer accounts. This is a great option if you are starting up a small business. It only allows the import of data from Excel, so it would not be a good fit for someone who already has their data in a Quickbook's company file.
3. Organize Your Outlook Inbox
If your Outlook inbox is as overflowing as mine typically is, then you'll really benefit from installing the free Outlook plugin by Xobni which happens to be "Inbox" spelled backwards. This allows for enhanced email search as well as an easy way to find attachments. It also offers contact info on the message sender, while allowing you to discover connections to popular sites such as LinkedIn and Facebook. We've found throughout our computer support Indianapolis practice that many people battle their Outlook Inbox. Xobni's Outlook Plugin will allow you to take back control over it.
6. Making VoIP Calls
If you have not heard or used Skype yet, then it is time to check it out. It is an awesome application for making free voice and video calls across the Internet. I use this application both for business and personal use. In fact, I hooked up one of my computers to my inlaws big screen TV and the whole family Skyped with extended family that live in Southern Italy. Although the application works just fine for voice only, I would recommend hooking up a web camera to enhance your experience by communicating with voice and video.
10. Automatic Backup
Offsite backup is a smart idea for everyone when dealing with both business or personal data. We strongly recommend our Offsite Backup Service for business customers with normally sized data sets, but Mozy offers a free service for users with up to 2GB of storage needs. For a nominal monthly fee, one can upgrade to Mozy's unlimited account if 2GB of storage is not enough. This service does not work with more advanced data sets such as found in system state backup sets for servers, but we can cover those clients with our business class offsite backup service. Mozy is a great solution for home or small business users.
Check out the full Inc. article, Great No-Cost Software. There are a few other applications that could to be useful in my business. BTW, I strongly recommend the Inc. magazine for any of you readers that are business owners or are a key member in a small to medium business. I read the magazine cover to cover each month. It is chalked full of usefull information.
If you liked this Blog Post, then check out other IT Related Posts:
Paying is Passe
Use free software programs instead
Free is a lovely word; unfortunately it's often followed by a disappointing product. We have found 10 great free apps that will help you run yoru business. Some are so good, you might even be willing to (shudder) spend money on them. -Mark Spoonauer
-Click here to read the full article-
We've been using a few of these free applications throughout the shop and have found them very handy in our computer support Indianapolis practice. Although I'll refer you to the Inc. article for the full list of 10 applications, I wanted to highlight a few of them in this blog article.
2. Basic Accounting Program
Most people have heard of Quickbooks becuase it is the defacto Small Business accounting package of choice. What I learned from the article was that Quickbooks offers a version called Quickbooks Simple Start. The free version lets you create invoices, print checks and figure payroll, but it does limit the user to 20 customer accounts. This is a great option if you are starting up a small business. It only allows the import of data from Excel, so it would not be a good fit for someone who already has their data in a Quickbook's company file.
3. Organize Your Outlook Inbox
If your Outlook inbox is as overflowing as mine typically is, then you'll really benefit from installing the free Outlook plugin by Xobni which happens to be "Inbox" spelled backwards. This allows for enhanced email search as well as an easy way to find attachments. It also offers contact info on the message sender, while allowing you to discover connections to popular sites such as LinkedIn and Facebook. We've found throughout our computer support Indianapolis practice that many people battle their Outlook Inbox. Xobni's Outlook Plugin will allow you to take back control over it.
6. Making VoIP Calls
If you have not heard or used Skype yet, then it is time to check it out. It is an awesome application for making free voice and video calls across the Internet. I use this application both for business and personal use. In fact, I hooked up one of my computers to my inlaws big screen TV and the whole family Skyped with extended family that live in Southern Italy. Although the application works just fine for voice only, I would recommend hooking up a web camera to enhance your experience by communicating with voice and video.
10. Automatic Backup
Offsite backup is a smart idea for everyone when dealing with both business or personal data. We strongly recommend our Offsite Backup Service for business customers with normally sized data sets, but Mozy offers a free service for users with up to 2GB of storage needs. For a nominal monthly fee, one can upgrade to Mozy's unlimited account if 2GB of storage is not enough. This service does not work with more advanced data sets such as found in system state backup sets for servers, but we can cover those clients with our business class offsite backup service. Mozy is a great solution for home or small business users.
Check out the full Inc. article, Great No-Cost Software. There are a few other applications that could to be useful in my business. BTW, I strongly recommend the Inc. magazine for any of you readers that are business owners or are a key member in a small to medium business. I read the magazine cover to cover each month. It is chalked full of usefull information.
If you liked this Blog Post, then check out other IT Related Posts:
- Ways to SAVE MONEY now and always on your IT spending!
- Don't Over Pay For Your Router and Network Hardware
- Use Windows Small Business Server 2008 to Help With Your IT Networking Needs
Due to equipment upgrades over the past quarter, we are finally able to offer Fax over IP (FoIP). Our T.38 implementation drastically improved the relability of FoIP network. As VoIP Specialists, we've implemented several Business Phone Systems over the past several years utilizing the Voice Over IP (VoIP) technology, but often had to keep a couple POTS lines for outbound fax reasons. Faxing over a VoIP line typically resulted in about a 50/50 success rate, but the T.38 standard has allowed fax tranmissions that rival those sent over a POTS line.
We can now take our clients to a full Voice and Fax over IP implementation. The only reason they would need to keep a POTS line would be for an alarm or elevator emergency phone in most cases. This typically equates to further flexability and cost savings.
Our preferred implementation is utilizing an ADTRAN Total Access 900/900e Series of IP Business Gateways. Just recently, we revisited a Financial Services customer which we implemented a VoIP Business Phone System last year. Utilizing the TA904 unit that was previously installed by our VoIP Specialists Technicians, we implemented two FoIP lines on the ADTRAN and interconnected it to the client's two fax machines. The service has been working flawlessly.
On a side note, we did some testing using a Grandstream Analog Telephone Adapter prior to the ADTRAN FoIP implementation. We had nothing but problems with the Grandstream device. The device looked to have a lot of promise, but was very buggy. It pays to stick with a quality device such as the ADTRAN TA904! If you are interested in implementing a quality VoIP/FoIP Business Phone System, then please keep The Interconnect Group in mind for your VoIP Integration Indiana needs.
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