Google Apps, Office 365 or Apple’s iCloud?

Posted in: Backup & Disaster Recovery, Blog, Cloud Computing by Andrew Moon on May 8, 2012 | No Comments

With all the hype around cloud computing, you’ve certainly heard about the cloud-based office applications being offered by Microsoft, Google and Apple. All are promising cheap, easy and convenient computing…but are they REALLY all they’re cracked up to be?

     The most important thing you need to know is that these are relatively new technologies with new features being added on a monthly, even weekly, basis. And like any new technology, there are things that will not work as well as a very mature desktop application hosted on your machine. If you are a power user of Microsoft Office, you’ll quickly get frustrated when you discover Office 365 can’t perform some of the more sophisticated functions such as creating Macros in Excel or the advanced markup in Word.

     Google Apps is a good platform for those businesses that need simple, inexpensive cloud-based collaboration software. However, if your company has been using Microsoft Office for years, you have a big investment to consider since all those documents will change when switched to Google Apps. Therefore, most companies will want to stick with Microsoft Office 365 rather than go through the pain of having all their documents slightly “off.” Additionally, Google Apps doesn’t always play well with certain line of business applications that were designed to integrate seamlessly with Microsoft Office.

     Then we have Apple’s iCloud. While this is a cloud-based service, it shouldn’t be compared to Office 365 or Google Apps since it’s geared towards organizing, storing and accessing media (music, videos and pictures). While they do have some applications for e-mail and calendaring, it’s not designed to replace an office productivity suite.

But the war is far from over yet, and in the grand scheme of things Google may resolve all the above mentioned issues. Again, these are new technologies that are changing rapidly; what might be a good choice today could be a second rate choice next week. So which one should you choose? That depends on your own unique situation. No two companies are alike in the way they communicate, store information and work; therefore, it’s important you work with an IT consultant who takes a custom approach to solving your organization’s needs—not a one-size-fits-all company that only sells hammers and treats every client like a nail.

Is Your Head In The Cloud?

Posted in: Cloud Computing, Hot New Tech Products, Trends and Tools, Network Logix News, Small Business Growth Strategies, Small Business Management Strategies by Andrew Moon on August 9, 2011 | No Comments

Cloud computing is coming and it will change the way all companies work.  But can you believe the hype? There’s certainly no shortage of books written about the subject, conferences dedicated to its discussion and everyone seems to have a jargon-laden opinion not to mention a product to sell.

But it’s certainly true – there are plenty of awesome things to say about cloud computing.  The main advantages are:

• You can pick and choose the applications you use and pay for – on demand

• Payment for cloud applications is usually incremental which saves money

• All software updates are automated

• Because the servers are not your own there’s no investment, upkeep or replacement costs

• If your workforce is mobile  they will have better access to company data if you store your data in the cloud

• You can scale up easily by paying for additional application users without capital expenditure

These benefits can save  smaller  businesses plenty of time and money. But for every person who raves about the cloud there are others who talk about the risks. Here are two objections we hear most often:

“But is it secure?”

For our clients, security issues are mainly to do with the security and privacy of information stored. So can you be sure that your data is secure and not at risk from hackers or your competitors’ beady eyes? For most small businesses these security risks are reduced to a minimum by:

• Windows security routinely managing day to day security

• Hosted centres where data is held are highly secure installations that do not routinely allow personnel inside the premises

• Data encryption

“It’s just too new!”

Cloud computing has been seen by many as yet another new distraction – especially when the past couple of years have bought more pressing challenges. With many companies now using the cloud for email, IT support or online data back-up very successfully it’s no longer seen as new or particularly risky. Our advice?

• Start small

• Get some expert help to weigh up the potential savings for your business

• Move parts of your IT infrastructure  to the cloud one at a time.

(If you would like some free cloud consultancy contact us or look out for our new e-course coming soon.)

