• Feature Article: When is it time to upgrade or replace your IT?
• Meet the Team: Chris Mackin
• Tech of the Month: Adam Cauchi
• Special Offer: Spring Clean Your IT!
• Tech Tip of the Month: What is your domain name, Where does it live, and When does it expire?
• Client Spotlight: Metromint by Soma Beverage

Feature Article: When is it time to upgrade or replace your IT?

These days, most companies are asking themselves if the cost of repairing and maintaining old IT equipment outweighs the cost of a full product replacement. When the question comes up “How many years should I expect to get out of this computer?” the general consensus can fluctuate depending on how you look at it.

What we typically see as the lifespan of a computer, whether it is a laptop or desktop, is 3-5 years with normal usage. If you are using a laptop, this number might be lower only because there is a higher risk of human error (dropping, spilling, etc.). In most instances, the first piece of hardware that will go is the power supply, followed by the electrical components. Other factors such as usage, stress, location, temperature, and environmental factors can all contribute to a shorter lifespan as well.

With proper care, maintenance, and upgrading, you may get up to 7 years of basic performance out of your computer but without vital hardware upgrades, basic functionality and speed may be the least of your concerns. After the computer hits the 3-5 year mark, hardware versus software compatibility is where we run into the problem. The software that you need for your company or the newest versions of current software, soon become impossible to purchase because your equipment is too out dated to meet the system requirements.

The same can be said about the lifespan of a Windows server. The life span of a server should not be measured in how long it remains able to perform the tasks given to it but by the amount of time that the hardware is supportable. As a company, one would have to balance out the cost of continually replacing the parts to keep it doing what you need it to do until you are able to go out and purchase one that will give you another 3-5 years without worrying about upgrading.

When it comes to making the decision to replace existing and outdated equipment within your company, there is a point that you ask yourself, “is the benefit to my company worth the impact on my wallet?” With a trusted IT provider on your side, you can rest assured that the products you are purchasing are going to be worth your time and money while also providing the right IT solutions for your business.

Keeping your equipment up-to-date will allow you utilize new software, software that may not be compatible (or possibly runs really slow) on your new equipment. A lot of new software programs are not supported by older software and some older machines do not even meet the minimum requirements.

Have you ever been sitting at your computer and you clicked to open a program and then you had to sit patiently and wait for it to open? If you add up all the time that you and you fellow co-workers spent just “waiting”, my guess is that it would be days or even months of time. With new equipment, the application response times are higher, processing speeds are faster and thus productivity in general increases for your business.

Along with productivity, there will be less downtime and the reliability of your equipment is much higher. Once you hit a certain point in the lifetime of a computer or a server, equipment failure is inevitable. With newer hardware, the quality of products that are being produced today has greatly improved the durability and lifespan of the device. With advancements in technology, the cost has also improved and may not be as expensive as you thought.

Now is the time to upgrade. With Everon on your side, we can do the searching and purchasing for you to find the PC or laptop you need for a price that will not break the bank. We’ll even set it up and configure it specifically per user with all the appropriate software, settings, connection to your domain and mapping of drives so you can get back to running your business while we handle your technology.

Check out our special offer below, if you purchase a new laptop or PC setup from us between now and June 30^th, we’ll take $100 off. If you want to replace the whole office- we’ll bump it up to $150 off per machine. For details and to register for this special offer click here. www.everonitsupport.com/springcleanoffer

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Meet the Team: Chris Mackin

Chris Mackin, Sales Manager

We would like to introduce you to Chris Mackin, Sales Manager for Everon Technology. Chris has been with the company from day one when it was founded in 2003 and in addition to his role as Sales Manager has worn a variety of hats over the years as the company grew. He currently oversees not only all sales activity for Everon but also works very closely with our Boston field services team and Boston client base.

