'Twas the Night Before Christmas

Here's a new rendition of an old favorite: How Aegis Business Technologies gets into the holiday spirit. If you like it, tweet about it!

‘Twas the night before Christmas when all through the house

Every creature was stirring, yes, even the mouse.

The servers were checked by the technicians with care,

In hopes there’d be no crashes come the New Year.

Blake Dowling was hunkered down over his desk,

While Jeanne searched for deals online without any rest.

And Pam in her office and Rob with his map,

Searching for drop zones in the walls with a “tap”!

When from the phones there arose such a clatter,

Amanda sprang from her desk to see what was the matter.

Away to the client Bill flew like a flash,

He raced to his car like it was the 50 yard dash.

The moon was abreast on the Capitol Dome

It was 4:59 – only a moment before close.

Yet, not a person did balk, or disappear

Instead, all ran to help the client in fear.

With Brad at the helm, so lively and quick,

I knew in a moment there was no need to panic.

More rapid than eagles the technicians came,

Brad whistled and shouted and called them by name:

Now David, now Kevin,

and now Heather Williams!

Shawn Moore and Terry,

Amanda and Mr. Cummings!

To the computer desks!

To the doorways and halls!

Now work away, work away, work away all!

As the dry leaves that before the hurricane fly,

When met with an obstacle, techs hold their heads high,

So to the root of the problem they quickly jumped to

With brains full of knowledge and experience too.

And then in the twinkling I heard the whirr of a fan

Inside each person’s workstation, on everyone’s desk.

As I drew in my head and was turning around,

In came the client, CEO, with a bound.

His face full of wrinkles from forehead to chin,

The worry of crashing seemed to weigh upon him.

When the techs broke the good news, exclaiming “we’re back!”

He sighed with relief, found a chair and collapsed.

His eyes began to twinkle, his dimples how merry,

His face seemed to light up, like fireworks in January.

He turned to the team, dropping his head with a bow

And whispered incredulously, “but… but…but how?!

Louis stepped forward, sensing the CEO’s relief

And a quick explanation to him he did bequeath.

His company saved, the CEO was so happy,

He shook Pam’s hand hard, ‘til it turned into jelly.

All problems were solved by Aegis that night,

Working tirelessly, for long hours, without putting up a fight.

In the blink of an eye and the twist of a knob,

Two brief phone calls and a chat sesh to finish the job.

After completion they went to their cars

Packed up their tools and drove into the dark.

The CEO stood and watched them drive off,

Then headed inside to finish his quaff.

Then out in the distance and just out of sight

He heard faint voices shouting

“Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!”

Give Thanks

Thanksgiving is the only time that I, the writer for a technology company, will tell you to throw your technology out the window. Yes, you heard me right. Thanksgiving is not the time for technology. Thanksgiving is a time for family and friends; for traditional (and complicated) recipes – homemade pumpkin pie (sorry Betty Crocker), turkeys that take 10 hours to cook, cranberry sauce not from a can and cracking walnuts while sitting around the kitchen table.

The past few years have been hard. Times have been tough. Wallets have become tighter and any technology that could cut cost or save time has been implemented to its fullest capability. And that’s great. We have become a generation of adapters, innovators, and go getters. The midnight oil burns well past 12am and every small business owner in Tallahassee, and everywhere, is holding their breath and hoping for the best.

But on the 24th, let’s take a breath. Take one day to not worry about tomorrow. Let the emails go unread, the phone calls go unanswered and enjoy the company of those right in front of you.

It’s been tough, but if you’re reading this, you’re still kicking, and thanks to all of you, so is Aegis. Our team wanted to take a moment to tell you that we appreciate the opportunities that you - our friends, vendors and customers have given us -it's because of you all that we have made it to where we are  today.

Have a safe and happy Holiday and don’t forget to give thanks to those that mean the most to you! 

SCARY TECHNOLOGY: CYBERWARS, JOB LOSS AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, OH MY!

