My Fellow Business Owners and Managers,

In the wake of the recent severe weather storm, if you are like most people we began thinking about what we could have done differently to prevent and minimize damages. In this short article I will like to share with you one of the most significant preventive measure you could have done if not already done to prevent your business critical infrastructure (computers, servers, network switches, phone systems, backup devices) from and hard crash, disaster and loss of data.

Although, there are other measures but the one I would focus on here is simple and easy to implement and that is installing an UPS (Uninterruptable Power Supply) device systems. UPS is a simple device you may have seen one before. It’s a device that plugs into the power outlet to help regulate and maintain clean sufficient power for a short period of time to valuable sensitive electronic systems.

When used on servers, network switches and computers, it prevents flickering, fluctuations of the power supply disruptions during a severe weather storm like the one we just had and could save thousands of dollars in computer repair cost, data recovery and lost time from downtime. When properly implemented, the UPS system will shut off computer; servers and network devices gracefully preventing damage that could happen from improper shutdown of these technology investments.

Here are few of my recommendations:

APC website http://www.apc.com/products/category.cfm?id=13

Tripe-Lite website http://www.tripplite.com/en/products/ups-battery-backup-systems.cfm

Best practices recommend that you support your critical systems with a UPS system that is able to hold your requirements for about 15 to 20 min for a complete shutdown of the systems being protected.

If you are not sure about how to go about this, I will be happy to help you with a free Network or Power supply and assessment. I can be reach at 301-576-1122 ext. 101

Smarthost Design Technologies is a technology services provider that focuses on the unique needs of small businesses in the Maryland, Washington DC and Virginia Metro area with over 7 years of industry expertise working with businesses with less than 50 employees. Read about more tips and techniques from my blog http://smarthostdesign.com/blog

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In August I attended CompTIA Technology Breakaway and specifically focused on cyber security track. And as you may know computer cyber/internet security has been a popular topic in the business environment lately from several company data security breaches. So, how does this affect my business you may ask? That is what I am working on. I will be distilling all the information and present in to you soon title “what you need to know about securing your business” in web seminar coming soon. See news page for details.

A Cisco small business select partner is a unique designation that is awarded to Cisco partners who have achieved the select certification program with includes technical, and solution knowledge to assist small businesses in selecting the right solution to meet their unique business needs. This designation also provides us as a partner the resources and access to direct Cisco technical expertise which ultimately means better and efficient faster services to you our clients.

To learn more about, see recent press release here.

Don’t forget that our customer client referral program promotion is running until September 30th (end of 3rd Quarter) and be one step closer to wining a FREE iPad2. I will post an update with current stats shortly on the blog site.

With security breach prevalent in today’s business environment, it’s essential for small-mid size (SMB) business to know how to go about ensuring the necessary security procedure and policy to protect business information and most importantly to keep their customers information secure.

As a member of Computer Technology Industrial Association (CompTIA), I came across this paper written by Dancho Danchev of windowsecurity.com and after reading it I think it will make a good place for SMB to start in putting together an information security policy to implement company wide security policy.

And you may be asking why another document, why can’t I just tell my employee that the policy is XYZ? Well and sorry you can’t because research show that most people are unaware of the threats that exist with the use of technology and telling them also does not help. What helps is a document that illustrate the what, why, where, when and how each employee can work together to prevent and secure company, business and clients data. Here is the link to the document. Please download and start securing your business  and private information today.

If however you need help with putting this policy together, you can contact us at 301-576-1122 or your IT services provider for help.

Happy networking

Femi Dada
http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=3435122

Welcome to February! Can you believe it? I was just getting started on the year with goals and plans for the New Year and the first month is already gone. I hope you have got your plans and foundation positioned for the year.

Talking about foundation and one of the new practices we are introducing this year is the Smarthost Design Best Practices Log Book. We are introducing this practice in order to ensure consistent tracking of technology methodology based on industries best practices, so that as Smarthost Design Technologies grow, my staff and I would have a complete overview of our client’s technology environment and be able to say what best practices have been implemented and keep tabs on which best practices that are needed; given our client a predictable technology performance called the “Smarthost Design Technology WAY”

Please enjoy the rest of the technology news you can use.

Who is this? The COKE Guy holding the Pepsi CAN? Or is it the change promised. Actually, I am not a politician nor do I like debating politics. I just like to help our client get the best out of their existing technologies, whether a router, a switch, Private Box exchange (PBX) or Key Phone System, Backup and Disaster recovery, small business server and more…

This is me wearing my Daughter’s Christmas present showing of my love for Coke, but as you can see I am holding a Pepsi can. How does this relate to Technology?

No it does not. I am just having fun. Have some fun too.

Hello everyone,
Happy New Year to you and hope you had a wonderful time with the family and friends. It’s the New Year and I know as a business manager you are planning on making this year the best ever. This year, be sure to look out for some exciting changes in our company such as events, webcast, tech demon, promotions, tips and tricks to make your business function more smoothly using technology as a tool. Every month I hope to bring you exciting articles in technologies, procedures that will help you and your business ready to compete.

Did you see that? Twitter over capacitated whale drowning… Help needed!!!

Is you business or organization experiencing such over capacity in bandwidth, old server equipments, draining your staff and business productivity and costing you hundreds or thousands of dollars if not millions.

Well, you know it doesn’t have to be like that. Contact a local Information Technology (IT) support specialist certified in the technology you are considering or better yet consult with them to guide you on the right technology you should have in place to run your business/organization more efficiently and start increasing productivity.

Check out our company, we’re certified IT consultant with various leading technology provider such as Microsoft, Cisco, AdTran, MegaPath, etc. Let us help you move your business or organization forward.

You the contact page to reach or you can call me directly at 301-576-1122 ext 201

Background

VJ Paul Associate, an accounting firm in Rockville servicing the accounting, payroll, tax needs of business across the metropolitan area. VJ Paul Associate has an existing small network and has outgrown their current phones system. The current phone system also restrict the accounting firm from reflecting a well functioning firm and the professional image that would enable the firm grow to acquire newer and larger clientele. The current system lack a voice mail, call forward, calls follow me, and other remote and collaborative functionalities that empowers business growth.

Solution

After consulting with VJ Paul, president and CEO of VJ Paul Associate, it became clear that the firm needs a phone system that would enable them serve their clients and prospects with a one point of presence (call flow) to help them manage calls professionally, and reliably and also project a profession out look that the firm want to embodied in other to grow.
Our solution was the AastraLink Pro 160 PBX system; a powerful, cost effective, easy to use IP PBX key system geared specifically for Small businesses. The solution provides VJ Paul Associate with call flow management, voice mail system, call forwarding capability, auto attendant that received and route calls accordingly and also allows for direct access of employee wherever they are inside or outside the company, including voice mail to email for remote access and more.

Since the implementation of AastraLink Pro 160, VJ Paul Associate has seen great return on their investments and have since referred us a client (See our next wins) report on Pen Boutique LTD.

About us

Since 2001, Smarthost Design Technologies has helped businesses with 10-50 employees/computers with no internal IT department in the Washington DC Metropolitan area who have been in business for over 5 years, who are in need of a professional outsource IT support and consulting company to partner with in order to reduce cost, maintain a predictable monthly IT cost of business operation and gain peace of mind knowing that their IT strategy is correctly in tune with their business objectives and goals.

You can learn more about smarthost Design Technologies at our website http://smarthostdesign.com and see if may be able to help your business grow with this solution here or some of or other smart solutions.

Thanks You.

Femi Dada

Solution Engineer