Last night I startled out of bed in a cold sweat, heart racing, with fear racing through my mind... and you were the reason for my panic! Was I having a nightmare? Was I just watching too many episodes of "Ghost Hunters"? Maybe taking the Halloween spirit too far? No; it simply occurred to me that you might not know the importance of having a solid backup and disaster recovery plan in place!

    And if your server data was erased, corrupted or destroyed because of a hardware malfunction, system crash, fire, flood or some other random, unforeseen disaster (Hurricane Irene?), you might not be able to be back up and running again FAST!

The Thought Of That Happening Scared Me Half To Death!

And quite honestly, it should scare you too! Just imagine what would happen if your server went down and you...

• Lost all accounting documentation and history.
• Lost all the work files you've spent YEARS developing.
• Lost the work files and documentation you desperately need to service your customers.
• Lost  all the e-mails you've saved and couldn't access your inbox.

     Can you even put a price tag on it? Probably not! Yet. so many business owners aren't 100% certain that they could be back up and running after a disaster and are purely hoping that their current tape drive or back-up is working and storing a usable copy of their data.

     That's why I desperately urge you to contact us today to schedule your FREE Data Security and Backup Audit - a $597 value. Here's what you need to do:

1. Call our office at 518-320-8906 and mention this letter.

2. Email free.backup@groffnetworks.com and write that you are interested in the FREE backup audit.

Hurry, offer ends October 31, 2011

    You've got one for every site and every application you use: e-mail, online banking, social media sites, and your CRM system, just to name a few. With so many password-protected sites to keep track of, the inclination is to always use the same password for every site or to make it so easy you can't possibly forget it (like, using "Password123"). Unfortunately, this compromises all of your data and makes it easy for cyber-attackers to steal sensitive, confidential information.

    Studies have shown that password security is still the weakest link in keeping data safe. There are some simple things you can remember when creating a password that can help protect your information.

Here are 7 tips to consider:

1. Use special characters and numbers.

2. Mix uppercase and lowercase letters.

3. Make sure your password is a minimum of 10 characters.

4. Be sure it's not something that can be guessed easily (zip code, phone number, birthdate, your name).

5. Randomly replace letters with numbers, e.g. shake becomes $h@ke.

6. Pick a sentence or phrase, and reduce it to the first letters of each word only, e.g. "A Golden Key Can Open Any Door" becomes AGKCOAD.

7. Reverse the spelling of a word, e.g. partnership becomes pihsrentrap.

     Not all cyber-attacks can be avoided, but don't make it too easy for them. Be pro-active and update all of your passwords so they meet the above criteria.

     The recent passing of Peter Falk brings to mind one of the most useful techniques in negotiation. It's called "The Columbo Effect".

     As a homicide detective in Los Angeles, Lt. Columbo wore a raggedy trench coat, drove a beat-up Peugeot, told corny and heartwarming stories about his wife and dog, and had the habit of forgetting to ask a key question in every interview and interrogation.

     In short, he put the other person at ease because they felt superior to Columbo. "How could this bumbling, scatterbrained misfot outwit me?" they all mused.

     For the negotiator, whether you're trying to win a million-dollar contract or simply make a sale, it's advantageous to appear a "little less okay" than your respected opponent. It makes them feel comfortable and maybe even a bit smug.

Then, you've got them right where you want them.

     This is not to say that you should be unprofessional. Leveraging The Columbo Effect simply means not being afraid of being less than perfect. Do you enjoy being around perfect people? No one does. If you show the other person that you're imperfect, they will be more apt to make mistakes. Think of Columbo. He always got his man or woman - and that's because they usually said too much, assuming he was inept, and then dropped clues right in his lap.

     How do you act "less okay" than your opponent in a negotiation? Struggle a bit with your answer. Ask to borrow a pen and paper to take notes. Forget your business cards for the first meeting. Drop your glasses mid-discussion.

     The tougher the negotiation, the more critial it is to understand that if someone in the room has to be not-okay, it will be you and not your adversary. When your adversary feels not-okay, the barriers go up much faster than you can break them down. But not-okay-ness on your part, or The Columbo Effect, breaks down barriers like magic.

     If you have any doubts about the wisdom of this advice, it couldn't be easier to check out. The next time you find yourself in a situation in which your adversary is maybe just a little standoffish or doubtful, try being a little less okay than they are. Pretend your pen has run out of ink, or search your pocket for some paper and ask to borrow a slip of theirs. You will notice an immediate, beneficial difference in the atmosphere of this negotiation.

     You are driving along in your car on a crazy, stormy night. You pass a bus stop and see three people waiting for a bus:

1) An old lady who looks like she is about to die.

2) An old friend who once saved your life.

3) The perfect man or woman you have been dreaming about.

Who would you choose to offer a ride?

Think carefully; this is quite a moral dilemma...

You could offer the old lady a ride because she looks pretty pitiful, so you probably *should* save her first.

You might want to take your old friend; after all s/he did save your life once.

But you must consider that you may never see the love of your life again, so this may be your only opportunity.

This scenario has been used as an interview question by employers. In one experience, out of the 200 applicants, the one who was hired answered as followed:

"I would give the car keys to my old friend and have him take the old lady to the hospital. Then I would stay behind and wait for the bus with the woman of my dreams."

This is just a reminder that there is always several solutions in solving your problems. Sometimes, you just have to be creative!