When I think of October I think of witches and warlocks, ghosts and goblins, and fun sized candy bars that aren’t any fun at all since they’re too small to get any real enjoyment out of them. I think of haunted houses and headless horsemen and all the other scary things that go along with the Halloween Holiday. I do not, however, think of technology – although I should. Technology can be more frightening than any ghost or headless horseman. While the kooky creatures come out but once a year, these scary technologies can creep up behind you 365 days a year. Here are some of the most terrifying technologies that leave me shaking in my shoes. So be afraid… be very afraid!

  1. Artificial Intelligence: Think back to 1950. What were the popular movies of the time? You may remember The Thing, Creature from the Black Lagoon or I Married A Monster from Outer Space. Fast forward to modern day and aliens got traded out for another type of scary invasion. Movies like I, Robot, Minority Report and A.I. are now the box office hits and the theme is a frightening one: Artificial intelligence, aka computers, have the ability to outsmart humans and even take over the world. Although it may not be a reality yet (or perhaps ever) it’s still a frightening thought! For more information on this click here:http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/gadgets/high-tech-gadgets/5-scary-technologies4.htm
 

  2. Cloud Computing: Chances are, you’ve stumbled across this new technology at some point- people are storing all kinds of things in “the cloud” – music, grocery lists, birth certificates and work reports. Granted, it has a lot of upsides- cost, convenience and scalability to name a few, but it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. Unfortunately the law does not classify searching your home and searching your computer in the same way. So while it takes a search warrant to enter your house, often it only takes a subpoena (which is much easier to obtain) to search your computer and invade your privacy. With everything being stored in the cloud these days, it means almost everything is available to be searched, sometimes even without your knowledge. While I don’t have anything to hide, I don’t like the idea of my life being an open book to anyone who wants to nose around either! For more information on this click here: https://ssd.eff.org/book/export/html/42
 

  3. Job Loss: The economy is down, the unemployment rate is up, and although all parties claim that they have the magical solution to create jobs and boost the economy, this could be far from the truth. And it’s not because of the evil Republicans, the disastrous Democrats or the crazy Tea Partiers – we can blame it on technology! More and more, technology is taking over jobs that used to require a human or multiple humans, to complete. Even though the new equipment will require a person to operate it, that may not be enough to keep hundreds or even thousands from losing their jobs. For more information, click here:http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2011/10/07/9-skilled-occupations-being-killed-by-technology/?ncid=dynalduscare00000003|
 

  4. Cyberwars: I’m sure you’ve experience mild to severe frustration when the power goes out. Besides having no lights and no water, not having internet can pretty much bring your life to a screeching hault. Well imagine if a virus came in and wiped out everything on the internet – bank accounts, business records, criminal histories etc. Nowadays, everything has gone “paperless” to make the world a greener place. But if the only file on record is an online file, we could be in big trouble. If you think the government had difficulty now, imagine how bad  it could be after a cyberwar! For more information on this click here:http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/241393/security_upgrades_needed_with_growing_cyberwar_threats.html

I know some of these ideas are farfetched, but in the spirit of Halloween, I thought it only appropriate to give you just a few more spooky things to think about when you lay down to sleep at night. So keep your eyes open and your ears alert – you never know where the next scare will come from.

Happy Halloween, and remember, if any of your technology is scaring you, give Aegis a call and we’d be more than happy to get rid of any “I.T. skeletons” you may have hiding in your closet!

Advice from Earl: The Millionaire Mattress Maker

The other night I was perusing the CNBC website, hoping to find an article or picture that would help inspire me to write this article, when I stumbled upon a blog titled “How I Made My Millions: Important Lessons Learned by Earl Kluft”. Needless to say, this intrigued me – I would like to make a million dollars. I’d also like Aegis to make a million dollars. I assumed the lovely, intelligent, and wealthy Mr. Kluft must be involved in one of the latest technology related inventions- perhaps he was hobnobbing with Zuckerberg and Jobs, and scooped up the latest big idea. I was wrong. Earl Kluft made his millions making mattresses. And no, he’s not the owner of Sealy, Serta, Simmons or Stearns. So how did this guy do it? And how are mattresses the topic of a technology newsletter? Well, your burning questions are about to be answered, my friends…

