| If there’s one area where people should be willing to splurge, it’s anti-virus software. Most companies, like GFI or Trend Micro, charge for a whole year of protection, which includes updates. Since even anti-virus protection from reputable companies isn’t 100% guaranteed, why would anyone want to stack the deck against himself by skimping on anti-virus protection?
Some businesses think they cannot can’t afford to pay GFI, Trend Micro or Symantec for anti-virus protection. The free software is the best they can do. But that’s probably not true for most companies. Most organizations that use free anti-virus software want to save money. So, they decide to go with free anti-virus software because they believe it will provide them with enough protection. It won’t. Using free anti-virus software is like going out into the rain and using an umbrella with holes in it. Free anti-virus software companies can’t keep up with all the new viruses, malware, etc. that’s coming out. In order to do that, they would have to stop offering the software for free. So, it’s impossible for users to be as well protected as those who buy security software from reputable companies. But there’s another, more serious danger. Sometimes free anti-virus software contains the very viruses it claims to guard against. And make no mistake, malware and viruses can not only wreak havoc on a company’s computers and network system, but they can also end up costing a lot of money in downtime and lost productivity. Malware and viruses can lead to corrupted files, crashed hard drives or, worse, identity theft. So, in the long run, it just doesn’t pay to take a chance on free anti-virus software. Some ways to tell if a computer is infected are:
Sadly, if the free anti-virus software is legitimate, it won’t take effect until after a computer has been infected. And how much damage could have been done by that time? Free anti-virus software doesn’t come with any type of firewall protection. That has to be installed separately. This can be a time consuming process, especially for someone who’s not computer savvy. If there’s a compatibility issue with the firewall protection, then the whole process has to begin again. So, although the anti-virus software didn’t cost anything financially, it cost a lot in time and frustration. Sometimes, the offer of free anti-virus software is just a marketing ploy. Once the customer installs the free software, he’s inundated with popups warning him that he’s not fully protected and must buy the “complete” version of the software for full protection. This is not the same as the free scans or free trials offered by companies like McAfee or GFI. With all the threats on the Internet these days, choosing to save money by using free anti-virus software seems counterintuitive, especially for companies who use their computers for business-critial tasks. Looking for a trusted IT support team who can take care of your business needs? Call us today. We are your team of IT Professional who know what it takes to support your business. 630-960-9200 |
| Dallas Maverick’s owner Mark Cuban recently shared a number of key tips for business. We thought we would share his 12 tips with you.
1. Don’t start a company unless it’s an obsession and something you love. 2. If you have an exit strategy, it’s not an obsession. 3. Hire people who you think will love working there. 4. Sales Cure All. Know how your company will make money and how you will actually make sales. 5. Know your core competencies and focus on being great at them. Pay up for people in your core competencies. Get the best. Outside the core competencies, hire people that fit your culture but aren’t as expensive to pay. 6. An espresso machine? Are you kidding me? Coffee is for closers. Sodas are free. Lunch is a chance to get out of the office and talk. There are 24 hours in a day, and if people like their jobs, they will find ways to use as much of it as possible to do their jobs. 7. No offices. Open offices keep everyone in tune with what is going on and keep the energy up. If an employee is about privacy, show him or her how to use the lock on the bathroom. There is nothing private in a startup. This is also a good way to keep from hiring executives who cannot operate successfully in a startup. My biggest fear was always hiring someone who wanted to build an empire. If the person demands to fly first class or to bring over a personal secretary, run away. If an exec won’t go on sales calls, run away. They are empire builders and will pollute your company. 8. As far as technology, go with what you know. That is always the most inexpensive way. If you know Apple, use it. If you know Microsoft, then use it. It’s a startup so there are just a few employees. Let people use what they know. 9. Keep the organization flat. If you have managers reporting to managers in a startup, you will fail. Once you get beyond startup, if you have managers reporting to managers, you will create politics. 