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CTSI Tech Times - June 2009
 The CTSI Tech Times
Monthly Updates from Your Business's IT Department
June, 2009 - Vol 1, Issue 2
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| Upcoming Area Events |
7/3 - First Friday Art Trail - Lubbock
7/4 - 4th on Broadway Parade--Lubbock
7/11 - Downtown Farmers' Market--Hobbs
7/12-8/22 - Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story--Wells Fargo Amphitheatre, Lubbock
To have your event listed, please contact us.
|
| Milestones |
- Jeff Baucum completed six years of service with CTSI in June
- James White passed the CompTIA Security+ exam on June 19th
- David Baucum attended the Cisco Small Business Summit in Boston, MA, during the first week of June
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From David's Desk...
|
Summer is finally upon us; backyard barbecues, pool-side lounging, and family vacations are in full swing. I sincerely hope each of you is able to take advantage of this time to connect with friends and loved ones, as well as get some much-needed relaxation time.
The onset of summer also means that the 4th of July is quickly approaching. Independence Day is the perfect time to celebrate the many freedoms we enjoy in the United States of America today, and to reflect on the numerous liberties that so many of us take for granted. I hope everyone has a wonderful time!
Along with all the joys of summer, a few threats to your business's technology tend to rear their ugly heads at this time of year. The brutal Texas heat can cause problems with your workstation or network infrastructure, if everything is not properly ventilated and cooled. Thunderstorms and accompanying tornadoes can arise seemingly out of the blue on these summer days, placing your equipment and data at risk--whether due to power failure, electrical surges, or (heaven forbid) physical destruction. These risks further underscore the fact that all of your critical data must be backed up, preferably off-site. To illustrate the importance of this practice, one need only look at what recently happened to blog provider journalspace.com. They lost everything, and came very close to ceasing to exist as a company.
Fortunately, CTSI can handle all your backup needs. Evolving technology has made backup solutions more robust and reasonably-priced than ever before. Our CTSINet Rescue Program provides an on-site device to which all of your data is backed-up every 15 minutes, with the option of having the data sent securely via the Internet to data centers in Pittsburgh and Phoenix. Not only are you protected should a server fail, your data is safe if something happens to the entire building. Watch our online demo for more information.
Until next time,
David D. Baucum
President, CTSI
|
What in the World Is Twitter?
|
 "Follow us on Twitter!"
"I've got to tweet about this!"
These phrases may sound like something out of a children's cartoon or the invocation of some nonsensical language, but no doubt you've heard them being used at some point recently. "Twittermania" has taken the digital world by storm, and is all the rage amongst teens and baby-boomers alike. Heck, even Barack Obama and Shaquille O'Neal "tweet" regularly. But what exactly is this "Twitter" thing? Why is it so popular? Should your business be getting involved in it?
Twitter is simply a system by which short messages (140 characters or less) can be posted and shared with friends by going to www.twitter.com and opening an account. These short messages are known affectionately as "tweets." Your friends, family, and fans (or anyone, for that matter) can "subscribe" to your tweets, and get an update every time you post.
Perhaps the best way to explain it is through pictures. We found this video online; it does a nice job of succinctly describing the Twitter universe:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddO9idmax0o
That's it--nothing more, nothing less. Perhaps Twitter's simplicity is the key to its popularity. And popular, it is: in November 2008, Forrester Research estimated that the service had roughly five million users. Another study in February of this year put the number of monthly visits at 55 million. And in March, a Nielson study named Twitter as the fastest-growing site on the web, with a thirteen-fold increase in visitors each month. Pretty amazing for 140-character posts describing what someone is doing at any given moment, huh?
However, the future is not all rosy for Twitter. Studies have shown that only 10 to 40 percent of "twitterers" continue to use the service after one month. Twitter has no revenue model, and The Industry Standard has voiced concerns about the long-term viability of the company. Perhaps most importantly, some users have expressed concerns about feeling too connected, as they fight the urge to check their friends' statuses at odd hours, as well the need to tell acquaintances what they're eating for breakfast.
