Don't "Love" Spending Money On New
Servers, Backup Devices And IT Upgrades?

(Maybe It's Time To Move To The Cloud)

     We know that no one likes spending money on IT. Sure, we all want our laptops, e-mail and applications secure, running fast and readily available 24-7-365, but your friends aren't going to visit your office and oooh and ahhhh over your new server, and it certainly won't provide you hours of entertainment or bragging rights at your next high school reunion.

     So the question is: how can you get the tools you need to work without spending an arm and a leg? More and more businesses are choosing to move their network to the cloud. By hosting your server, data and applications off-site (cloud computing), you free yourself from having to purchase, install and maintain your own in-house computer network. That way, you're not required to buy a new server and workstations every 3-4 years to keep everything updated; all you need is an Internet connection and a web browser, and your cloud provider does the rest.

     Of course, cloud computing won't work for everyone - but, if you're faced with a server refresh, you owe it to yourself to at least LOOK into it as an option. In addition to the cost savings, here are some of the benefits of moving to the cloud:

Automatic Backup. Clients who host their server, applications and data in the cloud don't need a separate backup. In some cases, that can save a client thousands of dollars by eliminating the need for a separate BDR (backup and disaster recovery) device and service.

Work Remotely From Any Device. By hosting your server and workstations in the cloud, you can access key applications, documents, e-mail and processes via a web browser, freeing you to work remotely from whatever device (laptop, tablet, PC) you're using to access them. All you need is a good Internet connection (which isn't hard to come by) and a web browser.

Easier Cash Flow. When your network is in the cloud, you aren't faced with a big, expensive network upgrade every 3-4 years. All you pay is a fixed, monthly fee for the computing power you need, just like a utility. If you need more users, space or features, you add them. If you need to dial it back, you can do that, too, because you're paying a monthly service fee, not for the physical hardware and software licenses that you have to install and maintain on-site.

If you want to find out if all or parts of your network can be hosted in the cloud to save you money and to simplify IT, just give us a call at 518-320-8906 or email support@groffnetworks.com. There's no cost or obligation, and you just might discover that it's the solution you've been looking for!

Congratulations to Shirley Harris, Secretary to the President at NE Harris in Albany. She was the first to correctly answer last month's trivia quiz, below:

a) Buy a new car

b) Make a resolution

c) Go on a diet

d) Party in New York City

The correct answer is b: make a resolution.

Would you like to win a pair of movie tickets? Be the first to answer this month's trivia question:

Which of the following is a historical translation for the month of February?

a) Mud month

b) Month of cabbage

c) Month of the pearl

d) All of the above

E-mail us right now with your answer at: trivia@groffnetworks.com

Please note: One prize per entrant per year. Entrants who have won a trivia contest in the last 12 months are ineligible to compete for prizes.

Shiny New Gadget of the Month  

PowerMat Charger

Do you and your family have a number of devices that all need charging at once? Then look into getting a PowerMat for your home or office. Instead of plugging your devices in, simply lay them on the PowerMat and they'll all charge simultaneously, eliminating the need to play power cord roulette and fight over outlets to charge your devices. Neat, huh?

Lose The Wires!

Connect your devices to PowerMat Receivers, and simply drop them on the PowerMat to charge wirelessly, as fast or faster than the stock power adaptor. A unique sound lets you know a solid connection has been made (an additional sound is heard when you remove your device; both are adjustable and can be turned off), and an indicator light-also adjustable-is displayed while a device is charging.

Use Only What You Need

Communication between the PowerMat and Receivers allows the mat to give exactly enough power for exactly the right time. When a device is fully charged, power is shut off to that device, so no energy is wasted. If a device is used while on the mat, the system knows it-charging starts up again until you've got a full charge.

Wired USB Connection

For legacy USB devices, or a quick charge while all your Receivers are in use, PowerMats also feature a wired USB connection. It may not be wireless, but it's better than finding another free power outlet.

What To Do When Your Inbox Is FULL Of

Important Messages You Don't Want To Delete

There's no doubt about it: e-mail has become the single most important communication tool for businesses. But messages pile up quickly, taking up storage space that can be expensive to back up. And since deleting everything isn't always an option when certain threads contain important information about projects, contracts and client communications, the smartest option it to archive your inbox.

   Archiving is simply a process of removing old (but important) emails from your "active" inbox and folders to a compressed, encrypted backup, freeing up space in your inbox and preserving your e-mails, should you need to dig them up at some point in the future. Should you archive? The answer is "yes" for three important reasons:

Compliance Regulation: Obviously, some businesses, such as medical offices and financial institutions, are affected by this more than others. However, all records pertaining to a company's activities are subject to compliance regulation, including employee records and communications, e-mail threads discussing contracts or other negotiations and financial documentation. It's inevitable that you will have e-mail messages touching one or more of these areas that you are required by law to keep for a period of time.

Litigation Support: Almost every company operating will, at some point, be implicated in a lawsuit. When that happens, the court may require you to produce all records and communications relevant to the case in a "timely manner," no matter how far back the communications took place. If a good e-mail archiving solution wasn't used, it could cost MORE to conduct the discovery than the cost of the case itself.

Storage Management: If you don't want to be forced to delete current e-mails to make room for new messages, then archiving is a smart option. Of course, NOT all archiving solutions are created equal! Make sure you consult us on which one would work best for your company before making any decisions.

A Guy's Guide to Valentine's Day

It's here again: another Valentine's Day, and you're staring at Hallmark cards, wondering if you should spend $5 on a card (the answer is yes, ...or you could make one yourself). What do you give the love of your life? We polled our girlfriends to ask what they want. (Ladies, men are simple. You know what they want.) Here, a handy guide of ideas:

-Flowers (yup, really)

-A picture of you and your love in a thoughtful frame

-Come home early and cook dinner!

-Chocolate-covered strawberries, chocolate, candy

-Dinner at a favorite restaurant (see Lauren's Corner, on the last page, for some recommendations)

-Love letters (it could even be a text message or facebook message)

-Something sparkly

-A romantic CD (i.e., Josh Groban), candles, and a bottle of wine

Kid tip:

"My mom used to have the house decorated and fill our plates with candy hearts the morning of Valentine's Day. I do the same for my children - and have little gifts for all of them, with little personalized mugs full of candy ."

-Corey Jamison, president of Kaleel Jamison Consulting Group

For more information, call Lori at: 518-320-8906 x105 or email: lhardy@groffnetworks.com

Lauren's Corner 

Have you been to the new wine bar yet? I'm talking about the beautiful Charles F. Lucas Confectionery and Wine Bar at 12 Second Street here in downtown Troy. Open seven nights each week, it features wines on tap, by the glass and bottle; and delicious small plates of cheese, spreads, and desserts for the sweet tooth (my wife loves their whoopie pies!). It has become a local favorite, a perfect date spot after Bacchus Wood-fired Pizza or, for something fancier, Daisy Baker's, all located within the same block!
Bon appétit!

Office Notes  

Welcome to our newest clients...!

• The Merriam Agency, based in Schenectady

• Behan Communications, with offices in Glens Falls and Albany