10. Never buy swag. A sure sign of failure for a startup is when someone sends me logo-embroidered polo shirts. If your people are at shows and in public, it’s okay to buy for your own employees, but if you really think people are going to wear your branded polo when they’re out and about, you are mistaken and have no idea how to spend your money. 11. Never hire a PR firm. A public relations firm will call or email people in the publications you already read, on the shows you already watch and at the websites you already surf. Those people publish their emails. Whenever you consume any information related to your field, get the email of the person publishing it and send them a message introducing yourself and the company. Their job is to find new stuff. They will welcome hearing from the founder instead of some PR flack. Once you establish communication with that person, make yourself available to answer their questions about the industry and be a source for them. If you are smart, they will use you. 12. Make the job fun for employees. Keep a pulse on the stress levels and accomplishments of your people and reward them. My first company, MicroSolutions, when we had a record sales month, or someone did something special, I would walk around handing out $100 bills to salespeople. At Broadcast.com and MicroSolutions, we had a company shot. The Kamikaze. We would take people to a bar every now and then and buy one or ten for everyone. At MicroSolutions, more often than not we had vendors cover the tab. Vendors always love a good party. This article is an edited excerpt from How to Win at the Sport of Business: If I Can Do It, You Can Do It (Diversion Books, 2011) by Mark Cuban. |
Cloud computing brings cost-effective storage and server solutions to businesses. IT departments that need to add or remove hardware and software based on user loads do so as needed at a cost for only what they use. Its’ easy system implementations are another cost-saving strategy and not at all time-consuming.
The most appealing aspect to cloud computing is how it frees up the in-house IT team. This means spending time focused on business-critical tasks. A business no longer has to spend extra in manpower or training. It also offers different types of customer support systems.
Cloud computing helps eliminate miscommunication and time consuming data-entry labor, leading to improved customer relationship management. A fast response to setting up programs and fixing issues means retention of customers and increased business.
Does this sound like hype or reality?
If you are not sure, I can put you in touch with several of our clients that are currently enjoying the ‘hype’ of cloud computing!
Fact: all it takes is one security breach to destroy a company.
But few – especially small businesses – seem to realize it, according to a recent survey released by StaySafeOnline.org. Results show that few small businesses see themselves as a target of online thieves or hackers, resulting in many having only token security policies in place.
StaySafeOnline.org, a website of the National Cyber Security Alliance, has recently released a study that chronicles the cyber security practices and attitudes of small businesses. Conducted in partnership with Visa, the study shows some interesting, if not disturbing, results.
- It turns out that many small businesses (about 65% of the respondents) are highly dependent on their computer / IT / data systems, where they store important information, from sensitive company financial records to personal client information such as credit card info, addresses and phone numbers, and more.
- However, as many as 85% believe that they will not be targeted by hackers and online thieves, and less than half have data security systems in which they are confident. In general, small businesses have, at best, a mediocre security system.
Few realize, though, that it only takes one breach to compromise a company’s finances and relationships with clients. And if you have less than stellar security, stealing from you is easier. You might not have as many online assets as big businesses, but hackers can make a hefty profit by victimizing several easy marks as opposed to bigger and riskier efforts with more secure systems of larger firms.
Don’t take a risk with important data, and don’t compromise the relationships and reputation you’ve built with your clients over the years. Good security is always worth it. If you’re interested in knowing more about beefing up your security through company policies, software, and user education, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We’d be happy to sit down with you and discuss a security blueprint that’s cost effective and custom built to meet your specific needs.
Reference: National Small Business Study
Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org.
| Let’s face it: one security breach is enough to destroy a company.
