Find out what Desktop Virtualization is all about and how it can save your business time and money by simplifying client computer management. Read on to find out more.

There is growing interest in Desktop Virtualization with its promise of improved manageability, security and efficiency for the business. Simply put, Desktop Virtualization is new technology that separates the system software such as the operating system and applications from the underlying hardware.

Desktop virtualization allows the hardware, like a laptop or a server, to run multiple operating systems. Imagine having your Mac running Microsoft Windows and Office, or your Dell running OS X and GarageBand for example. To stretch the concept even further, operating systems and applications can be housed on remote machines – such as a server farm in Texas – which you access via the web. The applications are not resident on your computer at all.

Desktop virtualization shifts the burden of managing the system software from you or your in-house IT teams to someone else—people who can do a better job managing and updating your Windows and Office software than you can. If you have a fairly large organization managing a large number of machines, centralizing support allows the organization to gain from economies of scale—ie less people to manage more machines at less cost. Leveraging the computing power of server farms with faster machines also allows employees to get more value out of aging desktops and laptops.

Enabling anytime, anywhere access to applications and data, Desktop Virtualization connects your employees to the tools they need no matter where they are. As organizations support more and more remote employees, using desktop virtualization technology gives them access to their Windows desktop anywhere in the world, at any time, on any device.

Are you supporting remote workers or is your hardware slowing down your employees? Let’s talk about Desktop Virtualization and how you can try it for your organization today.

The big difference between Android and the iOS is the fact that, on an Android device, you can play Flash videos. There are times however when this seeming advantage can be a disadvantage as Flash (such as Flash ads) can slow down your browsing experience or even crash your browser. There is a solution.

You can turn off Flash if you choose to. Simply go to your Browser’s Settings by pressing on the Menu/Options button, then go to Advanced and change ‘Enable plug-ins’ setting from “Always on” to “On demand.” Flash applications will now appear as an arrow that you must touch to start.

The growing acceptance of cloud computing is based not only on the cost savings that businesses are realizing. The abilities to respond to opportunities quickly and support remote workers are additional benefits of the switch to the cloud.

With cloud computing, businesses can tap into software and services as they need them, using an Internet connection and a web browser. Cloud services can help you manage growth and connect with your staff across town or the world.

Manage Growth

One of the toughest aspects of running a small business is predicting what resources are needed to support future demand. If the company grows quickly, more people and equipment need to be added to fulfill the work. Too much investment for the future is risky.

Cloud computing allows companies to quickly access the applications needed to increase capacity, support growth and handle busy periods. If a customer or project demands increase, software in the cloud scales without a big outlay of cash. The flexibility of the organization increases with cloud computing because it is easy to adjust and scale.

Improve Collaboration

Companies with remote employees can particularly benefit from cloud computing. More and more small and medium-sized businesses support home workers and employees that aren’t in the main office every day.

No matter where they’re located, employees can use cloud applications to have meetings, talk to one another, share files, and collaborate on materials in real time. With cloud computing, you can build a team that works together seamlessly, and improved productivity and better communication allows businesses to capitalize on new opportunities quickly.

Find out more about the benefits of cloud computing. We’ll help you find the solutions that fit your business and your budget.

The words “hacking” and “printers” usually don’t go together, but recent research on the vulnerabilities of IT systems are now suggesting otherwise. A flaw in many printers (those connected to the Internet) has been discovered which allows hackers and online thieves to infiltrate an otherwise secure network.

When it comes to printers, we usually think about ink, paper jams and minor irritations – but certainly NOT getting hacked. But recent research suggests that printers can be used by hackers to infiltrate computer systems.

According to researchers at Columbia University, printers that are connected to the are the weakest (and almost always unnoticed) link that can compromise an otherwise secure system. Details are emerging, as the research was done under government and corporate grants. The Federal Bureau of Investigation got the first look at the research results, followed by people from Hewlett-Packard. What is clear is that this new research reveals that printers CAN be used by hackers or online thieves not only to infiltrate networks, but also to steal personal information and even identities.

The security flaw involves the printer software used to run “embedded systems” which enables both advanced functions and connects the printer directly the Internet. Alarmingly, researchers were able to hack into a printer, and give it instructions to continuously heat up the part of the device that dried the ink after it’s applied to the paper. The resulting heat caused the paper to turn brown and smoke.

The implications of this type of security flaw are concerning, but can be addressed properly and promptly with the right planning. HP is looking into the study for their own line of printers and business owners should also take precautionary steps to protect already installed devices on their networks.

If you want to know more about how you can ensure that your systems are secure, give us a call so we can sit down with you and discuss a security blueprint that meets your specific needs.

Microsoft is helping the public understand where technology is headed in the future in a new video posted on their website recently. The video is a fascinating 5-minute look into how the latest developments in technology today will possibly appear in tomorrow’s workplace.

The video from Microsoft gives us a glimpse into a day in the life of Ayla, a travelling executive, her daughter Shannon, at home with her Dad, and Qin, Ayla’s colleague. The video is the latest in a series from the Microsoft Office team. You can see past videos here, or view a behind the scenes video from Kurt DelBane, Microsoft Office Business Division President, who explains the technological concepts behind the video, such as collaborative technologies, data visualization tools, mobile technologies, and cloud computing.

Interested in finding out more? Check out the actual place where this technology is developed by Microsoft demonstrating some of the video’s concepts in real life.

