Louisville area business are more and more reliant on their computers and networks to make their businesses work.  It is just a fact of lift, you can tell more and more about your business, control inventory, payroll, and all of it with your computer systems.

Our expert author details 10 ways that you can secure your computer network.

Ten Ways to Secure Your Small Biz Computer Network

By Charlie O’Hearn

If you don’t have a full-time IT staff or a company like Plexus taking care of your computer infrastructure, here are 10 basic things you can do on your own to keep your office network running smoothly.

1. Keep Your Anti-Virus Program Current – Make sure your anti-virus program subscription is current and the software is updating properly. Just because anti-virus software came with your computer does not mean it is protecting you, so make sure. I do not recommend the Nortons and MacAfees of the world, the ones that usually come with a free trial on all new PCs these days. If you did not purchase the subscription I recommend instead installing the free versions of AVG or Avast which were ranked higher by Consumer Reports than the best known brands. For your servers, however, I recommend Trend Micro which will come at a very reasonable price, especially compared to the cost of recovering all your critical files from an infected server.

2. Use an Internet Gateway Appliance – You’ve probably heard the advertisements on the radio for spam blocking firewalls, but there are many equally effective, less expensive or free options, such as that from Untangle. These devices sit between your Internet connection and all of your computers to filter out any kind of junk whether it is hitching a ride on a website or an email. My feeling is that if a bug is trying to get into my house, I want to stop it at the front door rather than catch it in the kitchen, so let’s keep these things from ever reaching your computers

3. Be Vigilant – Even if the email is from someone you know, if you are not expecting an attachment, don’t open it. If the email includes a web link, are you sure you need to click it? If a sales guy shows up and wants to show you files he has on his flash drive, politely decline. A couple of years ago a colleague and I were interviewing local developers for a relatively small database project. As he twirled his shiny keychain flash drive on his finger, he offered to copy the data files so he could take a closer look at home and get back to us. Suffice to say we declined and said we’d get back to him.

4. Limit Employee Computer Use – If your employees have unfettered web access from their computers, you’re probably inviting trouble if they don’t need web access to perform their job duties. Appliances like Untangle can easily block, limit or monitor web activity by each user. For a cheap alternative, check my blog my post from back in January about a free and effective web blocking tool built right into Internet Explorer called Content Advisor.

5. Control CD Burners and External Media – CD/DVD Burners, Flash drives and cell phones make data incredibly portable. So portable that critical company data could walk right out the front door snuggly tucked away on the flash drive of a temp, or in the iPod of an unhappy employee. Just like the Internet, if they don’t need it to do their jobs, don’t give it to them. Here’s a link for free tools to turn off USB ports and CD burners.

6. You Must be ‘This High’ to Go on this Computer – If kids visit the office, don’t let them on the computers. If you leave your computers on overnight, make sure to lock them (Control + Alt – Delete + Lock Computer). We wouldn’t want to tempt the cleaning crew or their kids, now would we?

7. Routine Maintenance – Back in the I Love You, Nimda and Melissa Virus days we pulled a few all nighters cleaning machine after machine that were infected, not because they did not have anti-virus software, but because they lacked the latest Microsoft patch that plugged a security hole. For workstations we recommend setting Windows Update to automatic. As needed the computer will receive and install needed Microsoft security and software updates. Make sure that your anti-virus is configured the same way. For servers, I recommend configuring it to download the updates, but let me choose when to install them. This way I can do the updates after hours or on the weekend so, if there are problems, I have plenty of time to fix it before people start showing up for work.

8. Secure Your Wireless Network – When Wi-Fi first came on the scene I could almost count on having a free Internet connection wherever I went thanks to people being too lazy or too intimidated to configure wireless network security. Today, however, they are easier than ever to secure, so make sure yours is before people start hanging out in your parking lot with a laptop and latte to surf your network and send god-knows-what to god-knows-who.

9. Windows File Permissions – The Windows operating system has got permission settings built into it to limit or grant access to people or groups. For example, if you have a folder with files you only want you and your accountant to access, but not Becky the Admin Assistant. Or, perhaps you have performance reviews to which only you should be privy, you can set that up as well. These are easy to set up, but you might require a little training first. Give me a call and I can walk you through the process. If you try it alone, practice on a new folder with dummy files rather than accidentally lock yourself out of the payroll folder.

10. Disaster Recovery – Some call this Disaster Prevention Planning, as in, let’s avoid having to recover to begin with, but I like the term Business Continuity Plan, as in, disaster or not, let’s make sure our business continues to run unaffected. No matter what you call it, do you have a plan and some mechanism in place to help you stay in business, or at least recover quickly if there’s a flood, an earthquake or someone forgets to pay the power bill? Trust me, I’ve seen all those things happen. If not, here are some questions to ask yourself when developing your plan:

Do I have an up-to-date, reliable backup of my data?

