Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Promising Service from Online Payday Loans

When your salary is not enough to cover such huge financial necessities, it is very normal that you start getting panic. Well, it should be easy to solve as you can find many choices for the financial help. It can be started from the service of online payday loans. This service will give the great help when you need the most. The applicants for the loan will find the smooth way in obtaining the financial covering. 

The process of applying for loan can be done in a short time as the applicants are only required to fill in the personal information to such online form of registration. After the applicants finished the process of filling in the personal information to the online form, they will not wait for a long time to get the confirmation for the loan approval. 

It only takes approximately an hour and then the applicants are free to withdraw the financial help. Whenever you need the extra cash immediately, this service can be the best savior for you. It gives the simple way and you are not going to wait for a long time for receiving the announcement that the loan application is approved. It is totally the great service that will save your finance for sure.

Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Ten Secrets to a Healthy Computer and a Happier You

There comes a time in a person's life where no matter how much you fight it time takes its toll and we begin to slow down in how we perform our daily activities. However, in order to extend our youthful glow and energy levels it is important to eat right, exercise, and keep a positive outlook on life.

Now you may ask what has any of that got to do with "Secrets To A Healthy Computer?"

Well, in a way we're all just like a computer. If you neglect to take care of yourself you soon will cease to function properly and the many tasks that once were easy to do now take twice as long to accomplish and often require you to rest or "reboot" after a malfunction.

I can't tell you what foods to eat or what exercises to perform because I am not a nutritionist. Although, with my experiences in the personal computer field I can share with you some tips of how to keep that rectangle box of circuitry that sits within sights range functioning at maximum performance as long as time will allow.

Some important steps to follow are....

Make certain that your computer is located in a well ventilated area and that all air vents are unobstructed to prevent overheating and premature failure to any internal components.

Clean out the dust build-up at least every 6 months from the inside of the computer case including case vents, power supply vents, and all visible circuitry with a few cans of compressed air that can be purchased from any major computer store or electronics outlet. This will help reduce the chances of overheating and circuitry damage.

Before cleaning just be certain to always unplug the computer from the wall outlet and never physically contact the circuitry inside the computer case to prevent damage.

Be prepared for an unsuspected failure by always making backups of any important data that you do not and can not afford to lose.

I personally keep updated backups of my website and even store the disks at a remote location away from my every day use computers just in case a disaster were to occur and my main computers were destroyed resulting in the need for those lost files.

Purchase and install a well known anti-virus program that can be regularly updated with the latest virus definitions and ran during boot-up to help protect your computer from being the victim of an unwanted infestation.

Every few months or so run your computer's "Scandisk" program followed by the "Defragmenter" program to maximize the efficiency of your hard drive.

If you are not certain of how to use these utilities and being that the steps to execute these programs varies slightly from one operating system to the other it would be easiest to simply use the "Help" option that can be found by clicking on the START button found on your computers desktop.

The START menu will open up a drop-down-box that should display the "Help" option. By going here you can enter the keywords that deal with the answers to the subject you are searching for.

Run your computers "Disk Cleanup" utility every other week or so. If set the "Disk Cleanup" utility will automatically empty the recycling bin and recover some wasted disk space by removing the internet temporary files that seem to always accumulate.

Again, use the "Help" option if you are uncertain of how to perform this task.

Never smoke near a computer because the cooling fans will pull the smoke into the case where it can coat the inside parts of the computer with a residue which in turn can damage sensitive components.

Place the computer case in an area where it will not be accidentally kicked or bumped to prevent the loosening of cables and damage to internal parts.

Invest in a high quality surge protector to provide your computer and monitor against voltage spikes or "surges" that can dramatically shorten the life of your system. Just like most items in a store, "You get what you pay for". So don't skimp out on this important device!

Its also not a bad idea to invest in a surge protector that includes what is called a "Data Line Protector" which allows you to connect your telephone lines to and serves the same purpose for the telephone line to your modem just like the surge protector does for the electrical household current lines.

Finally, if you plan on being away from home for more that a few days at a time or if there is a thunderstorm brewing in your area it is a very wise decision to always unplug all electrical lines and modem telephone lines from your system. Even with a surge protector installed it is possible that such a large voltage spike such as one caused by a lightening strike could prove fatal to any computer system.

If you follow these simple steps the outcome is a healthy computer that will stay by your side and treat you well which also results in a happier you.

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Protect Your Computer

To start this article, a joke: Why did the programmers mix up Halloween and Christmas? Because 25 DEC = 31 OCT. Haha! Well... if you got that, you probably don't need to read this article.

It is often said that there is no such things as 100% security. While that is true, it is no reason why you shouldn't take all necessary precautions to prevent unauthorized access. In this article we will examine a few ways to protect your data.


Local Security

            Out of all the different ways an intruder can access your computer, local access is the most promising way to circumvent your security. If a person has local access to a computer, it is only a matter of time before the data on the computer will be extracted.

However, protecting your computer against local attacks is also easy and only takes a few minutes. First, put a password on your BIOS configuration. Typically, it involves pressing Esc, Tab, F1, or some other key to access the BIOS configuration. From there, the configuration menu should have a tab about security. Open the tab about security and choose a decent password (there are hints about choosing a good password later on). Also, set the computer to boot up from the hard drive first, and do not let it try to boot from the A:\ drive or the CD-ROM drive. The reason why it shouldn't attempt to read the A:\ or CD-ROM drive is that an intruder could use a CD-ROM bootable O.S. like Knoppix to steal your password, even though a BIOS password is set. Now save the changes and exit.

Now to set a password on your accounts on Windows operating systems:

For NT and XP users: Make sure your administrative account has a password on it. Also, put a password on any other accounts you have and disable the guest account.
For 95, 98, and ME users: The security offered on these platforms is insufficient for the protection of your data. The best option for these platforms would be to rely on other forms of protection, such as encryption.

Internet Security

            The Internet opens up a host of security issues, but since the security problems are so prevalent there are many good solutions. We will now take a look at a few of them.

Firewalls:
            Firewalls protect things called ports. Ports are what your computer uses to access the Internet. To view a webpage, for example, your computer connects to the website's computer through port 80. Programs called Trojans can open ports on your computer and let people get into your computer and do whatever they want, including stealing passwords and credit cards. With a firewall, you can close most ports and protect your computer from Internet attacks. A firewall that I highly recommend is Zone Lab's free firewall called ZoneAlarm. It can be found at Zone Lab's website, http://www.zonelabs.com.

