Don't Lose your Docs!

FACT:   ALL Computer Hard Drives WILL DIE - and along with its data.

It's not a question of if, it’s a question of when.

  

What will happen when your company computer crashes?

What Documents will you lose?

FACT:   The average computer user (in a business) has > 50% of their important data / docs saved on their LOCAL PC.

Thus, when your computer crashes (say a hard drive failure) you are likely to LOSE half of your important files!

If you OK with this, stop reading. 

If you have a problem with this then TAKE NOTE.

I believe this is a real area of concern, and action should be taken to rectify.

I hear SO MANY times:

"If it's not broke don't fix it"  -- Right?              

Sometimes this does apply - BUT in the world of IT - this is WRONG.

I believe, often time it's what you don’t know, that you don’t know, that can really come back and hurt.

You may say, "oh I have a server, and I save all my files there".  While this hopefully is true, for most business they are doing nothing to save all your LOCAL documents. The stuff in 'My Documents', 'My Pictures', etc.

This is especially true if you’re using a laptop.

When you create a new Word doc or Excel file or pretty much any new file and just click 'save', do you know where it goes? By default it will go to your LOCAL computer.

And by default, your LOCAL computer files are NOT BACKED UP!  If you think they are, ask your IT Provider to show / prove they are.

So how do you protect your LOCAL Docs?

The Solution:      Document Redirection.

Document Redirection is not new. It’s a standard feature built into almost all computers and servers in use today. It's just that most don’t use it.

Document Redirection is rather intuitive. Your LOCAL documents in the 'My Documents' folder are redirected to a private folder on the server. In other words, your My Documents are actually on the server. Your LOCAL computer has a sync’d set of these files. Any new files or changes are automatically sync’d live to the server. All in the background without any special action. 

In this manner, when your computer completely fails; I could install a new computer, setup the Document Redirection and WHAM BAM all your My Documents are back :)

This is 100% FREE technology. Your IT Provider just has to care enough about your company and your data to setup and maintain it.

Yes like any other time you use technology as a solution, you are adding some complexity. Thus, adding some additional IT Maintenance is needed. For an experienced IT Provider this should be easily incorporated into their existing IT Maintenance Program.

For all our clients that enroll in the DataCare Program, Document Redirection is automatically configured by us when a computer or user is setup. And all DataCare Clients Document Redirection data is also included in the routine server backups.

Essentially our clients have a double backup of their LOCAL data, opposed to most business who plan to LOSE their LOCAL data.

 

(hopefully you are replacing your computer before it fails. Read more here)

Quick Side note:   It is very common for users to save / download files to their LOCAL desktop.  This is a bad practice. Although there are methods to sync / backup the desktop, they are cumbersome and sticky, thus LOCAL desktop items are NOT protected.

The rule of thumb is 'if it’s on your desktop, be willing to lose it'.

We strongly encourage everyone to save to a Server or your 'My Documents' protected by Document Redirection.

If you want to be Protected and Secure, contact me.

Mention this blog post and I will give you a Data Protection / Backup Evaluation FREE.

Happy Clicking!

Nathan DeSutter

IT Consultant

Compnology.com

559-674-1301

nathan@maderacomputers.com

Is your IT a Profit Point? or an Expense?

I Declare that everyone's IT should be a PROFIT POINT and NOT and Expense.

I strongly believe we make our clients more money than IT Support costs.

My methodology is to focus on the "end result".

What's the "end result" ?
The same thing everyone wants for their company = Satisfied Customers, Happy Employees, Enjoyable work environment, and a bottom line to make you smile.  :)

In IT this means:

• Computers are always working
• Servers don't go down
• My Data is always available
• Peace of mind that everything is safe
• People can work efficiently
• Staff is constantly trained in ways to improve their day to day operations.
• And that's just the tip of the ice burg.....

I summarize this into 3 Value Based Categories:

1. Downtime Prevention
2. Our ability to promptly remediate issues that can arise
3. Making the network and users increasingly efficient

"It is better to Plan and Prevent.....then to Repair and Repent"

How do you "Plan and Prevent" in IT - thus generating Profit?