50% of iPhones Don’t Currently Get Backed Up

Posted in: Backup & Disaster Recovery, Blog, Cloud Computing, MAC Tips, Network Logix News, Small Business Mobile Technology by Administrator on July 19, 2011 | No Comments

Sometimes it’s easy to forget that we in the geek world aren’t like normal people. We spend our lives connected, and backing up our data is just one of those things we do as a matter of course. Until iOS 5 arrives in the coming months, the only way to back up an iOS iDevice is to plug it into iTunes and let it sync. But does anyone actually do it?

According to a little birdie, only 50% of the customers who take iDevices into Apple Stores for repair have their apps, settings, contacts and the like, backed up.

That’s right – around half of iPhones, iPads and iPod touches don’t find themselves plugged into iTunes after that initial set up – a set up that won’t even need to be done after iOS 5 lands…

“A little birdie says that about 50 percent of Apple Store customers who need to get their iPhones swapped have never plugged them into iTunes after the initial activation and sync. This is a big reason, according to this birdie, for why Apple Store Geniuses are excited about iCloud.”

The comment about iCloud makes sense. The current barrier to entry when it comes to backing up iOS devices is the cable and computer. Theoretically, and apparently this is happening, devices need never actually be connected to a computer other than to do iOS software updates.App installations and updates can all be handled on-device, and music can also be purchased from the iTunes app. People just don’t need to connect to the desktop iTunes.

But there is one thing they need, and that’s power.

The way iOS 5′s backups will work changes the game completely. Now, when a device is plugged into a power outlet and the screen is locked then a backup will be performed. This happens once a day, usually at night when there is less chance of a user interrupting the process. With the default setting being ‘ON’ there really is no reason for users to not back up their data.

Apple, once again protecting its users from themselves.

6 Ways Low Cost Computing Can Save Your Small Business Money

Posted in: Blog, Cloud Computing, Small Business Growth Strategies, Small Business Management Strategies, Technology Quick Tips by Andrew Moon on May 17, 2011 | No Comments

Most small business owners see information technology as another expense. But what if IT could save your small business money-particularly when it comes to sales and marketing efforts?

Research shows the most popular strategies to saving money include:

• Allowing employees to telecommute (26%)
• Upgrading server infrastructure with the most energy-efficient technology available (16 %)
• Using mobile technology (15 %)
• Conducting live meetings that share resources over the Web such, as presentations (14 %)

You have to take a hard look at your processes, that helps you design a solution that works for you, and helps you realize greater efficiency and organization. Can smarter IT really do that? Yes.

Here are six ways that low-cost computing can give your small business a lift:

1. Use what you’ve got. Chances are, the resources you need to start saving money with your technology are right in front of you. For example, most businesses have Microsoft Office installed. That’s a good start.  Most, however, could use it much more effectively.

If users took the time to learn how to build a simple database in Access that tracks customers and orders or to learn how to export data from Access or Excel into Word for a mail merge or to understanding the features of Outlook to organize time and tasks, they could save lots of time and money. These all need an hour of effort to learn, but once they are understood, huge piles of paper and binders full of orders can be archived away and processes big and small streamlined.

2. Turn your PCs into phones. Nico McLane, a broadcast media consultant, says she turns to free Web-based services such as Skype or Free Conference to bring clients together and show off her products. “I target ROI on everything I do for myself and my clients,” she says. “I use several tools in concert to achieve the exact type of virtual meeting I need to deliver, to educate potential clients on the power of these tools.”

How much does all of this cost? Usually, nothing, since many of the products offer free trials. This can also save money on travel expenses, since virtual conferences often eliminate the need for in-person meetings. Travel and entertainment costs are typically the second- or third-biggest business expense.

3. Automate processes. Are you still doing invoicing, receiving, purchasing and inventory control the old-fashioned way-by hand? IT can help you automate those processes and save money. Automate your processes as much as possible and trim unnecessary overhead,” says Loren Peterson, the vice president of global solutions for MCNi, which develops automation software that works with accounting applications used by small businesses. “The upfront costs are generally recouped with a few months of purchase.”

