I'm often asked about the ROI (return on investment) for technology. Truth is, I don't believe you "invest" in technology. Investments are things that provide a measurable, quantifiable return for your money.

Of course, it can easily be argued that technology does provide a return for your money. If you don't think so, try communicating with your clients and market without e-mail or tracking inventory with pen and paper. The right technology applied with a smart strategy can certainly give any business owner a strategic advantage in faster delivery of goods and services to customers, greater productivity, lowered production costs and the like. In fact, there aren't too many businesses that can operate without a few core IT applications. But the reality is that you bank account is going to be a bit lighter after you install that new upgrade or technology, so how do you know if that IT upgrade or project is worth the money?

The right way to look at the true price of any IT project or upgrade is to look at TCO or "total cost of ownership" and not just the PRICE of the project or upgrade. For example, if you buy a car, the price of the car is only one cost of owning it. You also have to consider insurance, gas and routine maintenance like new tires and oil changes to get an accurate look at what you'll pay. Therefore, the total COST of owning a car is far more than just the price tag - and a cheaper car up front can end up costing more in the long-haul if frequent repairs are needed.

In IT, the same principle applies. You have to look at the TOTAL cost of a particular IT decision, not just the price tag, when comparing options. For example, the real cost of not upgrading a network may actually be higher than spending several thousand dollars on new equipment and upgrades when you accurately assess the total cost of maintenance, service fees and poor performance. These days, many business owners are looking at "going to the cloud" because they want to save money. And in many cases, it will do just that, but the cost savings will often come in the form of cheaper devices, less maintenance and low (or no) upgrade costs over a three year period, not in a month-to-month service fee. So before you say "no" or "yes" to that next IT project, make sure you are taking into consideration the TOTAL COST of your decision, and make sure you are talking to a true pro who understands the difference between the price of something and the total cost.

Rensselar County Regional Chamber of Commerce presents -

Professional Development Series: Computing in the Cloud featuring Lauren Groff from Groff NetWorks.

Come join Lauren this month as he talks about:

• What is the cloud?
• Why the cloud?
• Is the cloud for me?
• Is the cloud safe?
• How can the cloud save me business money?

When: Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Where: Hilton Garden Inn, 235 Hoosick Street, Troy

Time: 7:30 a.m. registration; 8-10 a.m. program

$25 Chamber members / $40 non-members

To register, contact Kate Ollier, Programs & Communications Manager of Rensselar Regional Chamber of Commerce at: KOllier@rescochamber.com

Event Registration Hotline: 518-274-7474

      Since Alexander Graham Bell made the first phone call to his assistant, Watson, the phone has come a long way. And now, thanks to Internet technology, it's possible to make phone calls over the Internet using VoIP technology or voice over Internet Protocol (IP).

     While there are a number of advantages to a VoIP system over a standard phone system, the biggest reason companies switch is to save money. It's not uncommon for a company making a lot of long distance calls to save 50% or more on their phone bill. Of course, there's no guarantee of this since there are a lot of different VoIP systems and the amount of money that you will save really depends on which system you buy - and, in some cases, no savings will make up for poor sound quality or dropped calls. So, what are the pros and cons?

     The upside is that most business class VoIP systems will offer you the same features as your current phone system, including call forwarding, call waiting, conferencing, voice mail, and (depending on what your current phone system is) additional features like the ability to share data, applications and even transmit video in addition to voice so that you can see and hear the person that you are talking to.

     Of course, there are some downsides you need to consider before jumping on the VoIP bandwagon. The biggest problem with VoIP systems is the sound quality. In some cases, it's a bandwidth issue that will cause problems, but it's not the only one. Since the voice data is being broken up into a series of packets and transmitted over the Internet, there could be moments of silence, broken voice patterns, echoes, delays and static sounds. Sound quality is the #1 complaint most VoIP users have about the service.

     Another issue is that VoIP systems cannot be used if there is a power or Internet outage. A traditional phone can function during a power outage because the phone company transmits electricity over the phone line. This electricity is used to power the phone (cordless phones being the exception). That way, even if the power goes out, the phone will usually still work because the phone's power is coming from a different source.

     From our research, we recommend several vendors and solutions, based on your needs. One example is Star2Star. It is a hosted VoIP system, meaning that the phone 'switch' is not in your office, yet it still enables you to call others in the same office, should your Internet connection, for any reason, go down. You may not be able to call the rest of the world, if you lose your Internet connection, but at least you'll be able to call the other side of the office. This is something most other hosted VoIP providers cannot do.

     It's only natural that employees will want to check e-mail and do other work-related activities from home or on the road, often using their own personal devices. But be careful! You could be opening up a serious security loophole by allowing this.

     Since these personal devices aren't company owned and regulated, you have limited access and control over how they are used. Employees can easily download malware and viruses and infect your network when they connect, send e-mails or transfer files. Another risk is the security of the device. If an employee loses or misplaces a device with confidential client information on it, it puts a responsibility on YOU to notify clients and can lead to a costly PR nightmare or security breach.

     That's not to say you shouldn't allow employees to use personal devices - but if you do, then you need to make sure these devices are being backed up like every other device in your network. The type of remote security monitoring you need will depend on the device, the information being stored or accessed, and the laws regarding the information you store for patients or clients.

     If you are interested in knowing more about developing a concrete and effective IT security policy for personal device use as well as general system access, please don't hesitate to give us a call at 518-320-8906 so we can sit down with you and discuss a custom security blueprint that's just right for you.

• Groff NetWorks is pleased to announce the acquisition of SaQus IT Solutions.
• Kat Carmichael, pictured at right, recently joined Groff NetWorks as Technical Support Specialist
• Need to get rid of old laptops or PCs? Let us know, as we are helping outfit a computer lab for needy kids and families in Troy's North Central neighborhood. Laptops are especially appreciated and may be donated to Troy Central Little League (see story below).

• The City of Troy

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Looking for More Visibility

Consider sponsoring a team in the Troy Central Little League (TCLL). For as little as $50, you can support the TCLL, established in 1958. This year, they're restarting after a two-year hiatus in which the previous owners tried to sell the field (at Swift and Seventh Avenue in Troy) and equipment! Fortunately, other local little leagues have donated equipment, bases, and support. Here's how you can help!

$1500-Doubleday Sponsorship includes: Your choice of League sponsorship (Major, Minor, Farm, T-Ball); Plaque for your place of business; Corporate logo on sleeve of all uniforms in league of choice; Corporate logo with link on our website; 4' x 8' poly banner displayed in centerfield for all events held; Listing in all league publications (i.e.: awards program; event flyers, etc.)

$750-Dugout Sponsorship includes: Team sponsorship in league of your choice (first come, first served); Plaque for your place of business; Name of business on back of team shirts & on hats; Corporate logo with link on our website; 4' x 8' poly banner displayed in outfield for all events held; Listing in all league publications (i.e.: awards program; event flyers, etc.)

$500-Concessions Sponsorship includes: Plaque for your place of business; Listing on Concessions Sponsor Board for all events held; Corporate logo with link on our website; Listing in all league publications (i.e.: awards program; event flyers, etc.)

$250-Sign Sponsorship includes: 4' x 8' poly banner displayed in the outfield for all events held; Listing in all league publications (i.e.: awards program; event flyers, etc.)

$50-Registration Sponsorship includes: Listing in all league publications (i.e.: awards program; event flyers, etc.) and website

For more information, contact egroff@groffnetworks.com