All the important data you’ve stored and all the relationships you’ve built with your clients over the years; they can all be taken away by just one security breach. But most businesses (especially small ones) fail to realize this. If you – as a small business owner – too feel that you can’t possibly be the target of beonline thieves or hackers, here are some interesting statistics to prove you wrong. A survey conducted by StaySafeOnline.org – a website of the National Cyber Security Alliance – in partnership with Visa has found that about 65% of the respondents are highly dependent on their computer / IT / data systems, where they store important information, from sensitive company financial records to personal client information (think credit card info, addresses and phone numbers, and more). Most businesses (as many as 85%), however, believe that they will not be targeted by hackers and online thieves. Likewise, more than half of the respondents have data security systems in which they are not confident. To put a long story short, small businesses have mediocre security systems, which, instead of protecting them, could turn them into hackers’ prey. Alright, you might not have as many online assets as big business do, but just think of this; why on earth would hackers target big businesses with stellar security systems when they can break into mediocre ones and still make a huge profit? Now that you’ve finally got it, do make it your New Year resolution to beef up your business’ security system. Do you have questions about computer security in your business? Speak with us today at 630-960-9200 to learn more about our complete range of IT and computer security solutions. |
Get valuable control while increasing ease of use with Sky Technology.
Today, businesses both large and small, are increasingly overwhelmed trying to implement and maintain a complex environment of voice and data networks. Maintaining the level of expertise and tools in-house to meet the challenge of managing one’s IT infrastructure adds costs and shifts the focus of valuable resources that could be directed at a company’s core business, particularly in small and growing businesses.
Sky Technology is a leading managed services provider (MSP) of server, desktop, network applications and services. We assess, design, build, deploy, and manage IT networks. Our network support capabilities range from Help Desk technical support, to desktop management, to server and network performance management. All these capabilities assure that your networks operate at optimal performance with maximum cost-efficiency.
Our goal is to provide complete IT asset Life Cycle Management, maximize system up time and minimize time to resolve issues, if and when they occur, allowing your team to focus on your business, not IT issues. Our full services option provides comprehensive services for desktops, servers, networks, and databases including preventive maintenance for desktops.
Managed IT services include the following:
- Proactive 24×7 monitoring
- Escalation & basic fixes
- Event log monitoring
- Back-up log checks
- Anti-virus log checks
- Service Availability monitoring
- Monitoring for DNS, DHCP, and other critical services
- Server health check and analysis of key trends
- Windows Patch Assessment & management
- Log maintenance (both OS and Exchange)
- Virus definition & prevention
- Server tuning & cleaning
Employees using their own mobile devices for wo
rk may seem like a good idea at first – it’s less expense for you, the employer, and they can also make employees more productive. However, it also means that you are allowing potentially unsecure devices to access your company’s data. The solution? An effective IT security policy that balances personal freedom to use these devices and your need to secure important business information.
As technology continues to become more affordable and accessible to consumers, it’s an inevitable fact that employers will see more and more of their employees using their own personal devices such as laptops and mobile phones to access the company’s IT system.
This can be a dangerous thing. Since these devices aren’t company owned and regulated, you have limited access and control over how they are used. Employees could download all sorts of malware and viruses on their devices and pass the infection along to your IT system when they access it.
The solution: a comprehensive IT security policy. It’s important that you find a compromise between the freedom of the employee to use the device as desired and your need to keep your IT system safe from viruses and other threats to your data’s security. Steps such as having employees run mobile device management (MDM) software on their devices is one of many actions you can take to lessen the risk of security breaches. You may also want to implement applications and software that check and screen for malware, both for laptops and mobile devices. And don’t forget that while Android seems to have a bigger problem with malicious software, Apple isn’t exactly virus-free, either.
Employees have a right to use their personal devices as they see fit, but not at the expense of important company information stored in your IT system. Running a tight ship in terms of security is an effective way to protect your business interests and your sensitive company data. If you are interested in knowing more about developing a concrete and effective IT security policy for personal device use as well as general system access, please don’t hesitate to give us a call so we can sit down with you and discuss a custom security blueprint that’s just right for you.
Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org.