Do I know how to use the backup software to recover my data?

Do I have a copy of the software needed to run the data?

Do I have a computer to install the software and data on?

Once you have your plan in place, test it out so you can discover and fix its shortcomings then make sure everyone knows the plan exists and run through it with them.

If you’d like help developing a business continuity plan or implementing any of the other measures described above, please give us a call. we’re happy to help!

Charlie O’Hearn
President/Owner
Plexus Information Technology & Services
http://www.plexus-it.com
charlie@plexus-it.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Charlie_O’Hearn
http://EzineArticles.com/?Ten-Ways-to-Secure-Your-Small-Biz-Computer-Network&id=4043485

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Technorati Tags: Anti-Virus, computer, Computer network, Internet access, Internet Explorer, Louisville, Louisville Kentucky, Louisville KY, Microsoft, Mobile phone, network, Personal computer, Security, Windows

IT Support For Business

By Philip Taylor Brown

IT support firms are available nowadays, that provides many cost effective ideas, to guide and provide a profitable direction to such small scale industries and help them concentrate on other issues and to explore new horizons.

How will you bill these services? Small and medium scale industries can retain the IT support companies, to provide the services on per-project basis. To make it more economical, the same services can also be provided on hourly basis, depending on the needs and requirements of different business owners. Before approaching an IT company for the support, the jobs involved should be enumerated as given below:

1. Monthly maintenance of the servers.

2. Upgrading and timely installations of patches on regular basis.

3. Installation of any new IT equipment or hardware – software should be done under their guidance and support.

4. Round the clock customer care service.

5. Onsite IT support should be available in cases where delayed resolution cannot be tolerated as economic loss to the company is involved.

Outsourcing these jobs can be very beneficial in the long run as one can save a lot of money, by not investing in extra resources. Precious time can be saved as no training to the regular employees would be provided and the same can be utilized to increase the productivity of the company.

Support of IT companies does not end with the successful implementation of the system. Commitment to maintenance of the products is also the responsibility of the support provider. IT support companies are also liable to provide round the clock service as this is what they are paid for.

Nowadays, IT has made its presence in all walks of life. Customers willing to buy a product, now collect all the information from the websites of the parent company, hence avoid visiting showrooms or company outlets for such requirements. For products sold by a company, customers expect to get free services and maintenance for the product. The easiest way for them to reach the company is through the 24×7 customer care support provided to them.

This clearly confirms the business mantra -

The secret of success for any business lies not in making new customers but in retaining the old and trusted ones.

Important information about the company and customer records is stored in huge servers. In case of this data loss or information leak, the company could suffer enormous loss, both in revenue and market reputation. IT support companies play a major role here by providing timely backups of such confidential data to secure locations.

To summarize, IT support acts as a backbone for all kind business firms whether it be small, medium or large.

Philips Taylor Brown offers IT support in the Nottingham area, tailored to suit the needs of any business. Visit their website now for more information if you are looking for IT Support Nottingham.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Philip_Taylor_Brown
http://EzineArticles.com/?IT-Support-For-Business&id=4000353

Web Resources For IT Support, Louisville Business

• Choosing between Computer Science and Computer Engineering … – The subtle differences between various Computer related majors are confusing, especially at the age when one makes their University choices. 6 Degrees of Computer Science is a good place to start, but the choice is not always clear. …
• Microsoft Announces Surface Computer – A Surface computer is able to recognize physical objects from a paintbrush to a cell phone and allows hands-on, direct control of content such as photos, music and maps. Surface turns an ordinary tabletop into a dynamic surface that provides interaction with all forms of digital content through natural gestures, touch and physical objects. The new product is aimed directly at hotels, retail establishments, restaurants and public entertainment venues and should be commercially available towards the end of the year.
• My Ada Lovelace Day Hero – Deborah Cavel-Greant – Today (April 24th) is Ada Lovelace Day, a time each year to celebrate the achievments of women in science and technology. This year, I’m celebrating the amazing work of my mother, Deborah Cavel-Greant. I’ve been fortunate to rely on and …
• How to sit at a computer – You might also like. hello my computer was making a … hello my computer was making a strange hissing noise.. I; Cheap computer components suppliers. Here’s a list of suppliers who can do you for; Using Hdparm I found out that … …

Technorati Tags: IT Support, Louisville, louisville data solutions, Louisville Kentucky, Louisville KY

By Jonathan P Powers

Renting computer equipment is much more economical and convenient than buying new equipment when your need is temporary. Computer equipment for a business event is one such short term requirement where renting makes mores sense than buying and sometimes it is an even better option than using your own equipment.