We at CTSI are recommending that our clients take a "wait-and-see" approach when it comes to Twitter. While it may prove to be a valuable means to market your business and to further reach out to your customers, things are just too uncertain at this juncture. If you're looking for a way to get involved in the social networking revolution, we recommend exploring Facebook or LinkedIn presences, as we believe those services have a solid foundation and are here to stay. If getting your name on those services is something that interests you, give us a call and we'll be glad to help you!
|
|
| Computer Virus Terminology Explained |
 Improvements in technology have spawned all kinds of new uses and opportunities worldwide. From iPods and iPhones to notebooks and tablet PC's, technology can go anywhere you want to take it. Unfortunately, that means virus creators and others using the computer for identity theft and other devious schemes have technology at their fingertips as well. Keeping up with viruses is a daunting task; however, keeping up with virus lingo can be equally challenging. We've come up with a few terms and key words that may help you further understand the threats to your technology investment.
Virus: A computer virus is a computer program that can copy itself and infect a computer without the permission or knowledge of the owner.
Malware: from the words malicious and software, malware is software designed to infiltrate or damage a computer system without the owner's informed consent. The expression is a general term used by computer professionals to mean a variety of forms of hostile, intrusive, or annoying software or program code. The term "computer virus" is sometimes used as a catch-all phrase to include all types of malware, including true viruses.
Spyware: Spyware is computer software that is installed surreptitiously on a personal computer to collect information about a user, their computer, or browsing habits without the user's informed consent. While the term spyware suggests software that secretly monitors the user's behavior, the dangers of spyware extend well beyond simple monitoring. In addition to collecting various types of personal information, spyware can also interfere with user control of the computer in other ways, such as installing additional software and redirecting web browser activity.
Adware: or advertising-supported software is any software package which automatically plays, displays, or downloads advertisements to a computer after the software is installed on it or while the application is being used. Some types of adware are also spyware and can be classified as privacy-invasive software.
Trojan: in the context of computing and software, describes a class of computer threats (malware) that appears to perform a desirable function but in fact performs undisclosed malicious functions that allow unauthorized access to the host machine, giving them the ability to save their files on the user's computer or even watch the user's screen and control the computer.
Worm: a self-replicating computer program. It uses a network to send copies of itself to other nodes (computers on the network) and it may do so without any user intervention. Unlike a virus, it does not need to attach itself to an existing program. Worms almost always cause at least some harm to the network, if only by consuming bandwidth; whereas viruses almost always corrupt or devour files on a targeted computer.
CTSI's clients have no need to panic. Most of you purchase virus protection software from us, which is considered the best in the industry. On extremely rare occasions, your computer might be affected by a virus creator out there who thinks they're a step ahead of the protection. However, their success is always temporary. Once new viruses are discovered, preventive measures are quickly distributed to all antivirus installations. That is why it is of utmost importance that your virus protection software is up-to-date. As always, contact CTSI with any questions or concerns you may have about viruses, malware, or any computer security issue.
|
Tips of the Month
|
Some handy time-saving shortcuts for both beginners and experts:
- In a few applications, you can press Ctrl+Y to repeat the last command. Very handy in Excel, for example.
- Sometimes you want to reload a page in your browser. You can hit the F5 function key, or you can press Ctrl+R.
- In most Microsoft Office apps (including Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook), tap F7 to begin the spellcheck process.
|
Staff Spotlight
|
Meet Bobby Cude
Bobby joined CTSI this past November after 11 years at Southwest Airlines in Dallas. While at Southwest, Bobby managed the development of southwest.com, DING!, and other Internet marketing tools you may have heard of.
What is your title, and what do you do at CTSI?
- My title is Director of Application Development. I oversee all of the custom software development, website design and creation, internal process improvement, and Internet marketing initiatives we undertake. My goal is to further CTSI's standing as an IT leader on the South Plains, providing unparalleled features, service, and quality to our clients.
