|
|
|
|
|
 The CTSI Tech Times
Monthly Updates from Your Business's IT Department
August, 2009 - Vol 1, Issue 4
|
|
| |
| Upcoming Area Events |
9/4 - First Friday Art Trail - Lubbock
9/5 - Texas Tech vs. North Dakota
9/7 - Labor Day - CTSI Offices Closed
9/10-9/13 - 21st Annual National Cowboy Symposium & Celebration - Lubbock
9/12 - Texas Tech vs. Rice
9/17-9/18 - Staked Plains Roundup - Hobbs
9/19 - Texas Tech at Texas
9/24 - Hub City BBQ Cook-off
9/26 - Texas Tech at Houston
To have your event listed, please contact us.
|
| Milestones |
- James Garza celebrated his five-year anniversary with CTSI in August.
- August marks James White's third year of service with CTSI.
- CTSI was featured in a CompTIA press release.
|
|
|
From David's Desk...
|
 A Family Tradition
At CTSI, our mission statement is: "To improve the life and business success of clients by providing integrated solutions and professional services to meet their technological and organizational needs."
In order to operate in such a way that our mission statement is regularly and consistently fulfilled, I truly feel that it is important to cultivate camraderie among CTSI employees. I want us to maintain a tightly-knit group, so that clients' needs are dealt with efficiently while employee morale remains high--the two clearly go hand-in-hand.
To that end, CTSI celebrated July 4th last month with its traditional company-wide cookout in the shaded lawn outside our offices. Observance of the founding of our great nation and the freedoms we enjoy as Americans is of utmost importance to me, and I could think of no better way to celebrate Independence Day than cooking hamburgers and hotdogs for our employees and their families. (Special thanks to my Sales Support Specialist, Jeff Baucum, for helping me with the cooking.)
I am extremely grateful for the hard work and dedication put forth by each member of the CTSI family.
Speaking of family, I am reminded of another key facet of CTSI's success--you! As clients, partners, and vendors, you are a part of our extended CTSI family, and have been essential in making us who we are today. Thank you for your support over the years, and I cannot wait to see how this wonderful family continues to grow!
Until next time,
David D. Baucum
President, CTSI
|
Computer Viruses: What You Need to Know
|
 In this day and age, one threat that exists for every user of a computer connected to a network (and the Internet is a very large network) is that of computer viruses/malware/spyware. In a previous article, we went into detail as to what these small but devastating pests are and how they work. In this article, we want to elaborate a bit on some common sense ways in which you can protect yourself and your data.
First of all, if you are a CTSI Managed Services client, rest assured that we are watching to make sure that your anti-virus software is kept up-to-date. We take security very seriously, as evidenced by our dedication to the CompTIA Security Trustmark standards. However, even the anti-virus software makers sometimes get fooled by the more ingenious virus creators out there, and are not able to get a proper "vaccine" out in time to protect you.
Fortunately, there are several common sense guidelines that users can follow to keep their computers free of malicious software, and allow their anti-virus programs to breathe more easily. These simple, yet effective rules will cut down your chances of getting a virus or other malware significantly:
- Don't Double-Click on E-mail Attachments. I know, we all get these hilarious e-mails in our inbox with cute pictures or funny animations. They're hard to resist. I mean, we all want to be in on the fun, right? Unfortunately, e-mail attachments are one of the primary means for computer virus transmission. Usually a photograph from a friend (with a filename ending in .jpg, .gif, or .png) is completely safe. So is a movie (filename ending in .avi) or an Adobe Acrobat file (.pdf). But when someone sends you an executable file (with a filename ending in .exe), you should NEVER run it. Even though it may show dancing bears or an amusing slideshow, chances are that it is installing a virus on your computer.
Microsoft Office files as attachments (.ppt, .doc, .xls) are usually safe, but can be taken advantage of by hackers to install malicious code on your machine. Therefore, we recommend that you open that spreadsheet or presentation only if it was sent by someone you know and trust, and it is something you were expecting.
As a general rule, if any kind of attachment was sent to you by someone you don't know, do not touch it. Period. End of story.