In fact, one of the key benefits of computer rentals is that they spare individuals of the hassle of carrying their desktops, laptops and other related equipment to business events held outside their offices. It is much more convenient to rent equipment from a full service, computer equipment rental company, who will not only provide you the equipment but also make sure that it is installed and integrated properly for immediate use.

Some of the equipments like projectors are quite expensive and it is best to rent them for events that usually do not last more than a few days.

Using a computer rental service also makes sure that you do not have to bother about the setting up of equipment for use. When you rent computers and other equipment, the rental company ensures that the installation is taken care of. Technicians from the company help you troubleshoot any problems that you face during the event. You can even ask the company for additional technical support by requesting a technician to be present at the venue to tackle any issues.

Renting computer equipment for a business event also allows you the flexibility to choose from a variety of equipment options. For example, you can opt for a bigger projector screen or wider monitors for the computers. You can rent top of the line equipment to appear more tech-savvy and professional at your important business event. The best part is that it would cost you only a fraction of what it would have if you had bought the equipment.

Renting instead of using your own equipment for a one off event like a business meet or conference also protects your personal equipment from unnecessary risk of damage during transportation and use.

The advantages of renting computer equipment for a business event are many, but you should choose the computer rental company carefully. It is advisable to do some research on the company’s product and service offerings along with checking its market reputation and credibility. Choosing a good computer rental company would ensure that you can look forward to a hassle free and successful event.

For More Information on New York Computer Laptop Rentals or New York Server Rentals, contact a Computer Rental expert at Vernon Computer Source.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jonathan_P_Powers
http://EzineArticles.com/?Benefits-of-Renting-Computer-Equipment-For-a-Business-Event&id=3847947

Technorati Tags: Business, Business Services, Construction and Maintenance, Louisville, Louisville Kentucky, Louisville KY, New York City, rent, Rental, Tools and Equipment, United States

 Finding the right computers for your Business needs is important.  Under powered machines and machines without the features you need will leave you suffering while trying to transact your business.  Louisville Data Solutions can help you make the right choices and help ensure the computers are configured in a way that will serve you best when they are rolled out.

Did you know that underpowerd machines can cost you hundreds of hours of wasted time each year.  All of the wait time and the “Microsoft Moments” when you just wait and wonder if you’ve lost your work.  We can help eliminate that with a properly configured machine that is up to the tasks you have for it.  Laptop, tablet, desktop, or server there is a strategy that will ensure optimum performance and that will do the job you need it to do.

HP Business Computers – Making the Right Choice

By Arsham Mirshah

Whether you are starting a new business, or updating hardware for an existing one, the purchase of new computer equipment can raise a lot of questions.

To make the process simpler, break down the steps to the basics, and then, consult with a computer professional who specializes in HP business computers.

What are the Computing Needs of Your Business?

• Home businesses, small businesses, and medium businesses each have their own requirements. It’s important to make an assessment of how many employees will be using the equipment and what their job functions are.

• The kinds of software used in your business are important factors when considering necessary computing capacity. Different software will be more, or less, demanding of computing resources; you’ll need equipment that has adequate processor speed, memory and components to handle the programs and files you use every day in your business.

• What requirements does your business have for backup and on-site data storage?

• What is your budget for technology purchases and maintenance?

Desktop, Laptop, or Tablet?

Before placing an order for HP business computers, you will need to evaluate your business workflow and decide whether you will be best served by desktop systems, or the more mobile laptop or tablet PCs.

You might do best with some combination of styles.

Your computer professional can provide information about durability and performance, and can work with you to recommend solutions to fit your business needs and budget.

• Desktops might be best for employees using workstations in a fixed location. A large monitor can reduce eyestrain and can facilitate work processes. The separate keyboard used in desktop setups can be placed in the most ergonomic location, and when not in use, can be set aside to free up desk space for other work tasks.

• Laptops and tablets offer mobile computing for employees whose duties require travel. These can be combined with portable printers, projectors and other accessories needed for presentations in the field.

What Features Are Important for Business Computing?

• Durability is key; your computer equipment, both desktops and laptops, must be tough and dependable to handle the heavy daily work of running a business.

• Access to the Internet and to your own network must be set up properly to make your business run smoothly.

• The specifications of your HP business computers need to be tailored to the computing needs of your business.

• Carefully-chosen peripherals are an essential part of your technology plan.

