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Greetings!
Am I the only one who's a little relieved that we're finally talking about a virus that isn't computer related?
Or that the term "pirate" is being used, and nobody wants a copy of my Windows CD and activation key?
It seems that the past 6-8 months has been one issue after another, all designed to test our resolve, confidence, sense of worth, and now our immune system.
But who couldn't stand at least a little bit of testing, right? I mean, how do you know you're able to withstand a big trauma if you don't suffer a little trauma now and again? Ok, maybe we'd like to see a little more of the little and a little less of the big. I'll give you that.
But still...most of our newer clients couldn't tell us when they last restored anything to verify that their backups actually were real, honest-to-goodness backups. So their confidence on their backups was based on...well, hope. In one case we were able to quickly determine that an entire server hadn't been backed up in months. Another client turned out they were backing their Exchange up in a way that wouldn't ever be restorable.
Another client had their anti-virus configured in a way that looked like it was disabled. But, their former support person said, it really was working. What did we do? We tested it, using a controlled virus (the EICAR test file, which you can find here). The result? Disabled really means disabled.
The bottom line is, when someone tells you something works, ask the question: "How do they know?"
Anywho...we're trying some new things in the busy month of May (all of these items have more info elsewhere in the eNewsletter):
- Our monthly Lunchinar, now in its 5th month, is going to be about LinkedIn.
- We're actually going to be trying a live online webinar, dealing with ShadowCopy
- I'm speaking at the monthly meeting of the Streetsboro Chamber of Commerce
- This month features (in theory) the first of my monthly column for the Hudson Chamber of Commerce's newsletter (we'll probably put them up on our BizBlog as well).
- I'm moderating a "IT Career Night" at the Hudson Library on May 6th.
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| IT Career Night at the Hudson Library |
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So, you wanna be a geek?
Bob here. First of all, this event is free, open to the public, and it ain't selling anything.
Under the best of circumstances, a career in IT (Information Technology) isn't for the faint of heart. In times like these, it's even more so. It sounds like nothing but gloom and doom out there. However there are many things we can do about it. And surprisingly, many of these options can be had at little or no cost. How do we keep up with our technical skills, when companies are slashing their internal training budgets? What are the latest "hot technologies?" Is certification valuable? What are "soft skills," and why are they so hard (yup, it's a pun) to find?
This event will include an overview of the challenges facing us. Then we'll enjoy a deep dive into some of the online training resources available (with focus on the free/low cost ones). Then we'll wrap up with a panel discussion featuring some lively discussion of IT careers in NorthEast Ohio.
Understand that this is not a fish for business. But it's a great opportunity to network with other IT pros in the area, and get some advice and opinions from people who are deeply involved with the local IT community! Seating is limited, so please either register on LinkedIn or email Bob (as of my putting this together about 20 people were signed up).
I want to be clear. This event will not be a sales event, or a job fair. And it's aimed at entry level as well as experienced IT folks.
When: Wednesday, 6 May from 6-8pm
Cost: Free
This event will be repeated on Saturday, June 13th at Cleveland State University at the monthly meeting of the Greater Cleveland PC Users Group
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| LinkedIn. Pizza. Bob. (oh, well...2 out of 3) |
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| Simplex-IT's Monthly Lunchinar Series Continues...
Thank you to all who have joined us for our Lunchinars. It has been great getting to know you and your businesses!
May's topic is one that we're hearing a lot of interest in. Join us on Wednesday, May 20th at 11:30a. Enjoy lunch with us, on us!
This month Bob will drone on endlessly on:
LinkedIn: Ok, I'm Linked...Now What?
In this day and age, there are multiple venues that people use to network and create business contacts and opportunities. The internet has quickly become a driving force in connecting people and building professional relationships and Linked In is a great resource for doing this.
And there's no denying the appeal of using a free (as in...free!) tool to help better convey your message to a huge audience.
But...how?
Join us on Wednesday, May 20th (??? Verify date) for lunch and conversation about this powerful tool. Learn how to set up your Linked In page, connect to others, stay privy to meetings and groups of interest and get the power of web networking working for you.
Space is limited (10) so be sure to RSVP by contacting Julie at 234-380-1277.
We hope to see you there! Oh, and bring a business card to put into our door prize drawing! |
| Mulligan's, PC Style |
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Bob here...