- Obtain Software Only Through Valid Sources. Your friend or neighbor might have a great game or program on a CD or DVD that they copied from a friend. You want to install it on your PC so that you can enjoy it, too. Think twice before putting that disc in there. Just like double-clicking on an e-mail attachment, by placing that copy-of-a-copy of Solitaire Ultra 2005 in your machine and clicking "install", you could be introducing your personal computer to all sorts of dangers. Make sure that any disc you pop into your drive is from a valid and reputable source.
- Watch where you click. While surfing the Internet, we get all kinds of pop-up offers and promises, from "Click here for a free vacation!" to "Guess which cup the ball is under and win $1,000!" If someone walked up to you on the street saying such a thing, would you believe them? Nor should you believe these clever ads. Avoid clicking on any pop-ups, or any advertising at all, for that matter, unless it is a company you would do business with in the real world. And while browsing the web, pay especially close attention to any sort of message asking if it is okay to "grant permission" to a site, or where you should save a file that you haven't specifically asked to download--that's how the particularly nasty guys strike.
All told, it is a dangerous world out there, but the good news is you have plenty of safeguards. Armed with these valuable tips, a well-maintained anti-virus package, and an ample amount of caution, you can be assured that you, your computer, and your data will remain safely out of harm's way.
|
|
|
| |
Offsite Backups--The Key to Your Business Survival
|
 Recent technology advances have vastly improved (and reduced the cost of) available backup options to ensure the protection of your data. Two such solutions currently prevalent amongst local businesses are Backup and Disaster Recovery (BDR) and Advanced Recover and Continuity Appliance (ARCA) systems. Both products perform necessary backup function without the use of costly and error-prone backup tapes, but there are some slight differences between the two.
BDR is a complete solution that is designed to reduce server downtime through the use of a specialized backup and virtual server appliance. BDR takes your information and backs it up to an off-site data center so that, in the case of a disaster at your base of operations, your data remains safe and easily retrievable. Some highlights of the BDR offering include:
- Near real-time backups as frequently as every 15 minutes.
- Off-site storage at an affordable cost.
- Low-cost, speedy disaster recovery process.
- Data is encrypted so it's not accessible to anyone on either the local Network Attached Storage (NAS), or the remote storage facility without the proper passkey.
- Elimination of the cost and time of managing on-site tape backup. The entire process is monitored and managed by the solution provider.
- All costs related to on-site backups, the on-site virtual server, remote storage, disaster recovery, and 24x7 management of the entire process are bundled at a price that is comparable to the overall cost of buying and managing tape backups.
Like the BDR solution, ARCA is a network-attached storage device for Windows Servers that comes preloaded with all backup, recovery and virtualization software it needs to protect your business. Additionally, ARCA provides:
- Multiple Replication Schemes - ARCA Replication Software enables automated delivery of backup images files to a remote ARCA or ARCA Vault. Your entire backup chain is replicated, giving you multiple levels of redundancy. In the event you need to failover to another site for testing or disaster scenario, you're covered. Servers are virtualized from the replicated directory on the ARCA or Vault and are up and running in record time.
- Integrated Management and Reporting - With ARCA, entities that do not allow external monitoring can get a comprehensive backup solution and view their own reports and statistics. The ARCA comes integrated with a centralized Management Console with an array of tools to help organizations manage their backup infrastructure.
To sum it up, a BDR solution backs up up your data to an off-site data center, while an ARCA system offers a similar solution to larger companies. ARCA backs up information to another ARCA at a different location owned by the same company, making ARCA the ideal solution for businesses in the banking, financial, and healthcare sectors. Whether it's BDR or ARCA, the bottom line is that today's business environment mandates a complete and easy-to-manage data recovery option for you. For more information on either of these products, call us or visit us on the web.
|
Tips of the Month
|
Some handy time-saving shortcuts for both beginners and experts:
- If you're typing (in Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, and many other text entry programs) and you use the wrong word, a quick way to delete the entire word is Ctrl+Backspace. If you type a long word and want to erase it instantly, it's much faster to hit Ctrl+Backspace than the Backspace key by itself several times.
- When using a mouse to drag a file into a folder, normally it gets moved (assuming you're moving it on the same drive). If you hold down the Ctrl key while you drag the file, the file is copied instead. You'll end up with one copy in the original location, and one copy in the new folder you dragged it to.
-
To find text within a document, try Ctrl+F. In most applications, you can press F3 to repeat the last find, but in Microsoft Word, it's Shift+F4.
|
Staff Spotlight
|
Meet Joshua Whitley
We know many of you have seen Joshua performing installations and repairs at your businesses, and we thought you might like to learn a little more about him. Here's what we found out:
What is your title, and what do you do at CTSI?