Chris is an ex-PGA golf professional, and holds a BS in Computer Information Systems, a BA in Marketing and a BA in Communications from Bryant University. When he’s not hard at work he is found on the golf course, the beach, or hiking with his wife and dog. In his downtime he visits with his friends and family nearby or is watching the Red Sox, Patriots, Bruins and Celtics. Chris grew up in the Boston area in a town called Duxbury on the way from Boston to Cape Cod and currently makes his home in Boston where he works closely with our Boston field services team and our large amount of Boston clients.

Prior to joining Everon Chris worked for national technology and telecom companies; he brings a unique knowledge of how technology works and fits into prospective client’s operations. Chris was one of the founding members of the Gateway Computer business to business division, where he managed a National team of Sales Representatives selling to small and medium size businesses and delivering business solutions to increase efficiencies. Chris has as strong ability to work with business owners to understand their needs and help implement solutions that will allow for increased productivity with fewer technology distractions.

Chris has been pivotal to the success of Everon’s business and growth as well as building our amazing company culture. A testament to his contribution is the peer-nominated MVP award Chris has won every single year hands down at our annual awards ceremony.

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Tech of the Month: Adam Cauchi

Adam Cauchi, Network Engineer

Everon is happy to announce that Adam Cauchi has been named our latest “Tech of the Month”! Adam was chosen for his stellar achievement in customer service, receiving 100% NPS from our clients (NPS= Net Promoter Score, learn more about how companies measure NPS here). It’s no surprise to any of Adam’s co-workers that he receives such high marks or is the Tech of the Month. Adam jumps in to help all his fellow engineers whenever he has the chance. He thrives off learning new things and sharing it with others. He recently said, “With this experience, I take pride in helping others resolve issues and teaching them the reason behind the resolutions. The ‘Oh, I get it!’ moments are what make this job completely worthwhile.”

Adam joined the Everon team about one year ago when he moved to the Denver area from his longtime home of Sarasota, Florida. He brought with him a variety of different experiences ranging from computer science and mathematics to security and networking to desktops and servers to propriety software and coding. That extensive experience is apparent in Adam’s work as he is excellent at multitasking and resolving a variety of technical issues for all of our clients. He is known in the office as the “Outlook Master” and is an escalation point for Macs as well as desktop PC issues.

Our clients love Adam. His friendly approach and quick response help them know they are in good hands when he is on the phone or connected to their machines. Check out some of the great comments Adam has received recently from our clients:

• Adam helped find the problem and offered to let me call back later when I could get him answers to his questions.
• Adam was by far the most helpful representative that I have had the pleasure to work with up to this point. He was diligent in finding a solution to my problem and made a point to follow up with me when I lost track of time and forgot to call him back.
• Adam was extremely helpful. He gave a step by step explanation of what he was doing and answered the many questions I put to him while he was at work fixing my problem. I appreciated the manner in which he broke down the issue so that I could clearly understand what happened and what he did to correct the problem.
• Adam is the best! He was great through my numerous phone calls and issues throughout the day!

When Adam is not working hard at Everon he is enjoying his new life in Colorado. He spends time hiking and snowboarding and exploring all the Denver has to offer. Adam, like many in his field, spends countless hours fine tuning his computer skills with his current gaming obsession, Starcraft 2. Adam’s favorite non-profit is Gamers Outreach Foundation, an organization that through gaming tournaments raises money for gaming systems in children’s hospitals and to ship gaming systems oversees to the troops. www.gamersoutreach.org

Adam is a great addition to the team and brings a tremendous amount of value. He is truly deserving of “Tech of the Month” status and we’re happy to have him onboard!

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Special Offer: Spring Clean Your IT

Did you know the average lifespan of a PC is just 3-4 years and a laptop is only 2-3! Chances are if you look around your office you will see at least a few machines past their prime.

There’s no better time than the present to replace those old slow machines. Register with us before May 30th and we’ll give you:

• $100 OFF the setup of a new PC or laptop* (Regular price is $299)
• Need more? Order 10 or more new PCs or laptops setups and we’ll take off $150 per machine!