Want to learn more? Everything you need to know about HP Business Computers can be found on DSR Inc’s website.

DSR has been selling whole computers (PC’s and laptops) as well as providing computer (desktop & laptop) repair, and network consulting services since 1986. If you need to fix your current computer, or want to buy a new one all together, and you live near Baltimore, Maryland, give DSR HP specialist a call today!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Arsham_Mirshah
http://EzineArticles.com/?HP-Business-Computers—Making-the-Right-Choice&id=3981204

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Getting top search engine rankings is important to be able to get people to find your site.  What happens when your potential customers enter words that describe your business into Google, does your business come up first or does your competitor?  Proper SEO (search engine optimization) will put you at or near the top.

SEO Secrets – Take Over Google Today

By Christopher P. Morris

When I just started online marketing, I did my research on search engine optimization and wondered how would search engines like Google improve the quality of my business?

And the key to that is article marketing. I know you’re probably wondering, “How can articles increase your search engine optimization?”

Well before I knew about SEO’s I was just writing articles and lots of them. And one day I was curious to see if my articles were on Google so I typed one of my articles in Google search and BOOM my article was everywhere, even on people’s websites and blogs.

What I found out was that people were taking my articles and my resource boxes and posting it on their sites and blogs. What this did was increase my link popularity which increased my page rankings on search engine websites.

Your page ranking is measure by web page popularity where whoever has the most inbound links will have a higher page ranking. To keep it simple search engine page rankings is just a huge popularity contest where whoever has the most links on internet wins.

What do you have to do in order to improve your SEO?

Simple, all you have to do is write a lot of articles with a link to your website.

Take an hour or 2 out of your day to write as many articles as you them submit them to directories like this and let the Search Engines take it from there.

Challenge yourself and see how many articles you can write and submit in one day…that’s what I do and it works. My page is getting a lot of traffic because of this and I strongly encourage you to give it a try.

What do you have to lose?

By the way, do you want to learn more about internet marketing?

If so, download my brand new free online business ebook here: Financial Freedom

Christopher P Morris is an internet marketing coach who has been marketing online for over two years

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Christopher_P._Morris
http://EzineArticles.com/?SEO-Secrets—Take-Over-Google-Today&id=4039869

Louisville Data Solutions offers SEO and Local SEO services that will make your business and your web site competitive on the internet.

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Technorati Tags: Business, Google, google improve, google search, Internet marketing, Louisville, Louisville Kentucky, Louisville KY, Marketing, search engine, Search Engine Optimization, search engines, seo secrets, Web page, Web search engine, Website

By Arsham Mirshah

There are several factors to consider when shopping for a laptop business computer. This article outlines all of the important considerations and has links to more information.

Aspects of a Business Laptop Computer

A laptop inherently comes with the benefit of portability, which is important, but not all laptops are created equal. It’s important to know your business and what your computers are being used for.

Performance

The whole reason behind using a computer is that they can store more information and do calculations faster than any human. Could you imagine keeping all of your Word & Excel documents in a filing cabinet?

Depending on what types of things you need the computer to do, you want to ensure that your business machine has certain specifications in terms of speed and memory.

Battery Life

A very important factor of laptops in general is the length of time that the battery lasts.

Some have bigger batteries than others, and some use more power than others. Every notebook computer will provide you with an approximate battery life, but the amount of time you have before needing to plug it in ultimately depends on the computer’s make and model. Also, the number of programs you’re running.

Screen Size

If you’re like most people, the size of the screen will be an important factor to consider when looking to buy a laptop business computer. Laptop screen sizes range from 11 inches up to 20 inches (measured diagonally).

If you’re using the computer for presentations or viewing rich media like Flash files or movies, you may need a larger screen.

Another consideration is that the size of the screen typically determines the size of the notebook. Thus, if you want a small, sleek notebook, you’ll want to look for smaller screen sizes.

Input/Output Selection

Examples of input devices are CD-Rom drives and USB ports, while output is speakers or headphone jacks and extended or secondary monitor output. Smaller laptops usually have less input and output options, which can be important depending on what you’ll be using the machine for.

Graphics

It is hard to fit all the components of a computer into a compact space. That’s why laptop graphics usually suffer when compared to those of a desktop business computer, but it is possible to get high end video output on your laptop if you need it.

Certain makes and models perform better in terms of graphics. For more information, contact an expert.

Portability

The smaller and lighter it is, the easier it will be to carry your computer to and from the office. Laptops come in a variety of sizes and weights, which, as mentioned before, is determined mainly by the screen size and performance level of the laptop.

