If A Tree Falls In The Forest And No One is There To Hear It...

Does it make a sound?

It's one of the oldest adages known to man. Now, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is contending with its own polemic. If an Internet Service Provider (ISP) does not provide adequate bandwidth to a third party service provider, is it ethically wrong and, if so, should there be anyone there to police the action?

Have you ever heard the term "Net Neutrality"?

Net Neutrality refers to the flow of data over all networks being impartial. In other words, if you like to watch television shows on the Internet using sites such Hulu and BitTorrent or listen to music, or use a third party product to talk over the 'Net with a service such as Skype or MagicJack...is it appropriate for your ISP to limit the bandwidth that you are allocated on your Internet connection with regard to these services and giving them unfettered amounts of throughput regardless of their bandwidth demands? Even Google has concerns about its ability to maintain its stake in deriving value from the web (including potential commercial advertising opportunities).

So, What Is The Issue?

Imagine yourself as the Phone Company or as the Cable Company, now envision yourself paying for an expensive infrastructure to deliver and charge your clients for your "proprietary" services. Now, an After-market service provider develops a product that allows your clients to exploit a feature that the web provides as long as you have high speed Internet connectivity which is in direct competition with your product offerings. Remember, you provide this speed to your clients. At the same time, you are trying to promote your TRIPLE product (phone, Internet & TV) to these subscribers. Is it ethical for you to exercise total control over delivery of third party services to such a degree that you make their products appear inferior or debilitated when compared to your delivered products?!

Does "The Invisible Hand" Come Into The Picture Here?

If you ever studied economics, you would have heard of Adam Smith and his concept of the Invisible Hand. According to Wikipedia: It was in the the Theory of Moral Sentiments that Smith first referred to the "invisible hand" to describe the apparent benefits to society of people behaving in their own interests. Smith writes (6th ed. p. 350):

... In spite of their natural selfishness and rapacity, though they mean only their own conveniency, though the sole end which they propose ... be the gratification of their own vain and insatiable desires, they divide with the poor the produce of all their improvements. They are led by an invisible hand to make nearly the same distribution of the necessaries of life, which would have been made, had the earth been divided into equal portions among all its inhabitants, and thus without intending it, without knowing it, advance the interest of the society.

In other words, the economy tends to find a balance on its own. Now, we are witnessing the FCC as it seeks a decision from a three (3) judge Federal Appeals Court panel to grant it the the authority to impose its own "Net Neutrality" obligations, in this particular case, upon Comcast Corp., the nation's largest cable TV and Internet operator.

What Is At Stake In This Case?

If you are the FCC: Your ability to impose your rulings upon broadband companies may become eroded by a negative finding. Your Primary Concern: How can you maintain your jurisdiction as the communications authority if the Federal Government does not give you adequate support to impose your decisions? Is a 2005 Supreme Court ruling that upheld the FCC's ability to deregulate Internet service enough to carry it though in this case?

If you are Comcast Corp, Verizon or AT&T: You have poured billions of dollars into your network. Your Primary Concern: You want to be able to offer premium services to differentiate yourself from your competition in order to earn a healthy return on your infrastructure investment. You perceive the third party services as parasitic and want to prevent them from stealing your deserved reward for all of your efforts. If you were able to affect the performance of these competitors slightly or altogether, it may be what you need to regain your edge.

If you are Skype, BitTorrent, Magic Jack or Google: You have also invested incredible amounts of cash into the development of your services and products based upon the ability of your users to access unrestricted broadband access. The faster the better. Your Primary Concern: If the FCC loses in this situation, you will face a significant decline in your ability to generate a healthy profit on your deliverables. What alternatives are available and how can you assure that your subscribers get genuine net neutrality from their ISP?

If you are the End User: Limited offerings from limited aftermarket providers may restrict your freedoms and options on the Internet. Your Primary Concern: Will you be able to share files without censorship? Are your rights as a consumer being infringed upon and will this cause you to have limited benefit from the web in the future on account of Big Brother abusing its control over the market?