Our new PC or laptop setup includes:

• Joining to your domain.
• Installation of 3rd party applications.
• Installation of Microsoft Office
• Email setup for user
• Setup shared location and mapping of drives.
• Remote configuration of printers if requested
• Installation of antivirus software

Register here for details and to claim your discount today!

www.everonitsupport.com/springcleanoffer/

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Tech Tip of the Month: What is your domain name? Where does it live? When does it expire?

Your company’s domain name, or its address on the internet, is an important part of your brand, image, and message. It is akin to a piece of property or some other form of capital that you want to protect. That is why it is important to know the vital details about your domain name, including the technical information around expiration dates, Internet Protocol (IP) and IP location information, domain registrar and Domain Name System (DNS) name servers… read more here.

Read these other recent articles and more at www.SmallBusinessTechTips.com

• Google Play is Here! But What Is It?
• How to Clean Your Internet Explorer Cache
• DVI Cables 101
• Microsoft Word 2010?s Format Painter Tool
• What Are LSI Keywords and Why They Are Important For SEO?

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Client Spotlight: Metromint by Soma Beverage

Metromint is the brain-child of Rio Miura and Scott Lowe. Miura’s background in product and fashion design when combined with Lowe’s background in product development and manufacturing came together to form Metromint and Soma Beverage Company. Founded in San Francisco’s South of Market district (SOMA), a neighborhood that is home to artists, high-tech start-ups, and the entrepreneurial spirit, Soma Beverage has taken the beverage industry by storm. Combining the purest ingredients with innovative packaging and extraordinary taste, Metromint single-handedly created a new beverage category called mintwater. Metromint already has a loyal following. Metromint was introduced to the public at the New York Fancy Food Show in 2004.

Metromint starts with the best mint in the world. Real mint. Fresh, flavorful, pesticide-free mint grown in Washington State’s Yakima Valley. Their water is purified using reverse-osmosis, a process that saves all the good stuff and filters out the bad, including salts, impurities, and particles as small as an ion. What’s left is a blank canvas, so that we can showcase the taste of mint. When it comes to Metromint, their dedication to purity is so high they bought their own bottling plant and converted it to a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility. Every bottle that rolls off the Metromint bottling line is laser etched with an honest, easy-to-read freshness date stamp.

Everon has had the pleasure of providing fully managed IT support to Soma Beverage/Metromint since 2007 and can vouch from our samples in the office that Metromint is a special product from a company full of outstanding individuals. Scott Lowe recently talked more about his experience with Everon in an interview with New York Time blogger, Dave Freedman. To read the full article click here.

To learn more about Metromint and where you can find a retailer near you click here.

“Due to Soma’s basic, yet vital IT needs, we’ve been partnering with Everon for the last 4 years, and have been consistently impressed with the level of knowledge, service and dedication provided. Whether the problem is simple or complex, common or obscure, I’ve had nothing but great experiences with the folks at Everon, from the project team and front line techs, to account and general management staff. Over the years we’ve employed more and more of the Everon SaaS/TaaS services with great success, giving us time to focus on growth for our business and not on IT.”

- Evan Campbell, Soma Beverage

100% pure water. 100% real mint. 100% ahhh. “LIKE” Metromint on Facebook for a coupon to buy one get one free!

Advertise here for free! We would love to help our clients spread the word through our newsletter. Contact [email protected] today to see how you can feature your ad here for FREE!

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Technology is undoubtedly a double-edged sword. While it can save us time and money, it can also pay us pack for those conveniences in frustration and “do-over” time… and then some! Be smart about the types of things you use technology to simplify, and also identify the shortcuts that you shouldn’t allow it to make for you. Some shortcuts and mistakes can prove unforgiving. Unfortunately, so can some old habits. Read on to find out how to protect yourself from common technical mishaps.