-
My title is System Specialist, and I perform server and network installation, maintenance, and repairs.
How long have you been at CTSI?
-
I started on October 3rd, 2005, so I am approaching four years with the company.
Tell us about your family, and pets (if you have any)
- I was born and raised in Tahoka where my parents and only brother live. I have 3 nieces ages 6 years, 3 years, and 18 months.
What do you do in your free time? (hobbies, places you like to visit)
-
Two friends and I own a ski boat, so during the summer we try to get to the lake every chance we get. During the winter I enjoy snow skiing in Colorado and New Mexico.
If you weren't working in the business technology sector, what would you be doing?
-
I'm not sure. I started in the technology industry back in High School, so I didn't really pursue many other fields.
|
|
|
Helen's Recipe of the Month
Helen Burns, CTSI's Purchasing Manager, has been with the company for almost nine years. In addition to her purchasing duties, Helen serves as our unofficial party coordinator. Helen (with help from our administrative assistant, Nancy Clark) makes sure we celebrate every staff member's birthday as well as various holidays by providing a wide range of delectable treats. Without further ado, from Helen's kitchen to you, here's a recipe--enjoy!
Gone in 60 Seconds Spread
2 cups grated Colby-Jack cheese
16 oz cream cheese, softened
½ cup chopped green onion
1 cup chopped pecans
2 tblsp chopped jalapenos
2/3 cup plum jam (or jelly)
Combine all of the above in a large bowl and mix thoroughly. Refrigerate at least 12 hours before serving (to allow flavors to blend.) Serve with crackers or tortilla chips.
|
|
Coming Next Month:
- Unified Communications Demystified
Miss a prior newsletter? See our newsletter archive.
Thank you for giving us the privilege of serving you! If there are any topics that you would like us to cover in future newsletters, please drop us a line.
Sincerely,
|
3223 S. Loop 289, Suite 556
Lubbock, TX 79423
Voice: 806.793.8961
Fax: 806.793.8968
www.ctsinet.com
|
|
The CTSI Tech Times
Monthly Updates from Your Business's IT Department
August, 2009 - Vol 1, Issue 4
|
|
| |
| Upcoming Area Events |
9/4 - First Friday Art Trail - Lubbock
9/5 - Texas Tech vs. North Dakota
9/7 - Labor Day - CTSI Offices Closed
9/10-9/13 - 21st Annual National Cowboy Symposium & Celebration - Lubbock
9/12 - Texas Tech vs. Rice
9/17-9/18 - Staked Plains Roundup - Hobbs
9/19 - Texas Tech at Texas
9/24 - Hub City BBQ Cook-off
9/26 - Texas Tech at Houston
To have your event listed, please contact us.
|
| Milestones |
- James Garza celebrated his five-year anniversary with CTSI in August.
- August marks James White's third year of service with CTSI.
- CTSI was featured in a CompTIA press release.
|
|
|
From David's Desk...
|
A Family Tradition
At CTSI, our mission statement is: "To improve the life and business success of clients by providing integrated solutions and professional services to meet their technological and organizational needs."
In order to operate in such a way that our mission statement is regularly and consistently fulfilled, I truly feel that it is important to cultivate camraderie among CTSI employees. I want us to maintain a tightly-knit group, so that clients' needs are dealt with efficiently while employee morale remains high--the two clearly go hand-in-hand.
To that end, CTSI celebrated July 4th last month with its traditional company-wide cookout in the shaded lawn outside our offices. Observance of the founding of our great nation and the freedoms we enjoy as Americans is of utmost importance to me, and I could think of no better way to celebrate Independence Day than cooking hamburgers and hotdogs for our employees and their families. (Special thanks to my Sales Support Specialist, Jeff Baucum, for helping me with the cooking.)
I am extremely grateful for the hard work and dedication put forth by each member of the CTSI family.
Speaking of family, I am reminded of another key facet of CTSI's success--you! As clients, partners, and vendors, you are a part of our extended CTSI family, and have been essential in making us who we are today. Thank you for your support over the years, and I cannot wait to see how this wonderful family continues to grow!