Don’t you feel that sometimes, the simplest of tasks are the hardest to do? We do too! And if you have similar feelings when it comes to adjusting the line spacing between texts and paragraphs (for Microsoft Word 2010), here are some tips to help you.
Change the line spacing
If you want to change the line spacing for an entire document, it’s simple. Just apply a Quick Style set that uses the spacing that you want and you’re done. To do that, you’ll have to go through the following steps:
- Go to the Home tab and in the Styles group, click Change Styles.
- § Point to Style Set, and point to the various style sets. Use the line preview with the help of which you can notice how the line spacing changes from one style set to the next.
- § On spotting the spacing you like, click the name of the style set.
However, if you want to change the line spacing for a portion of the document, you should select the paragraphs and change their line spacing settings. Here’s how you can do that:
- § First, select the paragraphs for which you want to change the line spacing and on the Home tab, go to the Paragraph group and click Line Spacing.
- § Either click the number of line spaces that you want or click Line Spacing Options, and then select the options that you want under Spacing.
If you’re confused about which line spacing options to choose, this list might be of help:
- Single - This option accommodates the largest font in that line, plus a small amount of extra space. The amount of extra space varies depending on the font that is used.
- 1.5 lines - This option is one-and-one-half times that of single line spacing.
- Double - This option is twice that of single line spacing.
- At least - This option sets the minimum line spacing that is needed to fit the largest font or graphic on the line.
- Exactly – This option sets fixed line spacing which is expressed in points. If the text is in a 10-point font, for example, you can specify 12 points as the line spacing.
- Multiple - This option sets line spacing that can be expressed in numbers greater than 1. Setting line spacing to 1.15, for example, will increase the space by 15 percent, and setting line spacing to 3 increases the space by 300 percent (also called triple spacing).
NOTE Word increases the spacing for a line that contains a large text character, graphic, or formula. If you want to space all lines evenly within a paragraph, use exact spacing and specify an amount of space that is large enough to fit the largest character or graphic in the line. Items that appear cut off can be dealt with by increasing the amount of spacing.
Change the spacing before or after paragraphs
Changing the spacing between paragraphs for an entire document requires you to apply a Quick Style set that uses the spacing that you want. It has been explained in detail in the following steps:
- Go to the Home tab and in the Styles group, click Change Styles.
- Point to Style Set, and point to the various style sets. Using the live preview, notice how the line spacing changes from one style set to the next.
- When you see spacing that you like, click the name of the style set.
Once you have applied a style set, you can customize the spacing by using the new paragraph spacing options. On clicking one of these options, the line and spacing settings of the style set are overridden. Here’s how you can use the paragraph spacing options to change the spacing:
- On the Home tab, in the Styles group, click Change Styles.
- Point to Paragraph Spacing, and then click the option that you want.
If you want to change the spacing before and after selected paragraphs, select the paragraph before or after which you want to change the spacing. On the Page Layout tab, in the Paragraph group, under Spacing, click the arrow next to Before or After and enter the amount of space that you want. Keep in mind that paragraphs are followed by a blank line, and headings have extra space above them by default.
So the next time you’re having trouble adjusting the line spacing between texts and paragraphs, do follow the steps given above. After all, tasks that are troublesome become easy with a little bit of help, don’t you think?
| Since we are technologist here at Sky, we know better than anyone else that business thrives on innovation.We also know that with innovation come two necessary evils: risk and cost. Both tend to be quite high when it comes to the uncharted territory of new ideas – a lot of expenses and a lot of failures. Unfortunately, especially amid uncertain economic conditions, this reality deters many businesses from a good chunk of this important effort.Businesses may be finding a remedy to this problem, however, in Cloud Computing. The flexibility that the cloud makes possible for infrastructures, services and processes means that it is also capable of driving significant innovation at a far lower cost and level of risk to the innovating business than was ever possible before.