1. Storing everything in your smartphone, and then losing it - A big no-no for most business people. If you’re like most of us, you store everything in your smartphone. Losing your phone most likely means losing sensitive information such as credit card info and maybe even bank account numbers or private development plans for your company. How to reverse a big blip like this?  Well, I can’t get you your phone back, but I can tell you about password-protecting programs such as MobileMe for iPhone. Programs like this allow you to erase contacts, notes and more in your iPhone remotely. Talk to your smartphone provider to explore the security options for your phone, before it’s too late.

2. Working directly off of an attachment - Your boss sends you a document to collaborate on via email, so you open it, roll up your sleeves and begin plugging away. Seems so quick and easy, doesn’t it? You could spend hours revising that document, and then save the file and forward the message along with the revised attachment back to him. You’d probably assume you’re all set. But  don’t be surprised if he emails you back, asking where your edits are. Although you can see your edits on your end, that’s not always the case once you send it to someone else. To be safe instead of sorry, don’t just open the attachment, download it to your own computer and/or server, then make your edits and hit save, attach the new file to an email, and then send it back.

3. We’re just not compatible - Working off an older version of Windows? No problem. Just be sure to install the Office Compatibility Pack too, so everyone you do business with can also continue accessing your files. This will help to keep your files viewable/usable for all involved parties. Also, converting your file to a PDF usually does the trick.

4. Trusting batteries that haven’t been recently used - This one is classic. You flew across the country to give an inspirational speech to Girl Scouts in the middle of the woods at an outing, and you haven’t used your laptop since you left home, so you know it’s fully charged. What you forgot to consider was that sometimes electronic devices have a way of turning themselves on. Make sure you test EVERYTHING that uses a battery hours before you need them, preferably while you still have time to do something about it if need be. When possible, reverse batteries in devices where this is an option when traveling to ensure they don’t get used up accidentally. Simply switch them back the right way when it’s time to use them.

5. “I don’t need to buy Antivirus, I am careful online and know what I’m doing” - In this day and age, EVERYONE needs antivirus. Hackers and phishers are criminals who make ruining your life via the internet their number one priority. You can do everything right, avoid all the “wrong” types of websites, and still be a victim. Pay the small price of keeping a current version of a trusted Antivirus software running on all your machines. Trust me, it’s well worth it. To find if you’re currently doing enough to protect yourself online, please contact your IT provider.

SS

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I don’t know about you, but sometimes when it comes to Excel I can get pretty lost. I finally felt like I had a handle on 2003 when 2007 rolled out and had me re-learning the program all over again! The other day I read a great post on “10 things I can never remember how to do in Excel.”  Enjoy, compliments of TechRepublic:

http://blogs.techrepublic.com.com/10things/?p=1192&tag=rightCol;topRated

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The holiday season is a time for parties, vacationing with friends and family, and many other pleasantries. But it’s also unfortunately the time for sticky candy canes, extra food and drink constantly around the office, and worst of all - online identity theft as online shopping levels are at their highest. In the midst of your merriment this holiday season, make sure to keep the following quick tips in mind:

1. Be careful where you enter your credit card information - Always try to buy directly from the source, if possible. If you want to buy your son a scarf, websites like LLBean are more safe than other, (smaller and less established,) and most importantly, less secure sites.  Never give any personal information out online, such as your social security number. The bottom line: Trust your gut. Would you really need to tell a company your mother’s maiden name when buying a pair of earrings?

2. Get the warranty - Everyone wants to get their kid the “hottest new version” of something for the holidays, and that’s great. However, the latest version of things often comes with some bugs, or at the very least, some quirks that have not quite been worked out yet - especially in the electronic world. Cough up the extra 30 bucks - whatever it is - to ensure that your present holds up long after the tree is out on the curb.