Anti-Virus software:
            Ah... its name rings like poetry in my ear... but seriously, anti-virus software is seriously serious business. Seriously. No way around it, you need to be protected! Anti-virus software is not the be all end of computer security, nor was it meant to be. However, it is a major and powerful form of defense against viruses, trojans, and worms. Now let's talk money... the universal language. Most anti-virus products cost money and a subscription cost... so check around for the best deals. However, the most prominent anti-virus software products are Norton Anti-virus (http://www.symantec.com/) and McAffee (http://www.mcafee.com). But for you people who can't live without freebies, try AVG by Grisoft (http://www.grisoft.com/). The personal version is free... and awesome. Literally... no joke... free. Wow. Try them all and decide which one you like the best. After you have one, setup auto scan if it isn't setup already. Okay, now you are ready! Concentrate, and become one with the force!

Spyware protection:
            Spyware... that this stuff can just be plain nasty. These are the programs that discover information about you and send it to their evil masters. Beware! Danger, Will Robinson! Now, lets talk about ways to destroy them. People will have day-long arguments over which product to use, but the two main programs (both free!) are Spybot: Search and Destroy (cool name - http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html) and Ad-aware (http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/). Try them both, and see which one you like.

Now for the most powerful security tool... listen carefully... this is powerful! COMMON SENSE! Firewalls, anti-virus software, and spyware protection is useless against social engineering. Social engineering is conning a person into compromising their security. Now I know what you are saying, why would someone ever compromise their security because some stranger told them to do so!?!? It doesn't make sense... but it happens. All the time. Think about some e-mail messages you might have gotten... "I Luuuuv you!" "Your pictures are inside!" "I saw your profile..." If a virus is attached, and you download it hoping to see something and you see something quite different, you have been the victim of social engineering. Most social engineering attacks are more powerful and dangerous, but you get the idea.

Checklist to protect yourself:
            ___ Set a bios password.
            ___ Change startup to hard disk.
            ___ Set password on user accounts.
            ___ Disable guest account.
            ___ Download and setup firewall.
            ___ Download and setup anti-virus software.
            ___ Download and setup spyware remover.
            ___ Use common sense!
Remember, security is not a destination, it is a journey.

Monday, July 23, 2012

The History of Printer Ink Cartridges

With the introduction of the inkjet printer and printer ink cartridge in 1984, the task of printing your documents and changing printer ink cartridges became more convenient, reliable and cleaner than the previous methods of changing ribbons or inserting a toner cartridge.

Prior to 1984, the ink delivery systems were not as dependable as they are now. The inkjet system replaced the old dot matrix method, which required changing a ribbon. It wasn't long before the printer industry began conceptualizing a new ink delivery technique, including the drop on demand method. Several companies were the driving forces behind developing the inkjet technology, and by 1990 the method was widely accepted. Today it is the method of choice for printing requirements, and will print both black and white documents as well as color graphics and photos.

The quality is excellent, thanks to the development of printer ink cartridges. It is possible to print on many different sizes and types of paper, fabric, film, etc. These printers are used in businesses, in schools and the homes of millions of people worldwide.

Each printer uses a specific printer ink cartridge, most often one each of black and color. Each cartridge is given an identifying number and lists the model number of each printer in which it can be used. While each printer manufacturer recommends its own brand of printer ink cartridge, it is possible to refill the cartridge yourself, or purchase a refilled, remanufactured or a compatible cartridge.

There are two types of refilled cartridges: You can do it yourself with a kit that allows you to refill your own cartridge. Refill kits are available at a very low price and are sometimes the choice of those who don't mind doing the filling in order to save money. The other alternative is to buy a refilled cartridge from a manufacturer. This method involves drilling, filling and sealing an empty cartridge.

A remanufactured cartridge is an original printer ink cartridge that has been taken apart and outfitted with ink and new parts if necessary. It is then inspected and tested before being placed in the marketplace to re-sell. The workmanship in these cartridges is usually guaranteed against defects during the life of the cartridge. The lifetime is generally the same as the original, they are safe to use in all printers, and the warranty on your printer will not be affected. The cost is lower than the original.

Another kind of cartridge that has evolved in recent years is the "compatible" cartridge. Simply put, it is a cartridge that is built to the same specifications as those of the original manufacturer and is generally cheaper than the original. It is also guaranteed against defects during its lifetime.

Inkjet printers using printer ink cartridges have a bright future ahead, thanks to their capability to produce high-quality printed material quickly and inexpensively. The manufacturer's printer ink cartridge is one option, and the use of alternative printer ink cartridges is another option. When shopping for printer ink cartridges, always buy from a reputable dealer. A huge inventory of hundreds of types of cartridges can also be found by shopping on the Internet, which is a convenient, safe and reliable method of finding the best deals on printer ink cartridges.

Monday, July 16, 2012

How DATA is LOST

Over 95% of the people and businesses that I speak with have experienced data loss. However the sad fact is that the majority of businesses are woefully unprepared and do not understand the serious risk of data loss.
Do you have a disaster recovery plan?

The data that you store on your computer can be lost in many ways. Many people are not aware of the various ways that their data can be placed in jeopardy.

First, there are the obvious ways:

Physical damage to the computer, such as fire or water damage, is one surefire way to lose all the data on your computer. Although insurance may cover the physical damage to your machine(s), and you may be able to replace the actual hardware, no insurance policy can resurrect your data.

Another common way that individuals lose the data they have worked so hard to build up is THEFT. Much like damage done to your computer via various natural disasters, insurance may cover the physical hardware, but no policy will be able to save the information stored on your hard drive and other physical media.

Without some form of backup solution, your data is at risk every day.

There are many other things that can happen that can cause partial or full data loss. Other common occurrences are:

Data corruption (failed CRC or MD5 checks),

Hard drive failure (the older a hard disk gets the closer you are getting to the MTBF, or "mean time between failure" that every disk is rated for at the factory),

OS failure (it is not uncommon for a machine to fail to reboot after having critical system files replaced, such as during the application of a Windows Service Pack or driver update).

Human error - simply accidentally deleting a file or directory happens more often than you would think. Not to mention the "not so accidental" deletion by a disgruntled employee.

Viruses and worms - even though protection for these digital pests is readily available and in general use, loss of data associated with them is still widespread.

These are just a few of the pitfalls that can plague the computer that has not had backups done in a timely manner.

Right about now, you may be asking yourself: "What can I do?" Actually, there is one simple solution to all your data integrity needs: offsite data backup.

