Business, Tech•
on January 27th, 2010•
For the past few months I’ve been running the beta version of Office 2010 and overall have been very happy with it. The interface is cleaner than 2007, and there are some great new features, especially the collaboration tools.
Luckily, Microsoft finally released a free 14 chapter/186+ page ebook that explains a lot of the new features and functionality. You can grab the free First Look: Office 2010 ebook here. And if you want to take Office 2010 for a test run you can download the beta from Microsoft’s website.
Backup, Business•
on January 21st, 2010•
The subject of computer backups has always been a topic of importance when it comes to preserving the data on your computer. These days there are more options available to you in this arena, which can be both a help and a hindrance. On one hand, having more options is helpful because better solutions have been brought to the marketplace from which you can now choose to fit your needs. A hindrance exists in that the multitude of choices might scare off users and cause them to avoid the issue altogether, which can have a disastrous ending.
It does not have to be complicated nor time consuming, so there is no good reason not to tackle backing up your computer.
The Philosophy
We all know that backing up can preserve the information that is stored on your computer, but how far do you take your backup philosophy? It depends on what you can ‘afford’ to lose.
To one computer user, just backing up periodically will suffice. The thought here is that if you lose your data, you can restore it apart from your operating system, and the time that this takes is not a critical consideration. Many home users fall into this category. It makes sense as long as you are not dependent upon your computer for time-sensitive applications and tasks and/or for accessing and retrieving data relative to finances, etc.
To another user this philosophy is not enough. Those who depend on their data and computer for more than just casual personal computing understand that if a hard drive fails, their business is down until they can get it back up and running again. Home users who store irreplaceable photographs and home video on their computers will also fall into this category. A more comprehensive backup plan is recommended to help recover from disasters in a timely fashion.
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Business, SaaS•
on January 11th, 2010•
I ran across an excellent article this morning over at Entrepreneur Magazine discussing some of the great benefits of incorporating Software as a Service (SaaS for short) in your small business technology strategy.
Here’s a snippet:
You probably have overheard these words: software as a service. You may even have nodded knowingly despite not knowing much more than that they’re more easily digestible as the acronym SaaS (rhymes with the thing that holds your evening martini).
It’s pretty easy to get swept up in technology debates about what constitutes SaaS–is it the same as 
cloud computing or different? But you know what? You don’t need to know what it is; you just need to know what it does for your growing business. As for what it does, we’ll answer that question with another: What if you no longer had to spend thousands of dollars a year on communications gear, computer software and overall internal IT management?
“SaaS can have the same effect that car leasing had in the auto industry,” says Siamak Farah, CEO of InfoStreet, which offers SaaS solutions to small businesses. InfoStreet offers SaaS in the form of a business management software platform, StreetSmart, that supports a variety of functions, including e-mail, conference calling, file sharing, customer relationship management, calendar tools, portal access, data synchronization, site administration and more. It’s a hosted platform requiring no new hardware or software.
You can view the complete article over at Entrepreneur Magazine.
If you would like to find out more on how to leverage some of the great benefits of SaaS into your small business, give BoldTech Solutions a call today and schedule an assessment. We’ll be glad to work with you to figure out how to save you money and increase your technology efficiency and bottom-line.
photo credit: bslmmrs
Business, Tech•
on January 8th, 2010•
Ah, those pesky passwords. If you work in the corporate world or in an office, you have one for your PC/Network and, unless there is a password synchronization application that combines them, you probably have more than one for other applications. Add those to the ones that you have for your home Internet, your banking and other websites that require passwords, and before you know it you have a nightmare on your hands in trying to manage them.
Part of the frustration has to do with the different requirements for password formatting. Some systems only require four characters, some require eight. Some need a combination of alpha and numeric characters and others do the same with the addition of a few capital letters thrown in for extra security. It can be positively maddening.
The worst thing you can do with your passwords is to place them in a text document which can be accessed on the hard drive of your computer. Your files are vulnerable – even if you think they are not. If someone is intent on finding them, they can. Even if you place them into a password protected document, those can be cracked, too.
Writing them down has its own vulnerabilities, too, and there are varying opinions on this practice. If you do write them down on a piece of paper, put the document in a locked location whether it is in your home or at work.
Here are 6 tips on how to handle your passwords: read more
Business, Tech•
on January 3rd, 2010•
Most small business owners handle all aspects of their businesses, including acting as the information technology department. This will work for as long as you remain a small business without employees. When you grow and start hiring staff, will it make sense to use your business-building time on IT issues?
Unless you are an information technology service provider yourself, chances are your time will be much better spent marketing your products and/or services, establishing relationships with your clients, providing exceptional customer service and just otherwise growing your business.
How do you know when it’s time to get IT help? If the information technology demands are affecting your day and negatively impacting your actual business related activities – it’s definitely time to consider finding an IT resource. If you start adding new employees and computers, it’s probably a good time to look into adding IT help, as well. read more