Computer Support Network

The greatest IT concerns for small and medium businesses (SMb) in the New Year will be security and data backup and protection.   Over 50% of the average SMb IT departments’ time is spent with menial backup and routine administrative tasks.  Through the utilization of a virtualization solution your business can reduce the time it takes to complete everyday tasks, backup critical data and boost overall network security.

Most of the problems that face SMb today can be traced back to the way they store and access information.  In 2009 a survey conducted in North America revealed that nearly a third of the polled businesses experienced IT systems failure over the last two years.  Over 60% of those lost sales or customers because they were not prepared to handle the outage.  The lack of a contingency plan is a problem that can be seen in businesses regardless of size and industry.  Without proper security and long term backup solutions in place, a business can become immobilized for days or even weeks once a problem arises.
Virtual storage solutions work in conjunction with your current hardware to build a more efficient IT infrastructure and will also allow for a stronger degree of security. Security systems in general incur a high amount of processing overhead to keep them functional.

Because virtualization cuts down on network strain and provides efficient hardware configurations, a lot of processing power can be relocated to more productive tasks. Lastly, virtualization consolidates resources. Which means that when it comes time to patch or backup system data, the procedure becomes highly automated which improves efficiency and preserves security.

Because virtualization automates many of the backup and security tasks normally assigned to your IT department, worker productivity will be increased as man hours are freed up.  As an added bonus virtualization solutions require fewer resources in the form of electricity and cooling which will further reduce the costs incurred by your business.  With a general reduction in operational costs, improved data security and a more efficient use of your current manpower the real question becomes how can you afford not to make use of virtualization technology?

If you would like to learn more about the specifics of what a virtualized solution can do for you visit our website here or contact Maureen McHugh today.

- Richard Keene
IT Computer Support of New York
Design and Optimization Department

For the last couple months Microsoft has put forth a campaign to remind users that support for Windows XP SP2 will soon end. The official support end date for Windows XP Service Pack 2 will take place in the end of July 2010, roughly seven months from now. While this might seem like plenty of time it’s important to be prepared in the shift of support policy.

Microsoft reported on their official Blog that in addition to the closed support of XP, Windows 2000 Server and Client support will come to an end on July 13th 2010. Microsoft is hoping that most consumers will switch over to its new Windows 7 platform but at this time there are update alternatives. Even though support for Service Pack 2 will end, Microsoft will continue to address issues in SP3 until 2014. What this means is that one way or another, systems will now need to be patched and updated to receive official support. Additional information on potential upgrade and migration information is available on Microsoft’s Springboard Series Blog.

As of last October, it is estimated that Windows XP still operated 80% of the commercial PCs on the market which makes this a bold push from Microsoft. While Windows 7 has been highly received by many there is still much hesitation to upgrade after the debacle that was Windows Vista. The final verdict on Windows 7 is still out but as the final support days come to a close over the next year many will feel little alternative.

Whether you intend to upgrade to a new operating system or hold onto XP as long as possible now is the time to plan for the change. At the bare minimum, all of your systems should be upgraded to the newest service pack. The end of XP Support could be a headache but if you prepare for the change it doesn’t have to be.

- Richard Keene
IT Computer Support of New York
Design and Optimization Department

The start of a New Year means new business opportunities and the potential for new problems. January is the perfect time to have a thorough assessment of your company’s network infrastructure. As businesses look for ways to cut costs many have found their resources lacking when it comes to crucial business components. Proper assessment of your computer hardware and software will prepare your financial department for the expenses your business will incur throughout the year.

A level 20 assessment takes into consideration business necessities that are often neglected during typical budget creation. It is critical to take into consideration big ticket items such as data storage and workstations but it is also important to make sure that secondary necessary requirements are also addressed. To keep productivity high a business needs to budget for increased storage requirements, recurring update costs, upgrades, support, maintenance and licensure. Government and industry specific regulations may impose new requirements as well. New software and systems may require mandatory upgrades.

IT Computer Support of New York provides level 20 assessments that cover 7 key areas of business operation along with an in-depth analysis of findings and recommendations. A level 20 assessment with IT Computer Support of New York covers:

• Configuration of Firewall
• Configuration of Switches
• Physical and logical configuration of representative workstations
• Storage utilization and needs
• UPS recommendations
• Backup
• Anti-Virus and Anti-Spyware capabilities and more.

IT Computer Support of New York will go through your current business hardware and software configurations and provide you with a detailed checklist of all your subsystems. After you receive your level 20 assessment IT Computer Support of New York will be happy to consult with you on a proper course of action for all possible concerns. By planning your budget around the current necessities of your business you will be better prepared to make intelligent investments throughout the year.

If you would like to schedule a level 20 assessment or learn more about the covered services contact Maureen McHugh at (212) 242-2949.

- Richard Keene
IT Computer Support of New York
Design and Optimization Department