Unlike backups you may be used to doing with tape drives or other removable media, offsite data backup provides a much more transparent, easy to use solution, as well as having the added security of storing your files in a secure location that is guaranteed to keep them safe (remember, if your office building catches fire, not only does your workstation lose it's data, but your tape backups will most likely be destroyed as well, barring the use of expensive fireproof storage.

Offsite data backup is easy to set up and protects your data in the most secure, economical way possible. If you are considering implementing a data backup for your company or personal computers do yourself a favor and consider using an offsite secure backup service. This is the simplest and most effective form of disaster recovery.

Your DATA is your LIFE. Protect it.

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Pop-ups - 5 Ways to Stop

5 Ways to Block Pop Ups...

Advertisers are constantly looking for any way to draw attention to their products. Although typical banner ads are still used heavily, they now seem to be almost invisible to the average web surfer. Pop ups and other intrusive types of advertising are now used to thrust an ad in your face that you have no choice but to at least acknowledge. Regardless of the nature of the ad, pop ups are a nuisance, and there are now many options available for keeping them off of your computer screen all together.

1. Internet Explorer on Windows XP with Service Pack 2
This summer's release of Service Pack 2 for Windows XP brought about a few significant changes to the operating system. One of the most noticeable was the addition of a pop up blocker to Internet Explorer.

The pop up blocker is integrated into the browser and can be customized by browsing to the "Tools" tab at the top of the program. Like many pop up blocker applications, personal preferences can be set to allow/block pop ups from certain sites, as well as providing customization for how the user is alerted to the fact that a pop up has been blocked.

For those using Windows XP, upgrading to Service Pack 2 is an excellent idea for your system's security as a whole, but specifically for the additional convenience of an integrated pop up blocker. For those with a Microsoft operating system other than XP, sorry, this is not available for you.

2. Alternative Web Browsers

There are other choices for web browsers available, and many have included a pop up blocker long before Microsoft decided to include one with Internet Explorer.

The Mozilla Firefox browser version 1.0 was officially released on November 9th. This browser has already received a great deal of acclaim and has become quite popular as an alternative to Internet Explorer.
Firefox is a highly customizable web browsing application that includes an effective pop up blocker, tabbed browsing, and many other features not found in Internet Explorer.

Crazy Browser is another option that was released in 2002, which is not as much an alternative browser, as it is a skin for Internet Explorer. In order for Crazy Browser to run, a system must have Internet Explorer 5 (or greater) installed, as well as Windows 95 (or greater) installed as the operating system. The Crazy Browser application then takes the base functionality of Internet Explorer and adds features similar to Firefox, such as the pop up blocker and tabbed browsing.

3. Browser Tool Bars

A growing trend is for websites to offer a downloadable toolbar for use with Internet Explorer. Many of these toolbars offer unique features intended to enhance the user's web browsing experience in different ways, but they generally also include a pop up blocker. Although there are toolbars available from dozens of websites, Google, MSN, and Yahoo are some of the more reputable names with one available.

The installation of these toolbars is quick and easy, and the most difficult part may be reading the fine print in the license agreements.

Although these toolbars may do an excellent job blocking pop ups, they may also be retrieving data on your web surfing / search habits. If you feel a toolbar may be the right solution for you, stick with one from a trusted name, and just be sure to read the fine print.

4. Pop Up Blocker Software

Stand alone pop up blocking software is available from dozens, if not hundreds, of different sources. With various interfaces, and prices ranging from free to $30 (and higher), choosing one can be a difficult task. Many of the programs that are not available for free do come with a free trial download, so you can at least get a sense of whether the program is right for you before committing. Some of the options in this category include STOPzilla, Secure IE, Zero Popup and Pop Swatter, to name a few.

The main drawback to this type of pop up blocking solution is that you now have another independent application running on your computer. Although they
are generally not resource intensive, why run a program
to do something that can be handled by one that is already running anyway? Additionally, with so many reliable solutions available to eliminate pop ups for free,
spending money on one is hard to justify.

Along with a dedicated pop up blocker, another recommended tact for eliminating pop-ups is eliminating spyware on your computer system. Some pop-up programs use accompanying spyware to target pop ups specifically to you and your web surfing habits. An excellent, free program for eliminating spyware of all type is Spybot Search & Destroy.

5. Internet Access Software from Select ISPs

Some ISPs (Internet Service Providers) now incorporate a pop up blocker with the software they provide to subscribers for accessing the internet. Earthlink, Optimum Online, and AOL are just a few of the larger providers that add value to their packages by adding a pop up blocker. Bundling this functionality with the ISPs base software definitely makes things easy for the subscriber, as there may be no need to find one elsewhere.

In general, these blockers are effective, but are not the most feature rich and may have limited options for customization by the end user. One draw back with ISP provided pop up blockers is that some only work with their service. So, if you ever switch to a new provider, you'll need to be prepared to switch to a new pop up blocker
as well.

Final Words

Pop ups are a fact of life on the internet, but that does not mean you need to put up with them. Among the five general solutions presented above, there are literally hundreds of options available for eliminating the clutter of pop up ads, allowing you
to enjoy only the content you intended to see.

Wednesday, July 4, 2012

Computer Problems. How Do You Avoid Them?

I see Danny Burke of PC Magic once a month to sort out any problems on my computer and to help me move ahead with an internet info product business.

Danny spends most of his week rescuing business owners who are having problems with their computers.

Last week I asked him for the advice he would give a business owner who was having trouble with his computer. This is the advice he gave me:

Keep things simple on your computer. Don't use it for games etc. Just use it for business. Danny finds that half his customers have caused their own problems by the extras they have downloaded from the internet such as:

Additional toolbars for internet explorer.
Unnecessary utilities like internet speed boosters which seldom work.
Eye candy such as wall paper changers, animated cats etc

All most businesses need is

A base operating system
An email client
A web browser
An office suite
A firewall and anti-virus system

Don't download any old stuff off the internet. The more stuff you put on your hard disk, the more likely it is that you will have problems. Microsoft cannot check all the different applications you might download for compatibility.

Your first graphics package and another graphics package might fight over the file extensions. Try to stick with one package. Similar problems occur with music and video players which should not be on a business system anyway unless you are in that field.

Don't upgrade unless you could name three good reasons to upgrade. After Danny gave me this advice, I rather guiltily tried to upgrade my BT broadband service to the new combined BT Yahoo broadband service.