Earl Kluft, a third generation mattress maker, began his career in 1963 with the goal of creating high quality mattresses using the best craftsmanship available. Although his skill set is far removed from the world of computers, information technology and servers, his advice is important to every business owner providing a product or service and every individual who is seeking services from a company or organization. According to Kluft, there are 7 rules you should follow when starting a business, and 4 of those 7 really stuck with me. They are as follows:

1.      Have a passion.
2.      Think of your customers first.
3.      Exceed Expectations.
4.      Get the word out.

These 4 points can apply to anyone and to any organization. If you’re a business owner, you know that passion leads to innovation, creativity and a positive work environment. These are the types of things your organization should be doing to stay at the top of your game, especially in this economy. And if you’re an employee, you need to be sure you’re working for an organization that you respect and in a position that you care about. So whether you’re making mattresses or coming up with cloud computing options, be sure you’re giving it your all. Remember that without passion you will never rise above mediocrity.

In my opinion, customer service is the true differentiator. You can have two identical products for the same price but what makes them unique is the service you receive  when you go to purchase the item or need support. If the product breaks and you have to spend 10 minutes dealing with an automated voice machine, 30 minutes on hold and then pay for return shipping, you’re not going to be happy. In fact, you might even spend more money on the same product just to avoid this hassle! So while you may be in the business of fixing cars or baking cakes, you are always in the business of customer service. If you want to be on top, take care of your customers first.

Some of you may have heard the phrase “going the extra mile” – doing more than the minimum required for the task at hand. Dairy Queen has recently embraced this idea in their latest series of commercials. A suave looking gentleman comes out and says “at Dairy Queen we don’t stop at good enough. We don’t just give you a birthday cake, we give you irresistible fudge and crunch between layers of vanilla and chocolate soft serve. And we don’t just blow bubbles, we blow bubbles with kittens inside of them. Because at Dairy Queen, good isn’t good enough.” We should all take on this mantra. While we can’t give away kittens to everyone, we can take that extra step to exceed expectations, whether it’s staying a few minutes late to get that proposal done, or taking 5 minutes to follow up with a customer to ensure they’ve been taken care of to their level of satisfaction. It only takes 1% more effort to be better than the other guy, so make 101% your minimum effort and you’ll be sure to succeed.

Having a great service or product is one thing, but if you want to be profitable, you’ve got to be sure people know about it. Like the famous “Dizzy” Dean (the Major League Baseball Hall-of-Famer) once said, “It ain’t bragging if you can do it”. If you are passionate, innovative, customer service driven, and have a good product or service, you need to shout it from the rooftops! Maybe not brag, necessarily, but some 15 second commercials, a Facebook page and a charity golf tournament sponsorship can certainly help remind people about the great work you’re doing.

The reason this article caught my attention is because, here at Aegis, we work hard every day to meet these 4 goals. All of our technicians take pride in their work. We don’t just hire based on talent, we hire people who have passion and talent- those who will work until the job gets done and then, when it’s over, sit down and say “OK, that was good, but here’s a way we can make it even better next time”. It’s that type of attitude that’s needed to take you to the next level. Kluft’s guidelines should be guidelines for everyone because they can be applied to the business owner and the individual.

So what does a third generation, millionaire, mattress maker and a midsized, midtown, IT company have in common? At first glance, not too much, but when you dig a little deeper, I hope you’ll find there’s a whole lot more in common than meets the eye, my friend. A whole lot more than meets the eye…

The Evolution of Backups

Has your computer or laptop ever crashed? If it has, you probably know the importance of a good backup recovery system. If it hasn’t, mark my words, it’s only a matter of time. I know this from personal experience…

When I was young and naïve, I thought I was invincible. This meant snow skiing without a helmet, riding on the back of boys’ motorcycles, and not backing up my computer. The day my computer crashed and I lost 5,000 songs, 3,000 pictures and my revised thesis that was due in a week was the day I decided to make two major changes in my life: I started listening to my father and I started backing up my computer. So, 500 dollars and a recovered thesis later (my music and pics were never restored), I sat down with my dad and his tech savvy friend and backed up everything I had left on to floppy discs.