Tell us about your family, and pets (if you have any)
- I have been married to the love of my life, Gwyn, for over 13 years. Our son, Tanner, is entering 7th grade, and our daughter, Peyton, will be starting the 5th grade in the Fall. We have a miniature schnauzer named Gordon, and an adopted cat, Piper.
If you weren't working in the business technology sector, what would you be doing?
- I would probably be pursuing a career in medicine. I have always had a fascination with the inner workings of the human body, how things go wrong, and how to fix them. Plus, I love doing whatever I can to help others. The only problem is that I don't think I could work 36 hours straight--I need my sleep!
What do you do in your free time? (hobbies, places you like to visit)
- I love spending time with my family, whether it's going outside and playing basketball or traveling with them to someplace new. Being a technical geek, I'll always enjoy working with electronic gadgets and new technologies. And though I'm not very good at it, I've always thought playing guitar is a lot of fun!
Since you are new to the area, tell us your favorite things about Lubbock
- Well, I'm not completely new to the area, having graduated from Texas Tech's College of Engineering in 1995. Since I've been back in the Hub City, though, I can definitely say that the traffic (or lack thereof) has been great, the lack of humidity is wonderful, and the people here are simply the nicest in the country!
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Helen's Recipe of the Month
Helen Burns, CTSI's Purchasing Manager, has been with the company for eight and a half 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!
Summer Citrus Ice Cream
3 cups sugar
3 cups heavy cream
3 cups milk
3 ripe bananas, peeled & mashed well
Juice of 3 oranges
Juice of 3 lemons
Optional: 1 or 2 tsp of orange extract (for a little extra citrus flavor)
In a large bowl, whisk together the sugar and heavy cream until sugar is dissolved. Add remaining ingredients and blend well, and transfer to an ice cream freezer and freeze according to the freezer manufacturer's instructions (about 45 minutes.) Enjoy!
|
|
Coming Next Month:
- How can CTSI's services help you manage costs during these uncertain economic times?
- Introduction to Facebook
- Search Engine Optimization
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,
|
The CTSI Tech Times
Monthly Updates from Your Business's IT Department
June, 2009 - Vol 1, Issue 2
|
| Upcoming Area Events |
7/3 - First Friday Art Trail - Lubbock
7/4 - 4th on Broadway Parade--Lubbock
7/11 - Downtown Farmers' Market--Hobbs
7/12-8/22 - Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story--Wells Fargo Amphitheatre, Lubbock
To have your event listed, please contact us.
|
| Milestones |
- Jeff Baucum completed six years of service with CTSI in June
- James White passed the CompTIA Security+ exam on June 19th
- David Baucum attended the Cisco Small Business Summit in Boston, MA, during the first week of June
|
|
|
From David's Desk...
|
Summer is finally upon us; backyard barbecues, pool-side lounging, and family vacations are in full swing. I sincerely hope each of you is able to take advantage of this time to connect with friends and loved ones, as well as get some much-needed relaxation time.
The onset of summer also means that the 4th of July is quickly approaching. Independence Day is the perfect time to celebrate the many freedoms we enjoy in the United States of America today, and to reflect on the numerous liberties that so many of us take for granted. I hope everyone has a wonderful time!
Along with all the joys of summer, a few threats to your business's technology tend to rear their ugly heads at this time of year. The brutal Texas heat can cause problems with your workstation or network infrastructure, if everything is not properly ventilated and cooled. Thunderstorms and accompanying tornadoes can arise seemingly out of the blue on these summer days, placing your equipment and data at risk--whether due to power failure, electrical surges, or (heaven forbid) physical destruction. These risks further underscore the fact that all of your critical data must be backed up, preferably off-site. To illustrate the importance of this practice, one need only look at what recently happened to blog provider journalspace.com. They lost everything, and came very close to ceasing to exist as a company.