Sure enough as soon as I had installed the new service, things started to go wrong. Things that had worked before (like links in emails) no longer worked. I'm not blaming BT Yahoo. I just had too much stuff on my computer! When I uninstalled the new service everything started working again.

Danny comments: "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." When you upgrade, the file formats are sometimes different from the earlier versions of the software. This means you cannot go back to the earlier versions because they don't recognise the new file format.

Do not assume that newer versions are better than the earlier versions. All you have done is make the software producer richer!

Have a firewall and virus checker and keep them up to date

Back up your data. 90% of companies who have a catastrophic data loss go bankrupt within two years. You should have two copies of important data and three copies of critical data stored in three different locations.

One copy should be in a fire safe off site. This should be standard practice. You cannot trust computers. Sooner or later they will get you! If you don't back up, you are an idiot and deserve all you get!

Today I received this message from an ezine owner:

A lot of you sent me an ad this week, which
I had saved on my hard drive and guess
what?

My computer crashed and I lost every one.

I have a backup computer, but no ads.

Please re-send your ads so I can get them in
the Friday edition.

Sorry for the trouble.

The ezine owner is obviously a nice person but he may lose customers who haven't got the time to resend their ads. No one likes to repeat their efforts.

Maybe his computer crashed because he had broken not only the back up rule but some of the other rules.

As a general principle, use your machine and don't tinker with it. Once it is working, leave it alone!

Leave it alone!!!

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

We Know Why You Haven't Decided Yet To Purchase A Security Product

There are many people, who heard about the security tools, available for data protection. But it is not an easy issue to understand to those who are not software literate. In this article we will look at this issue in order to understand that.

With the growth of information technologies, people own a lot of professional or personal information, which has both a financial and emotional value. As people get vulnerable to numerous security threats, they become more and more aware of the ways they could overcome their vulnerability. And this security concern is common to all people, especially when it comes to lose something they possess. This is why the security products, available on the IT security market, are more and more commonly expanded in Europe and USA.

Among many people who rely on different kinds of digital assets in their businesses and private life, there are some whose main concern is how to protect them. There are also people who think that it is too far for them to make a decision on purchasing existing security products, because they do not have any special knowledge in security. Here we would like to come up with the data, which would help you to get a start in considering the ways you could protect your information.

At first look, it seems that the security products market is so sophisticated, that without any professional knowledge it is not possible to understand what kind of products you need. You may think that it is so much complicated to be able to analyze what solutions exist, what for they may be used and which one is right for you to purchase.

These questions and the solutions to them may seem vague to people with excellence in other areas, but with no knowledge in the IT security. By giving the answers to these and other related questions, we will help you define your needs and decide which data protection and access control solutions will best suit your needs.
1. What is the security software for and how can it help people?
While the security products industry is largely expanding in the world, there are more and more areas where it can be used. The Dekart Company has committed itself to developing solutions that can be easily deployed and used by people.

Most of the digital assets, available on the market, are designed with the option for the security hardware installation. The PCs and many mobile devices that can be connected to PCs (like mobile phones) and that may have an increased need for security, are technically available now to be protected.

From another point of view, there are products, which can be of real help in protecting important data (like hard disk encryption and file encryption software, brought to you by Dekart). These products can protect any type of data for any kind of people, who are interested in protection of their business information, scientific researches, as well as personal information. This type of protection ensures that no data will be accessed and viewed by unauthorized malicious users, even if your computer is lost or stolen or if there are many people who can access it.

The security products have another large area of usage. When there is the need to control access to the office computers, Dekart offers its smart card and biometric authentication solutions. The state-of-the-art biometric identification improves the security of login procedures, thus ensuring that no third party will access critically important information.
Users now can also protect and encrypt their email correspondence using Dekart digital certification service in combination with the smart card and biometric authentication.

There are different hardware devices used to provide two- and three-factor authentication to secure access to the information. Dekart offers the flexibility to choose between different vendors' smart cards, tokens, biometric devices and even USB flash drives to satisfy users' security needs.

The types of the Hardware Keys (USB tokens and Smart cards)
Dekart Software uses the following types of Hardware Keys to generate secret cryptographic keys and store users' private data:

1. USB (universal serial bus) tokens are smaller token-style cards that plug directly into the USB port of a computer. The USB-compatible ports are being built into many PCs (i.e., desktops and laptops) and many mobile devices that connect with PCs (i.e., PDAs and mobile phones), as this is the simplest type of reader to connect

2. Smart cards are conventional credit card-shaped contact cards
The Smart Card device contains the cryptographic chip. The use of credit-card size Smart Cards has successfully been adopted by a number of European companies, with a particularly high level of acceptance in Germany and France. However, high hardware deployment costs and the lack of application standards associated with Smart Cards have proved to be significant barriers to their widespread use, especially in the US.

USB Token solution is different from traditional smart card solutions in that it does not require a reader infrastructure, helping to make it less expensive for organizations to deploy and easier for users to adopt.
Dekart has developed the following utilities for managing and deploying the smart cards or tokens used with Dekart applications:

1. Dekart Key Manager Utility can help determining the memory usage of the card, performing backups and duplicating the data stored on the hardware keys.

2. Key Formatting utility or Corporate Key formatting utility allows formatting the smart cards or tokens to be used with Dekart software.
What to consider before purchasing a smart card or USB token?

1. Define all of your anticipated present and future card usage requirements

2. Define the memory requirements for each certificate or application. Here is a sample of Smart Card memory usage:

· Free space - 5K

· Your custom application -1,5 K

· Smart Card logon certificate -2,5 K

· Smart card vendor applications - 8K

· Windows for Smart Cards Operating system -15K

3. Making a decision on which present and future applications are required. It is important to preview the future applications needed, as it is important to leave an extra storage space on the chip.

4. Test smart cards and smart card readers to verify compatibility before deploying them in your production environment.

In conclusion, there are few things important to understand:

1. It is important to remember that there are different types of hardware and software available for them.

2. It is suggested to understand specific needs of the buyer and the variety of existing products in order to make the best purchasing decision.

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Virus Prevention and Removal

A virus is a piece of code that gets loaded onto your computer without your knowledge and runs against your wishes. The first known occurrence of viruses goes back to 1987 when the ARPANET was infected by one.

One common misnomer among people is that you can infect your computer just by opening an email and reading its text. That is not possible; it is usually the files attached to the email that contain the virus. The most common file types are ".SCR" ".VBS" ", ".PIF"

Prevention is better than a cure: Here are some tips to make sure that your computer does not get infected.