Today of course, floppy discs, tape backups and (if you’re a child of the 50s) punch card backups are a thing of the past. They have been replaced with hardware, software and Cloud backup solutions like Datto, MozyPro and IoSafe. But what are these solutions really? And what are backups really capable of – can they resurrect all lost files from the dead, or simply keep your business afloat if a disaster does strike?

The answer: it depends.

Below explains , in layman’s terms, the different options you have to choose from when it comes to backing up your data, starting with the simplest and least expensive option and ending with the most expensive and robust choice.

1.      An NT Backup is the most basic backup option available. Here’s how it works: When you buy a computer, NT Backup comes pre-installed on your server. To perform the backup, you would plug in a standard USB and run the backup so all the data from your computer would be copied and stored on the USB drive. You can recover files from the backup and if your computer crashes, you’ll have all your files on the USB drive. To do this however, you must first reinstall the Operating System (an operating system is what makes your computer operate- Like Windows 7 or XP) and do a full system recovery to get your documents back.

It’s important to be aware, however, that a full recovery may not be entirely successful if the hardware was ever changed at any point. For example, say your computer was purchased in 2002, well, that same hardware is no longer made today, so new hardware, which requires new drivers, must be purchased. The backup will not contain the new drivers, and it will have to be installed in order to get all your old data, settings etc. back.

Another issue to be aware of with this most basic type of backup is that you cannot run a temporary copy of the server in a virtual environment. Virtualization is when you run one system on another (for example, running Windows XP on a Windows 7 machine). Backups that include virtualization generally allow automated copies to be backed up to another location, so, even if your building burns down, your information would be safely stored in another location. With an NT Backup this is not an option.

2.      An IoSafe drive can be used instead of the regular USB drive with an NT Backup for additional protection. An IoSafe drive is a waterproof, fireproof and even gunshot proof USB drive. So, no matter what type if disaster hits your company, your information will be safe inside this “unbreakable” device. Even though the ioSafe is unbreakable, it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take additional precautions. It is still important to have another backup that you take offsite in the off chance a hurricane comes in and sweeps away your office with your ioSafe, and all your data, inside the building.

3.      A step up from NTBackup is Symantec System Recovery. This software does allow for the things the NTBackup is lacking; restoration to dissimilar hardware, virtualization (though you will need a server to run the virtual copy on), and automatic duplication of backups for removal offsite (basically you can make a copy of your data and take it to another location so if something happens in one place, you still have a copy in another). Symantec System Recovery also writes to a USB drive like NTbackup, and when combined with an Iosafe and 2 rotatable USB drives, is a very cost effective solution that covers all the bases.

4.      The next level of backups is a Backup Disaster Recovery device or BDR.  BDR’s are a standalone server that backup the other servers to themselves then replicate that data off site to the cloud. This provides 2 levels of protection, an onsite and offsite backup without the hassle of carrying a drive off site regularly. Some BDR’s also offer the additional feature of virtualization. With virtualization, you can actually use the BDR hardware as a server temporarily until new hardware arrives. With a BDR, recovery is extremely easy. The backup image can be loaded directly to any hardware from the BDR, and without the issues the NT Backup has of the hardware changes. Datto is one company that offers a BDR.

5.      Another option you have for backups is a complete cloud option like Mozy or Carbonite. This is where all of your data is stored at a remote location (aka in the cloud). The price depends on how much you decide to store in the cloud. Recovering files with this type is straight forward but a full system recovery requires first reinstalling the Operating System and backup software the entire data set which can take quite some time.