Price

If you’re like most businesses, the actual price of a laptop notebook computer will be one of the main considerations in the decision.

Typically, laptops cost more than desktops. There is also a wide range of prices within laptops, all depending on what you’re looking for and what your business needs.

Classifications of Business Notebook Computers

Given the aspects of laptops listed above, it’s up to you to decide what your employees or colleagues need in a laptop computer.

The SuperPortables

Laptops in this category are very small and can almost fit in your pocket (ok, maybe not THAT small). We find that upper management tends to like these types of laptops as they primarily use them for writing emails and reading online articles.

These laptop business computers will be super portable and have a smaller screen size, but will lack in all other aspects, especailly battery life, performance, and input/output selection

The Light and Thins

These laptops are thin and light (hence the name). They are generally used for the frequent flyer or outside sales person who needs a portable computer.

These laptops will give you the power, battery life, and screen size you’re looking for at the right price. Unfortunately, you will probably find the input/output port selection to be thin, and the graphics won’t be top-of-the-line.

The Standard Notebook

This category encompasses the majority of laptops out there today.

The screen size is usually around 15 inches, which is perfect for portability (most laptop business computer carrying cases are made for this category of laptop).

You will find that these laptops have a great battery life, and come with all the input/output ports you need. The only thing you might find missing is the high-end performance and graphics. If you need those aspects, look to the desktop replacements below.

The Desktop Replacement

Have you ever seen someone with a relatively large laptop? It was probably a desktop replacement laptop, which provides the best graphics and performance money can buy (for a laptop).

If you need a large screen size (17 inches and above), you need a desktop replacement. The problem is that these laptops don’t have the portability of all the others, since they are larger in size.

They will have plenty of input/output selection, but the battery life is usually short because it has to provide power for performance.

Also, desktop replacement tend to cost more as they have all the components of a desktop with the ability to be portable.

Decision-Making Time

As you can see, there are always trade-offs when you choose a laptop business computer. Your best bet is to make a list of the features your business needs.

Take that list to a computer sales expert who knows the current models of laptops available and have them show you the different choices.

With many years experience dealing with computer vendors I find it important to find the company that can meet all of your company’s technological needs. This may be different for every company.

Some companies may need business desktop computers while other may simply need notebook PCs.

Finding the right computer sales specialist is the most important factor to running your business efficiently when it comes to technology.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Arsham_Mirshah
http://EzineArticles.com/?Choosing-the-Laptop-Business-Computer-Thats-Best-For-Your-Company&id=3917419

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What is an Apple MacBook?

An Apple MacBook is a specific brand of Macintosh notebook computers which is produced by Apple Incorporated.

It was first introduced in the summer of 2006 replacing the iBook and the 12″ PowerBooks series respectively.

This particular system is a computer that has been specifically designed, tailored and augmented through the years to be the perfect computer for business purposes.

Apple MacBook designers state that making these Mac Books more user friendly allows businesses and other organizations to better utilize them to form fit any company’s business needs.

And, because it uses a hard knit aluminum casing with a sleek looking white exterior, it is the most professional looking contemporary computer on the market apart from just being highly functional.

Apple Business computers are almost their own special brand because of the alterations that can be implemented in an Apple MacBook to include all of the applications that any businessman or woman will need in their everyday corporate business transactions.

There are so many applications for these kinds of computers that some business owners find it a little overwhelming to try and sort through all of the various items and literature that specifically talks about each and every one of them.

Computer Specialists

It is for this reason that finding a computer expert that specializes in Apple MacBook maintenance and servicing can be an invaluable decision for any business owner or employee.

Finding a computer specialists that has an expertise in Apple MacBook technology can be a difficult undertaking because of the high number of computer specialists out there.

And, as a business owner or employee, one does not want to try and use one of these computers without consideration to how they operate.

There are many computer specialists that can help any business owner or employee operate and understand his or her Apple MacBook across the nation.

This is because there is a high concentration of computer programming graduates that grew up learning software on Mac computers.

Making the Choice

Finding an adequate specialist must be done in steps.

• The first thing to do is locate all available options. Chances are there are many people in the area that claim to be computer experts, but one needs to find the legitimate Apple MacBook experts to separate them from those computer technicians that are only interested in money.

• The next thing to do is compare credentials. Of all surrounding Apple specialists, some may be more qualified than others. So it is a good idea to request credentials from all potential computer technicians.

• After one has decided which company is the better of the potential candidates, the only thing left to do is compare prices. It is a good idea to narrow the listing down to two or three specialists that have expertise that best fits the specifications that one needs, and then chose the cheapest price.

Apple MacBooks are fantastic resources to use in businesses; it is just a good idea to get some professional help.

