Six Reasons to Use Cloud Services for Small Business
Posted by admin on Dec 31, 2011
Taken from PC World Magazine, January 2012 Edition
Outsourcing IT functions such as payroll, website hosting, email, and enterprise resource planning has long been normal for businesses of all sizes. But outsourcing critical functions – such as database and file servers, application development, and document storage – gives many organizations pause. Experienced IT admins point to recent well-publicized outages, data losses, and hacking incidents that have cost companies big in lost productivity, lawsuits, penalties, and even bankruptcy. Nevertheless, your business could benefit significant from using cloud services. Here are the main savings and advantages.
1 – You’ll save on infrastructure, by not having to purchase server, software and maintenance.
2 – You’ll save on setup and management, because the cloud providers have knowledgeable, experienced administrators.
3 – You’ll save on utilities, because you have less equipment in-house to run.
4 – You’ll get better performance and better features, due to the fact that cloud providers can afford much better equipment and more up-to-date software.
5 – Your company will become more agile, as the cloud-based service can implement the latest features quicker than a small business.
6 – You’ll enjoy more fault tolerance, because cloud providers maintain multiple data centres, redundant internet connections, and continual backups.
How to Tweak Windows’ AutoPlay Settings
Posted by admin on Dec 24, 2011
Ever wonder why DVD movies start automatically when you pop them into your PC? That’s Windows’ Auto-Play, which kicks into action – or not – when you connect a device or insert a media. Windows Vista and Windows 7 offer granular control over AutoPlay settings. You can access them easily. Click Start, type auto, and the click AutoPlay. First, make sure that the box is checked for Use AutoPlay for all media and devices. That’s basically the “on” switch for AutoPlay. Find the option you wan to modify, click the menu beside it, and choose your desired action. For example, if you have iTunes on your PC but want audio CDs to play in Windows Media Centre, click the menu next to Audio CD, and then choose Play CD using Windows Media Player. Alternatively, you might want to select Ask me every time, in which case inserting a disc will open an AutoPlay window, where you can select which player you want. When you’re all done, click Save. The changes should go into effect immediately.
Change What App Loads
Posted by admin on Dec 21, 2011
Taken from PC World Magazine, December 2011 Edition
You can easily change the program associated with a particular file extension. In Vista or Windows 7, right-click a file of the type you want to reassociate and select Open With -> Choose Default Program. Double-click the desired program. In XP, right-click an appropriate file; select Open With -> Choose Program. Check always use the selected program to open this kind of file. Double-click the program. If you can’t find the right .exe program file, keep the dialog box open as you click Start and look in the Start menu. Right-click the app’s shortcut, and pick Properties. On the Shortcut tab, select the contents of the Target field; press <Ctrl>-C to copy to the clipboard. In the Open with dialog box, click the File name field; press <Ctrl>-V.
Change an Odd File’s File Type
Posted by admin on Dec 17, 2011
Taken from PC World Magazine, December 2011 Edition
So you have a file that a colleague sent you, and you don’t know to open it. The person who sent it to you doesn’t seem to know either, and your deadline is ticking nearer. What to do? Head to www.go2convert.com
Go2Convert is a handle little site that’s not much to look at, but it serves an incredibly useful function: file conversion. Simply upload the mystery file – it can be in practically any conceivable format – and the site will let you convert it into something that you can use. The site handles more than 100 different file formats, including ancient ones like PostScript and PhotoCD, and somewhat exotic ones such as EXR and DPX. Once you have selected a file from your hard drive and uploaded it, Go2Convert will identify the file format and present you with a drop-down menu of compatible formats to which you can have the file saved. Choose one, select a file quality (if applicable), and then click Convert Now. Once the site has finished the conversion (the process usually takes only a few seconds), the output file will appear below the input area of the screen. Then you just click Download to save the converted file to your PC.
Mail Add-in for Excel 2007/2010
Posted by admin on Nov 1, 2011
Back in Excel 2000 and 2003 you could email a single worksheet from an Excel document, but that was removed for some reason in the more recent versions. If you miss that feature, or just want more control over what you email, then maybe you should check out this add-on from Ron de Bruin, Microsoft MVP.
You can send the entire workbook, one or multiple worksheets, or even highlighted selections – as both XLS documents or in PDF!
The installation can be a bit tricky, but if you follow the steps and the warnings from Excel, it does work. On my installation, I had to change a few settings in the Trust Centre. Once the add-in is installed, it adds a new option to the ribbon menu. You can always email Ron if you run into problems, or we here at ICS can help you out.