There are pros and cons to all of these choices; so it’s important to analyze you or your company’s specific needs before making a decision. Let’s look at an example:

Say you are a big firm and deal with hundreds of large files, maps and photos every day, and you choose to go with an all cloud based backup. Because of the size of your data, using a cloud backup would become very expensive very quickly because each time you store additional files in the cloud you get charged for it. Also because of the size of the files, it takes a long time to upload them, leaving a gap where the most recently changed files haven’t had time to upload. It might make more sense to have a local backup and then replicate to the cloud. However, if you are a small law firm and need a place to store old client files until the statute of limitations is up, the cloud could be a good option since you can rest easy knowing your files are stored someplace safe in case you need to access them for some reason.

Although backups can seem like a complex and complicated beast to tackle, it’s well worth the effort. Plus, you can always rely on the techs here at Aegis to explain it to you in more detail – give us a call at 850.422.2661.Just remember, if you don’t go skiing without a helmet, and you don’t speed down curvy, wet roads on the back of a Harley, you shouldn’t neglect your computer backups either. Stay safe, stay protected, and keep your computers, and your company, up and running.

Google+... or Google- ?

If you’ve been following the news lately, it’s highly likely that you’ve heard about Google’s latest invention – Google+. Supporters of this most recent development claim it’s a social network that provides a much needed alternative to Facebook, while others declare it’s nothing more than a weak attempt on Google’s part to gain a piece of the pie that shot Mark Zukerberg to stardom (and riches).

No matter what the reason though, it will be important to analyze this new invention to determine what Google+ means for the workplace - for business owners and employees alike. Will Google+ become yet another time waster in what many would claim is already too short a work day, or will this new invention increase productivity in the workplace? According to www.thenextweb.com andwww.readwriteweb.com, Google+ is advertising their newest invention as a mix between Facebook and LinkedIn (a popular business social media platform), but with the well known phrase “never mix business with pleasure” ringing in my ears, it’s hard for me to determine if Google+ is really all that good, or just too good to be true. Unfortunately for all of us that didn’t receive a Google+ invite, we’ll have to sit back and wait, but until then, here’s a list of what features Google+ has in store for their users:

1. Google Circles: Allows you to sort people into groups or “circles”. You can create separate circles for your friends, you workout buddies, your play-date parents, and yes, your business colleagues.

2. Hangouts: Allows you to hold a videoconference with multiple people. You can chat with your Uncle in Hong Kong, your brother in Frankfurt and your Mother in New York all at the same time! Or you could use it to chat with your boss in Prague, and your colleague in Atlanta, all from your office in Tallahassee!

3. Integration Potential: I would assume it will only be a matter of time before you can sync Google+ with your Gmail, Calendar, Contacts etc. A very handy feature for those who have Gmail accounts.

According to Google, their latest invention is set to be open to the Public “soon”, so if you’re awaiting it with as much anticipation as I am, click here to get updates and to take a tour of the Google+ site. It’ll be up to you to determine whether it’ll be better suited for work or play! 

Don't Let Bad Weather Turn Into A Bad Day: How to Protect Your Network During Hurricane Season

As Florida residents, I’m sure you all are familiar with the term “Hurricane Season”. Being from Alaska, this was a phrase that I was completely unfamiliar with when I first moved down here. I decided to leave the frozen North when winter temperatures dropped to -40°F…for an entire month. After 30 days of mind numbing cold, I marched into the kitchen and told my parents that in the Fall I would be going away to college, not to Oregon like my father had thought, but to Florida.

I arrived in the middle of July. “Ahh” I thought to myself, “no more being cooped up in the house for days on end due to unbelievable weather conditions, Florida is the place for me!”

Then August hit. When I say hit, I literally mean hit. There were reporters all over the News screaming, shouting, pleading and announcing that Hurricane Season was finally upon us.

First it was just rain. So I went out and bought a big golf umbrella. Then came the sirens. So I bought earplugs. Finally, one Tuesday afternoon, an emergency broadcast came on over the radio warning us to flee the area. “FLEE THE AREA?!?!” Panicked, I called my father.

“Where have you allowed your firstborn child to venture off to?!? I have to flee the area! Yes… FLEE THE AREA! Is this some sort of sick payback for not choosing Oregon?!”

Of course it was not payback. Although my parents controlled the checkbook, they did not in fact control the weather – this was simply Hurricane Season… in all its glory.