3. Keep coffee, hot cocoa, sparkling beverages … and everything else! away from your keyboard! -  We all know the deal. Mary baked three dozen cookies and Sharon brought in some cinnamon cider… and we’re just talking about Monday here. As people are passing out holiday treats, make sure you keep them away from your computer, printer, laptop, blackberry… catch my drift? A spill like this can make your device unusable, and what’s worst, many warranties don’t cover liquid damage! So enjoy your snacks away from your cube-mate who likes to use lots of hand gestures and always keep your own cup as far away as possible from your keyboard.

Happy Holidays!

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We recently had a partner, Ryan Hickey from NSK and Associates, out at a client site to perform a presentation on the dangers of spyware, viruses, and other malware due to unchecked Internet usage.  A lot of small businesses have no active Internet browsing policies, leaving a lot of ambiguity on what users can or cannot visit as work-appropriate sites.  There are a lot of great tips that I wanted to share with you all. Feel free to pass this post on to your employees and co-workers.  Your bottom line will thank you.

Please consider yourself warned: Viruses and malware have such a huge negative effect on your productivity, and have real costs associated with troubleshooting, rebuilding, or replacing computers.

5 ways you can get viruses, spyware, malware, etc. from visiting the Internet:  How to protect yourself with common sense, and some general tips to tighten up your overall Internet security plan:

1.  Peer to peer networking sites

• Bit torrent, Kazaa, Limewire, and Sharezaa shouldn’t be used.
• Loaded with viruses and misleading content.
• Also, they have very little relevance in the business environment.

2.  Social Networking sites: Facebook and Myspace

• Automated malware attacks hit Facebook and Myspace constantly.
• Don’t blindly trust Facebook and Myspace as they are a great breeding ground for viruses and social engineering hacks.
• Be wary of fake profiles that send you messages asking you to click on them to “view videos” which prompts you to install “special software” to view them.
• There are Facebook applications that contain malware. Especially some that can tell you who has been visiting your profile.
• Unknown links can either download a virus right away or say something like your video player Adobe Flash is out of date and needs to be updated and that’s when the virus downloads.

3.  Web browsing

• Be careful about how far down a path you go, clicking on link after link
• Don’t download “smileys” or special “emoticons”
• A lot of websites have been set up by hackers to try to trick you to download things on your computer when you go to them
• Depending on your browser settings things may get automatically downloaded or it may ask you to install an update or active x control or something like that
• When possible, make sure you have the most updated web browser out there (not always possible when you have specific business software that needs an older browser like IE6 or 7)

4.  IM

• Don’t click on links in an IM from someone you don’t know
• If it is from a friend ask them if it is OK to open or try a different method to send it
• Don’t open attachments unless you know who it’s from and you are expecting it
• Don’t download applets when it asks you to view pictures, etc.

5.  Email

• Don’t click on a link if you don’t know the sender and the email is unsolicited.
• Don’t click on links from services you don’t recognize that want you to update your account info or verify membership or something.
• Don’t click on a link if you know the sender but the message is strange.
• Don’t open attachments unless you know who it’s from and you are expecting it
• Never open .exe or .scr attachments. Typical attachments are doc, xls, pdf, jpg.

General tips and friendly reminders:

• You have a lot of control over the safety and security of your computer
• Most viruses and malware need your help in getting installed
• Remember the “Trojan Horse” story?  That’s why some viruses are referred to as “Trojans.”
• Don’t believe everything you see in pop-up windows, especially offers to:
  • Optimize your computer
  • Protect your computer
  • Your computer is infected and you need Win Anti Spyware to clean it
  • These things will always download malware into your computer that will make it unusable, steal your information, use your computer to send spam, etc.
  • Hitting “cancel” on some popup windows is not enough. Sometimes the way it is worded will install the program if you click cancel.
  • Close it using red X in the top left corner of the window or going to Windows task manager (Ctrl-alt-del and click “Task Manager).

If you are unsure about doing something, call Everon right away. It is better to attempt to stop something before it gets into your computer than to have us try to remove it or have to rebuild your computer. The old saying “It’s better to be safe than sorry,” definitely should apply to computer usage, especially when you’re on the Internet.

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