* Get a good Anti-Virus software like Norton Anti-Virus, MacAfee, PC Cillin etc.

* Keep your anti virus software updated by downloading new virus definitions regularly. Most Anti-Virus software comes with the feature of updating virus definitions.

* Keep your windows operating system updated by regularly downloading new updates from the Internet. Windows O/S's have a lot of security loopholes and bugs that can be easily exploited by worms and viruses.

* Make sure the anti virus scans the file each time before its opened.

* Floppy disks and removable media are a good source of viruses; always scan them before accessing files on them.

* Never open email attachments from sources that are unknown or suspicious.

* Do not open emails that have questionable subject lines.

* When in doubt about a file, don't open it.

* Even with the best of precautions bad things can still happen. Backup all your data and important files.

Even after taking all these precautions if your computer does get infected, then here are a few things that you can do:

Online clearing tools - are a good source of trying to clean out the virus, there are many Anti-Virus websites that offer free online virus detection and removal services.

Removal tools - If you have an Anti-Virus software then you can go to the website of that software and download removal tools designed specifically for the virus. However, you must find out the name of the virus that infects your PC beforehand.

If you have a backup of all your important files, you can also consider formatting your hard disk.

Thursday, June 14, 2012

Five Stress Reducing Computer Tips

For most entrepreneurs computers are an intrical part of our business. An entrepreneur can not afford for their computer to be inoperable even for a minute. Implement some of these quick and affordable computer tips to keep your computer healthy and making money for your business.

#1 - Double Internet Speed

Comcast recently doubled cable modem download speeds. Now you can surf the Internet and download files twice as fast. However, you need to power cycle your cable modem [unplug it for 30 seconds and reboot computer] for the new configuration to be automatically downloaded to your modem.

#2 - Connecting to Work from Home

Having trouble with your corporate VPN connection when working from home? Oftentimes this can be fixed with a simple firmware upgrade to your network router or a slight change in settings.

#3 - Sudden Lost Connection

Has your Internet connection suddenly stopped working? Frequently computer users with software-based firewalls suddenly find their Internet connection no longer available. Oftentimes when you download a software update, it can change your original configurations. As a quick test, disable the software firewall. If connectivity returns, it's a misconfiguration issue.

#4 - Slow E-mail and Internet Browsing

Has your computer been working wonderfully, but suddenly e-mail or Internet browsing is painfully slow? It could be your cable connection went out. And although the connection has returned, your computer and the cable modem may be having difficulty communicating. Try power cycling your modem.

#5 - Eliminate Popups

Google offers a free popup blocker with its toolbar. Download the toolbar at www.toolbar.google.com. System requirements: Microsoft Windows 95/98/ME/NT/2000/XP, Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0 or later. The popup blocker requires Internet Explorer 5.5 or later.

Monday, June 11, 2012

How Do I Uninstall Microsoft Silverlight 5?

Are you looking for an efficient way to uninstall Microsoft Silverlight 5? Do you want to remove the application without causing any hassle? You will know how to achieve that after reading this article.

To remove the application, we need to understand what it is.The application, released on December 9, 2011, is a plug-in or an add-on for Internet browsers, allowing users to experience various Internet applications within web browsers. It is a big advancement over the previous version, with improved media features and user interface facilities. Take Hardware Decoding as an example, it enables low power netbooks to play HD content. Another example is that Trickplay in the application can speed up or slow down the video while keeping the audio pitch correct.

Unfortunately, there are also problems with the application. The most common one is the frequent occurrence of crashes caused by the application, in particular, crashes of Internet Explorer. For instance, IE8 usually stops working and it asks you to download a file called "dw20.exe" and you can not fix the problem after downloading that file. Another big problem is that the software, though similar to Adobe Flash, is less well-established, supporting only few browsers in windows and in Mac. Other reoccurring problems are the application's corrupted installation and corrupted registry entries. Apart from these problems, you have to keep updating web browsers and the operating system on your computer to avoid errors related to the application. Sometimes, even with the system and web browsers being fully updated, the application still refuses to work.

You may wish to uninstall the application due to these issues. How to uninstall it from your system?

If you are a Windows XP user, you should take the below steps:

Step 1. Shut down all browsers.

Step 2. Click on the Start button and then move on by going to Control Panel.

Step 3. Double-click on Add/Remove Programs.

Step 4. Select the target program and then click the Remove option.

Step 5. Follow the window wizard to complete the removal.

For Windows Vista users, take the following steps:

Step 1. Close all browsers.

Step 2. Click Start and then locate Control Panel.

Step 3. Go to Programs, click on Uninstall a Program( if you are in Category View, select Programs & Features).

Step 4. Click Uninstall/Change.

Step 5. Select the plug-in and click Uninstall.

This method will not delete the annoying plug-in entirely. There will be files and registry entries left behind by the plug-in. You can remove the left over files by searching and deleting them. And you can resort to a registry cleaner to get rid of those registry entries. But you should take care when choosing a registry cleaner in case of any further problem. To save against a rainy day, you'd better backup your registry and create a restore point before running the registry cleanup tool.

You can also uninstall the plug-in by using the Windows Installer Cleanup Utility, which only eliminates registry entries and files related to the Windows Installer portion on the program. It will not remove many files from the computer. To remove the plug-in with the utility, you should follow the instructions below:

Step 1. Login as an administrator.

Step 2. Download and run the utility.

Step 3. Close all the browsers.

Step 4. Select the plug-in in the list of installed programs and click on Remove.

You might find that the application still cannot be removed completely after using Windows Installer Cleanup Utility. In fact, using an uninstaller to do the removal is a better option for you. Here I take Mighty Uninstaller as an example. It will not only remove the stubborn programs that could not be removed completely from Windows Add/Remove program but also provides services like scanning both your registry and hard-drive, cleaning the empty or corrupted registry entry, improving your overall PC performance and backing-up your registry as well. What's more, it is easy to use and friendly user interface. To use that uninstaller, you can firstly download it for free from a safe website and then click the .exe file to install it in your computer. The next step is to run this application and select the plug-in in the program list displayed then click on "Uninstall" button. The removal will take a few minutes.

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Top Android Tablet Reviews

Tablets are taking the electronics world by storm and many of the top Android tablet reviews can be found online. Since the Apple iOS emerged on the scene there have been many other tablets that have hit the market; and each and every one of them has something unique to offer consumers.