For the entire month of August I sat cooped up due to the abysmal weather conditions, and because of the storms there was no TV, no Internet, and no electricity.

Braving my first hurricane season was not without its upsides however. Besides finally reading Atlas Shrugged in its entirety, I learned the importance of a good Disaster Recovery Plan, and while most of you probably have a plan in place for your home and family, a plan for your business is just as crucial. Below are some issues you should take into consideration when developing a Disaster Recovery Plan for your business:

1.   Invest in Surge Protectors. When lightning strikes, it increases the amount of power that is running through the cables and wires that connect to your equipment. If there is too much power, your equipment will become overloaded and blow up. A Surge Protector monitors the power before it actually goes into your machine, thus preventing equipment failure due to power increases.

2.   Invest in a UPS. No, not the United Parcel Service, but an Uninterrupted Power Supply. This is essentially the exact opposite of a power surge – it’s when the power fails. Many companies have generators that kick in so the lights come on in the event of a power outage; however, to keep your computers and network up running smoothly, you’ll need a UPS to ensure power will always be there, even if the electricity goes out.

3.   Have an Offsite Data Storage Location. The key here is to ensure that it is truly offsite. If you are backing up your data from your workplace to your home, and home isonly 10 or 15 miles away, then you’re not really going to be that protected because, as you know, a hurricane can wreak havoc for hundreds of miles. So it won’t matter how many backups you have if all of them are within the radius of the hurricane!

4.   Ensure Accessibility from a Remote Location. Let’s say you do the right thing and store data at a remote location, but you only can access it from your personal work computer. Well, if the computer gets washed away in a flood, it will take a lot of time and effort to get the security clearances needed to access the data. So be sure that you are not only storing the data remotely, but that you can access it remotely as well.

5.   Keep an Assets Record. This is exactly what it sounds like – a record of your assets. Be sure to include the prices of things like workstations, laptops, printers etc. That way, if your office does get destroyed, you have a list of what was inside to present to the insurance company so you can replace equipment as soon as possible.

By having a Disaster Recovery Plan in place for your business, you are helping ensure the success of your company, regardless of what Mother Nature might have in store for Business Owners in the Sunshine State. So be sure to speak with an Aegis Technician to determine if your organization is ready for Hurricane Season, because no one wants a little bad weather to turn into a disastrous day! 

Are you Surfing Safely?

Flip on the news. Read the paper. Open a magazine. Odds are that you’ll be seeing something about Internet security. Just today I found the following articles plastered across Google News:

• “Sony Execs Apologize for Network Security Breach”
• “Customers Stay Despite High Profile Data Breaches”
• “Security Concerns Rise over Wi-Fi Networks”

All three articles have one thing in common – a warning that the Internet can be a very dangerous place. Yet is seems that each time users get the choice between security and convenience, they consistently choose the latter. You may say to yourself “Oh no, not me– I don’t access risky sites, I use a strong virus protection software, and my computer is password protected.” That is all well and good, but have you ever participated in any of the following activities?

• Saved your mailing address, e-mail, or *ahem* credit card number on Amazon or eBay so you didn’t have to enter it every time you logged in?
• Switched from Firefox to Internet Explorer as your preferred browser?
• Checked your bank account from a public Wi-Fi zone?
• Paid for something online using a credit card?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you’re not being as safe as you thought you were. Yes, taking the aforementioned actions may make your life easier, but how much are you willing to risk?

Sadly, people seem to be willing to risk a whole lot these days. In the article titled “Security Concerns Rise Over Wi-Fi Networks” one woman stated “I’m somewhat aware that open wireless Internet networks can trigger security problems, but I tend to go with the option anyway because the Wi-Fi networks are much faster in data transfer compared to the 3G network on mobile.” James McCartney was quoted saying “I’ve accepted that all my information is out there and someone has it, and that’s just the way it is” in the article titled “Customers Stay Despite High Profile Data Breaches”.

