Why we like VIPRE for Virus Protection

This just came through from Sunbelt (the vendor that produces VIPRE)

“VIPRE Antivirus is the Fastest Antivirus

VIPRE has the fastest real-time protection against 5 major competitors according to a comprehensive test by a leading independent testing organization in November 2010.
VIPRE processed 4,500 megabytes of file data in 195 seconds, compared to a benchmark of 127 seconds; the next closest competitor processed the same data in 233 seconds. Complete results are available upon request from GFI.
http://www.sunbeltsecuritynews.com/17LJ5Z/110119-Speed-Matters

Yes, speed matters.  We find that VIPRE is gentle on the use of your computers resources (doesn’t hog up memory or processor time), technical support is efficient and well priced.

We evaluate our choice in Virus Protection on a regular basis, to make sure we are keeping our clients on the best mousetrap and VIPRE continues to be our product of choice.

More on Microsoft Cloud Services - BPOS

Okay, so right after I published the last article on Microsoft Cloud services, it suddenly dawned on me, “What about BPOS?”. What on earth is BPOS you ask? BPOS stands for Business Productivity Online Standard Suite. My CMIT colleague Debbie Bush has been making comments about BPOS for a while now (she is on the Microsoft IT Advisory Council and she is sooooo pro Microsoft). I had taken a look after the umpteenth comment she made about a year ago, just the jist that this was Microsoft’s cloud offering for Office products and left it at that. I just couldn’t see the need for dealing with a web based Office suite since I felt it couldn’t be as responsive as working with a desktop package.

So I Googled (yes I prefer Google search not Bing) BPOS Microsoft and the first entry on the list brought me to the MS BPOS area. I quickly realized I had been wrong about BPOS, it’s not the cloud version of Office, it’s the Cloud version of a few other MS products, namely Exchange (e-mail and such aka Outlook), Sharepoint (document management and collaboration), “Communications Online” (aka instant messaging) and Live Meeting (web conferencing). Cool.

To help you understand this in more depth, I’ve added links to videos, web pages and documents that provide more detail.

Want to know if this is the right for your small business, just give me a call.

Great FREE Cloud Services from Microsoft

This article was started using Microsoft's Word Web App. This was possible by having a Windows's Live Account and a SkyDrive account. Although Word Web app doesn't have ALL the features of the PC version of Word it has the 20% most people use exclusively. You can even quickly bring the document into Office. When you hit the save button it saves it to your SkyDrive.

What is SkyDrive? It's your own hard drive in the Internet Cloud. A virtual file storage area hosted in the Microsoft Cloud. Pretty neat.

Last good thing about this? It's FREE.

So I click the button to bring the document into Office Word (one click, enter by Live id password and then when my local machine prompts me I allow it to enter my local machine.

So my curiosity chimes in, where is the document now? So I click save as and I find that my machine now have an extra network connection to this

(I did that by using the built in screen capture tool in Windows J).

So what happened during those prompts is that a secure connection (like a VPN) was created between my SkyDrive and my local machine. Very nice!

As I click save the document is saved to the SkyDrive so I don't have to worry about duplicate copies or not having access to this document when I move from this machine (actually my netbook) and my work desktop machine.

How does Live Mesh fit into this? Clicking on the help launches me to this page http://explore.live.com/windows-live-mesh-devices-sync-upgrade-ui which helps me understand how all this works. What I find out are a few interesting things. First, you can sync one or more folders from one or more computers to your SkyDrive. Amazing! This gives me anywhere anytime access to my documents without additional software, hardware, or configurations. Nice! Second it tells me that if I leave my computer online (I assume that means powered on, logged on with an live internet connection) that I can get to ANY files and folders on my local machine. WOW. Last in this section it tells me I can sync up program settings between computers. This means I can have my favorites, office document templates the same on the different computers I work on. Boy is this going to reduce frustration and time.

On what machines can you install Windows Live Mesh? The newer stuff, Vista, Windows 7, Mac OS X version 10.5 or later.

So I wondered, "what happens if I need more than 25 GB of space? Granted that's a lot but if I'm going to start playing this into client environments; I need to know just how far I can take this. Found a good article from life hacker that provided some additional insight on SkyDrive http://lifehacker.com/5101347/skydrive-upgrade-goes-live-with-25gb-of-space. As I read through this article I did find a slight limitation to SkyDrive; individual files are limited to a 500 MG. A comment from a reader questioned the availability of the SkyDrive, something I'll need to do a bit more research on.

So what now? I finished my exploration for today and I'm clicking the publish button in Word and posting this to my blog. All very efficient!

Do I need a Facebook presence and a Website these days?

