You can shut down, restart or log off from Windows 7 or Vista in a few quick steps - without going through the Start Menu or using any 3rd party applications.
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The United States Homeland Security Department’s National Cyber Security Awareness Campaign Challenge was a huge success, with more than 80 security proposals submitted with the goal of increasing awareness regarding threats to cyber security.
Out of the over 80 submitted entries, seven were chosen to receive awards at a ceremony at the White House recently. One noteworthy proposal was a 5k run dubbed “Trot Against Bots”, which aims to intentionally cause traffic jams to demonstrate the effect of security problems causing disruptions in internet traffic, bagging the Best Creative Approach award. Cisco Systems, Inc., also got a nod for their “Cybersecurity is Everyone’s Responsibility” Publicity and Marketing plan, which highlights the importance of using cyberspace responsibly as an individual compared to the shared effort of making the internet a safe place for all.
Another notable proposal was the “Think Before You Click” campaign from Deloitte & Touche, LLP, which won the Best Iconic and Overall Structure. As the name suggests, the campaign aims to curb the pervasive habit of clicking links before analyzing the possible content of the website to be accessed or the file to be downloaded.
Other winners include: Best Local/Community Plan - Securing Our eCity San Diego and MyMaine Privacy; Best Individual Plan - “Cybersecurity Starts Here: Home, School and Main Street” by Melissa Short; and Best Educational Plan - Pennsylvania State University’s “CyberLink Games”.
Homeland Security plans to utilize the winning concepts and integrate them into their National Cybersecurity Awareness Campaign.
Source:
http://www.dhs.gov/files/cyber-awareness-campaign.shtm
CRM services are now expanding their offerings to include social networking platforms - both internal and external - to help boost client relationships.
With the popularity of social networking mechanisms and websites continuing to grow, more and more businesses are adapting their service offerings to include features that are linked into common social networking websites / platforms such as LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, and the like. Some are even developing their own features that mimic social networking functions applied specifically for their own customer base - and many are doing both.
CRM, or customer relationship management, services especially are seeing the vast potential of tapping into the social networking phenomenon. With the goal of CRMs being to establish and nurture a company’s relationship with both existing and potential clients, it is only logical for such service providers to use a platform that boasts billions of interactions daily.
Microsoft CRM, for example, has integrated third-party applications such as social media accelerators, social network developers, and the like that enable businesses to develop and use social media platforms, both internal and external, for their own purposes and strategies.
Using social networking - both through developing their own apps and / or integrating with existing ones - CRMs are able to get a better and bigger sense of current and possible client bases. Interaction goes much faster, is much more real-time and genuine, and feedback is easier to gather.
Small and medium-sized businesses are especially benefitting from these developments, since their client bases are much smaller and thus much easier to manage and keep track of through the social networking medium.
CRM services are now expanding their offerings to include social networking platforms - both internal and external - to help boost client relationships.
With the popularity of social networking mechanisms and websites continuing to grow, more and more businesses are adapting their service offerings to include features that are linked into common social networking websites / platforms such as LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, and the like. Some are even developing their own features that mimic social networking functions applied specifically for their own customer base - and many are doing both.
CRM, or customer relationship management, services especially are seeing the vast potential of tapping into the social networking phenomenon. With the goal of CRMs being to establish and nurture a company’s relationship with both existing and potential clients, it is only logical for such service providers to use a platform that boasts billions of interactions daily.
Microsoft CRM, for example, has integrated third-party applications such as social media accelerators, social network developers, and the like that enable businesses to develop and use social media platforms, both internal and external, for their own purposes and strategies.
Using social networking - both through developing their own apps and / or integrating with existing ones - CRMs are able to get a better and bigger sense of current and possible client bases. Interaction goes much faster, is much more real-time and genuine, and feedback is easier to gather.
Small and medium-sized businesses are especially benefitting from these developments, since their client bases are much smaller and thus much easier to manage and keep track of through the social networking medium.
Because of technology, everyone – including small businesses - can now benefit from VoIP.
The same network that handles the flow of data such as web access and email can also accommodate voice as well. A few years ago, Voice-over-IP (VoIP), or Internet telephony, was touted as the next big wave in technology. For many businesses - especially geographically distributed ones - VoIP provides a way to dramatically reduce the cost of communications and maximize investments already made in their network infrastructure.
In addition to saving money and using resources more efficiently, VoIP lets employees be more productive and efficient by giving them the ability to receive and make calls anywhere with a data connection. VoIP also reduces the complexity associated with managing multiple networks and devices for communication. Companies can set up their office network so that each employee can use a single device, such as a computer or a smart phone, to handle everything from email, chat, messages, fax, and more. Finally, VoIP enables real-time collaboration when used with video conferencing and screen sharing applications.
