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The CTSI Tech Times
Monthly Updates from Your Business's IT Department
May, 2010 - Vol 2, Issue 5 |
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| Upcoming Area Events |
5/1/10 - West Texas Watercolor Spring Show; 8:30-5:00
5/1/10 - Old Mill Trade Day Downtown; 9:00-5:00, Post
5/1/10 - Doggy Play Day, 12-4; Maxey Park
5/1/10 - Littlefield Country -Western Opry, 7-11pm; Community Center
5/13/10 - Lubbock Business Expo
5/14/10 - Wolfcreek at the Post VFW, Post; 7-11pm
5/14-15 - Texas Tech Spring Graduation
5/21/10 - Spring Fling, 5:30-8:30pm, McPherson Cellars
5/22/10 - Old Time Southern Gospel Sing, 7:30pm, Cactus Theater
5/27/10 - Photography Show, 5:30-7:00pm, Hobbs, NM
5/31/10 - Memorial Day (CTSI offices closed)
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| Milestones |
04/19/10 - Clay Crowder joined the CTSI team as a Remote Operations Specialist.
05/05/10 - Cameron Emberlin has been with CTSI for 2 years.
05/30/10 - Lee Truitt completed 2 years with CTSI.
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| Symantec Best Practices |
To avoid malicious applications, Symantec recommends these Best Practices:
* Only click through to trusted sources when searching on popular news items
* Never update "media player", "codec", or "Flash" when promoted by site hosting videos or not affiliated with that application
* Do not use Peer to Peer (P2P) on business machines, and be cautious on home machines
* Do not click on links or attachments in email unless it's from a trusted source and you expect to receive it.
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| From David's Desk... |
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Digital Media Signage
A particularly exciting new technology that is being adopted by businesses across the country is Digital Media Signage (or DMS for short). DMS is a form of electronic display that shows menus, schedules, pricing, advertising, videos, marketing messages, and other information in a vibrant, dynamic manner. Digital signs (such as LCD, LED, plasma displays, or projected images) can be found in both public and private environments, including retail stores, restaurants, corporate buildings, sporting venues, college campuses, and government offices. Prominent analysts are projecting that digital signage will be a cost-effective solution for a myriad of work environments, allowing information to be presented more attractively while making it easy for changes to be made. As a result, DMS has already gained solid traction in wide range of markets, and is continuing to grow.
To illustrate the power of Digital Media Signage, colleges and universities are using it to enhance communication with parents, students, and the community. Strategically placed signs show updated class times and locations. Displays at visitor entrances provide information on the institution and how to arrange a tour. All signage on campus can be changed quickly and easily from a central location, making DMS an invaluable tool in the event of a drill or an actual emergency. Going forward, plans are being made to utilize digital signage to broadcast award ceremonies, graduations, and even training sessions.
In the banking vertical, DMS shows its versatility once again. Digital signage presents focused information to customers waiting in line in various locations, displaying new products and current rates. Banks can also use DMS to run networked video for the purpose of introducing new products and services. And as with the university training mentioned above, digital signage can offer flexibility to bankers by allowing consistent training simultaneously to all branches.
The healthcare industry is utilizing DMS in a number of ways as well. Digital signage can help differentiate the patient experience by giving patients options for watching pre-procedure and post-procedure videos, providing entertainment, and educating patients about healthy lifestyles. Healthcare can also benefit from digital media by providing video training on healthcare guidelines. Most importantly, DMS can improve emergency communication by quickly disseminating emergency alerts within a facility.
I hope that the possibilities of this emerging technology excite and intrigue you as much as they do me. I encourage you to look around the next time you're at a movie theater, a grocery store, or a restaurant, and see just how prevalent Digital Media Signage is becoming. If you have any questions or concerns about DMS, feel free to contact me or a member of our Technology Consulting Group, and we will be glad to help you as part of our continuing effort to be your Trusted Technology Partner.
Until next time,
David D. Baucum
President, CTSI
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| The Warning signs of Online Fraud and How to avoid it |
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By: Donald Lee
 The number may seem grim for Web-based commerce. In 2004 in the United States alone, computer users logged in more than 207,000 Internet fraud reports to the U.S. Internet Crime Complaint Center. If you look hard at this number, you may be astounded, and a good bit frightened, by the implication. You may ask, "Is it really safe to buy and sell at an online site?"
Put simply, the answer is: yes. The Internet is an incredibly powerful tool for business, so you can't pass it over just because of a few crooks and conmen--even if they do seem like they're behind every pop-up window and banner ad. The truth is that you can create opportunity and make more money online than you could lose in fraud.
Better yet, you could lose absolutely nothing if you know the warning signs of fraud and the tricks to avoid danger during your Web-based business dealings.
Whether you're looking to buy or sell goods online, the first-and the best-way to fight fraud is prevention. There are certain warning signs to watch for, which should set off a chorus of alarms and flashing red lights in your head. Don't do business with this person! For buyers, these potential warning signs can be when a seller:
- asks you to pay through non-traceable avenues, such as Western Union or MoneyGram, or a third party, or via an overseas address. You should ask yourself-and the seller-why he or she won't accept payment options that are traceable and convenient for you.