Just finished reading a quick article by Raquel Richardson, that is worth a quick read Facebook vs. Website.  I was sitting here wondering what the opinion was these days as to whether you need both (yes).  I am working on getting my head around all this social media stuff and I think I’m getting somewhere.  So my website needs to be my corporate brochure where people can find out more in depth information about my company.  And Facebook will contain the content that is more current, more like a current events and happening section.  Although I could post that kind of stuff on my webpage, its better to do it in Facebook, since that is a ready built community of “eyeballs” and so therefore today  I will likely get more visibility and “hits” through Facebook.  Hope my ah-hah moments helps you to have one too.

Creating Mailing Labels using Word 2007 and Excel

Do you have an Excel file with the elements that you need to have on some labels?  Watch this great video on YouTube from c130bulldawg.  Call Lucy or I if you need some extra help.

Password Managers

What is your technique for managing the numerous userids, passwords and links that go along with our lives these days?   I recently polled our CMIT Stamford staff CMIT Solutions Owners and this is what they use.

KeyPass

“It has a portable version too. http://keepass.info/”

iNet form filler

“I've used iNet form filler for some of our clients.  It seems to work pretty well.”

Word

“I’ve never used any…personally I don’t like the idea of all my passwords being left to a single program or some online vault where I don’t know who has access to the server or where it is etc.

My passwords are stored in a password secured Word document…probably not the most secure solution, but even in that Word document I don’t disclose the actual password I use for important things.  Other passwords for “stupid” things are shown and written, but my password for my banking account (for example) is written in the Word document as “standard” because it’s the standard special password I use for important things.

So that’s how I roll…overall I think the best place for passwords to stay is in your head.”

eToken

“I use eToken from Aladdin. It is a hardware/software based vault. The token is a thumb drive which has all passwords encrypted and has a password to get into. You can then just remove the thumb drive and even if someone gets onto your system they cannot get to the password list. It has various software packages which you get to use for web based or network log ins.

Also there versions like IMB which has completely separate hardware on some of its laptops, it just cannot be removed.”

SplashID

“Persoanlly I use SplashID. It synchs with my iPhone and my Windows desktop so I have everything in it. It comes with many predefined types and categories, but you can create your own, and customize the various fields.

It is MUCH better than my old password protected excel spreadsheet!

I believe there is a MAC version as well.”

RoboForm

“I use RoboForm both personally and for business.  Can't say enough good things about the product.  I used the Free version but quickly upgraded to the full version. 

http://www.roboform.com/”

BlackBerry

Technorati Tags: Password Manager

“BlackBerry password keeper”

LastPass.com

Consider LastPass.com (https://lastpass.com/). It was favorably reviewed by Steve Gibson of GRC.com/SecurityNow podcast who is a very respected security researcher.  Steve gave it a glowing review on his show #256.

    (end of list)

Have one that is not on the list? Add a comment and I’ll add yours!

http://www.grc.com/sn/sn-256.htm

What To Do on Your PC to Get Ready for Vacation

I just found this handy checklist from Microsoft to get you ready for that well deserved vacation

Read this article: Vacation checklist: prepare you PC

The article also references some technology that you may not be using such as Outlook 2010, SharePoint.  In future articles I’ll be talking about them.

A couple of additions:

Keep your software updated

If you have a company software update process running you’ll need to leave your machine logged off, but powered on.  If you elect to power down your machine while you are on vacation be prepared that when you first power it on it may take several hours for all the updates to downloaded and installed.

Backups

Verify your latest Data and/or System State Backup has completed successfully.  We’ll be covering the difference between data and system state backups in a future article.

Technorati Tags: PC Vacation,Vacation PC How-to

Do Macs need Anti Virus

There was recently a frenzy of discussion internally here at CMIT regarding whether or not MACs should be running AV.  The conclusion?  Risk versus cost (not surprising).  The risk of getting a virus on a MAC is REAL.  Don’t let anyone ever tell you they don’t catch them; they do!  We have had to manually removed viruses from MACs and IT IS NOT FUN (translation if your paying us hourly this will be expensive).  On the other side AV software does use resources, so you will loose some performance or need to add more memory or processor speed to compensate and their is the nominal cost of the software itself. 
Below four of our top Technical Specialist wiegh in on this topics.  Read on if you want to know more so you can make your decision.

Timing for Windows 7 Service Pack 1

I have advised people to wait until Microsoft releases the first service pack (SP) before moving onto the new product.  So the question now becomes, when will SP1 be released for Windows 7?  Although not official this articles seems to say Q4 of 2010 looks like a good guess.

http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9172738/Microsoft_announces_Windows_7_SP1

So what should you do now if you’re buying a new computer?  What if you have Vista and are not happy.  Watch for new posts and I’ll tackle each of those and any others that present themselves.