Years ago, other industries may have chimed in claiming infringement on Intellectual Property, Copyright Law, or outright theft (e.g., the movie/music industries [MPAA or RIAA] vs file sharing sites). This time, the fight is over the FCC imposing what may be seen as a POLICY rather than a LAW or REGULATION--that is the current contention posed by Comcast Corp. The ISPs are concerned, as well, that high bandwidth applications do not monopolize too much of their capacity.

There is no apparent, clear cut, solution to this powderkeg. Groups such as the Electronic Frontier Foundation (in favor) and Free Press (in favor) have entered the ring with their voices regarding Net Neutrality. Given the current wording of the existing policies and regulations, the EFF has expressed concern about a loophole that exists in the wording that may allow the ISPs to impose "copyright enforcement" (perhaps inserted by the lobbying interests) on behalf of the movie and recording industries. This debate may continue for a long time. As in any court matter, once a resolution is reached, we can be sure that NOBODY will be completely satisfied with the decision. We'd like to know what your take is on this. Feel free to submit your feedback on the blog for your opinion to be heard. All we ask is that you keep it civil. For more information in the world of Technology affecting Small Businesses, please visit our blog often. This blog is featured on our website for Holzsager Technology Services, LLC at http://www.tech4now.com/

Some Interesting Details That Have Emerged Thanks To Technology

This article is not exclusively going to cover technology as you've come to expect it. Today, we will touch upon some changes in the world that reveal some advances that may be attributed to wealth and grow by virtue of technology. The premise for this article relates to the YouTube viral video "Did You Know?" and some of its subsequent versions "Did You Know 4.0?"

These videos offer disturbing "facts" about the future and they postulate theories about the way in which the world will evolve. Some of the items mentioned are true fodder for debate, while other items are pure speculation. The two that are referenced above should not prove offensive to most. However, there is always the possibility that such theories could generate hostilities in some viewers.

The first time I viewed the first video, I sat in my seat and was dumbfounded. I read items and thought WOW! This information is incredible. Later on, while viewing another video, it dawned on me that many people are capable of creating a convincing video filled with fabrications. Some of the "details" mentioned may be documentable, I just wish to stress to those viewing this type of video to take it "with a grain of salt" and question how much is true.

Too many people watch complacently and accept all they see on the Internet as fact. Well, if you view the next in the series of "Did You Know? 5.0," you will see how this is ridiculed by those who fabricate such facts. The motherlode of all sources for facts on the web has become Google with the "Clarifier of dubious details" going to Snopes.

When I grew up, our source for most questions was Mom or Dad. Sometimes, we referenced The World Book encyclopedia or The Guiness Book of World Records. Nowadays, these books have limited circulation in print and are most likely out-of-date by the time that they would go to press. As a result of this, online searches are typically the sources referenced. If you were to review the MLA Handbook (Modern Language Association) for the ways to make reference in a written paper, you will find that there are now adequate methods in place to help you document that fact that you got your information from a site on the web. My, how things have changed!

Well, that's it for my Andy Rooney weekly rant. Hopefully, you were not so turned off by this that you stop visiting our site. In the meantime, please feel free to visit our website at http://www.tech4now.com/ for more Insights for Small Businesses and ways to make your business more productive in this ever changing business landscape.

What Are You Telling Me!? My Backup Is No Good!

It happens more often that most folks would care to imagine. Companies create backup plans, run a daily or weekly backup and NEVER test the backups to verify that they are viable. With the prices for hard drives dropping as low as they are, there is no excuse for any company NOT to have a backup in place. But, what happens after you have setup the backup?

I Run A Daily Backup And Depend Upon It For My Business Contingency Plan...