Those of you who play golf (or those of you who live, breathe and die by it) recognize the term "Mulligan." For those of you, like me, whose concept of golf begins and ends with getting the ball through the windmill to get a free Slushee, allow me to explain. A "Mulligan" is when you get a free do-over. Usually when you do something bad, like hit the ball into a really lousy place.
Too bad we can't call a "Mulligan" when we delete a file, or save changes that we really never intended to make on your computer.
Actually, we can (at least on the PC). Starting with Windows Server 2003 and Vista, Microsoft was kind enough to include, at no extra cost, a function called Shadow Copy. If it's not already set up, it just needs a little configuring.
Here's how it works. When it's set up, Windows will (usually at least once a day) go through and save a copy of all your changed documents (in the folders you specify). If you change or delete a file, just right click on the file (or the folder it was in if you deleted it) and select "Properties", and you'll see a "Prior Versions" tab. Select that tab, and you'll see the prior versions of the files (or files that were deleted from the folder) listed for you. You'll be able to recover previous versions of the file you so ruthlessly mauled.
Don't see a "Prior Versions" tab? No problem. On Vista, you Click on Start>Control Panel>System and Maintenance>System. On the left, under "Tasks" you should see "System Protection." Do you? Good. Select that tab, and you should see an area labeled "Automatic Restore Points." Just make sure that your hard drive (usually labeled with a "C:") has a check mark to it. Click on "OK" and you're good to go!
Is it foolproof? Heck, no. It only checks for changes once a day or so, which means if you create a file, and an hour later delete it, Windows didn't get a chance to record it for recovery.
Ok, but what about files stored on the network? Not a problem. Since Windows Server 2003, Microsoft has built the same functionality there as well. And you can even recover deleted or modified file from the network if you're using a PC that's running XP. Do the same "Properties" bit. If you don't see the tab for older versions, just contact your network administrator.
Keep in mind that these tools don't replace a good backup. But they make it a little easier to undo a Mulligan.
Still confused? Check our our first on-line webinar that we'll be having on the 14th! |
| Live Webinar. Using Shadow Copy to immediately retrieve deleted files! |
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| New: Simplex-IT's launches Monthly Live webinar Series
Thank you to all who have joined us for our Lunchinars. It has been great getting to know you and your businesses!
But we know some of you can't get out of the office. Or you really don't want to see Bob eat (believe us, we understand). So we're starting a new series of monthly events, Live and Online!
Shadow Copy - Recover your files quickly and easily
We've all done it. Saved changes to a document we regretted, or accidentally deleted the wrong file (and emptied the Recycle Bin). It used to be we had to go to our backups. This meant at best delays, at worst dealing with the cost, expense, and sometimes abuse from Tech Support guys (unless you're working with Simplex-IT, in which case it's a downright pleasure).
Windows (Server 2003/2008, Vista) now includes Shadow Copy, which when installed/configured properly makes recovering a deleted file (or the file you had before you made the change) a few mouse clicks.
But you have to configure it properly, and know how to use it. It's not hard. But do you know how to do that? If not, log on to watch and listen to Bob as he explains it for us all, and demostrates both setting it up and using it.
This webinar is free and easy. All you need is your computer and a good web connection!
When: Thursday, May 14th, 1pm-2pm
Where: Cyberspace!
Space is limited (16) so be sure to RSVP by contacting Julie at 234-380-1277. |
| The Planner in All of Us |
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Human nature never ceases to amaze me. Most of us are, in the truest sense of the word, extreme planners (even if it doesn't always seem so). It takes people months to plan a wedding...a baby shower...a family get-together. We carry Blackberries and Day Timers to schedule meetings or coordinate on a lunch. Summer vacations with the family are planned. Days off at work are predicted and requested (aka planned). In this day and age, we even plan when we fill-up our gas tanks, depending on the market and pricing. How is it that when it comes to our technology - to the infrastructure that keeps a business running and functioning- many companies fail to plan at all?
If you've ever had a server crash, a computer freeze, or a printer jam, you know first-hand how vital a smoothly operating IT department is and what it feels like when things stray from that norm. Businesses literally come to a stand-still when their infrastructure - the primary tool that inputs, stores and protects the work, falters.