I propose a different train of thought – like Obama stated, it is time for a change. We need to quit this lackadaisical type of thinking and protect ourselves. We shouldn’t grow to expect hacking, viruses and weak security, just as we wouldn’t tolerate an intruder breaking into our home, or a thief snatching our wallet. As has always been the case with technology, the laws and regulations always seem to be two steps behind, which is why, until the laws catch up with the times, we need to take the necessary precautions to protect ourselves. René Mente, CEO of Neptune Consulting Group put it this way:

"Let’s consider your home, for example. It would be very convenient to leave and re-enter the house if you left the front and back doors unlocked, and left the doors open all the time. However, if you leave the house and go to work in the morning with the doors wide open and unlocked, it would not be very secure.

On the other hand, you could lock all the doors, lock all the dead-bolts, set the security alarm system, and have Doberman pinchers leashed to the front and back porch. It wouldn’t get any more secure than this scenario; however, it’s not very convenient when you’re coming back from the store with two bags of groceries in each arm."

So while I’m not proposing that you boycott the Internet, wrap your head in tin foil, and move to a hut in the woods, I am providing you with a few ways you can keep yourself safe when you’re online:

1. Delete your cookies on a regular basis. For more information on this, and how to delete them, click here and here.  
2. If your browser prompts you to “Remember Username and Password for this Site”, decline the invitation.
3. When using a public Wi-Fi, avoid checking your bank account, private e-mails or other confidential documents. To learn why, click here.
4. Use a secure browser like Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox when using the internet.

Remember, you take the time to secure your home, work, and office, so take the time to secure yourself online. Happy Surfing! 

The APPeal of the APP

Pen is to paper as ribbon is to typewriter. Beads are to abacus as buttons are to calculator. Do you remember completing analogies like these when you were in grammar school? Well, although analogies are still being taught today, the subject matter is quite different.

Instead of pens, papers, beads and buttons, the modern day analogy looks more like this: Word is to PC as app is to iphone. Yes, whether you like it or not, the app is the latest technological craze, and it’s important for you to decide if it’s one your company could benefit from.

So what exactly is the appeal of the app? There are two main reasons to invest in this most recent trend:

1.  You can recruit a whole new generation of clients.That geeky 16 year old girl may not be the one buying team jerseys now, but when she becomes sorority president in college, your T-shirt company will be top-of-mind when she goes to order shirts because you created the awesome app that was on her iphone at age 16. People tend to go with what they know, so if they know you first, see your signs, read your ads and have your app, you’ll be one step ahead of the competition.
2. You can send instant messages and updates to your customers. These instant messages, or push notifications, send a text message that pops up on the users’ phone immediately alerting them about sales, events and activities.

Although apps are perfect for some companies, that doesn’t mean they’re perfect for every company. You don’t want to spend a lot of money creating something just to say you have it. The goal is to have the app enhance your company’s already existing marketing, advertising, sales, and PR strategies. Here are a few things to keep in mind before you buy:

1. Does the app you have in mind provide value? Can customers access coupons, rebates, discounts, or “insider information” by using the app?
2. Is the app interactive? Do you provide some sort of game or entertainment for your customer?
3. Who will use your app? Does it have mass appeal or only target a very small market?
4. Does the app help create a connection between all of your company’s social media? Does it link to Facebook? Twitter? YouTube? Your website?

If you answered in the affirmative to these questions, it’s probably time to buy. Some key points to keep in mind are:

1. Which platform will you use? Although the iphone seems to be the most popular, blackberry, windows and droid all have applications for their smart phones too. If you determine that your target market uses blackberry more than the iphone, then that’s the platform you should pursue.
2. Is the app consistent? If your website color scheme is green and white, don’t create an app color scheme that’s purple and yellow. You want to create a united front for all of your advertising mediums so people don’t get confused.
3. How will you measure success? Have a system in place so you can track and determine if the app actually is creating awareness, generating revenue or helping your business grow. If you don’t have a measurement system in place, you can’t tell if it’s a success or not.
4.  Who will create the app? Make sure it’s with a company you can trust! If you think creating an app is the right thing for your company, call Aegis at 850.422.2661 or email us atsales@aegisbiztech.com. 