Virus’s are on the rise – This time in PDFs!

We are getting 2-3 calls per week from clients that have caught a virus.  Some of them are VERY nasty (1-2 hours to eradicate the virus).  Make sure you are running a comprehensive internet security program that include anti-virus, spyware and rootkit protection (we currently find that VIPER Premium from Sunbelt is the better mousetrap these days).  Additionally there is a rash of virus’s that are sprung from pdf documents.  In order to be protected from them, you must be running Adobe Reader 9.3 or higher.  If you can install any older copies of Adobe Reader or call me to discuss your situation further.

REMEMBER: Cell Phone Numbers Go Public this month

REMINDER.....  all cell phone numbers are being released to telemarketing companies and you will start to receive sales calls.

.... YOU WILL BE CHARGED FOR THESE CALLS

To prevent this, call the following number from your cell phone:    888-382-1222.It is the National DO NOT CALL list It will only take a minute of your time. It blocks your number for five (5) years. You must call from the cell phone number you want to have blocked. You cannot call from a different phone number. https://www.donotcall.gov/default.aspx

(Many thanks for Sandra Albert from Adelsohn Consulting for passing on this tip)

Verizon’s new Droid

Please be aware that Verizon’s new Droid is a different operating system and therefore not interchangeable with Blackberry devices using a Blackberry Enterprise Server (BES).  If you are considering purchasing a Droid to replace your existing an Smart phone, please call us before you do.  Based on client demand and timing we will initiate the research, due diligence, solution development and training of our technical specialists to advise you properly on the Droid. 

Watch for future posts on what CMIT Solutions does to make sure that we are providing proven and tested solutions to our SMB clients.  This is just one of the values in working with us.

10 Tips for Optimizing QuickBooks Performance

For a fresh start on the new year, refer to these tips to gain top performance from your QuickBooks software.

1. Make sure your hardware meets or exceeds minimum requirements.

The right hardware will help you get the most out of QuickBooks. Learn more about the system requirements for your version of
QuickBooks:
QuickBooks 2010
QuickBooks 2009
QuickBooks 2008
QuickBooks 2007

2. Always use QuickBooks in Recommended Mode and optimize network performance.

Proper network setup is essential for optimal QuickBooks performance. Learn more.
For best performance on a network, use a 100 Mbps hard-wired network. Avoid wireless network solutions, due to possible breaks in
the connection.
Also avoid external hard drives when possible. Use a fast disk on the server. The faster the disk, the better QuickBooks will perform:
7,200 to 10,000 rpm is good.

3. Improve performance in multi-user mode.

For the best performance in multi-user mode, be sure to install QuickBooks or the QuickBooks Server on the same computer where
the company file is located and set up that computer according to the recommended multi-user setup.
You can do most day-to-day tasks in multi-user mode without noticing much difference in performance. Tasks that take a long time
to complete, such as running large reports, can affect performance for other users. A few tasks, such as finding transactions,
temporarily prevent other users from working on the company file. Consider doing these tasks when other users are not working in
the company file.
Important: If you are an Intuit QuickBooks Assisted Payroll subscriber, please note that you cannot transmit Assisted Payroll in
multi-user mode.

4. Configure anti-virus software properly.

An anti-virus utility running a real-time scanning engine can cause QuickBooks to operate at a slower speed. You can improve
performance by disabling real-time scanning. Read more about anti-virus software and QuickBooks.

5. Configure firewalls so they will not interfere with QuickBooks.

Internet security and personal firewall application settings can affect how QuickBooks accesses payroll and program updates online.
Incorrect settings can result in update errors. Learn more about configuring firewall programs.

6. Run anti-spyware software.

Spyware can create significant unwanted CPU activity, disk usage, and network traffic—slowing down the legitimate use of system
resources by QuickBooks.

7. Defragment your hard drive regularly.

Performing this task keeps hard drive access as fast as possible. In Windows, go to Start>Programs>Accessories>System Tools. Click
on Disk Defragmenter. When the window pops up, click Defragment to begin the process. The defragmentation process can take
several hours, especially the first time. You may want to consider doing this after you’re done for the day so that the process can run
overnight if it needs to.

8. Reduce the number of reminders and memorized transactions.

Reminders and memorized transactions can increase QuickBooks start-up time. If your program starts too slowly, try limiting your
reminders and memorized transactions to just those you really need. In the Reminders preferences, select Don’t Remind Me for
tasks for which you don’t need a reminder.
You can improve the performance of day-to-day tasks by also modifying some of your other QuickBooks preferences. In the Reports &
Graphs preferences, for example, consider selecting Prompt me to refresh or Don’t refresh. Refreshing reports automatically can
QuickBooks Payroll Bulletin
http://www.qbenews.com/QB_Payroll/0912_qbpb/landing_02.html[12/11/2009 8:15:12 AM]
slow performance.

