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The Synertel Sentinel
Online Edition 
June, 2009   Issue 153
In This Issue
Introducing Stratagy-VIEW
Meet Dee Long
0% Financing - extended!
IP sets without network cable? Yes we can!
Malware Cripples US Marshals Service - are you next?
$55M hacked from FEMA & others - don't be next
Welcome New Clients!
RECEIVE FREE INDUSTRY NEWS AND HELPFUL TIPS
 
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Would you believe .....?
Ben headshot
Both FEMA & the United States Marshals Service were hacked (in different ways) this month. 
 
"Sorry about that, Chief!"
 
How safe are YOUR systems? Synertel can help you discover the cracks - and secure them before its too late.
 
Moving?  Shrinking? Expanding? Reconfiguring? Or just flipping out? We are working with many clients to help them adjust to current economic realities. Let our expertise help save you time and $ with carrier renegotiation, home-shoring, unified communications, and virtualizing.
 
We'll help you plan ahead, control costs, and avoid last minute hassles. Call us today for Project Manage-ment, Carrier moves, Cabling, Telecom & IT re-sizing & relocation. We do it every day  -- so you don't have to!
 
 As always, we are interested in your feedback, kudos, and suggestions for improvement. Feel free to contact me at any time!
 
Ben Stiegler, CEO
415 746 1811
 

Introducing Stratagy View - Browser-Based Unified Messaging for Macs & PCs

Unified Messaging holds the promise of a single in-box for voice, fax, and email (even video) messages. Many Synertel customers already enjoy UM. Some of you have waited to implement because:
 
- you had Macs, or mixed Mac-PC environments
- you didn't want anything else cluttering up your email server
- you didn't have an on-premise mail server at all, and were concerned about bandwidth
- it seemed too complicated to integrate voicemail with email. 
 
 
PS - ITS FREE TO EXISTING CUSTOMERS WITH UM LICENSES!

Meet Dee Long, VP Operations & Professional Services

Dee Long VP OperationsDee Long was recently promoted to Vice President of Operations & Professional Services at Synertel.

 
 
 
 

Recession Buster!  0% Financing - Improve your Voice & Data Systems now!

TOSHIBA & SYNERTEL TEAM UP TO OFFER UNPRECEDENTED FINANCING

JUST 2 WEEKS LEFT! 

 

 

Toshiba will pay your lease interest for 3 years, while you get converged communications & IT solutions today!
Details - click here!

Use IP sets without Network Cable?? Yes, we can do it!
 
Phybridge LogoSynertel is pleased to offer the new Phybridge UniPhyer, a revolutionary hardware solution which allows IP telephones to operate (and receive remote Power over Ethernet) even on ancient 1 pair Cat 3 cable!
 
Sound impossible? Until recently, it was!
 
 
 
MALWARE CRIPPLES US MARSHALS SERVICE NETWORK - YOURS COULD BE NEXT!
 
USMSWindows-based machines at U.S. Marshals Service thought to be hit by Neeris worm -- By John Fontana and Carolyn Duffy Marsan, Network World  05/21/2009
 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Malware Wednesday crippled Windows-based computer systems at the U.S. Marshals Service, which hunts federal fugitives and operates the country's witness protection program, knocking the agency's network offline.
The agency's press office confirmed it was having network problems and that its e-mail system was down this morning, but it was unclear if the outage extended across the entire network.
Per government regulations,  agencies are required to report security incidents to the US-Computer Emergency Readiness Team (US-CERT). The agency was running desktop malware software, but it had not been updated for more than three years even though the agency had paid for upgrades to newer versions that protect against Neeris. The U.S. Marshals Service has approximately 4,901 employees, which includes 94 U.S. marshals and 3,324 deputy U.S. marshals and criminal investigators. The agency's fiscal 2008 budget was $864 million. 
 
 
Don't take chances with your network --  Ask Synertel for a complimentary network security assessment today!  Learn how we can protect your network, users, & data - and also manage and monitor your entire IT infrastructure remotely. 
 
PS - Guess which approach costs less over time!?
 


Suspected Terrorists hack $55M of ATT minutes to fund terror activities
 
FEMA LogoAs if the Marshal's service incident wasn't enough -- the Wall Street Journal reported June 13th ("Alleged Hacking-Terror Effort Thwarted") on arrests & indictments Friday in the US and Italy.
 
In brief - walk-in call centers who sell international calling for cash hacked into many vulnerable PBXs in the US, diverting unused #s to offsite destinations, then sold the stolen minutes.
 
Most of the calls went to Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Egypt, and India. The illegal profits funded alleged terror activities. And who was one of the prime targets of theft? The US Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).  
 
 
Are you sure there are no open holes in your PBX and voicemail system?
 
A low-cost Synertel audit will detect and shut down diverted mailboxes & DID numbers. Call or email us for information today!
 
Welcome -- New Clients!  Thank you, existing Clients for new projects!
   
Thank you  for entrusting us with improving your IT and telephony!
Oshman Jewish Community Center - Palo Alto
Moldaw Family Residences / Jewish Home San Francisco - Palo Alto
Tea Collection, SF
Norcal Waste Equipment Co - San Leandro
Selix FormalWear - state-wide
Fluid Medical - Mountain View
VIZ Pictures - SF
RJ Financial Services - SF
Rubecon General Contracting - SF
East Bay Childrens Law Office - Hayward & Oakland
Thompson - Reuters
The Open Group - SF
Henderson Design Group, Inc. - SF
Method Home Care - SF
Zablocki Printing - San Leandro
St. Francis Yacht Club - SF
SF Child Abuse Prevention Center
SF University High School
Wu Yee Childrens Services - SF
Italfoods - SSF
Passport Management
DZH Phillips - SF
Planned Parenthood - Vacaville, Antioch, Pittsburg, Concord
West Coast Reporters - San Rafael
Malcolm Gissen & Associates - SF
The Weight Management Program - SF
Peninsula Temple Beth El - San Mateo
Pennbrook Insurance Services - SF
City of Novato
Rukin Hyland Doria & Tindall - SF
QuickSilver -SF
First Graduate - SF
Crunch Club - SF
Prexion - San Mateo
Prima Medical - Terra Linda
Cole Hardware - SF
Priority Parking - SF
The Corner Office - SF
Town of Hillsborough
 
For a complimentary assessment of your organization's IT and Telecom spending and resources, call Ben Stiegler at 415 746 1811 or email ben@synertel.com

SPECIAL OFFER! 

FREE  Level 1 Network Security Assessment

Synertel will provide a structural and operational inspection of your network, and an optional remediation plan if needed.
 

 
Offer good  thru  July 31, 2009.  Must mention offer DANGER-WILL-ROBINSON.