Fortunately, CTSI can handle all your backup needs. Evolving technology has made backup solutions more robust and reasonably-priced than ever before. Our CTSINet Rescue Program provides an on-site device to which all of your data is backed-up every 15 minutes, with the option of having the data sent securely via the Internet to data centers in Pittsburgh and Phoenix. Not only are you protected should a server fail, your data is safe if something happens to the entire building. Watch our online demo for more information.
Until next time,
David D. Baucum
President, CTSI
|
What in the World Is Twitter?
|
"Follow us on Twitter!"
"I've got to tweet about this!"
These phrases may sound like something out of a children's cartoon or the invocation of some nonsensical language, but no doubt you've heard them being used at some point recently. "Twittermania" has taken the digital world by storm, and is all the rage amongst teens and baby-boomers alike. Heck, even Barack Obama and Shaquille O'Neal "tweet" regularly. But what exactly is this "Twitter" thing? Why is it so popular? Should your business be getting involved in it?
Twitter is simply a system by which short messages (140 characters or less) can be posted and shared with friends by going to www.twitter.com and opening an account. These short messages are known affectionately as "tweets." Your friends, family, and fans (or anyone, for that matter) can "subscribe" to your tweets, and get an update every time you post.
Perhaps the best way to explain it is through pictures. We found this video online; it does a nice job of succinctly describing the Twitter universe:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddO9idmax0o
That's it--nothing more, nothing less. Perhaps Twitter's simplicity is the key to its popularity. And popular, it is: in November 2008, Forrester Research estimated that the service had roughly five million users. Another study in February of this year put the number of monthly visits at 55 million. And in March, a Nielson study named Twitter as the fastest-growing site on the web, with a thirteen-fold increase in visitors each month. Pretty amazing for 140-character posts describing what someone is doing at any given moment, huh?
However, the future is not all rosy for Twitter. Studies have shown that only 10 to 40 percent of "twitterers" continue to use the service after one month. Twitter has no revenue model, and The Industry Standard has voiced concerns about the long-term viability of the company. Perhaps most importantly, some users have expressed concerns about feeling too connected, as they fight the urge to check their friends' statuses at odd hours, as well the need to tell acquaintances what they're eating for breakfast.
We at CTSI are recommending that our clients take a "wait-and-see" approach when it comes to Twitter. While it may prove to be a valuable means to market your business and to further reach out to your customers, things are just too uncertain at this juncture. If you're looking for a way to get involved in the social networking revolution, we recommend exploring Facebook or LinkedIn presences, as we believe those services have a solid foundation and are here to stay. If getting your name on those services is something that interests you, give us a call and we'll be glad to help you!
|
|
| Computer Virus Terminology Explained |
Improvements in technology have spawned all kinds of new uses and opportunities worldwide. From iPods and iPhones to notebooks and tablet PC's, technology can go anywhere you want to take it. Unfortunately, that means virus creators and others using the computer for identity theft and other devious schemes have technology at their fingertips as well. Keeping up with viruses is a daunting task; however, keeping up with virus lingo can be equally challenging. We've come up with a few terms and key words that may help you further understand the threats to your technology investment.
Virus: A computer virus is a computer program that can copy itself and infect a computer without the permission or knowledge of the owner.
Malware: from the words malicious and software, malware is software designed to infiltrate or damage a computer system without the owner's informed consent. The expression is a general term used by computer professionals to mean a variety of forms of hostile, intrusive, or annoying software or program code. The term "computer virus" is sometimes used as a catch-all phrase to include all types of malware, including true viruses.
Spyware: Spyware is computer software that is installed surreptitiously on a personal computer to collect information about a user, their computer, or browsing habits without the user's informed consent. While the term spyware suggests software that secretly monitors the user's behavior, the dangers of spyware extend well beyond simple monitoring. In addition to collecting various types of personal information, spyware can also interfere with user control of the computer in other ways, such as installing additional software and redirecting web browser activity.
Adware: or advertising-supported software is any software package which automatically plays, displays, or downloads advertisements to a computer after the software is installed on it or while the application is being used. Some types of adware are also spyware and can be classified as privacy-invasive software.
