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Michael Cocanower
President, itSynergy |
Welcome
Sometimes the insight you gain when your
brain (for whatever reason) takes a step
back from the day to day and looks at the
big picture is amazing. I had such an event
happen this month, and with the economy
being what it has been lately, people are so
depressed and focused on cost savings that I
start to get bogged down in the day to day
and forget why we as technology consultants
provide value to our customers.
Yes, we provide our customers with a
reliable platform to run their business that
is proactively (not reactively) managed.
Yes, we make sure they are secure, their
data is backed up, and their business will
survive a major or minor disaster. We make
sure they have remote access so they can do
their job from anywhere. In some cases, we
even provide them with a long term
technology strategy. |
But what I am reminded of this month is that when
you really flex the muscles of the technology many
of our customers already have in place, you can
accomplish amazing things. By analyzing the data
your business is already collecting, you can gain
new insight into what is going on in your business.
By using the latest technologies, you can create new
value and offerings for your customers that
distinguish you from your competition. Technology
can also be used to provide new efficiencies to
existing processes so that the tasks everyone hates
doing don't have to be done anymore - the technology
does them for you.
It is those type of projects that motivate me to
do what I do as a technology consultant. Sure - I'll
fix your computer problems, but that is only a means
to an end in my eyes. I want to fix your computer
problems so that I can take that worry off your
plate and open your eyes to the potential that
technology holds and the impact it can have on your
business.
That's the big picture I see when I take a step
back. Have you taken a step back and looked at your
business lately? Is your technology working for you
and enhancing your business, or are you working for
the technology and just keeping it around as a
necessary evil? |
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7 Ways Technology Saves Money
reprinted with permission from the Microsoft Small Business Center
By Jeff Wuorio
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Every small business owner knows that new technology can be pricey.
But technology can also pay in the form of significant savings-particularly over the long haul.
Savings from technology isn't just a matter of plugging in a new gizmo and watching the cash
roll in. You have to evaluate your priorities and choose the right technology that meets your operating and budgetary requirements. |
With that approach in mind,
here are seven ways that technology can save your small business money: |
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Laptop or Desktop: Which One is Right For You?
reprinted with permission from HP
In the not-so-distant past, the choice between a desktop and a laptop computer was simple: do
you want portability, or not? There were a few other clear-cut
differences, too. Desktop models offered more power and features and
were less expensive, while laptops were portable, but also more costly,
and less ergonomic.
While some of these
differences remain, advances in technology make many of them
insignificant. Laptop prices have fallen, and the machines now offer
even more power and features. Desktop models are less bulky than they
used to be, and with the proliferation of devices like USBs, portability
of data is not such a big issue. So how do you choose?
Here are a few points
to consider. |
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System Engineering Corner
Notes from the Network Engineering Department:
Note to readers:
As our network engineers work with all of you across our entire customer base, they observe trends and issues that many people have in common, or that many customers will find helpful to know about.
This section is designed to give them a mechanism to communicate those issues to you, with the hope that YOU might benefit from. |
Some thoughts on all of the recent press surrounding the Conficker
worm and the certain doom the press had us convinced was going to happen on
April 1. If you are reading this email than you should count yourself among the
fortunate because your life wasn't ruined by Conficker. Actually, now that we
think about it, it seems as though almost nobody's life was ruined by Conficker
on April 1.
We think this is a great opportunity to remind our customers of a couple of
key points:
1. Although most people (including the media) use computers on a daily basis,
they don't have to be experts on the inner workings of technology to be
successful. The result is that when we occasionally have an event like Conficker
that grabs attention, the attention is more related to the fact that something
has generated a lot of buzz rather than any true technical issue. We are here to
serve as the trusted technology advisor to our customers, and we'd encourage you
to remember that. If you ever want the 'real' skinny on something the media is
all whipped up about - give us a call. Not only would we like to catch up and
hear about what's happening with your business, we can also give you the
straight truth which gives you the information you need to make informed
decisions.
2. The Conficker worm in particular exploited a vulnerability in Microsoft
operating systems that was identified and patched last October. For all of our
itSynergize Management customers, we undertook a large effort the day the patch
was released to ensure they were patched immediately. That has allowed them to
sit back the last couple of weeks and just laugh at all of the frenzy out there.
Making sure your computers have all of the latest security patches all of the
time is just one of the things our itSynergize Management plan does for our
customers. Seems to us a small price to pay for peace of mind when it comes to
your business's technology assets. It is even more attractive with the new
tiered pricing we are introducing this month.
The bottom line is this. Security vulnerabilities, viruses, worms, and the
like all generate big news. Implementing best practices and sound management of
your technology as a continuous process rather than a onetime event allows you
to avoid all of that, and have the peace of mind that no matter what the big
news story of the day is, you're covered. |
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April 2009
In this issue
□ Welcome
□ Technology Saves Money
□ Laptop or Desktop?
□ Engineering Corner
□ Referral Program
□ Tale of Two Dogs
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itSynergy Referral Program
Can we buy you dinner and send you to the movies? How about make a donation to your favorite charity in your name? Earn rewards for referring new customers to itSynergy. For more details, please
visit here
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The Tale of Two Dogs
A reminder about the benefits of positive reinforcement
Used with permission of Joel H. Weldon & Associates, Inc.
http://www.SuccessComesInCans.com
As a first time dog owner, he
failed. He would call, "Ginger!" but Ginger wouldn't
respond. She continued wandering and sniffing bushes, as
dogs want to do, and only return when she wanted to,
which was neither soon nor quick enough to suit him. And
when she did come back, he was furious. He would grab her
collar, shake her and yell, "BAD dog! You come when I call!"
But she gradually became even less inclined to respond and
he grew more frustrated, until one day he left the dog on a
friend's farm where she could run free.
Enter dog number two-Dusty.
By now our friend, the misguided dog-lover, had matured such
that he remained calm even when Dusty ignored his commands.
He just waited until Dusty did respond, then he lavished
praise and affection upon her. He would hug her and pat her
and say, "GOOD dog, Dusty!" Thus Dusty quickly learned that
being obedient was a pleasant experience, and she became an
exceptionally obedient dog, which made her master a happy
dog-owner.
Read more
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Quote of the month
The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity. The optimist sees the
opportunity in every difficulty.
--
Winston Churchill
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7310 North 16th Street,
Suite 130
Phoenix, AZ 85020-8203
Telephone: 602.297.2400
Fax: 602.297.8703
Email:
info@itsynergy.com
www.itsynergy.com
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