3 Tips for Choosing the Right Managed Services Provider for Your Business

May 18, 2017 by Sean McCormack

Choosing the right IT Managed Services Provider (MSP) is as simple as knowing the wants and needs of your business. All providers aren’t created equal, and while one may have options and services that fit your needs, others may not. This can make searching for an MSP a little more complicated. Fortunately, there’s a way to streamline the entire process.

Use the following tips to help you in your search to find the best managed service provider for the job. The right provider can do wonders for your business, such as increase your productivity, improve your services, and bolster overall customer satisfaction.
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Get More Bang for Your Buck with Refurbished Computers

May 5, 2017 by Sean McCormack

The saying “good as new” is an apt way to describe a refurbished computer. If you’re in the market for a new computer and want to save more than a few bucks, consider taking the refurbished route. We’ll show you why refurbished computers have such a good value and help clear up any misconceptions you might have.

When you hear “refurbished,” you might get a bit suspicious. Your mind might associate “refurbished” with “used” and think that a refurbished computer is simply one that has been exhausted by its previous owner and is now ready for the landfill. That couldn’t be further from the truth. Refurbished computers are typically ones that have been sent back to a manufacturer and thoroughly tested and repaired to ensure they’re suitable for reselling. With a refurbished computer, you can trust that the machine you’re buying has undergone the necessary scrutiny by the manufacturer or other trusted party. Odds are that your refurbished computer needed little to no repairs. It’s very likely that the previous owner opened the box and realized they had purchased the wrong model and returned it to the store right after. Since most chain retail stores aren’t going to put an opened computer back on their shelves, they’ll instead mark it as “refurbished.”

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How Computer Support and Service has Evolved (for your benefit!)

April 22, 2017 by Sean McCormack

Computers are constantly evolving, and today’s computers can do far more than those released just a few years ago. However, this rapid evolution can make it difficult to keep up, and bugs and other errors can lead to struggles for individuals and businesses alike. Fortunately, computer support and service has evolved significantly as well, and new technologies can help keep your computer running well while protecting your information.

Thorough Safety Protections

Computer software is complex, and even thoroughly tested software typically contains bugs. While patches can fix these holes, malicious attackers seek to exploit them in the meantime to steal personal and business data or to run software on your computer. Fortunately, there are a number of great software options available to detect and stop these threats.

Anti-malware software can detect viruses and other malicious software and remove it. When properly installed, modern suites can even detect attacks early on. Firewalls protect your networking interfacing, letting you block attackers from the start. The internet is perhaps the most common source of malware, and filtering software can detect incoming malware and prevent it from installing. Integrated packages can provide robust protection for both personal computers and business hardware.
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How Proactive Computer Help Can Prevent a Disaster

April 10, 2017 by Sean McCormack

Have you ever heard that the best way to fix a problem is to avoid having it in the first place? Consider your car. Is the time to get the brakes looked at after they’ve failed on the highway? Of course that isn’t the time. You get your brakes checked every six months to a year, to stay ahead of that disaster. This is equally true for health, relationships, and especially for computers. The vast majority of computer-related disasters, be they file loss, system crashes, or viruses, can be avoided with a bit of proactive computer help.

Software Updates

It’s easy to think of software as a static item. You install the software and then never think about it again. In reality, most mainstream software gets updated on a regular basis. When a problem crops up in the software, or someone figures out how to exploit a weakness in the code, the company that made the software releases updates and patches to repair the issue. Having someone make sure the software stays updated helps to prevent hackers from taking advantage of these weaknesses and, for example, stealing customer information or downloading proprietary information.
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Top 5 Malware Protection Rules You Should Be Following

March 27, 2017 by Sean McCormack

Malware infections are one of the most common types of computer complaints, with thousands of people impacted by them each day. These malicious programs take advantage of any weaknesses in a computer’s protection to install themselves and can be very difficult to completely remove. The best way to avoid computer damage from a malware program is not to get infected in the first place. Here are five easy ways to protect your computer from malware.

1: Block malicious ads

Many advertisements that you see on website sidebars or headers are harmless, but some ads run scripts that will redirect your web browser to a malicious site or attempt to install malware on your computer. The reason that websites run advertisements is to generate revenue, so many sites will ask you to turn off any adblocking extensions you have installed. This is a well-meaning request, but individual websites often do not have a lot of control over which ads appear on their pages. It is safest to block ads entirely or back up your adblocker with a trusted antivirus program.
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What Sets Apart A Professional Technician From The IT Crowd

December 27, 2016 by Sean McCormack

One might rightly conclude, based on what is portrayed in the media, that being a qualified IT technician requires years of study, a mad scientist personality and a room full of strange gadgets. Nothing could be further from the truth. Some of the most competent and effective IT professionals don’t go out of their way to advertise their talent, mainly because what they do isn’t always “technical.”

What you will undoubtedly find most common among effective IT pros is a capacity for problem solving and the experience to know the difference between the obvious quick fix and the innovative actual solution.

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The Importance Of Patch Management

December 20, 2016 by Sean McCormack

One of the most vital advantages to always-on network access like that provided by the Internet is the ability for software developers and hardware manufacturers to provide endless updates to their products and operating systems. Programmers usually refer to these updates as “patches,” which is simply a metaphor for a small bit of software used to modify the larger software applications.

These patches can be dramatically valuable to software users, as they often provide new features, better security and more efficient operation without the necessity of replacing one application with another. Patches can be applied to any kind of software from operating systems to mobile apps, so nearly any user of technology can take advantage of them. Here are some things to keep in mind about software updates for your technology.

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How Managed Backups Save Your Data and Money!

December 13, 2016 by Sean McCormack

Data backups are absolutely vital for anyone who even casually uses a PC or mobile device. Losing your vacation photos or your financial records can be devastating, especially if your data can’t be reconstructed from other records. It is for this reason everyone should have a backup strategy and that strategy should include some kind of off-site component.

Most IT professionals will tell you backups should come in three flavors. The first is a simple copy. The second is a copy stored on a different kind of media. The third is a copy stored off-site. This is one reason “cloud” backup services have become so popular recently.

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What Is The Proper Configuration Of A New Computer?

December 6, 2016 by Sean McCormack

Buying a new computer is often a lot of fun. New machines are usually faster, have newer software and provide a wealth of possibilities. At the same time, new computers can have their share of problems, including the fact most ship with few, if any, security features.

So how can you set up a new computer to make certain it will be as secure as possible before you start to rely on it for your day to day work or entertainment?

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