Trojan: in the context of computing and software, describes a class of computer threats (malware) that appears to perform a desirable function but in fact performs undisclosed malicious functions that allow unauthorized access to the host machine, giving them the ability to save their files on the user's computer or even watch the user's screen and control the computer.
Worm: a self-replicating computer program. It uses a network to send copies of itself to other nodes (computers on the network) and it may do so without any user intervention. Unlike a virus, it does not need to attach itself to an existing program. Worms almost always cause at least some harm to the network, if only by consuming bandwidth; whereas viruses almost always corrupt or devour files on a targeted computer.
CTSI's clients have no need to panic. Most of you purchase virus protection software from us, which is considered the best in the industry. On extremely rare occasions, your computer might be affected by a virus creator out there who thinks they're a step ahead of the protection. However, their success is always temporary. Once new viruses are discovered, preventive measures are quickly distributed to all antivirus installations. That is why it is of utmost importance that your virus protection software is up-to-date. As always, contact CTSI with any questions or concerns you may have about viruses, malware, or any computer security issue.
|
Tips of the Month
|
Some handy time-saving shortcuts for both beginners and experts:
- In a few applications, you can press Ctrl+Y to repeat the last command. Very handy in Excel, for example.
- Sometimes you want to reload a page in your browser. You can hit the F5 function key, or you can press Ctrl+R.
- In most Microsoft Office apps (including Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook), tap F7 to begin the spellcheck process.
|
Staff Spotlight
|
Meet Bobby Cude
Bobby joined CTSI this past November after 11 years at Southwest Airlines in Dallas. While at Southwest, Bobby managed the development of southwest.com, DING!, and other Internet marketing tools you may have heard of.
What is your title, and what do you do at CTSI?
- My title is Director of Application Development. I oversee all of the custom software development, website design and creation, internal process improvement, and Internet marketing initiatives we undertake. My goal is to further CTSI's standing as an IT leader on the South Plains, providing unparalleled features, service, and quality to our clients.
Tell us about your family, and pets (if you have any)
- I have been married to the love of my life, Gwyn, for over 13 years. Our son, Tanner, is entering 7th grade, and our daughter, Peyton, will be starting the 5th grade in the Fall. We have a miniature schnauzer named Gordon, and an adopted cat, Piper.
If you weren't working in the business technology sector, what would you be doing?
- I would probably be pursuing a career in medicine. I have always had a fascination with the inner workings of the human body, how things go wrong, and how to fix them. Plus, I love doing whatever I can to help others. The only problem is that I don't think I could work 36 hours straight--I need my sleep!
What do you do in your free time? (hobbies, places you like to visit)
- I love spending time with my family, whether it's going outside and playing basketball or traveling with them to someplace new. Being a technical geek, I'll always enjoy working with electronic gadgets and new technologies. And though I'm not very good at it, I've always thought playing guitar is a lot of fun!
Since you are new to the area, tell us your favorite things about Lubbock
- Well, I'm not completely new to the area, having graduated from Texas Tech's College of Engineering in 1995. Since I've been back in the Hub City, though, I can definitely say that the traffic (or lack thereof) has been great, the lack of humidity is wonderful, and the people here are simply the nicest in the country!
|
|
Helen's Recipe of the Month
Helen Burns, CTSI's Purchasing Manager, has been with the company for eight and a half 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!
Summer Citrus Ice Cream
3 cups sugar
3 cups heavy cream
3 cups milk
3 ripe bananas, peeled & mashed well
Juice of 3 oranges
Juice of 3 lemons
Optional: 1 or 2 tsp of orange extract (for a little extra citrus flavor)
In a large bowl, whisk together the sugar and heavy cream until sugar is dissolved. Add remaining ingredients and blend well, and transfer to an ice cream freezer and freeze according to the freezer manufacturer's instructions (about 45 minutes.) Enjoy!
|
|
Coming Next Month:
- How can CTSI's services help you manage costs during these uncertain economic times?
- Introduction to Facebook
- Search Engine Optimization
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,
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