Thank You, Safe Computing, and Happy New Year

A Heartfelt Thank You

At this time of year, I always like to take some time to thank those of you who are reading this. If you're a subscriber to the newsletter, or reading this on our blog, thank you for taking time out of your day, and I'm glad you find my monthly ramblings about business and technology to be helpful, interesting, or amusing.

Can a Cloud PBX Replace My Phone System?

Microsoft has generated some buzz in the business-tech world with its announcement of a new Office 365 feature, currently in preview, called "Cloud PBX with PSTN Calling". As you might imagine, the expertise and infrastructure Microsoft acquired with their purchase of Skype is playing a major part in the rollout.

Are You Paying Enough for IT Support?

By: Dan Bremner

Several years back, I was referred to a prospective customer, a successful business with about 25 employees in the Chicago suburbs. In my meeting with the owner and the office manager I learned that they were paying their existing IT provider a flat monthly fee to manage their network and computer systems.

Windows 10, Part 1: Release News

You may have seen some of the press, or even a “Windows 10 is coming” notification on your desktop along with an offer to “reserve your upgrade”. By the way, if you’re only half-paying attention don’t worry, you didn’t miss Windows 9. Microsoft decided to skip a version and go right from Windows 8 (and 8.1) to Windows 10.

Worst Case Scenario

“Worst Case Scenario” thinking can help your business be prepared. No one likes to think about it, but what would you do if your office burned down, or flooded, or if thieves walked off with everything in your server closet? More to the point, would your business be able to survive?

Secure Email: an Oxymoron?

Email security is on my mind today for a couple of reasons.

With my oldest daughter off to Marquette University in the fall, the “college fund” my wife and I have been saving into for years is no longer a deposit-only thing – we need to start tapping into it to pay tuition bills. So I’ve had to exchange some documents (via secure email) with my financial advisor to get accounts linked so we can transfer funds and make those tuition payments.