All this used to come with a big price tag, but that’s no longer the case. With the great strides made in technology the last few years, VoIP is now easily within reach for many businesses - large or small. The range of choices include free, downloadable software that allows users to make free calls over the Internet from PCs or mobile devices, as well as services that can be used and accessed from your web browser, your favorite email service or software, and even old-school analog phones as well!
VoIP is certainly a technology that has come of age. It’s cheap, ubiquitous, and easy to use, and all businesses would do well to add VoIP to their toolset for substantial cost savings and greatly improved efficiency and productivity.
Looking for some guidance in adding VoIP to your toolset? Give us a call - we have answers!
Everyone enjoys having a more interactive internet experience, and one of the ways websites achieve this is through the use of JavaScript. Unfortunately, hackers and scammers can also utilize the same script to make malicious attacks on your system.
JavaScript makes the web experience very dynamic, enhancing the interactivity of many websites - you’ll see it everywhere, from Facebook to the most obscure sites on the web. Another reason it’s popular is that it’s compatible with all browsers, from Internet Explorer to Mozilla and even Mac’s Safari.
Unfortunately, this popularity and wide range of use also makes JavaScript a tool that hackers and other unscrupulous programmers can use to infiltrate and hack into a system. The attacks can be simple or complicated, ranging from simple spam to more elaborate scams. The degree simply depends on the purpose of the script’s designer. What’s more, a quick visit to an infected website can trigger an attack, if your browser is enabled to allow JavaScript to execute from that site.
The good news is that you can protect yourself from these kinds of attacks. Simply block JavaScript from executing from sites you aren’t familiar with - better safe than sorry.
You should also be particularly wary of JavaScript attacks originating from malicious PDF files. Antivirus and security firm Symantec reports that almost half of all web-based attacks come from infected PDF files. You can disable JavaScript in Adobe Acrobat Reader by selecting Edit > Preferences > JavaScript, and then removing the check on “Enable Acrobat JavaScript”.
It might seem inconvenient to guard yourself from these sorts of attacks, but in the long run it pays to keep your system secure. If you want to know more about keeping your system clean and safe from attacks, give us a call and we’ll be happy to help you develop a customized plan that meets your particular needs.
Several printing options in PowerPoint 2007 let you print slides, speaker notes, presentation outline, and audience handouts. Here are tips on how to use them.
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Most entrepreneurs are not IT professionals or IT experts. Outsourcing IT services to experts is a definite advantage for business owners.
The term Managed Services is defined as “the practice of transferring day-to-day related management responsibility as a strategic method for improved effective and efficient operations”. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Managed_services) While large corporations regularly choose this technology solution, many owners of small and medium-sized businesses are still hesitant to go this route. Here are some reasons Managed Services can benefit all sizes and types of business:
1. IT is an integral part of most businesses.
Especially in recent years, the business world has become increasingly dependent on IT. Almost all businesses rely on some sort of technology. With this increased use of IT comes an increase in problems and outages – and even loss of data – all of which result in loss of productivity.
2. Faulty or under-supported IT causes costly downtime.
Small, in-house IT departments of one or two people are usually not able or equipped to handle occasional IT breakdowns, and employees must call on somebody else for help, sometimes resulting in hours or even days of lost productivity. This downtime greatly affects the bottom line of your business.
3. Technology is constantly improving.
Improvements in technology are continuing at a rapid pace. Equipment is upgraded and new specialties in IT are emerging. Small to medium-sized businesses are not equipped to keep up with these constant changes.
4. IT Managed Services provide state-of-the-art solutions.
Managed Services providers are experts in the field of technology, and bring knowledge and experience in the latest solutions to your business. And taking advantage of scale of economies, the Managed Services model gives you access to affordable state-of-the-art technologies previously only available to large enterprises.
5. Many businesses involve special compliance requirements.
Even small to medium-sized businesses can have complicated compliance requirements, but most owners do not fully understand how to comply with these regulations. Many Managed Services providers stay current on these regulations and requirements, and can help you translate them to your technology needs in order to stay compliant and avoid fees – and possibly worse.
6. IT Managed Services cost less in the long run.
With today’s economic downturn, IT budgets have been slashed in most companies. But bear in mind that businesses still depend heavily on IT, and work increases as resources diminish. This can bring about low morale for employees and lost productivity – and ultimately customer satisfaction suffers. While IT Managed Services may cost more in the beginning, lost productivity and lost customers cost a lot more.
The question is, are you an expert in IT? Most entrepreneurs aren’t. If you want to concentrate on your company’s core competencies without having to worry about your IT infrastructure, outsource your IT services to a reputable Managed Services provider.
If you work while traveling, you can always use a longer battery life. It makes little sense to lug your laptop around if it’s constantly out of power. Having a spare battery certainly helps, but practicing energy-saving habits to prolong the life of your laptop battery works too.
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When you find yourself performing a task or series of tasks repeatedly Excel spreadsheets, save time by creating a macro to do the work for you. 