Even though Apple's smart phone is a superior device, there are many other very attractive and smart alternatives. Even though it has been a slow process, there are other viable competitor's to Apple's tablet. With its Nexus 7, Google has made one of the best and most amazing 7 inch tablets around today. It combines superior function with a comfortable feel that puts it at the head of the class when it comes to smaller tablets.

The Asus line of tablets is also an awesome group of devices in their own right and they perform incredibly well. They come in a range of sizes and designs and are definitely great contenders to Apple's tablet. Samsung and Sony both have created powerful tablets that have beautiful and clear picture qualities, but their price is on the higher end of the spectrum.

The top Android tablet reviews continually point to the fact that the Google Android mobile OS tablet is one of the very best tablets for your money. Also the Nexus 7 has proven itself to be just as good as the Apple device. It isn't quite as big as Apple's tablet, but since it is smaller it is far easier to carry along with you. Many people feel that this tablet offers the consumer their best tablet experience yet. It has a smart design with many awesome features.

It has also been said that if you are a person that simply uses your tablet to web surf, check emails and go on social or gaming sites, then the Google Android may be a better choice for you than the Apple iPad version of the tablet.

Whatever brand you choose to purchase it is easy to see that the Android tablets are some of the most innovative and smart devices around today. Whether you opt for a 7 inch or a 10 inch screen size, or whether you go with Google or Samsung, you will love the features and capabilities an Android tablet gives you. Take a look at these devices online today and pick out one to purchase online. You will thoroughly enjoy the advancements of these very cool devices.

Saturday, June 2, 2012

Seven Vital Things to Know Before Buying a Laptop

Before buying a computer it is mandatory to check all its merits and drawbacks. It can be an annoying situation when you are buying an expensive laptop and you're unknown about all the facts. Today, there are several brands which promise to give their best shot in terms of performance and reliability. But still there are some essential factors to keep in mind like size, features, performance, durability, and more. Here are some very useful things to know before shopping for a laptop.

1) Operating System: Choosing an operating system is your own personal choice. Both Mac and Windows do the same thing, but they have different interface and performance. Mac is amazing with faster performance running multiple applications efficiently and crashes rarely. They are less vulnerable to viruses or other malwares. Windows OS also runs well and importantly it is more familiar for many people. If you're quite familiar with Windows then stick to it. But if you wish to learn something new, then go for the Mac.

2) System Memory: A system's memory plays a significant role in case of performance. Ensure your RAM keeps up a good performance level when you are using many applications simultaneously or watching multiple websites in different browsers. The more RAM, the faster your laptop will perform. Make sure your laptop gives you option to upgrade your RAM if required for more performance.

3) Processor: CPU is a chip inside a laptop which is considered as the brain of the computer where fast thinking (processing) happens. Go for the fastest processor that you can afford. Dual core processor will be fine if you're not running intensive, threaded applications regularly. But mainstream buyers can look for Intel's Core i3 or i5 processors which are quite advance. Centrino Core 2 Duo processor can give you a better performance at a good price. It will run more efficiently, with longer battery life and better wireless performance.

4) Hard Drive: It's a permanent storage in the laptop where you store all your files, photos, music, videos, documents, spreadsheets, applications, etc. If you often download and store movies and games on your computer, you need sufficient memory space. Make sure your hard drive holds at least 160 GB (163,840 megabytes). If your budget is a bit high, then more than 160 GB will be a better choice.

5) Keyboard and Touchpad: Apart from RAM, processor and hard drive, keyboard and touchpad are also the essential lookouts for a good laptop. You are going to use these two input devices most of the time. While you type, some keyboards flex or bounce under the pressure of your finger tips. It really feels unpleasant particularly while doing an important task. Check out for the best laptop having firm support underneath the entire keyboard structure. You can also go for a laptop having LED-backlit keyboard which can help you type in a dimly lit room. When it comes to touchpad, choose the one having excellent sensitivity and minimal lag. Make sure you can move cursor on the screen precisely along with your fingertip on the touchpad. Larger touchpad with buttons are generally good.

6) Screen & Audio System: It is quite difficult and expensive to change your laptop screen unlike desktop monitor, once purchased. So, look for the right resolution at the time of purchase. Cheaper screens are often invisible in outdoor light and become less useful for you. Clearly check how the laptop screen performs under sunlight. Get the right amount of pixels if it is required for your computer activities. You should also check the sound system before purchasing a laptop. Make sure the sound is quite audible and crystal clear. There are some advance models which comes with Intel's WiDi technology that helps you wireless stream video from your laptop to your HDTV.

7) Battery Performance: Most of the laptop battery comes with 1-year warranty. There are some organizations that claim a battery backup of 5 to 6hrs for their laptops. But most of the laptops can only sustain maximum up to 3hrs due to lack of actual back-up time. Make sure to get the right battery and check it after couple of days of usage. You can also extend the standard 1-year warranty by paying some extra bucks.

Thursday, May 24, 2012

Public Vs Private Clouds

As an alternative to the three tiered classification of cloud based services - Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS) and Software as a Service (SaaS) - cloud computing can also be classified based upon how the underlying networks are implemented and accessed by the client. The following article provides and overview of the two principle models Public and Private Clouds.

These models do not describe strict architectures and so a variety of configurations can be employed to achieve each model of cloud computing. Furthermore, each model can be used to offer each tier of cloud service as mentioned above.

Public Cloud

When most people think of cloud computing they think of a typical public cloud model where the services on offer are available to public customers through a public network, usually the internet. The accessibility of this model allows for cloud services to be supplied to a mass market and for the provider to centralise/pool (and share) the physical computing resource they require to offer the services; utilising virtualisation where they need to establish operating environments. As a result, consumers and providers of public cloud services can benefit from considerable economies of scale to reduce their costs as well as sheer scalability to respond to fluctuations in demand.

Public cloud services can often be free to the consumer, funded for example by advertising, however where a charge is applied they usually follow a pay as you go (PAYG) type model - that is the consumer is supplied with the computing resource they need as and when they need it and are only charged for what they use. Many of the cloud services that are most familiar to the general consumer, particularly Software as a Service (SaaS) applications such as Google Docs (cloud based 'office' applications), Gmail (web based email) or Dropbox (cloud storage), fall under the public cloud model.

For some consumers, the mechanisms of the public cloud which bring such cost savings and widespread availability can also bring undesired security vulnerabilities. Although the security of these services is always improving, the fact that data is transferred across public networks and stored on shared physical and/or virtual servers may provide obstacles to some clients using the public cloud for processing sensitive data. Instead they might look towards to private cloud services.