- posts an image on his auction or classified ad that's obviously from an outside source. Sometimes these images may not even match the type of item, let alone the brand, that the ad features.
- sells a typically expensive item at cut-rate prices, which is a good indicator that it could be counterfeit.
refuses to provide tracking numbers when you purchase an item. Tracking numbers are another way to trace a valid transaction.
- offers only excuses, instead of help, when your purchased item doesn't arrive at your doorstep.
If you're a seller, you ought to be wary of signs of a suspicious buyer, such as when a buyer:
- asks to pay only some of the fee, offering to the pay the rest sometime in the future. This is the old excuse from Popeye's friend Wimpy, who always could be heard saying, "I'll gladly pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today." Wimpy never paid Tuesday.
- sends you a cashier's check for more money than the agreed price "by mistake." In this scam, the buyer then asks you to repay him the difference by personal check, wire transfer, or money order-before you find out that the cashier's check didn't clear. Believe it or not, this scheme works because cashier's checks can be cashed before they bounce.
- sends you a cashier's check for the correct amount of money but then demands a refund, requesting that you repay with your own money. See the scheme above for how this trick works.
These warning signs, of course, are only for a handful of the frauds and scams out there. Conmen are good at what they do, trying to separate you from your money. That's why it's best to always follow these golden rules of online commerce whenever buying or selling on an Internet auction or classified site.
Keep your common sense. No matter how good a deal seems, or how much clients say they want to pay, always remember the old adage: "If it sounds too good to be true... ."
Do your business locally. Try to buy and sell from your neighbors as much as possible. It's safer, more convenient, and better for your local economy. What's more, it saves you the trouble of dealing with foreign vendors and buyers. Though they may be legit, dealing with them can be complicated because of different legal systems and customs, which can make any conflict difficult.
Seal the deal with plastic. Paying for items with credit cards, and allowing your customers to charge for purchases, is a great all-around business decision. Under U.S. law, all plastic purchases are protected from fraud and allowed to be disputed in case of problems.
Meet at the middle man. Intermediary services are virtual middle men that protect both buyers and sellers from cyber shysters. Services like Escrow act as a holding pen for both payment and sale items until both the buyer and seller are content. Only then will Escrow finish a transaction.
Purchase with PayPal. As Escrow and credit cards do, PayPal guards against fraud for both buyers and sellers. It's a secure and reliable way to transfer money over the Internet. No wonder PayPal is the most popular online money transfer service.
As you can see, the odds are actually in your favor when it comes to doing business on online classified or auction sites. The resource of the internet is far too valuable than to be taken away by a few crooks and conmen. It simply comes down to being smart, sensible, and observant whenever buying or selling on the Web. Then again, that's what all good business is about, whether you're doing it in a mall or on the information superhighway.
Author Bio
Donald Lee is the public relations manager for Buysellcommunity. Buysellcommunity provides free classified listing services for individuals and businesses to market their products and services online. For global and localized classifieds, please visit Buy Sell Community - Free Buy & Sell Classifieds
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Tips of the Month
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| Some handy time-saving shortcuts for both beginners and experts:
 To preview what you're about to print, Alt + Ctrl + I
To decrease font size Ctrl + Shift + <
To increase font size Ctrl + Shift + >
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| Staff Spotlight - Nolen McCleery |
 Nolen McCleery, Systems Specialist for CTSI since 2007, is an expert in servers, workstations, network equipment, and digital media signage.
Nolen is originally from Abilene, Texas. In 1998, he joined the Air Force where he spent time in Georgia, New Mexico, and England. While in the military, he worked with computer networks and completed his Associates Degree from the Community College of the Air Force.
After completing his service in the Air Force, Nolen and his family moved to Lubbock where they fell in love with the big town/small town feel. Nolen is currently working towards his Bachelor's degree in Management/Computer Information Systems from Park University Missouri.
Nolen enjoys bowling and competing in sports, such as T-Ball with his family. He has a beautiful wife, Beverly, three children, and his nephew (Devin 10, Alyssa 10, Kaylee 6, and Taylan 4). They travel as much as possible as a family. He believes that travel is important so the kids can see how beautiful this country really is.
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| Helen's Recipe of the Month |
Helen Burns, CTSI's Purchasing Manager, has been with the company for the past ten 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!
Potato Salad 
3 medium sized baking potatoes, washed thoroughly, then baked or boiled until done, then cooled completely
3 eggs, boiled, cooled, shelled and chopped
6 green onions, chopped
1 1/2 cup chopped celery
1/2 cup dill pickle relish
2 tsp dill weed
3/4 cup mayonnaise
3/4 cup ranch dressing
2 tbsp mustard
2 tbsp vinegar or dill pickle juice
Seasoned salt and pepper to taste
Remove skin from potatoes and cut into small cubes. Combine all remaining ingredients and stir thoroughly and put into large serving dish or casserole. Cover and refrigerate overnight. Before serving, cover with grated cheese and bacon bits. Serves 6 or more.
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Thank You
Thank you to everyone who was able to come the CTSI 25th Anniversary Event! We enjoyed celebrating this occasion with those who made it possible.
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