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Did You Know?

Monday was the highest-grossing online shopping day in U.S. history, with spending reaching $1.25 billion, according to market research firm comScore. That’s up 22% from the previous record, which was last year’s Cyber Monday.

Online shopping for the month of November has hit $15 billion, a 15% increase compared to last year, comScore says.

This alert is set to be tested at 2:00 pm EST today -

The 30-second test, to be overseen by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Federal Communications Commission, will run on radio, satellite radio and TV stations in all 50 states and U.S. territories. It will include alert “beeps” and the words “This is a test.”

Here’s how FEMA explains it:

We need to know that the system will work as intended should public safety officials ever need to send an alert or warning to a large region of the United States. Only a complete test of the Emergency Alert System can help us identify any changes and improvements needed to modernize this system and make it fully accessible.

• Is consistency important to you? Each PC you purchase at a retail store will probably come with the cheapest components that were available at the time, which means all new computers are not the same.

• Retail computers are slow out of the box.  Each of the consumer computers are so cheap because a dozen of more vendors paid the PC manufacturer to install their software on there, thus your brand new fast computer is approximately 25% slower because of this.

• A 90-day warranty just isn’t enough.  It’s true some computers come with a 1-year warranty,  and you could argue that it’s cheap enough that you could dispose if something goes wrong, but who wants to replace their PC every year?

• Sticking with the theme from #3, if you are going to buy a cheap PC now and replace it every 12 months, you should consider the cost of reinstalling software, migrating data, installing printers and getting the personality of your old PC reinstalled on the new PC.  Hint – you’ll always forget something.

• When you purchase consumer computers, the manufacturer is going to source the lowest cost technician to come out and fix your PC.

• Let’s be honest, at some point, your computer is going to face some malfunction and you are going to be down.  100% of these computers can be reinstalled but this means it will be in the same state that you  got it on Day 1 – see #2.

• Tech support at Now IT Works is available by phone or email and you’ll always speak to a live person.  It’s tough enough contacting technical support for a retail purchase, but when you add the technical hurdle and then a language barrier, expect a headache.

Contact your Now IT Works account manager before making any new purchases for your business.

From Telecommute Connecticut:

“A cost-benefit analysis is often a primary driver of the telecommuting process, because the company wants to achieve cost savings over costs associated with the traditional workplace setting. Most often, cost savings are attributable to increased productivity, decreased staffing needs and reduced office space requirements.”

To gather data on the costs and benefits with allow your employees to telecommute, click on this link to answer questions that may help you.

If you are interested in setting up telecommuting opportunities for your business, please contact your Now IT Works account manager today.

In a word, the answer to this question is yes and here is why:

1 – When someone loses their phone, or it gets stolen – person(s) unknown would have immediate access to all of your information. Calendar, contacts, email, remote access to your PC (if enabled), spouses information, child/ren school contacts, etc.

2 – It’s not the law yet – but just wait. Connecticut privacy law imposes up to $500,000 in Civil Penaltiies for Misuse of Personal Information (http://www.mofo.com/news/updates/bulletins/14042.html)

3 – SmartPhones are just as susceptible to viruses and bad applications (Droid more so than Apple). Here at Now IT Works, we are launching a mobile security product soon simply to handle this (not specifically a PIN related issue, but mobile security in general)

Finally, PSA aside – all the cool kids are doing it. Of course I’m kidding, but honestly, every person I’ve seen with an iPhone or Droid has a lock on it. Whether they are trying to keep parents, boy/girl-friends or spouses out – everyone does it for the same reason – to keep prying people from accessing the information.

Do you have questions or concerns about the security of your business’s mobile devices? Contact your Now IT Works account rep to discuss.

• Ability to separate guest wireless networks.  If a client/vendor/guest comes into your office with the DLink, you would have to give them the secret keys to your network to access the Internet and they would be connected to your internal network.  The Fortinet will allow you to create separate networks with separate keys.

• 3 year hardware warranty.  As opposed to a 1-year limited warranty with the DLink.

• Support.  Should something go wrong with the DLink, we can get support, but on a limited basis.  The Fortinet has a 3-year, 8×5 telephone support agreement.

• Security.  DLInk has some basic security features, but the Fortinet allows us to protect against spam and malware protection.

• Monitoring. DLink doesn’t give me the ability to see anything that is going on inside your network or address Internet connection issues – the Fortinet gives us this visibility.

This is a recurring theme – technology is not always the problem that causes us frustration, sometimes we do it to ourselves.

Ask yourself this question:  How many different systems have the same password?

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Hacking attacks against companies are growing bigger and bolder—witness a string of high-profile breaches this year at Sony Corp., Citigroup Inc. and others. But gone are the days when hackers would simply find holes in corporate networks to steal valuable data. Large companies have grown wise to the threat of hacking, and have spent the past 30 years hardening the perimeters of their networks with upgraded technology.

These days, criminals aren’t just hacking networks. They’re hacking us, the employees.

“The security gap is end users,” says Kevin Mandia, chief executive of security firm Mandiant Corp. The majority of corporate security breaches his firm is currently investigating involve hackers who gained access to company networks by exploiting well-intentioned employees.

Click here to read the rest of the article – What’s a Company’s Biggest Security Risk? You. by Geoffrey A. Fowler

Windows Vista products will reach their End of Life (EOL) on October 22, 2011. After this date, Now IT Works will no longer distribute systems with Vista.  If you require Vista after 10/21/2011, please contact your Now IT Works account manager to discuss your options.

To view the Microsoft Windows Life-cycle Fact Sheet, click here.

Did you know that nearly four out of five technology professionals believe employees are putting their companies at risk by failing to act safely online, according to new research. In a study by anti-virus firm Sophos, 79% of the IT workers polled said that in spite of their group’s instructions, many employees continue to open unsolicited e-mail messages and attachments, and to inadvertently download spyware from Web sites.

Be prepared – don’t let disaster strike your business computer network! Contact Now IT Works to learn how to protect your business from employees downloading games or illegal software that could open your network to evil forces from the internet such as viruses or spam.

Ask about PC Crash Protection today!

• Did you know your cell phone is more likely to work in a hurricane than an earthquake? (CNN Money)

• Make sure your laptop battery is fully charged! Track Hurricane Irene online here (MSNBC Tech)

• For New England business owners – here are some safety tips for your business (Patch)

For Now IT Works customers, please check your email for the important announcement regarding protecting your business technology this weekend. And to all our readers, please stay safe!