Private Cloud

Cloud clients who are handling, processing or storing sensitive data that they need ensure remains private and secure and who want to take advantage of some of the cost, availability and scalability benefits that cloud computing usually offers, can utilise private cloud services as an alternative to the public cloud.

The concept of a private cloud is harder to define than that of public cloud and no strict definition really exists. It is best to categorise private clouds by some of the features that they provide and the issues that they address in comparison to public services, such as data security and ownership control (of servers etc), rather than the mechanisms they use. They will of course also display the tell-tale features of cloud computing in general - virtualisation, instantaneous scalability, PAYG charging and automated allocation of resources on demand.

The entirety of a private cloud will only be accessible by a single organisation (in contrast to multiple clients using services within the public cloud) and some examples therefore also allow the end user organisation to have control over the management of the cloud network and its set-up so that they can tailor it to their own needs. The flip side of this control however is that some of the cost savings generated by the centralised management of public cloud services will be lost in private clouds. Instead the service becomes closer in structure to a traditional local network based service, but with the benefits of virtualisation mentioned above.

The network of servers itself can be hosted internally by the organisation (as required by some regulatory bodies for sensitive data) or externally by a cloud provider (e.g., a Virtual Data Centre, VDC ) but access will be restricted to connections made behind the organisation's firewall. To provide the security and control private clouds can employ certain characteristics techniques including closed networks of servers (not shared between clients), hosting of servers on site and leased lines to access these networks where they are hosted off site.

Saturday, May 19, 2012

Could IT Financing Be the Solution for Your Business Startup?

If you wish to make it into the "major leagues", then having your own IT equipment in place is a must. Not only will this make communication easier between your employees, but it will also help to make sure your customers are happy by allowing you to fulfill new orders with relative ease. If you've decided that it's time for your business to take advantage of new technological advancements, then one of the most important questions you will need to ask yourself is how you plan on paying for it. This is where IT financing comes into play. IT financing is a very lucrative option that could free up cash to be used in other aspects of your business.

IT Financing: The often overlooked option

No matter what type of IT hardware/software you need for your business, it will usually be quite expensive. So expensive in fact that it often becomes the number 1 barrier for new entrepreneurs looking to start a business. A lot of these entrepreneurs do not realize is that the capital for the technology needed can be financed. Yes, there are plenty of IT financing companies around that can easily accommodate whatever type of hardware/software you need to buy.

IT financing instead of buying is very advantageous because it will allow you to use your limited startup capital in other ways that may bring more benefits to your company. This could mean putting a bigger deposit down on the lease for your building, or perhaps even buying necessary supplies so that you can get started immediately.

A few things to watch out for when looking for a lender

Believe it or not, not all IT financing companies are created equal; when looking for a company to finance your IT infrastructure, there are a few tale-tale signs to stay away from. These include:

- High APR lenders.
- Lenders that require a substantial amount of upfront collateral. There are plenty of companies that do not require any at all.
- Contract managers that know little about how the IT industry works.
- Fixed non-negotiable contracts.

While there are of course other negative signs to stay away from, these in particular are the most important and widespread. If the company that you happen to be researching shows any of these signs, then it may be a good idea to simply look elsewhere. There are plenty of lenders on the market that are hungry for your business and will allow you to negotiate more favorable terms.

The bottom line

As you can see, IT financing can be a very lucrative option for those looking to start a new business or perhaps even upgrade an existing one to a better and more technologically driven infrastructure. If you think IT financing could be right for you and your business then finding a reputable finance company will be your first step. If you take the time to do your research correctly and find a lender with favorable terms, then you will surely put yourself ahead of your competitors who may still be struggling while using outdated or perhaps even non-existent IT systems.

Monday, May 14, 2012

IT Leasing: To Save Money at the Same Time Using Latest IT Equipment

As reported by the Equipment Leasing Association (ELA), over 80 percent of the companies of the US lease a certain amount of or all of the IT equipment. You may be wondering why have such a large number of enterprises chosen to lease their IT equipment instead of buying. The simple reason is that these companies have realized that the true benefits of the equipment they own comes from the use, not from ownership, which is notably true if the company has rapidly depreciating office equipment like computer equipment. Generally IT equipment is the most leased type of office equipment.

Why Would You Choose IT Leasing Over Purchasing?

IT leasing can be a very useful financial strategy if it is implemented in a proper manner. This strategy will appeal not only the finance executives but also the IT and legal executives of your company for a large number of reasons. Some of the most important of these reasons are listed below.

Leasing Can Reduce The Total Cost of Your Company

Due to the fact that IT leasing agencies intend to resell the IT equipment after the lease term is over, they do not need the client to finance the whole IT equipment cost. So you see, the present value (PV) of the lease installments is practically always lesser than the cost of the IT equipment, in the case when those are purchased. So if your company decides to lease it will be benefited, because usually all the companies realize increased savings from the leasing services if they choose to do so.

It Can Help You Save Working Capital and Keep Your Lines of Credit Intact

You do not need to do a lot of financial calculation to understand the years' old rule of thumb which tells you to buy appreciable assets such as land and gold and lease depreciable assets such as IT equipment. Instead of spending a large amount of money in a rapidly depreciating property such as a computer or a printer, you can very well pay very small mount for the property as you simultaneously reap the added benefits of its use.

By paying a moderate amount of expense for leasing each month, smart companies save their current level of line of credit and working capital for more income producing activities. An additional financial benefit of IT leasing is that it would keep debt off the financial statements such as the balance sheet, thus improving the performance ratios of your company. This will help you get more financing in the future.

Rule out Book Write-Downs at the End of the Useful Life of Your IT Equipment

Many companies that opted to choose purchase over lease have faced book write-down problems at the end of the equipment's useful life. For instance if a company has an IT equipment that is being depreciated over seven years, but the useful life of the equipment is only five, then at the five year mark, the mismatch will create a troublesome internal and bookkeeping conflict.

If you face such situation, then you will be forced to choose among continuing using your old IT equipment, placing it in a corner to go on with depreciation, or facing a book loss. IT leasing can always mitigate this headache, allowing you to match your bookkeeping procedures to the useful life of the IT equipment.

Get Tax Advantage

You can also have the tax benefits from IT leasing because in almost all the cases, lease payments are fully tax deductible in the form of operating expenses.