Joe McKendrick, Contributor on forbes.com, says that cloud computing “offers a low-cost way to try and fail with new ideas. In essence, the price of failure has suddenly dropped through the floor.” You’ve heard the old adage “failure is not an option?” Well now it is an option, and a safe, affordable one, at that. This isn’t just limited to things like developing new software, either. McKendrink cites research from the London School of Economics and Political Science that found three stages that Cloud Computing moves through as it’s adopted by businesses. First is the direct technology piece – it’s cheaper and easier to sign up for a hosted or cloud solution (network, server, desktops, or software) than it is to buy a server, buy a license, then deploy and manage it onsite at your office. Second is alterations to the way companies operate, enabling faster time to market for new products and services. Third is changes to business design itself. Companies that use Cloud Computing can quickly provision and decommission parts or entire businesses on an as-needed basis, enabling new ways to get through experimental and prototyping stages faster and more effectively. Pretty neat stuff, and those are just a couple of basic examples. Overall, leveraging Cloud Computing in the process of business innovation reduces cost and risk, and makes it easier for businesses to do it more. To sum up, Cloud Computing is lifting a huge weight off the backs of those who might innovate. And I believe that we all stand to benefit from lightening the load of those who turn great ideas into great products and services to improve the way we do business and the way we live our lives. *Referenced Looks Cloudy technology blog by permission |
Despite numerous market research forecasts predicting that small- and mid-size businesses (SMBs) would be in the vanguard of adopting today’s rapidly expanding array of Cloud-based services, the truth is that most mid-sized businesses have been slow to join the migration to these ‘on-demand’ alternatives.
In too many cases, it has been hesitancy or even overt resistance among IT decision-makers within mid-sized businesses which has let to these organizations staying away from Cloud services.
Sky Technology believes there are 5 reasons why it’s time for CIOs in mid-sized businesses to move to the Cloud:
- It’s Safe: Too many IT decision-makers in mid-sized businesses continue to be afraid of the perceived security, reliability and performance risks associated with the Cloud. The fact is that the leading Cloud service providers have more stringent security precautions in place and far higher uptime records than most mid-sized businesses can boast.
- Your Corporate Executives Want a Change: Today’s escalating business challenges are driving a growing number of corporate executives to seek more nimble and cost-effective alternatives to the legacy, on-premise systems and software which they believe have become obstacles to success.
- Your End-Users Are Already Making The Move: The consumerization of IT is real and far more pervasive than many IT organizations realize. It became increasingly commonplace for corporate end-users to acquire their own smartphones, tablets and laptops as more businesses adopted “Bring Your Own Device” (BYOD) policies to appease their employees’ demands. In many cases, these policies unintentionally opened the door to broad-based, albeit clandestine adoption of Cloud-based applications as well. In the same way Salesforce.com won over salespeople without corporate authorization, others throughout mid-sized businesses are being enticed by free, ‘try and buy’, Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) vendors.
- SaaS/Cloud Solutions Work and Deliver Benefits Fast: In many cases, these benefits are gained quickly and at a fraction of the cost of previous legacy systems and software. As a result, the return on investment (ROI) in the Cloud is proving to be considerably greater and quicker than was ever possible in the on-premise environment.
- You Can Be a Hero: Every CIO I’ve talked to who has moved to the Cloud has told me that it has changed their image within their organization. Instead of being perceived as a bottleneck or obstacle to success, CIOs who embrace the Cloud and help their corporate executives and end-users leverage these third-party resources are viewed as enablers and facilitators who are helping to improve employee productivity and operational efficiencies. And the most open-minded of these CIOs are even seen as catalysts for change and incubators of innovation who are helping their businesses gain a competitive advantage in the market.
CIOs have historically been the targets of executive edicts and end-user demands which have made it impossible to succeed. As a result, CIOs have had short tenures in many organizations. However, the life-expectancy of CIOs has been going up in recent years as a growing number of them are leveraging more cost-effective and user-friendly Cloud solutions to support their corporate executives’ business objectives and end-users’ day-to-day needs.