4. Outsource when it makes sense. In most small organizations, there’s usually an employee who is responsible for IT, including office machines, copiers and interactions with the phone company. The problem is, this person usually has another primary responsibility-the job they were actually hired for. As the economy continues to tighten, companies are searching for ways to get more out of their existing employees, but we’ve found that these jack-of-all-trades are spending anywhere from 25% to 75% of their time dealing with [IT related] problems. By shifting resources, allowing your employees to do what they were meant to-and outsourcing the rest to a third party-you can save lots of money.

5. Get rid of obsolete technology. Perhaps the only thing that’s worse than not using IT to help your business save money is trying to use obsolete technology. Take a fax machine, for example. “Get rid of it,” says Edith Yeung, who organizes the San Francisco Entrepreneur Meetup, a networking group for Bay Area entrepreneurs. Instead of using the traditional fax machine, check out eFax.com. You can save costs for faxing long distance, and you will also save money on paper and save the environment.

The same thing goes for other obsolete technologies such as computer screens that use cathode ray tubes, or old software. These vintage technologies slow down your business and cost money in the form of higher energy bills. Get rid of them and it won’t just speed up your processes; it will save your company serious money.

6. Shift more of your business to the Web. Many small retailers have realized they can target incremental revenues by establishing a Web site to sell from, in addition to their brick-and-mortar store, says Les Cowie, the director of business development for Worldwide Brands, a company that online retailers directly with qualified wholesale suppliers.

But why stop there? Using nothing more than a PC and a broadband connection, your small business can leverage the marketing power of the Internet. Social networking sites such as Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter let you push sales at virtually no cost to your business.

For small businesses, IT isn’t a problem. It’s a solution. By taking advantage of the technology you already have, outsourcing what you shouldn’t be doing, upgrading and rethinking the way your small business uses technology, you can harness the power of low-cost computing for your company.

3 Easy Ways to Go Green

Posted in: Blog, Cloud Computing, Hot New Tech Products, Trends and Tools, Small Business Management Strategies by Andrew Moon on March 15, 2011 | No Comments

Since March is the month we “spring” ahead,  this month’s tip is all about “going green” with your office to not only cut down on waste and environmental pollution, but also save you money on utilities, overhead and IT services. Here are 3 simple ways to do this:

1.  Go Virtual! Desktop virtualization (sometimes called client virtualization) is a process of replacing your expensive, power-sucking computer workstations with a less expensive “thin-client” option. This not only cuts down on the power needed (and your electric bill), but also reduces hardware and maintenance costs because these systems are much easier to maintain. Best of all, you won’t notice any difference in how you use your PC!

2.  Go Paperless! Why keep printing, filing and shuffling all of those paper documents around when document management systems are so easy and inexpensive to implement? Not only does going paperless cut down on paper and ink (saving you money while cutting down on waste), but it’s also far easier to file, find and share documents. Plus the chances of an important document getting lost or stolen are greatly reduced.

3.  Go Remote! Working from home, even a day a week, will cut down on gas and emissions. Some businesses are moving to a complete remote workplace where everyone is working from home, saving them a ton of money on rent, utilities and overhead. In fact, most of our computer repair and support is delivered to our clients remotely thanks to our ProCare Managed Office plan.

Want to know how we can save your business some green by going green? Be one of the first 5 people to schedule a consultation about any of these services and we’ll give you a FREE Logitech web cam – no strings attached and no obligation to buy anything! This webcam will allow you to hold “greener” meetings by eliminating drive time to meet in person.

How “Hosted Exchange” Can Solve All Your E-mail Problems While Saving You BIG $$$

Posted in: Cloud Computing, Hot New Tech Products, Trends and Tools, Network Logix News, Small Business Growth Strategies, Small Business Mobile Technology by Andrew Moon on February 1, 2011 | No Comments

If you are a small to medium sized business that has frequent e-mail problems, including servers going down, slow performance, too many spam e-mails and high IT support and software costs, read on.

