January 2013
In this issue:

One of the most popular and longest lived Microsoft operating systems that we all know and love, Windows XP, has almost run its course. Microsoft has announced that they will end support for XP on April 8, 2014.

What does this mean if you have a Windows XP machine?

You will no longer be able to receive tech support from Microsoft if your computer has an issue and most retail outlets (Best Buy for example) will likely discontinue support for XP as well.

HTS will continue to provide support on a very basic level, with no guarantees that we’ll be able to resolve issues. Without being able to reach out to Microsoft for assistance, we may not be able to solve more complex problems.

What are your options? Continue reading! »

Jane Cage, HTS's CFO and COO, along with the citizens of Joplin, MO, were the recipients of the 2012 Rick Rescorla National Award for Resilience. Read the full press release here!

We are so proud of Jane for all of her work in Joplin's recovery from the May 22, 2011 tornado, as well as the true resiliency of Joplin's citizens.

Thank you for your business in 2012. It has been a pleasure to serve your company as you reach your IT service goals. We are grateful for good customers like you who make our work satisfying and enjoyable. We look forward to working with you in 2013 and contributing to your success.

We have some exciting news to announce. On January 2nd, the IT portion of HTS was purchased by WesTel Systems located in Remsen, Iowa. HTS will function as a wholly-owned subsidiary of WesTel Systems and give us the opportunity to expand into additional geographies in the future. (Read the full press release here)

We'll publish more info in later newsletters but we want to let you know that we will be business as usual, with the following items remaining the same:

• Our locations
• Your contacts and relationships
• Products, services, and rates
• Terms and Conditions

Again, we are excited about the year ahead and we wish you a prosperous and happy new year!

Connie Arentson
President
Heartland Technology Solutions
712-744-3619
carentson@heartlandtechnologies.com

Office 365 is rapidly gaining acceptance with small businesses across the Midwest as a source for hosted Exchange e-mail, the familiar Office platform, and Sharepoint - among other things. But is it right for your business?

Office 2013 is brand new and has a much more powerful interface and functionality tools. As part of the Office 365 platform, these tools can be available to your business!

Join us on January 22nd at 10am CST to learn about both of these programs and find out why your business might be best to make a move to the cloud.

Goodbye 2012, hello 2013! We take a look back at our most popular and helpful articles and webinars of the past year to get you a leg up on planning for your IT in the New Year.

Is Consumer Grade Good Enough for Your Business? »
In July, we kicked off a series of articles looking at computers, operating systems, firewalls, and wireless, and the differences between off-the-shelf consumer versions and business grade versions. If you have plans to upgrade or refresh your hardware and software in 2013, these articles explain why you may want to think twice about picking them up at your local Best Buy or Office Depot.

Why Do I Need a Server? »
This is a question we often hear from small businesses that haven't yet made the jump to a true "network". If you've reached the threshold where your networked computers no longer allow you to grow, we explain the opportunities that a server can bring for your business.

7 Advantages of Managed Services »
Many SMBs are turning to Managed Service Providers (MSPs) to alleviate strain on their internal IT resources, or take over the management of their network all together. If you're considering this route, we discuss the benefits to partnering with an MSP.

3 Hidden Costs of Aging Networks »
Network refreshes, or any large hardware or software upgrade project, is sometimes a painful topic, but we tackled it anyway. Don't wait until the last minute for any of these hidden costs to catch up with you!

Webinars, webinars, webinars!
Head into the new year with our most popular webinars under your belt! Learn about Windows 8 for your business, integrating the Apple platform in education and enterprise, and protecting your business from important security trends and threats.

Business Continuity Tip:
The Ripple Effect

As shown by the 2011 Japan Tsunami, it can take months for the effects of natural disasters to reverberate down the supply chain. This year has proven to be no different. As retailers struggle to get their supply chains back up and running, Hurricane Sandy serves as yet another reminder of how important it is for every organization, regardless of size, to make supply chain management a priority.

So, you may be wondering, what can I do? Well, with contract renewals on the table and 2013 planning meetings taking place, now is the perfect opportunity to talk to those you rely on about their recovery capabilities and continuity plans.

To help you with this process, PrepareMyBusiness.org has created a simple vendor assessment form. Use this form to determine your vendors’ ability to continue service despite any sort of interruption. Additionally, if you would like Agility’s assistance in helping to protect your supply chain, please click here.

Just for Laughs

Quote of the Month

"Now is the accepted time to make your regular annual good resolutions. Next week you can begin paving hell with them as usual."

—Mark Twain

Want to know about all that HTS has to offer? 

Look through our virtual catalog.

We'd love to help you learn more about anything you see.