WAN Virtualization Using Over The ToP (OTP)

With the introduction of Over the ToP (OTP), Cisco has empowered enterprise customers to regain control of their WAN deployments. By focusing on simplicity, OTP helps remove the complexity of the deployment of branch networks utilizing Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) Virtual Private Network (VPN), and adds the ability to utilize lower cost public networks.

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What IT Can You Outsource?

article used with permission from HTS

Outsourcing your IT (often called managed IT services) has many benefits for small- to medium-sized businesses. Businesses without large IT staffs or the necessary tech skills or infrastructure often choose managed services to take the place of or supplement their own IT professionals. This allows for

• Flexibility when growing or moving: A managed services provider can give you temporary resources when upgrading your infrastructure, for example
• Specialized resources when necessary: For a flat recurring fee, you get access to the managed service provider’s entire staff and their specialists, whereas for that same cost you could hire only a single part-time person with a single skillset
• Cost savings: By outsourcing your IT, you can realize significant savings, as IT providers can arrange services and hardware at a lower cost

There are many benefits to outsourcing your IT, but what exactly can managed IT services cover for you? What can you outsource? If you think managed IT services is just about getting IT phone support during afterhours or having someone else create new email accounts for you, then think again!

• Data Processing and Storage: The space, maintenance, and power required for processing and storing your data can drain your time and resources. This can be outsourced to a provider’s data center.
• Hardware: With the rise of cloud computing, not only can your data be outsourced to a data center, you can often remove your on-site servers entirely and run your applications in the cloud, from a virtualized server. Such solutions and contracts are a form of outsourced IT.
• Planning and Management: If you need a CIO (Chief Information Officer) or a project consultant, a managed services provider can do this for you. Managed services is proactive rather than reactive: strategic planning, project management, and consulting can be outsourced so that the growth of your IT infrastructure and your future projects benefit from expertise you may not have on staff.
• Monitoring and Maintenance: Regular IT support can be outsourced with a managed services contract, giving you continual monitoring of your network to make remediation of problems faster and reduce downtime. This type of monitoring can also include running security updates, patching, and everyday-type work to keep your hardware, software, and devices running smoothly.
• Email Management: Outsourcing can also cover managing your email – from your spam/anti-virus software to a complete unified communications system.

If you have questions about whether outsourcing some or all of your IT is right for you, we’d love to talk to you!

What the technology you’re using says about your business

What the technology you’re using says about your business

used with permission from Microsoft

by Cindy Bates

Did you know the technology you use has an impact on what current and potential customers think of your business? Those are the findings of a survey we recently conducted, in which 90 percent of respondents said they would – or would consider – taking their business elsewhere if a company uses outdated technology.

About 60% of respondents said they consider a 5-10 year old operating system or desktop computer to be “outdated.” That means the estimated 30% of small businesses that are still using the Windows XP operating system (introduced over 12 years ago in 2001), are running their business on technology that definitely falls into the category of “outdated.” Come April 8, 2014, businesses running Windows XP will no longer receive security updates or technical support, leaving them vulnerable to potential security threats.

Businesses that are using outdated technology are not only exposed to reputational and security risks, but are also missing out on some amazing capabilities that have finally become accessible and affordable to SMBs only in the last several years. There is a wide array of versatile, touch-enabled Windows 8 devices, from slates and tablets to All-in-Ones, now available to match every mobility and productivity requirement. And cloud services like Office 365 offer all of the well-known Office apps like Outlook email, Word, Excel and PowerPoint, as well as cloud storage, IM, and voice and video conferencing, for as little as $6 per user per month.

If you want to learn more about what it takes to modernize your technology and why it matters, download this free e-guide.

Choosing between Windows 7 or 8.1

used with permission from HP Technology at Work

It may be the dead of winter, but harbingers of spring abound, including increasing daylight hours and the start of baseball’s spring training. Like the crack of the bat and the season’s first daffodils, April 8th—the day on which Microsoft® officially stops supporting its third-generation technology Windows XP operating system—will also be here before you know it.
As we’ve previously discussed, businesses that put off upgrading to Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 will not only miss out on powerful new features, they’ll also waste time and money on custom Microsoft or third party services to support an obsolete system prone to cyber attack. The question then isn’t whether to replace XP, but rather what to replace it with.
Though perhaps somewhat more slowly than what might be expected, the news of XP’s plodding but eventual demise is resonating among long-time users. This past fall, Net Applications data showed XP running just more than 31 percent of the world’s 1.5 billion computers [1]—significantly less than the 38 percent recorded early last summer [2]. Notably, companion data showed that in October, Windows 7 accounted for more than 46 percent of the market, as compared to Microsoft’s Windows 8’s slightly more than 8 percent [1].
But Windows 8.1 is receiving largely enthusiastic reviews that are bound to quickly escalate its use [3].
Among other enhancements, Microsoft is touting the introduction of a “start button” in Windows 8.1—non-existent in Windows 8—and the latest version’s easier overall customization as features to drive users to 8.1. Do these latest developments greatly benefit businesses, or does Windows 7 provide ample functionality in the transitioning from XP?