• By properly Controlling Changes and actions done on network.
• Using Powerful Enterprise based tools to ensure the Network is:
• Safe, Secure, Stable. 
• Performance Tuned
• Data backup and servers are monitored
• Hardware is monitored for health risks
• Documentation
• Reduces time to act
• Makes remediation prompt
• Provides tracking and planning before failure 
• Training
• My entire staff has a Passion to Relentlessly Improve everyone and everything we come in contact with.
• Users get 1 on 1, Personalized Training
• If you have ever asked Me (Nathan) or my staff a question, and you're not a better computer user thereafter, tell me and lunch is on me.
• Exceed Expectations
• The strategy here is taken from "Man in the Desert".
  
  In this illustration a man in the Desert NEEDS more than a glass of water. He needs food, clothes, shelter, transportation, care, and more. Thus to exceed our customer expectations we first address / fix the immediate needs. Work to rectify the problem not just the incident. Then we educate, train, plan, prevent and enhance the computer, network, server and YOU the user.

I took my Ideology, Passion, Experience and Methodology - packaged it into what I call DataCare.

DataCare = our Flat Rate IT Support Plan.

Ask any of our existing clients and their staff, and you will hear our methodologies has improved their company.

PLEASE Let me help improve YOUR Company, and increase YOUR bottom line.

Call or email me.

Nathan DeSutter
IT Consultant
Compnology.com
559-674-1301
nathan@maderacomputers.com

Facebook Addiction

Facebook Addiction
You know you're addicted to social networking when:

Nathan DeSutter

IT Consultant

Compnology.com

How can I 'Clean up' my files?

So you want to give away your computer (how nice you are) pr you just want to clean up your personal items.
How?




First, do you have any data to save?

• Documents
• Pictures
• Emails

• Favorites

Easiest method is to copy them off to a flash drive, then to your other computer.
Before you proceed with deleting / cleaning your old computer, MAKE SURE you have got all data you want off.




There are basically 3 methods or levels to old computer clean up.

1. Simple file delete
2. New User Profile
3. Complete computer reload

 1. Simple File Delete

So this is straight forward. Just start up your computer, select the files you want gone, and press the delete key. Empty your recycle bin.

2. New User Profile


This is the main reason for this blog. You want a good computer clean out, all personal info gone, password and such, but you want to 'do it yourself'.

Since most data (documents, pictures, emails, passwords) are stored as part of your 'user profile', when you delete your profile it all goes away. And the effect is a cleaned off computer.  First you have to create a new, blank, user profile. Then you can delete your old one.

Step by step:

1. Create New Profile
• Control Panel
• Users
• Create New (give it whatever name you want)
2. Give admin rights
• You have to do this while logged into your old profile still.
• Control Panel
• Users
• Manage another account, select user, Change Account Type
• Select Administrator
3. Sign into new profile
• Log off your current user (this will be the last time you ever see or use it)
• Now login to the new profile you made
4. Delete old profile
• After logging into the new profile, Control Panel
• Users
• Manage another account, select user (select the account you want to delete
• 'Delete the Account'
• You will be prompted to 'Delete' or 'Keep' files. This is the key area and the special option that allows us to safely and simple delete all our 'stuff'. So choose 'Delete Files'
5. Restart
• That's is. Restart the computer. You should only see the new profile. All your old stuff should be gone.

If you want to confirm its gone, open 'My Computer' and make sure the user profile is gone.
Windows XP:
-My Computer
   -C:\
      -Documents and Settings


Windows Vista or 7:
-Computer
   -C:\
      -Users

NOTE: Normally the user profile folder will be the same name as the username.  It is normal to see folders:

- All Users

- Default

- Default User

- Public

Don't touch these. If you want to be very thorough, do check inside the All Users and Public folders and make sure no data files (documents / pictures / music). Some programs will save files there. But pretty much never will passwords and such are saved there.

After your in the new profile, go to 'add/remove programs' and uninstall any programs you don't want to pass on. Be aware that sometimes Quicken, Quick books, Turbo Tax and the like might save data inside their own program directory and NOT your user folder. Thus you may want to uninstall these programs or go navigate to the data location and delete the files.

 Your done.

3. Complete Computer Reload

This is a common service we perform at the local Madera Computer Service Center. We scrub off the entire computer hard drive. Then reinstall the computer to factory settings. It is now 'like new'. (Yes some people can do this on their own, but for best results it is recommend that a Computer Professional perform)


At the Service Center there is a flat $75 for this service. Mention this blog post and well take $10 off.