Strength in Numbers…and Letters

June, 2011

In this day and age, convenience is king – you can shop for clothes in your kitchen, collect CDs with the click of a mouse, and pay all your bills from the comfort of your own bed – all thanks to the Internet.

People often tell me how much faster and easier both their business and personal lives have become due to the recent boom in technology. However, with any benefit, there is always a cost associated with it as well. Because of the ease of access, everything must be protected with passwords – your work computer, home computer, bank account, electricity bill, Facebook, email, twitter… the list goes on and on!

So how do we cope with Password Overload Syndrome? Most people can be put into one of the following categories:

1.   The Overachiever. The Overachiever wants to ensure they’re protected at the maximum level possible so they create complicated and lengthy passwords like R2X!z13fjH7 for each of their different accounts. Of course the problem arises when they go to check their accounts and cannot remember the complicated concoction they came up with.

2.   The Repeat Offender. The Repeat Offender comes up with one moderately safe password like @pples72 but then uses that same password for every one of his or her accounts.

3.   The C Student. The C Student uses a different password for each account but each password is so weak that they might as well not have one at all! Things like “password” or “abc123” are favorites among C Student password Creators.

“Ok” you may say to yourself, “But are strong passwords really so important that an entire article is needed on the subject? It’s not like I’m a millionaire, or have lots of secrets that need protecting. And even if I was, I just can’t keep up with a zillion different passwords, so I haveto take the route of the Overachiever/Repeat Offender/ C Student!”

I am here to tell you. No. You don’t.

First, strong passwords are more important than you think. Check out this scenario:

Dr. John is fresh out of medical school and decides to be hip and cool and creates a Facebook page with the password JØhn! A few months later Dr. John gets hired at a prestigious hospital and protects his work computer with the same password so as to not forget his login for either account.

Suzy, John’s arch enemy, decides she’s going to get even because John got the job she wanted, so she hacks John’s Facebook account since it has less secure safety features. She then uses the password she found to hack into John’s work account where she proceeds to post the individual conditions of each and every one of John’s clients on the World Wide Web. This scenario, although slightly exaggerated, is much more common you think – when using one password for multiple accounts, it becomes very easy for a hacker to start small, get all the information they need from a site like Facebook, and then break into something more difficult like your private email, work account or bank account. So it’s not just an annoying situation, but one that could cost you your job.

Still don’t believe me? Check out the chart below to really see what the difference between a strong and weak password can mean:

PASSWORD LENGTH	ALL CHARACTERS (ABC,abc, 123, !%$)	ONLY LOWERCASE
3 characters 4 characters 5 characters 6 characters 7 characters 8 characters 9 characters 10 characters	0.86 seconds 1.36 minutes 2.15 hours 8.51 days 2.21 years 2.10 centuries 20 millennia 1,899 millennia	0.02 seconds .046 seconds 11.9 seconds 5.15 minutes 2.23 hours 2.42 days 2.07 months 4.48 years

* All time denotes the amount of time it would take for the password to be hacked

By now you’re probably thinking “I get that passwords are important, but that doesn’t help me when it comes time to memorize them all!” Well have no fear! Below are a few tips to help you create a balance between having a strongand memorable password:

• Use numbers or symbols in the place of letters to make the password more complicated to hack: Alaska becomes A1@sk@.
• Make sure passwords are at least 7 characters long – that one extra character means the difference between your account getting hacked in a few days or a few years.
• Come up with a word or phrase that you think of when logging into a specific site. For example, when you log into Facebook, use a password like Fr1ends! But when you log into your bank account use something like $ecur1ty.
• If you are required to use longer passwords, or change your password often, try using a phrase rather than a word, as this is often easier to remember. Try using a stanza from your favorite new song of the month, or a memorable quote from a movie.

As you can see, there are many key elements involved in creating a strong password.  Just remember, there’s strength in numbers and letters. So be sure to mix it up, make it memorable, and make your money unobtainable to all the hackers out there!