If you are using Windows Gadgets (or those small mini-applications that are embedded on your desktop that show interesting things like the latest news, weather updates, or sports scores), you may sometimes wish you can just quickly hide them to declutter your workspace.

In Windows 7, you can do just that. Simply right-click on the desktop, go to View, and then clear the check mark on Show desktop gadgets. This will hide the gadgets. If you want to bring them back, just restore the check mark again.

Providence founder and President Jeff Dettloff, in partnership with his HTG Peer Group, has chosen to invest in other entrepreneurs as a Kiva Lender.

Kiva is a non-profit organization with a mission to connect people through lending to alleviate poverty. Leveraging the internet and a worldwide network of microfinance institutions, Kiva lets individuals lend as little as $25 to help create opportunity around the world.

Through Kiva, Jeff and his HTG Peer Group have so far helped thirteen people in Southeast and Central Asia, Africa, and Central and South America to make their businesses a success and help their dreams come true. You can see more details at the HTG 12 Peer Group Kiva Lender Page.

HTG brings together peer groups of 10 to 12 like-minded IT company leaders. Members meet quarterly in a non-competitive environment to network and discuss issues specific to each member’s concerns as a company owner, president or manager. Jeff Dettloff has been active with HTG Peer Groups since 2008.

Jeff Dettloff is the President and Chief Problem Solver for Providence Consulting, Lansing’s leading provider of advanced computer services and innovative technology solutions.

Have we mentioned lately how much we love Lenovo products?

We like Lenovo because they offer great machines at an even better price, but we just love to see the kind of stress testing that they put their PC’s through before they put them on the market. Think your current computer would survive this fall?

If you’re ready to upgrade, Providence is your local Lenovo Business Parter and we would glad to help you find the Lenovo PC that is right for you.

Jeff Dettloff is President and Chief Problem Solver at Providence, a Lansing IT Consulting firm.

Jeff Dettloff, Providence’s President and Chief Problem Solver, also serves as the 2012 President for the Capital Area IT Council (CAITC). Jeff moderated a CAITC panel discussion on mobility and the connected workforce at last fall’s Greater Lansing Business Showcase. For the next few weeks we will be sharing the knowledge we gained from attending this panel.

How does the new mobility affect your business? Are you in the fast lane? Please share your insights and experiences.

Mobile devices can do a lot for your company’s productivity. But they can also poke a few holes into your IT security plan. Here are a few short suggestions that will make your life easier and help to protect your corporate and personal data.

Sending an email with critical information? When you’re sending out pricing sheets, sales data, or other information that is meant for only certain eyes, avoid sending the data in the body of the email– the actual text of the message itself. Instead use an Adobe PDF, a spreadsheet, or a word processor file, something that can be attached to the email that you send.

What this helps you avoid is a scenario where the owner of a smart phone or tablet leaves it in a public area – perhaps on their kitchen counter during a party, or in a coffee shop – and the device uses a pop-up notification that the email has been received. If your critical data is in the body of the email it could be partially or fully exposed. Using an attachment helps avoid this danger.

What if your phone or tablet becomes lost? Or worse – stolen? In these worst case scenarios, nothing can give greater peace of mind than the ability to remotely erase that device. iPhones and iPads have a Remote Wipe feature right out of the box. One look at the Android Market shows literally dozens of options for your Android phone. But the important thing is to download it and configure it now. It won’t do you any good once your phone goes missing.

This next suggestion may seem like a no-brainer, but make sure that you’re using passwords or pass-codes on your devices, and take a good look at all of the security settings. A configuration that leaves the phone unlocked for 30 minutes, 60 minutes, or more after last use means a longer window of time in which an unauthorized person can access your phone if lost or stolen. You should be able to configure the phone to lock down immediately or at least within a few minutes of your last keystroke. Take a look at those settings, and the more critical the information that is stored on the phone, the shorter that span of time needs to be.

The overall principle that should guide your policy and security choices is that these devices are there to help people do their work, and make your company more productive and efficient. Make sure that you choose tools that work the way your people work, and don’t inhibit their productivity.

In an unprecedented move against online fraudsters and hackers, the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and authorities in Estonia, aided by information from security firm Trend Micro, recently conducted a raid that brought down an enormous bot network made up of at least 4 million bots.

Four million is a big number – which makes four million bots, in security terms, a staggering and frightening number as well.

It is a good thing, then, that four million is also the number of bots taken down in a recent bust by the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Estonian Police, and security firm Trend Micro. Data centers in New York City, Chicago, and Estonia were raided by authorities, shutting down hundreds of servers used to create a network of bots that spanned some 100 countries.

The said bust, dubbed “Operation Ghost Click”, is one of – if not THE – largest cybercriminal bust in history, putting to sleep a sophisticated scamming operation that victimized 4 to 5 million users and was said to have generated at least $14 million in illegal revenue.

The scam mainly involved hijacking Domain Name Server (DNS) settings in infected computers, which can be used not only to introduce more malware into an IT system, but also to hijack search results and replace advertisements loaded on websites visited through an infected computer.

While this bust does bode well for all IT users everywhere in the world, it also illustrates the scope of influence and level of organization behind security threats. Since this is probably not the only scam / fraud / botnet operation in the world, it is always best to have a comprehensive security policy for your IT infrastructure to minimize the risk of compromising your company’s data and information.

For more details on the bust, check out Trend Micro’s blog post here.