How to Use an HTTPS-Encrypted Connection
Posted by admin on Oct 31, 2011
Taken from PC World Magazine, October 2011 Edition
When browsing the web, protect yourself by using HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure) whenever possible. It encrypts the connection between your PC and the website you’re visiting.
Many site use HTTPS by default: When you purchase an item online or log in to a bank site, for instance, your browser will probably connect to the site via HTTPS automatically. But you can enable HTTPS on Facebook, Gmail, and Twitter, as well.
To enable HTTPS on Facebook, log in to Facebook and click on the drop-down in the top-right corner, clock on Account Settings and then Security. Click on the Edit beside Secure Browsing and turn that feature on.
For Twitter, look for Settings. In Gmail, click on the gear icon and select Mail Settings.
Protect Your Data From The Breach Epidemic
Posted by admin on Jul 14, 2011
Taken from PC World Magazine, July 2011 Edition
In 2011 alone, tens of millions of users have had personal information exposed or put at risk in some way by data breaches at Epsilon, RSA Security, the PlayStation Network, among others.
The impact of a data breach depends on what information is compromised and what the attackers do with the data they steal. If a breach is limited to exposing e-mail addresses, as was the case with the Epsilon data breach, the main concern it raised is the possibility of targeting phishing attacks.
If a breach exposes personal details such as names, addresses, birth dates, Social Insurance numbers, and driver’s license numbers, identity theft becomes a serious concern.
The worst case involves the loss of actual bank account or credit card numbers. The attacker can use your credit card information to buy things or – with additional information such as your account password – drain your bank account.
What Size Screen is Right?
Posted by admin on Jul 5, 2011
Taken from PC World Magazine, July 2011 Edition
A 65-inch 3D TV looks great – if you can fit it into your living room. Before you choose between LCD, LED and Plasma sets, you need to determine the size of the HDTV you want to buy.
To determine the right size for your room, get a tape measure and figure out how far away you plan to sit from your screen once you have it in place. You can find several Web tools, including this table on Amazon’s site, that show how to translate that distance into the correct screen size.
Choosing the most appropriate HDTV size is not an exact science, however, and people have very different viewing preferences. Keep Amazon’s tool in mind, but go to a local store and stand the same distance away from your desired set as you would be when you’re home.
Battery Backup – Cheap Insurance
Posted by admin on Jun 3, 2011
You probably know that you should have an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) on your work systems, but you probably don’t have one. Did you know that installing a battery backup system is just like cheap insurance? Tornadoes, floods and fires aren’t the only disasters that damage PCs, servers and other computers. An abrupt loss of electricity prevents systems from closing programs, finishing updates, and shutting down properly. Lost data and corrupted operating systems and programs often result.
Powerful electrical spikes can also cause trouble. A computer’s sensitive electronics can easily be destroyed by power surges created by lightning strikes or power fluctuations. Your computer can also be damaged by a dip in electrical current, also known as a “brown-out”, and that is something that a standard surge protector cannot guard against – not even an expensive one.
A UPS can prevent the damage that occurs from both power loss and common power fluctuations. Keep in mind, however, that just plugging in a UPS and connecting your computer does not guarantee systems are properly protected. Here are a few things to keep in mind when choosing a UPS.
Internet Bandwidth Explained
Posted by admin on May 20, 2011
I have had a number of clients asking questions related to internet bandwidth lately, and I thought I would try and explain it here. The reason for the questions, is probably the result of the recent CRTC decisions, and the subsequent reversal by the Supreme Court. If you are unware of what I am talking about, then you should probably check out this article at the CBC first.
The first question I get asked is… “What is difference between Internet Bandwidth and Internet Useage?” Well, bandwidth is just what it sounds like… the width of your band of internet. You will also hear it referred to as your download and upload speeds. In a nutshell, the wider the band, the faster the internet. Internet useage is the amount of data that has been uploaded or downloaded.
I find that using an analogy sometimes helps. You could compare your bandwidth to a highway – the more lanes the road has, the more cars can travel it. Internet useage would be the number of cars that have travelled that road in a month.
When you are looking at internet companies, you want to compare price for sure, but also look at their bandwidth speeds and if they enforce monthly useage-based billing. If you are an ocassional internet user, then speed and useage will probably not be an issue, but if you want to download music or movies, or watch streaming TV or videos, your monthly bill could be outrageous.