Okay, you say you have a Disaster Recovery/Business Contingency Plan, but does your plan include the verification and testing of your actual backup data? You may backup to an external drive or to an offsite backup location, but if you have not tested it on any regular basis...How can you be sure that it will work when you need it?

I have seen a number of clients that have maintained "stringent" attention to their backups, yet have not had the mindset to check their backups in a test mode. It is a simple test to perform a small "litmus" restore just to determine if the files that you have backed up will actually allow you to restore them to the original media.

So, What needs to be done to perform this test?

You have been backing up your data on a regular basis. You have multiple copies of the files in different folders on your external drive (hard disk or tape). Now that you have the backups...

• What do you intend to do when your machine's hard drive fails?
  
• Can you restore the files successfully?
  
• Would you be able to restore the full machine image to the machine if the drive went South?
  
• If the machine were stolen and you had to restore to another machine of similar or dissimilar hardware, could this be done?

Truthfully, the answer to that question is ... It Depends.

If you purchased an external drive and it came with a free backup utility, you may have copies of the data stored on it in a proprietary format. Proprietary, in this case, tends to signify that the software from the company selling the drive packaged with the software will not necessarily be portable to the "new" computer to which it needs to be restored. If you purchase a software program independently from the hard drive, you may have a greater chance of performing a clean and successful restore.

1. Before you perform your restore test, be sure to save your target folder to either a new location or rename its current location.
   
   For example:
   RENAME the folder named C:\Data\Business Documents\Legal
   to C:\Data\Business Documents\Legal.ORIGINAL
   or COPY them to C:\Backup\Data\Business Documents\Legal.
   
   The primary objective is to assure a safe copy of the files on the drive while allowing the backup program to restore the files to their original location.
   
2. Open your backup application and perform a restore from the backup device to the computer's hard drive. The files should have the same path and name to truly verify that you have a successful test.
   
3. Once the files have been restored, open each of them and confirm that they match your expectations. If you have changed the document since the file was backed up, compare the files to determine if they are cleanly copied.
   
4. If your copies don't compare, then you need to reassess the backup configuration and identify what needs to be changed. If the copy was successful, then you have a higher confidence level and may proceed to test it in this fashion moving forward.

As an enhanced variation to the aforementioned restoration process, you may wish to occasionally perform a full restore to a new hard drive in either the same machine or to another machine altogether. By running this test, you may determine if your business contingency plan is flawed or shows integrity. Keep in mind, restoring a single drive to another does not validate a business contingency or disaster recovery plan, it merely confirms that you could replicate the existence of one machine. In the future, consider effecting this test for ALL MACHINES involved in your business INCLUDING SERVERS.

What If You Could Only Restore A Few Files, But Not The Full Contents?...

Your ability to recover from a disaster or failure may be directly correlated to the degree to which you have prepared. As indicated above, some programs will only enable you to restore files, some will enable you to restore systems. The key difference lies in the concern that you have a failed drive. What do you do if you can no longer acquire a replacement computer that was of the same build? Then, what options do you have? How soon do you need the system back and available?

There are software applications that allow you to restore your system to a different computer; these types are often referred to as "Bare Metal Restores" or "Restores to Dissimilar Hardware." Regardless of the term, they allow you to recover in the event you need to adjust to the limited selections available at the time. Sometimes, the limitation is on account to market fluctuation (e.g., new models are available) while other times, it may be due to time limitations (e.g., you need hardware for a replacement server immediately and the older model is simply not available locally).

In addition to this aspect of your restore, you should also be maintaining a copy OFFSITE. Why should one be kept offsite? In the event you have a fire, theft, flood or police action, your access to the office may become restricted and/or power may be unavailable. For a quick example, picture yourself as a business establishment in New Orleans before the impact of Hurricane Katrina. Now, picture your business after Katrina. If all of your business data had been archived onsite, it might have washed away after the first levee breach.

If I Need To Be Better Prepared, What Recommendations Do You Have?

