Newsletter - July 2002

Would you trust your computers?
Your antivirus expired this morning! Would you trust your computers--right now--to kill the newest viruses? Each day the reputable antivirus companies update their antivirus signature files. Your system must check these files daily and download any new updates.

Even with the most current protection viruses can still strike. Use common sense when opening emails. A good rule of thumb is that if you were not expecting the email or do not recognize the sender, then do not open it. Delete it. If it was that important it would have been clear by the name and subject. Also look for lack of “personalization” in the email. An auto-generated email probably will not start with a personalized greeting and end with the sender’s signature. They are not that smart…yet.

Web pages can also be infected. If your virus software is not protecting your web browser then you should upgrade to one that does. Check that it protects against “Trojan Horses” and malicious java applets. If you are unsure as to your current antivirus capabilities, please call us.

Would you trust your computers?
Think about this: You come into the office tomorrow and your server is gone? Or maybe it is right where you left it the night before but it’s not booting up. Fact: All hard drives have a shelf life. They are magnetic media (not digital) with movable parts. Fact, in time all hard drives fail. A new drive usually lasts for several years. But occasionally I them fail after several months. Make sure your disaster recovery plan and tools are up-to-date.

Questions to Ask:
• Is your contingency plan up-to-date?
• What is your estimated downtime?
• Who is in charge of bringing your system back online?
• Are your tape backups being verified and the logs being reviewed?
• Where are your backup tapes and server restore disks?

Keeping computers tuned is a snap
DSL is a great tool for any office. Broadband Internet makes it easy to bank online, tap into vendor information and stay connected with your customers. Plus, with an always-on Internet connection keeping your computers tuned is a snap. For example, antivirus updates can be automated and software patches can be installed quickly and reliably.

Geek approved!
Looking to purchase a new printer? This can be a great opportunity to boost your productivity and save money on supplies and tech support. If yours is giving you grief, upgrading to a LaserJet 4100 will be one of the best investments in office equipment that you will ever make.

Boost your productivity and save money on supplies and tech support. One well configured HP 4100 LaserJet Printer can be a big productivity boost to your office. $1,100 (base model) buys you a bullet-proof printer that will provide you many years of worry-free operation! Benefits include 25 pages-per-minute printing, 32MB of RAM, network support and flawless “set it and forget it” operation on Windows 98/NT/2000 networks.

My $0.02 Worth
Do not buy a PC from a chain store. Office Depot, Best Buy…Comp USA—Do not go there! Trust me, you will find much better value and superior customer support by going through made-to-order companies like Dell or Gateway. Reputable local resellers are another option but you should have a working knowledge of computer guts. However, do not buy locally if your computing environment consists of more than a few workstations. If you are buying several computers per year, the large made-to-order companies will assign you a personal sales rep who will be more than happy to acknowledge you with price breaks.