Compare and contrast

In partial response to small business’ less-than-enthusiastic acceptance of Windows Vista, Windows 7 was introduced in October 2009 as a strong alternative to XP [4]. Instead of requiring new hardware, Windows 7 quickly loads programs, boots and shuts down on existing hardware.  This translates into immediate cost savings. Windows 7 delivers simple navigation by resizing or making all open windows transparent, and includes multitasking features like thumbnail size preview icons accessible with one click.
Most hardware and software works right out of the box with Windows 7. File organization, which is an important aspect of business operations (think of small medical practices’ and insurance brokerages’ need to track sensitive patient and customer data for regulatory and fair practice purposes), is facilitated through the use of libraries that enable the convenient cataloging of readily retrievable files in single locations—regardless of where they reside. Network set up is easy; the Windows 7 Professional Edition supports connectivity with complex servers.
Third-party developer support for Windows 7 is strong and, more than XP’s, its overall performance better supports users’ everyday work and online experience. Another plus: in November, Microsoft delivered the newest and final version of Internet Explorer 11 for Windows 7, identical to that packaged in the 8.1 update for Windows 8 users.
The touch screen-friendly program features improved support for web standards as well as for hardware-accelerated 3D graphics and HTML5 video, which is ideal for small architecture and design firms. For businesses migrating to Windows 7, HP's Client Migration Services for Windows 7 includes a full suite of services leveraging a “factory style” process for optimizing and modernizing application portfolios.

Windows 8.1: a touch more power

Despite these and other powerful features, Microsoft says availability of Windows 7, followed by support services, will soon end [5]. The company’s improvements to Windows 8.1 build upon Windows 8’s touch-enabled interface, so important to businesses’ eventual de facto acceptance of BYOD.
Unlike Windows 7, Windows 8.1 will likely require infrastructure upgrades to take full advantage of its new features (the long-term benefits figure to outweigh added short-term costs). In addition to increased mobility across desktops, laptops, tablets and smartphones, Windows 8.1 enables the development of applications that work seamlessly across each of these devices.
Standardizing on 8.1 also lowers support costs by allowing IT to streamline support, with the added benefit of a “Workplace Join” feature that provides users access to corporate resources—regardless of the device used. Perhaps most significantly, 8.1’s device-neutral operation reduces support requests, freeing IT to focus on more strategic or revenue-generating activities. In fact, a self-help portal in the system’s service desk enables users to troubleshoot on their own.
Windows 8.1 also includes beefed up security enhancements, including Remote Business Data Removal to allow the removal of encrypted content when it’s no longer needed. Internet Explorer 11 also enables an anti-malware solution to protect against the execution of known and unknown malware [7, 8].
HP offers a suite of desktop and notebook PCs and tablets pre-installed with Windows 8.1. Featuring long battery life, each also includes SkyDrive for anytime, anywhere access to files and photos.
With a wide variety of available transitioning tools and hardware, a move from XP to Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 needn’t be difficult. Like XP before them, these operating systems possess the powerful, user-friendly functions and apps that ensure continued smooth business operations with the added benefits of greater speed, efficiency, security and seamless operation across multiple devices.


[1] BGR, Windows 7 adoption still growing at a faster rate than Windows 8, October 1, 2013
[2] ZDNet, Latest OS share data shows Windows still dominating in PCs, April 1, 2013
[3] InformationWeek, Windows 8.1: 10 Surprise Benefits, June 13, 2013
[4] Entrepreneur, 10 Reasons to Upgrade to Windows 7, November 2, 2009
[5] Windows, Windows lifecycle fact sheet, October 2013
[7] Not all features are available in all editions of Windows 7. Systems may require upgraded and/or separately purchased hardware, drivers and/or software to take full advantage of Windows 7 functionality. Seehttp://www.microsoft.com
[8] Not all features are available in all editions of Windows 8 and Windows 8.1. Systems may require upgraded and/or separately purchased hardware, drivers and/or software to take full advantage of Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 functionality. See http://www.microsoft.com