Want to learn more?

Everything you need to know about Apple MacBook Computers can be found on DSR Inc’s website.

DSR has been selling whole computers (PC’s, Macs, and laptops) as well as providing computer (desktop & laptop) repair, and network consulting services since 1986. If you need to fix your current computer, or want to buy a new one all together, and you live near Baltimore, Maryland, give DSR computer specialist a call today!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Arsham_Mirshah
http://EzineArticles.com/?Apple-Macbook—Are-They-Right-For-Your-Business?&id=3938418

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Technorati Tags: Apple, Apple Macbook, Business, Hardware, Laptop, Louisville, Louisville Kentucky, Louisville KY, MacBook, Macintosh, Personal computer

By Arsham Mirshah

Lenovo has a laptop to fit your needs whatever they may be. Whether you need a workhorse to serve as your main computer or an ultra-mobile lightweight to carry with you all day, Lenovo has the business computer answer at a reasonable price.

Consult a Lenovo sales and service specialist to decide which option is best for your company. Lenovo uses all the latest technology to build dependable, economical solutions to business computers. They supply the latest security features to protect your data from accidental exposure with unique sign-on requirements.

Lenovo ThinkPad SL510

Rated #3 on PC World’s top ten business laptop list, the SL510 lists at less than $1,000 while comparable machines on the list range from $1,200 to more than $2,000. With all the capability of a desktop computer, this Lenovo laptop can handle all the needs of most small businesses:

• Dual Core processor
• 2530 MHz CPU
• 15.5 inch display
• 3GB Memory
• 320GB Hard Drive
• 3 Media Slots
• 3 USB ports
• Wireless Ethernet IEEE802.11n
• Built-in Mic, Webcam and Speakers.

Lenovo Essential G560

The Essential laptop line provides up to 5 hours of battery life and a Windows 7 Enhanced Experience that delivers an up to 50% faster boot and shutdown time. With prices starting at less than $700, these Lenovo laptops are an economical business computer choice. but they do not skimp on power.

• Choice of four 2010 Intel Core processors
• 15.6 inch display
• Up to 8GB memory
• 500GB Hard Drive
• 5-in-1 Card reader
• 2.0 USB and eSATA connectors
• Wireless Ethernet IEEE802.11n
• Built-in Mic,Webcam and Speakers.
• Numeric Key Pad for simpler data entry
• VeriFace face recognition for more secure log-in.

ThinkPad X series

For an on-the-go laptop the X Series Lenovo IdeaPad offers three models with starting weights of less than three pounds and a 10 to 12 hour battery life and various connectivity options, including Bluetooth. Prices range from $1,089 to slightly over $2,000 depending on the features. All models have state of the art features such as:

• Intel Core i7Processor
• 12.1 inch to 13.3 display screens
• 2GB – 4GB memory
• 128GB Solid State Drive *
• TrackPoint mouse pad (fingerprint reader available)

Whatever your business needs, Lenovo has a laptop that will supply them.

Even their heavy-duty models weigh under seven pounds and provide hours of battery life. The newest Windows 7 operating system comes standard, but other options are available.

They can help you decide on the best machine for your use whether it is an off-the shelf purchase or a specially built laptop with exactly the features you need.

*Solid State Storage Drives – These drives are an alternative to traditional hard drives. They use a flash memory similar to jump drives. They are lighter weight, use less power, offer faster operations from boot to shut-down and are considered more durable since they have no moving parts.

Want to learn more? Everything you need to know about Lenovo Laptop Computers can be found on DSR Inc’s website.

DSR has been selling whole computers (PC’s and laptops) as well as providing computer (desktop & laptop) repair, and network consulting services since 1986. If you need to fix your current computer, or want to buy a new one all together, and you live near Baltimore, Maryland, give DSR laptop specialist a call today!

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2. Zap the Windows Prefetch folder every week. Windows XP can “prefetch” portions of data and applications that are frequently loaded. This allows processes appear to start faster when requested the user. Over time, the prefetch folder overwhelms with references to files and applications no longer in use. Guess what happens? Windows XP wastes time and grinds to a halt by pre-loading obsolete data. It helps you gain some performance on your XP Professional to periodically empty the prefetch folder.