9. Uninstall previous versions of QuickBooks.

Uninstalling previous versions of QuickBooks should help you improve program start-up time:
1. From your Windows Start menu, go to Settings>Control Panel>Add/Remove Programs.
2. For each previous version of QuickBooks, click Uninstall.
If you have Windows Vista, follow these instructions:
1. Open Programs and Features by clicking the Start button, clicking Control Panel, clicking Programs, and then clicking
Programs and Features.
2. Select a program, and then click Uninstall. If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the
password or provide confirmation.

10. Periodically clean up your company file.

This feature, formerly called Archive and Condense, removes obsolete list entries and transactions.
To clean up your company file:
1. In QuickBooks, go to the File menu and select Utilities.
2. Select Clean Up Company Data.
Sometimes you can achieve additional file compression by creating and restoring a portable company file. Learn more.
For More Information
For additional details and tips, see the QuickBooks Knowledge Base article "Improving system performance."
QuickBooks Payroll Bulletin
Editor: Lise Quintana
Publisher: Intuit
We welcome your suggestions and feedback! Unfortunately, we cannot respond to requests for change of address,
technical support, or sales information.
E-mail us at payroll_editor@intuit.com
The information contained in the QuickBooks Payroll Bulletin is meant to provide general information about the payroll process and is not intended
to provide tax or legal advice. Always consult your tax professional when preparing tax documents.

Should I buy a new PC now or wait until Windows 7 comes out?

So you are thinking about replacing your old computer, but your thinking, “Do I wait for Windows 7?” No! is our advise, but if your purchase smart you can get the option to upgrade down the road at little or no cost!

Windows 7 is currently scheduled to be released to the public on the 22nd of October. We here at CMIT believe that to make the transition to a new operating system with the smallest amount of frustration and technical problems it is best to wait until the first service pack for the new operating system comes out. This could be up to six months down the road. But if you need a new PC now, you will need to buy one with Vista; right? Not at all, you could purchase the new system with XP Professional downgrade and get an upgrade path to Windows 7 for little or no cost, here’s how.

Dell is currently providing, through Microsoft, a little or at no cost option to upgrade to Windows 7. To be eligible for this program, you must have or will have purchased a new Dell system between June 26, 2009 and December 31, 2009. Next you will need to sign up for the program on their website at http://www.dell.com/windows7upgrade. This site also contains details on the eligible Dell systems along with FAQ’s and Contact information, if you need more help to guide you through the process, along with the most current information on the program.

If you purchase the new system through us we will, as part of our purchasing assistance program, 1) guaranty you the lowest price for the new system, 2) work with you to take care of configuring the correct solution 3) take care of all the registration details and 4) track the delivery of the new system and 5) advise you of software upgrades.

The nice thing about this program is that you can take advantage of it and still get Windows XP Professional, then after the first service pack for Windows 7 comes out you can upgrade to Windows 7 and have a stable platform to conduct your business on because you already have the new software.

Author: Dave Wass

Tired of typing the same phrase over and over as a response to emails you receive?

Keyboard shortcuts are your answer!

Use keyboard shortcuts (or shortcut keys): Using keyboard shortcuts can help you complete some tasks faster and easier. Many features and commands in Office 2003 programs are available directly from the keyboard using keyboard shortcuts (pressing two or more keys simultaneously). Or, you can assign custom keyboard shortcuts to a command, macro, font, AutoText entry, style, or commonly used symbol.

The steps to setting this up are:

1. Create a new AutoText phrase with the repetitive text you want to paste frequently into email

2. Access Outlook Customize panel to gain access to the keyboard shortcuts area. Specify a command and assign it a keyboard short cut. http://office.microsoft.com/en-gb/publisher/HP030893721033.aspx

Then, each time you want this phrase to "paste" into your response enter the keyboard shortcut and wah-lah it appears.


To find a list of keyboard shortcuts or learn how to assign custom keyboard shortcuts, open the Help menu in Office 2003 programs (press F1), and type "keyboard shortcuts."

Check out these additional resource to figure it out yourself:
http://www.timeatlas.com/mos/Email/Outlook/Reusing_Outlook_Text_and_Images/
http://www.timeatlas.com/mos/5_Minute_Tips/General/Creating_AutoText_Submenus_in_Microsoft_Word/
http://www.ehow.com/how_4514271_create-auto-text-entries-microsoft.html

For a one-to-one training session (remote or on site on your machine) give us a call.