Legal Note: I make no guarantees or warranties to the suggestions given. Anything written herein is for informative purposes. Any actions taken are done so at your own risk.

Happy Clicking!

Nathan DeSutter

IT Consultant

Compnology.com

What's in a Password?

So what's the big deal if my password is 1234   ???

Well that depends on what the password is protecting.


Passwords are like  = Keys & Locks. A weak password is like a skeleton key.

If your only locking the hallway closet, a skeleton key (or password of 1234) is probably fine. But if your protecting your Home front door, your office door, your gun safe, etc; then I bet you would NOT use a skeleton key.

Likewise when you are protecting your bank account, company computer, important emails, etc; then a password of 1234, 1111 or similar is just the same as a skeleton key. It's no good. It may stop a passerby from gaining access, but it's worthless to anyone with any real desire to enter.

"But I don't have sensitive or important data, I don't care if others have access....."

Wrong. If you think this way, perhaps I can help readjust your perception.  You may not care (but I'm sure you do) if anyone in the world can 'see' your company information, personal and business documents and emails. But I bet you care very much if you lost all that. By having a weak password, you ARE GIVING AWAY ACCESS.

Basically allowing anyone to:

• Tamper with
• Destroy
• Steal
• Impersonate
• Compromise your identity

You are also letting others take control of your computer, possibly even your server and thus your company.

Weak passwords can allow spammers to hijack your computer, and use it as a relay to mass spam others. This can cause others to block your legit emails, spread viruses to those in your contact list, cause your ISP to lock your Internet altogether.

Although this applies to anyone in the world, remember 70% of my Clients are local Fresno/Madera People. Everything I've mentioned in this post, I have been eyewitness to.

What your pass should not be:

1. Any part of your name, address, phone number
2. An actual word  

Example of BAD Passwords:

• 1111
• 1234
• admin
• user

Example of WEAK Passwords:

• nathan1234
• dogcat55

  
Example of GOOD passwords:

• 83cyq92Ap
• 9588rySq3

  
Example of STRONG passwords:

• gx.T37sq+2cq 

What Password for What Purpose:
Bad	Not good for anything	Can be guessed by my 4 year old son.
Weak	Ok for home PC login, or non-important protection	Will keep out the passer by.
Good	Good for Company, Personal or Confidential logins	Will keep out most people.
Strong	Good for Servers and Financial logins.	Would take some strong hacking.

As much as I hate passwords, I hope this has prompted you to rethink your password.


What your pass should be:

1. Alphanumeric (contain at least 1 letter and at least 1 number)
2. Have upper and lower case
3. 8 characters or more

I suggest creating abbreviations or acronyms that only you would know, mix it with some #'s, make something upper case, and usually you end up with a pretty good password.


Happy Clicking!

Nathan DeSutter
IT Consultant
Compnology.com

Big Guys get Blacklisted too

Ya the Big Guys can get black listed too.


NOTE: Black list is an email domain or IP list with known spamming activity. Thus receiving mail servers use these lists to deny emails if they come from a black list. This is a form of Anti-Spam Control)


Who are the big guys?
Google, Gmail, AOL, Yahoo, Comcast, SBC, GoDaddy, ect..


With so many mail servers (hundreds) and so many users (thousands upon thousands), the 'big guys' are bound to at some point have a user with an infected computer sending spam.   Thus that mail server IP gets put on a blacklist.  AND EVERY email user who happens to be using that mail server will have rejected mail.  Unfortunately you can't choose which of the hundreds of servers in the 'big guys' server farm your email will send from. So the users don't really have control over this.


The only prevention is clean computers and safe users. (Good article here on how you individually can do this: Don't Click That Link) Since it's impossible to ensure this from the 'big guys' side, they are forced to be in constant reactive mode on this. You would think: "this can't happen to the 'big guys' ", ohh but it does. In fact it’s so bad, the 'big guys' have a team on staff whose sole job is to monitor blacklist and submit for removals as they happen. 
Usually though, by the time you receive a kick back email that your message was blocked, and you go check the black lists, they may already be cleaned.


So what should you do?
Well if you’re a business; use your own trusted domain on a dedicated host. If you a small business or personal user or SOHO, then you may be stuck with this. Best option then, is to just resend the email. And as a courtesy, for important emails, it’s a good practice to always reply to the email sender confirming you received their email.





Happy Clicking!


Nathan DeSutter
IT Consultant
Compnology LLC