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

American Infighting Creates Opening For Cyberspies

The United States has the most powerful military in the world, with nearly 1.5 million active service members. We are prepared to meet threats delivered by land, air or sea - but not threats delivered by computer code.

Yet a bill that would have asked operators of vital infrastructure systems, such as power grids and water-treatment plants, to comply with voluntary cybersecurity standards recently died in the Senate.

In its original version, the bill, backed by President Barack Obama, would have implemented mandatory standards. The bill's sponsors, Sens. Joseph I. Lieberman, I-Conn., and Susan Collins, R-Maine, backed down only when it became clear they would not be able to muster enough votes, offering a voluntary program instead. Still, Senate Republicans saw the voluntary program as little more than a stepping stone on a path that would eventually lead back to the sponsors' initial vision.

The proposed compromise bill would have at least given us a start on efforts to improve cybersecurity. I wish it had passed. But I understand why Senate Republicans were reluctant to help the current president gain more authority to tell businesses what to do. Another president might have spent his time in office building the ties and trust with the business community that would justify taking a leadership role in the face of an emerging threat that should concern practically every business manager. Obama has not.

Now, rather than attempting to assuage critics' fears, Obama has moved in the opposite direction, suggesting that he may just implement the voluntary standards, as best he can, through executive order. The message is obvious: The president is set on getting his way. "An executive order makes clear the administration's intent to put a mandatory program into place to regulate businesses," Matthew Eggers, senior director of national security at the Chamber of Commerce, said in an emailed statement reported by Bloomberg. (1)

The price of this infighting is that we are unlikely to get a substantive legislative response to the threat of cyberterrorism any time soon.

Many people still think of hackers as rogue individuals, bent on wreaking destruction for destruction's sake or on hijacking passwords for personal gain. Those sorts of hackers do exist and are a threat. Just earlier this year, the anarchist hacker group Anonymous claimed responsibility for a second attack on the CIA website. Meanwhile, the Conficker worm, which recruits computers into a botnet, a network potentially capable of being used remotely by hackers, infects around 7 million computers. The botnet could be used to crash particular websites by flooding servers with requests, or it could be used as a supercomputer to break encryption systems and steal financial data. So far, the creators of the network seem more interested in the second purpose. "The people behind [the botnet] apparently want to use it for criminal reasons - to make money," said Mark Bowden, an expert on Conficker. (2) Last year, officials in Ukraine arrested a group of people using a portion of the Conficker botnet to drain millions from American bank accounts.

Hacking, however, is no longer the sole province of individual rogue programmers. Foreign nations and corporations are increasingly turning to computer-aided espionage as well, C. Frank Figliuzzi, who heads the FBI's counterintelligence division, recently told Congress.

In one of the most striking examples, the Chinese company Sinovel converted itself from Massachusetts-based turbine manufacturer AMSC's largest customer to one of that company's biggest competitors by appropriating its proprietary software, with the aid of a bribed employee. It also recently came to light that one of the Russian spies arrested in the well-publicized bust in 2010 spent some of his time in the U.S. working as an in-house computer expert for a high-profile consulting firm, a position that was likely intended to give him access to proprietary information.

So far, the cyberspies have apparently focused primarily on stealing intellectual property from private companies for the benefit of their own industries, but similar methods could be used for more sinister purposes as well. Four years ago, the public got a glimpse of how cyberwarfare might function when cyberattacks played a minor role in the Russian attack on Georgia, crippling government websites before the military advance. Around the same time, the U.S. was itself secretly advancing the role of cyberwarfare with its coordinated attacks on the Iranian nuclear program.

To prevent a similar attack on American infrastructure, we first need to push CTRL+ALT+DEL on our political conversation on cyberterrorism and cyberwarfare. For that to happen, the president must show more respect for the business community and Republican senators must show renewed willingness to work with Obama and his administration, despite its less-than-business-friendly record. It won't be easy, but it will be easier than rebooting infrastructure networks if we continue to leave them open to attack.

Sunday, May 6, 2012

The Best Way to Find a Good IT Management Firm

If you've struggled to manage your own IT in the past, then you have probably realized by now the benefits of having an outside firm do it for you. Not only can outsourcing this task save you money, but it can also give you the extra time you need to focus more energy on marketing and satisfying your current customers. But believe it or not, not all IT management firms will be able to deliver the performance you'd expect. Even the best and most reliable companies will have faults that could end up costing you money instead. If you need a little help in making your decision, then below you'll find a few of the top warning signs of a bad company, as well as some of the positive signs that you should be looking for.

Warning signs of a bad IT management firm

Unacceptable follow-up: One of the best signs of a bad IT management company is poor or slow follow-up. The very nature of the IT environment requires quick adaptability and performance by management personnel in order to insure that any downtime you may experience due to technical problems gets corrected immediately. Not doing so could become very costly. This will not only cost you new customers, but can also annoy and drive away the customers that you may already have. If your IT management company takes days just to respond to a simple inquiry, then just imagine how long it could take them to respond if a major problem were to develop.

Placing a big emphasis on "free" consultations: T This may come as a big surprise, but not all "free" consultations are necessarily free. The majority of IT management firms use this as a ploy in order to upsell you on expensive services. This is done by telling you that you have major problems with your IT, and then offering you a guaranteed solution that only they can provide. While "free" consultations aren't always necessarily a bad thing, you should be on the lookout for suspicious "problems" and services that they will likely recommend.

The signs of a good IT management firm

Expertise followed by a real portfolio: The ideal firm for your business will not only have extensive education and experience, but they will also have a rather large portfolio of current or past clients that have also used their services with success. This is very important, because certifications and education mean nothing, if a company cannot deliver on promises and expectations. When asking to see a firms' portfolio they should also be willing to allow you to contact the companies that have used them in the past so that you can get a good idea of what to expect.

Fast communication: When you first contact an IT management firm it is important to pay attention to just how fast the company follows up with you and answers your questions. If you find a company that is very speedy in this regard then this is a definite sign that the particular firm could be a winner.

A dedicated account representative: When selecting a firm, it should be obvious that you won't be the only client that the company is working with. This is why it is so important that you have your own dedicated account representative that knows all about your business and your needs and will be able to work with you directly. Not only does this cut out the "middleman" process, but it also cuts down on internal confusion and frustration.

As you can see, choosing a good IT management company does not have to be complicated at all. In fact, it can be very easy if you stick to these tips and compare multiple services. Not only will this help you to pick the right firm, but it will also make the entire process less time consuming than it would be otherwise.