The prefetch folder resides on your local hard disk, under the Windows folder.
%systemroot%\prefetch
-or-
X:\windows\prefetch

Where X is the drive letter where you have Windows installed. Either path will get you to your local system. The second path is for those who have the default installation on the most commonly used drive letter, C:\

3. Optimise Display Settings. Windows XP can look sexy but displaying all the visual items can waste system resources. Kill unnecessary animations, and nix active desktop. Here’s how to do it:
1) Go to Start
2) Click Settings
3) Click Control Panel
4) Click System
5) Click Advanced tab
6) In the Performance tab click Settings
7) Leave only the following ticked:
(1) Show shadows under menus
(2) Show shadows under mouse pointer
(3) Show translucent selection rectangle
(4) Use drop shadows for icons labels on the desktop
(5) Use visual styles on windows and buttons
Feel free to play around with the options offered here, as nothing you can change will alter the stability of the computer – only its responsiveness.

4. Remove the Desktop Picture Your desktop background consumes a fair amount of memory and can slow the loading time of your system. Removing it will improve performance.
1) Right click on Desktop and select Properties
2) Select the Desktop tab
3) In the Background window select None
4) Click Ok

5. Remove Fonts for Speed Zap extra fonts fonts installed on their computer. Fonts, especially TrueType fonts, use quite a bit of system resources. The more fonts they have, the more lethargic the system will become. Anything over 300 fonts tax the system and slow down load times- especially graphic apps. For optimal performance, trim your fonts down to just those that you need to use on a daily basis and fonts that applications may require.
1) Open Control Panel
2) Open Fonts folder
3) Move fonts you don’t need to a temporary directory (e.g. C:\FONTBKUP?) just in case you need or want to bring a few of them back. The more fonts you uninstall, the more system resources you will gain.

6. Speedup Folder Browsing You may have noticed that everytime you open my computer to browse folders that there is a slight delay. This is because Windows XP automatically searches for network files and printers everytime you open Windows Explorer. To fix this and to increase browsing significantly:
1) Open My Computer
2) Click on Tools menu
3) Click on Folder Options
4) Click on the View tab.
5) Uncheck the Automatically search for network folders and printers check box
6) Click Apply
7) Click Ok
Reboot your computer
To prevent a single Windows Explorer window tanking up takes the rest of your OS down, you can launch separate folder windows in multi processes. Open My Computer, hit on Tools, then Folder Options. Click on the View tab. Scroll down to “Launch folder windows in a separate process,” and enable this option.

7. Disable Performance Counters Windows XP has a performance monitor utility which monitors several areas of your PC’s performance. These utilities take up system resources so disabling is a good idea. To disable:
1) download and install the Extensible Performance Counter List
2) Then select each counter in turn in the ‘Extensible performance counters’ window and clear the ‘performance counters enabled’ checkbox at the bottom button below

8. Optimise Your Pagefile Windows XP sizes the page file to about 1.5X the amount of actual physical memory by default. While this is good for systems with smaller amounts of memory (under 512MB) it is unlikely that a typical XP desktop system will ever need 1.5 X 512MB or more of virtual memory. If you have less than 512MB of memory, leave the page file at its default size. If you have 512MB or more, change the ratio to 1:1 page file size to physical memory size.
1) Right click on My Computer and select Properties
2) Select the Advanced tab
3) Under Performance choose the Settings button
4) Select the Advanced tab again and under Virtual Memory select Change
5) Highlight the drive containing your page file and make the initial Size of the file the same as the Maximum Size of the file.

9. Improve Memory Usage PC Washer improves the performance of your computer by optimizing the disk cache, memory and a number of other settings.

Once Installed:
1) Click the ‘Tools’ from the left menu
2) Select ‘Memory Booster’ in the tools list. A new window named ‘PC Turbo Memory’ will popup.
3) Click Defragment button in the new window.
4) Exit the program. That’s all.

10. Disable unnecessary services Windows XP loads services you will never need. To determine which services you can disable for your client, visit the Black Viper site for ideal Windows XP configurations. Here are a few services I booted off to streamline my PC:
* Alerter
* Background Intelligent Transfer Service
* ClipBook
* Computer Browser
* Error Reporting Service
* Help and Support
* Indexing Service
* IPSEC Services
* Messenger
* NetMeeting Remote Desktop Sharing
* Network DDE
* Network DDE DSDM
* Performance Logs and Alerts
* Portable Media Serial Number
* QOS RSVP
* Help Session Manager
* Remote Registry
* Secondary Logon
* Server
* Smart Card
* Smart Card Helper
* SSDP Discovery Service
* System restore Service
* TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper
* Uninterruptible Power Supply
* Universal Plug and Play Device Host
* WebClient
* Windows time
* Wireless Zero Configuration
* WMI Performance Adapter

11. Disconnect USB devices you aren’t using. When Windows starts, it must load all the drivers for the devices connected to your computer. If you have many devices connected to the USB ports, such as printers, scanners, cameras and hard drives that you don’t use on a regular basis, disconnect them. You can reconnect them when you use them. Disconnecting them when they are not in use will allow Windows to load the drivers only when needed.

