Category: The Business Desk

How do you recover from the CryptoLocker ransomware virus without paying the ransom? How do you make sure your data is safe and usable in the event of a power outage, a fire, or a tornado? Having a well thought-out and reliable backup plan is essential. In its simplest terms, ...

[img src="/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2014/10/COGConstantCare-e1413687444829.png" class="aligncenter"] When I meet with potential customers about our ConstantCare program, one of the questions I get asked most often is what makes our program different from the others?  The simple answer is that there are many factors that form the uniqueness of ConstantCare, but I would like ...

[img src="/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2013/12/Depositphotos_12090938_m.jpg" class="aligncenter"] When we bring a new client on, one of the first things we develop is a “state of the union” – or an overall understanding of where their systems are.  Generally, we find that they are flying by the seat of their pants. Let’s think about this ...

We like to help business owner’s discover the technology that will support their core business processes.  But sometimes we can’t even have those conversations, because the foundation of their technology is in disarray.  It’s like the parable of the house - if you build a house on sand, a poor ...

[img src="/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2014/04/Depositphotos_10294403_l-copy.jpg" class="alignncenter"] We recently began working with a new client, and they needed a new file server.  Naturally, as a new client, we took the time to get to know their current systems, and how they support their core business processes.  We realized that a new file server wasn’t ...

[img src="/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2014/06/3-HOLES.jpg" class="aligncenter"] As more companies begin investing in cloud computing infrastructure for their businesses, including many of our clients, one of the questions that I always get is “Aren’t there quite a few security risks with cloud computing?” The short answer is, yes and no. Are there security risks ...

Most of the small business owners I meet with that are using Office 365 are typically only using it as a cloud-based Exchange solution, and have no idea the power and flexibility they have in the software they are already paying for. From conversations I’ve had with other business owners, ...

This is the final article in my three-part series on how to correctly budget for technology..  Two months ago I wrote about Three Factors to determine a proper Technology Budget, and then last month we briefly discussed the 3 Questions every business owner should ask their CIO consultant.  This month ...

[img src="/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2012/10/Keith360.jpg" class="aligncenter"] A couple weeks ago I attended Microsoft’s Worldwide Partner Conference.  Microsoft invites all of their partners to a week-long conference full of education, unveiling, vendor booths, meetings, and of course a little fun.  They had some pretty cool demos this year: the world’s largest touchscreen – Eighty-four ...

[img src="/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2013/07/ipad_vs_surface.jpg" class="aligncenter"] Apple and Microsoft have both been hard at work the past few years beefing up their mobile device operating systems, along with other contenders like Android and Blackberry.  While it’s clear that mobile technology has been and continues to be getting better, these devices and their operating ...