Simplex-IT's Managed Service plan acts as an IT department. We bring to our customers, the comfort of knowing that their system is constantly being watched and maintained. Our monitoring software alerts us on things that look questionable before they malfunction, and we are able to remedy those situations oftentimes without your company even knowing there was a problem in the first place. Going a step further, we partner with industry leaders to provide our clients with solutions that protect them from failure (better known in the IT world as 'downtime'). We carry a multitude of Microsoft Certifications and are Small Business Specialists, working closely with Microsoft to constantly implement their best practices and improve our knowledge on the things that we offer to our customers. We work with other vendors such as Sophos to provide our clients with anti-virus protection. We utilize eFolder to provide a data storage solution that takes the information off of the client's campus and houses it in a safe and highly guarded location. We have anti-spam solutions, email archiving arrangements, disaster recovery plans, and VoIP phone systems. As a company, we go through great lengths to be the most up-to-date and well-versed IT solution provider for something as complex as a server rebuild, right down to something as simple as a forgotten password. As a business partner, we work with our clients to put IT forecasts and plans into motion, always building and strengthening what they do and how they do it.
CompTIA (Computing Technology Industry Association) conducted a study and found that, in 2008, the average small to medium-sized business lost at least $8000 in productivity, revenue and opportunity to network downtime. With the knowledge, resources and tools that are available to businesses today, it is difficult to understand why companies do not take the necessary steps to protect their data...and are then surprised when something malfunctions...and angered at the time and cost involved to reconstruct or repair the issue. Make sure you are prepared to deal with such situations to keep your company running 24x7x365 - with NO downtime.
Oh, and be sure to add 'planning for IT' to the top of your company's to-do list!
Stay well,
234-380-1277
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| Bob Speaks! |
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| Streetsboro Chamber of Commerce
Streetsboro Chamber of Commerce's monthly meeting is on Wednesday, May 13th from 11:30am-1pm. It's their annual High School Scholarship Luncheon, honoring graduating seniors that had a 3.0 GPA or better.
However, their definition of "honoring" is curious, considering that Bob is the guest speaker. Bob will be talking about "IT careers of the Future" (jet packs, anyone?).
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| Want to find out about this stuff quicker? |
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| Blog updates from Simplex-IT over the past month
Remember to check out our blogs:
Free SQL eBook
Free eBooks, but hurry!
Geek Noire and Shadow Copy
Free Shredding
Free IT Career Event
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| Big Easy...Third time's a charm! |
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 Buy Microsoft software through us, get a check!
Microsoft has brought the Big Easy back. Simply put, if you buy your Microsoft Software through a Microsoft Partner (think...well, think about Simplex-IT!), not only will you get a good price, but in addition you'll get a check from Microsoft made out to us. You can use that check to pay for additional services! Check here for more about this program and others that Microsoft has. |
| Plain Funny #7 |
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| Are you mentally beyond "Rock, Paper, Scissors?"
Bob here. As you can imagine, running a state of the art, full blown IT organization such as Simplex-IT is challenging. One of the biggest challenges is the decision making process. And let's face it, "Rock, Paper, Scissors?" As if!
Thankfully, the geeks over at "The Big Bang Theory" have an alternative. Thanks to them, whenever we have differing opinions, we have a method to reasonably, rationally resolve them.
At least we will once somebody picks something other than Spock. |
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Simplex-IT Customer Spotlight
American Transfer |
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American Transfer Corporation is a specialized transportation company located in Cleveland. In addition to normal flatbed and van shipments, they move over dimensional and overweight machinery both locally and nationwide. They specialize in expedited, heavy haul services. A typical shipment would be a police and security escorted, 14' wide, 93,000 pound cooling pump motor moving into a nuclear power plant.
Jim Johnson, one of two owners of American Transfer, has known and professionally worked with Bob Coppedge since the mid-1980's, and American Transfer has used Simplex-IT since its beginning. Jim has stated, "I have absolutely no problem recommending Simplex-IT; I have had the pleasure of working with Bob for over 20 years, the staff at Simplex-IT are bright, responsive, and amazingly knowledgeable. It is extremely comforting to know people this talented and trustworthy when your network decides to act like a pack of lemmings."
Click here to visit American Transfers' website | |
We'd love to hear feedback about this! Send comments to Bob@Simplex-IT.com, or call us at 234.380.1277!
Sincerely,
Bob Coppedge
Simplex-IT LLC |
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