The above steps should help increase the performance of Windows XP as well as keep it running with more stability.

About the Author

Duncan Kredion is a software engineer focusing on system optimization area since 1999. To read more system optimization tips, please visit Windows XP & Vista Optimization Tips Archive .

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by Nick Pegley

The top three threats reported were:

1) Trojan horse or virus attacks 2) Stolen or lost computers, including data storage devices 3) Employee theft or hacker attack

Company defenses reported include:

1) Virus Protection 2) Firewall 3) Spyware Protection 4) Spam Filters

Recommendations:

Most companies reported that they lacked a smart password policy, automated patch management, and employee network use policies. Generally, many of these businesses don’t have full protection against an attack, and have not yet had to put their defenses to the test.

There isn’t one single fix to ensure secure continuity of operations on a network. However, we recommend a layered approach in managing these pressing security threats. This layered approach examines vulnerability in different areas including hardware, software, processes, and training. Every layer added another level of protection to the information environment.

1) Blocking network-based attacks 2) Blocking host-based attacks 3) Eliminating vulnerability 4) Supporting authorized users safely 5) Tools for maximizing effectiveness and minimizing losses

To assure the continuity of your business operations, regular testing of these security measures is required.

Level of Overall Security:

Over half the respondents stated that they thought their network was secure enough or better. 30% of the remainder thought their network was only somewhat secure, and over 10% confided that their network was not as secure as it should be.

These small businesses tend to believe that their network is relatively secure: 63% of businesses with less than ten employees and almost 75% of those with between eleven and twenty-five staff members. The larger companies were not as sure of their defenses, with over half of those with fifty to one hundred and 44% of those with over a hundred employees felt secure or secure enough. In the fifty-one to one hundred staff category, over 20% reported that the network was not as secure as should be. In general, the bigger the company, the larger the network – and the greater the number of security risks it must defend against.

Experienced Threats:

The respondents reported on security lapses or attacks that they’d experienced over the last year. The survey showed that Trojan horses or virus attacks are the most common threat to the network, with about half reporting experiences with these issues in that time. The larger companies reported at 40%, the lowest rate, which is indicative of better defenses. Over 60% of the smallest companies reported virus-based attacks.

Loss of company information from theft or loss of storage devices appeared to be a minor threat for smaller companies, but this risk increases with company size. Over 33% of the larger firms reported this sort of experience. Hacker attacks were most often experienced by firms with less than ten employees and those with over a hundred. It seems the smaller networks are more vulnerable, and the largest ones are high-profile, with a greater chance of becoming a target. Unfortunately, staff members can create a security risk themselves; about 10% of businesses reported that they had experienced unauthorized access or theft in the allotted time frame.

Devices and Procedures:

Good procedures, processes and systems can help defend against security threats. In the survey, respondents were asked which security methods were in use. Most reported that they had virus protection and firewalls. Around 25% lacked spam filters and spyware removal, leaving networks open to malware which ranges from dangerous to annoying. Under 50% have patch management or a smart password policy in place. This smart password system uses passwords with a mixture of normal and special characters which are frequently changed.

As compared to the largest companies surveyed, smaller businesses are less-often implementing network use policies for employees. Over 80% of the larger companies have defined guidelines for proper and improper network use. These guidelines attempt to lower the amount of network activity unrelated to the business, which result in increased security risk. Many of the respondents use wireless networks. Wireless networks are some of the most vulnerable access points if not well-secured. Only a few companies reported that they use all the top-priority security measures listed in the survey.

Testing:

No security device or feature can be known to provide real defense until it’s been tested. Anti-virus specifications could be out of date, a hole could exist within a firewall, or staff members could not be using the correct practices for a safe and secure network. About 25% of respondents indicated that either they couldn’t remember the last time they tested their security, or didn’t know that they ever had. This seems to indicate that while many have implemented security defenses, they can’t be assured that the expected protection is actually provided.

The very smallest companies least-often tested their security measures. About 10% of businesses had tested security, but not for over a year. As the threats change over time, dangerous lapses can occur without periodic testing. Around 33% of respondents reported that they’d tested their security measures within the last month. Validation of network security elements on a regular basis is important to system integrity in an overall continuity plan. It is unfortunate that usually a company only examines its level of exposure after a damaging event which negatively affects the business.

About the Author

Nick Pegley is a small business technology and marketing expert. He has more than 20 years of experience in the technology business and has a special focus on small business markets.

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