Until next time,
David D. Baucum
President, CTSI
|
Computer Viruses: What You Need to Know
|
In this day and age, one threat that exists for every user of a computer connected to a network (and the Internet is a very large network) is that of computer viruses/malware/spyware. In a previous article, we went into detail as to what these small but devastating pests are and how they work. In this article, we want to elaborate a bit on some common sense ways in which you can protect yourself and your data.
First of all, if you are a CTSI Managed Services client, rest assured that we are watching to make sure that your anti-virus software is kept up-to-date. We take security very seriously, as evidenced by our dedication to the CompTIA Security Trustmark standards. However, even the anti-virus software makers sometimes get fooled by the more ingenious virus creators out there, and are not able to get a proper "vaccine" out in time to protect you.
Fortunately, there are several common sense guidelines that users can follow to keep their computers free of malicious software, and allow their anti-virus programs to breathe more easily. These simple, yet effective rules will cut down your chances of getting a virus or other malware significantly:
- Don't Double-Click on E-mail Attachments. I know, we all get these hilarious e-mails in our inbox with cute pictures or funny animations. They're hard to resist. I mean, we all want to be in on the fun, right? Unfortunately, e-mail attachments are one of the primary means for computer virus transmission. Usually a photograph from a friend (with a filename ending in .jpg, .gif, or .png) is completely safe. So is a movie (filename ending in .avi) or an Adobe Acrobat file (.pdf). But when someone sends you an executable file (with a filename ending in .exe), you should NEVER run it. Even though it may show dancing bears or an amusing slideshow, chances are that it is installing a virus on your computer.
Microsoft Office files as attachments (.ppt, .doc, .xls) are usually safe, but can be taken advantage of by hackers to install malicious code on your machine. Therefore, we recommend that you open that spreadsheet or presentation only if it was sent by someone you know and trust, and it is something you were expecting.
As a general rule, if any kind of attachment was sent to you by someone you don't know, do not touch it. Period. End of story.
- Obtain Software Only Through Valid Sources. Your friend or neighbor might have a great game or program on a CD or DVD that they copied from a friend. You want to install it on your PC so that you can enjoy it, too. Think twice before putting that disc in there. Just like double-clicking on an e-mail attachment, by placing that copy-of-a-copy of Solitaire Ultra 2005 in your machine and clicking "install", you could be introducing your personal computer to all sorts of dangers. Make sure that any disc you pop into your drive is from a valid and reputable source.
- Watch where you click. While surfing the Internet, we get all kinds of pop-up offers and promises, from "Click here for a free vacation!" to "Guess which cup the ball is under and win $1,000!" If someone walked up to you on the street saying such a thing, would you believe them? Nor should you believe these clever ads. Avoid clicking on any pop-ups, or any advertising at all, for that matter, unless it is a company you would do business with in the real world. And while browsing the web, pay especially close attention to any sort of message asking if it is okay to "grant permission" to a site, or where you should save a file that you haven't specifically asked to download--that's how the particularly nasty guys strike.
All told, it is a dangerous world out there, but the good news is you have plenty of safeguards. Armed with these valuable tips, a well-maintained anti-virus package, and an ample amount of caution, you can be assured that you, your computer, and your data will remain safely out of harm's way.
|
|
|
| |
Offsite Backups--The Key to Your Business Survival
|
Recent technology advances have vastly improved (and reduced the cost of) available backup options to ensure the protection of your data. Two such solutions currently prevalent amongst local businesses are Backup and Disaster Recovery (BDR) and Advanced Recover and Continuity Appliance (ARCA) systems. Both products perform necessary backup function without the use of costly and error-prone backup tapes, but there are some slight differences between the two.
BDR is a complete solution that is designed to reduce server downtime through the use of a specialized backup and virtual server appliance. BDR takes your information and backs it up to an off-site data center so that, in the case of a disaster at your base of operations, your data remains safe and easily retrievable. Some highlights of the BDR offering include:
- Near real-time backups as frequently as every 15 minutes.
- Off-site storage at an affordable cost.
- Low-cost, speedy disaster recovery process.
- Data is encrypted so it's not accessible to anyone on either the local Network Attached Storage (NAS), or the remote storage facility without the proper passkey.
- Elimination of the cost and time of managing on-site tape backup. The entire process is monitored and managed by the solution provider.