Hosted Exchange is often a much cheaper and easier way of getting rid of all these issues at a much lower cost to your company. Here’s how it works: Instead of purchasing and maintaining your e-mail in-house, which can be costly and time consuming, your Exchange server is hosted (and maintained) in a high-performance, high-security hosting company “in the cloud” where you can access it securely from any device or PC.

Best of all, you don’t have to make any changes in HOW you access your e-mail – your messages will simply be delivered to your inbox, phone, or other device faster and with fewer issues, and it will always be synchronized and up-to-date!

Here are just a few of the advantages:

No more software, hardware or maintenance costs.

YOU don’t have to purchase the hardware and software, nor do you have to maintain the system. This is all included in a very low monthly fee.

High speed, “always on” e-mail. The hosted Exchange platforms that we provide to our clients are high-performance systems with multiple “fail over” backup servers, maintained and monitored like Fort Knox – something you normally wouldn’t be able to afford for your small business. However, when you’re hosted on this platform, you get all the benefits of a high-performance system without the costs. Your in-house network could go down and you’d STILL have access to your e-mail, contacts and calendar.

Automatic backups and archiving. What would you do if your in-house e-mail server failed and erased your messages? Or what if a disgruntled employee deleted all their e-mails? If you were hosting your Exchange, these would be non-issues since your e-mails would be backed up daily and secured.

Faster set up. Installing an Exchange server can take days. When you host Exchange, setting up a new user takes minutes.

Access your e-mail and calendar from anywhere. You don’t have to remote into your office PC; now you can securely access your e-mail from any device or PC.

6 Reasons To Choose Hosted Solutions Over Traditional IT

Posted in: Cloud Computing, Network Logix News, Small Business Growth Strategies, Small Business Management Strategies by Andrew Moon on December 28, 2010 | No Comments

If you want to save your organization a good amount of money on hardware, software and support, you ought to be looking at the various hosted IT solutions that are available.

A hosted solution is simply a business application – be it a CRM system like Salesforce or Microsoft’s Exchange – that is stored (or hosted) on a server outside of your office and is accessed via the web. This is also called “cloud computing.”

While some folks are still a bit skeptical of putting their entire computer network in the “cloud,” that fear is starting to subside with the incredible cost savings and ever-increasing security and reliability of hosted applications.

How Hosted Solutions Save You Money And Solve Many IT-Related Problems

1. Cost Savings. With a hosted solution, you get the instant advantage of having very sophisticated software running on top-of-the-line, fully supported hardware without having to pay for it out of pocket. Since the resources are shared, you only pay a small fraction of the overall costs. Plus, upgrades and on-going maintenance are included, saving you even more.

2. You’re Not Stuck With Any One Solution. Another advantage of a hosted solution is that there is no long-term commitment. If you don’t like a particular CRM or application, you can (usually) cancel the contract and move on to something else. Compare that against building your own in-house solution which costs a LOT more money and is much harder to walk away from because of the investment.

3. Your Costs Go Up Or Down Based On Users. Since most hosted solution fees are based on the number of users who have access, you can quickly scale up or down.

4. Less Hassle. Since your provider is providing these services like a utility, THEY are responsible for all the upgrades, maintenance, security, etc.

5. Faster Implementation. Building your own infrastructure is not only expensive, but also time consuming. With hosted

applications, you simply turn the service “on,” making it much easier (and faster) to get started.

6. Easy Access From Anywhere. If you or your employees travel a lot or work from remote or home offices, going to a hosted solution makes even more sense because users can work from anyplace they happen to be connected to the Internet.

What About The Downsides?

Some folks are still a bit too squeamish to put their entire network and data into a hosted solution, usually because of concerns over security or the fear of not being able to access their data if the Internet goes down. While these are valid concerns, they can easily be addressed by choosing a reputable company with a long-standing history of good service (think SalesForce or Rackspace) and by getting a backup Internet connection (something we recommend to all clients).

If you really want to know if your business can benefit from hosted solutions, give us a call. Even if you’re not ready to go 100% to the cloud, you can often get certain pieces of your network hosted to save money and provide easier access to those who travel.