- All costs related to on-site backups, the on-site virtual server, remote storage, disaster recovery, and 24x7 management of the entire process are bundled at a price that is comparable to the overall cost of buying and managing tape backups.
Like the BDR solution, ARCA is a network-attached storage device for Windows Servers that comes preloaded with all backup, recovery and virtualization software it needs to protect your business. Additionally, ARCA provides:
- Multiple Replication Schemes - ARCA Replication Software enables automated delivery of backup images files to a remote ARCA or ARCA Vault. Your entire backup chain is replicated, giving you multiple levels of redundancy. In the event you need to failover to another site for testing or disaster scenario, you're covered. Servers are virtualized from the replicated directory on the ARCA or Vault and are up and running in record time.
- Integrated Management and Reporting - With ARCA, entities that do not allow external monitoring can get a comprehensive backup solution and view their own reports and statistics. The ARCA comes integrated with a centralized Management Console with an array of tools to help organizations manage their backup infrastructure.
To sum it up, a BDR solution backs up up your data to an off-site data center, while an ARCA system offers a similar solution to larger companies. ARCA backs up information to another ARCA at a different location owned by the same company, making ARCA the ideal solution for businesses in the banking, financial, and healthcare sectors. Whether it's BDR or ARCA, the bottom line is that today's business environment mandates a complete and easy-to-manage data recovery option for you. For more information on either of these products, call us or visit us on the web.
|
Tips of the Month
|
Some handy time-saving shortcuts for both beginners and experts:
- If you're typing (in Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, and many other text entry programs) and you use the wrong word, a quick way to delete the entire word is Ctrl+Backspace. If you type a long word and want to erase it instantly, it's much faster to hit Ctrl+Backspace than the Backspace key by itself several times.
- When using a mouse to drag a file into a folder, normally it gets moved (assuming you're moving it on the same drive). If you hold down the Ctrl key while you drag the file, the file is copied instead. You'll end up with one copy in the original location, and one copy in the new folder you dragged it to.
-
To find text within a document, try Ctrl+F. In most applications, you can press F3 to repeat the last find, but in Microsoft Word, it's Shift+F4.
|
Staff Spotlight
|
Meet Joshua Whitley
We know many of you have seen Joshua performing installations and repairs at your businesses, and we thought you might like to learn a little more about him. Here's what we found out:
What is your title, and what do you do at CTSI?
-
My title is System Specialist, and I perform server and network installation, maintenance, and repairs.
How long have you been at CTSI?
-
I started on October 3rd, 2005, so I am approaching four years with the company.
Tell us about your family, and pets (if you have any)
- I was born and raised in Tahoka where my parents and only brother live. I have 3 nieces ages 6 years, 3 years, and 18 months.
What do you do in your free time? (hobbies, places you like to visit)
-
Two friends and I own a ski boat, so during the summer we try to get to the lake every chance we get. During the winter I enjoy snow skiing in Colorado and New Mexico.
If you weren't working in the business technology sector, what would you be doing?
-
I'm not sure. I started in the technology industry back in High School, so I didn't really pursue many other fields.
|
|
|
Helen's Recipe of the Month
Helen Burns, CTSI's Purchasing Manager, has been with the company for almost nine years. In addition to her purchasing duties, Helen serves as our unofficial party coordinator. Helen (with help from our administrative assistant, Nancy Clark) makes sure we celebrate every staff member's birthday as well as various holidays by providing a wide range of delectable treats. Without further ado, from Helen's kitchen to you, here's a recipe--enjoy!
Gone in 60 Seconds Spread
2 cups grated Colby-Jack cheese
16 oz cream cheese, softened
½ cup chopped green onion
1 cup chopped pecans
2 tblsp chopped jalapenos
2/3 cup plum jam (or jelly)
Combine all of the above in a large bowl and mix thoroughly. Refrigerate at least 12 hours before serving (to allow flavors to blend.) Serve with crackers or tortilla chips.
|
|
Coming Next Month:
- Unified Communications Demystified
Miss a prior newsletter? See our newsletter archive.
Thank you for giving us the privilege of serving you! If there are any topics that you would like us to cover in future newsletters, please drop us a line.
Sincerely,
|
3223 S. Loop 289, Suite 556
Lubbock, TX 79423
Voice: 806.793.8961
Fax: 806.793.8968
www.ctsinet.com
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|