If you plan to maintain the system yourself, there are a number of higher end backup applications from Acronis, StorageCraft and Symantec amongst others. Each has its pros and cons, so we won't go into depth in this blog. Many of these programs have nuances and features that may be beyond generic understanding and are often more reliably applied by a trained professional. Furthermore, there are many service providers including Holzsager Technology Services, LLC that offer managed backup services (both onsite and offsite) for a fixed fee. The advantage to this option is that the provide will not only perform the backups, but will test the viability of the backup on a regular basis.

If you feel that you would like to know more about an automated backup for your business, please feel free to contact us at (201) 797-5050 or visit our website at www.tech4now.com.

If I Choose To Stick With Windows XP Pro, Is It A Flawed Strategy?

Microsoft has consistently promoted its products and terminated them to rollout a new flavor every number of years. Quite a few of my clients have expressed concern over the pending End of Support date for Windows XP. Afterall, Windows XP has proven to be the most popular operating system on this planet (not that I would know what they may using on Jupiter--it's probably Mac OSX).

When Is Doomsday for Windows XP Going To Fall?

Microsoft has already announced that the End of Support for Windows XP Service Pack 2 will arrive on July 13, 2010. Should you panic? No, particularly since that date is for the SECOND to last Service Pack, not the most recent one, Service Pack 3. If you visit Microsoft's announcement page, you will see Extended Support for Windows XP will retire on April 8, 2014. So, if you were deathly concerned...Relax! As a matter of fact, many end users are still using a number of Microsoft products that have been retired and are not feeling the duress. If you are still using a Windows 2000 Pro or Windows 2000 Server, it is time to consider an upgrade. Whereas, if you are still on Windows 95 or 98SE, it's time to wake up and figure out exactly how long you have been sleeping.

Back To Our Original Question...

So, you and your business have been operating on Windows XP since 2001, you are comfortable with it, all of your applications work on it and all of your older machines can run it without a major hardware overhaul. What's the rush and where's the fire?

Well, then the question that you need to pose is the following...

Can my business currently sustain the cost and inconvenience of a platform change at this juncture in time?

I imagine most will complain loudly and with a resounding "NO!", but here's the catch... If you chose to do it now or later, you will still be likely to perform this undertaking. The big question to ask yourself is How Do I Plan For This Change? Now is the time to discuss the likelihood of new developments with your programmers. It is prime time to communicate your concerns to your staff and recognize where they are in terms of Learning Curve. Maybe it makes sense to rollout some changes in isolated pockets where you can monitor the acceptance level or performance level once the operating system has been upgraded. It is likely that you can "sweeten the pot" for your staff by pointing out the need to give them new computers as part of the deal.

Perhaps, you need to plan an integration path for your business with your support provider. Your provider should be able to share insights with you about the risks and benefits of upgrading and, possibly, changing certain software programs that you currently use (e.g., Microsoft Office 2003 to Office System 2007). The axiom applies : "If you fail to plan, then you plan to fail."

Come Up With A Game Plan

Chances are, like most individuals, you do not want to have change shoved down your throat. Change is often connected with growing pain and adjustment, not to mention lost time, so it gets postponed until the last minute. How many of you would wait until the night before a paper was due to actually buckle down and type it? The same mindset may apply, but now is the time to recognize your opportunity to prepare for it and soften the blow.

1. Contact your Line-of-Business Developers
   Like most businesses, specialization occurs within the internal workings of the business. You may have a particular CRM (Client Relationship Manangement) program that you use, or an Office/Practice Management program that you and your staff depend on. Perhaps, you are an accountant and use a special group of tax programs. Identify your developers and contact them. Ask them if their programs are compatible with Windows 7 or Server 2008. You may be pleasantly surprised. Some may require hefty upgrades that cost alot and have revised interfaces. Ask them if the program may be run in PARALLEL with your existing version. Start the ball rolling now.


2. Contact your Support Professional or Service Bureau
   If you need to implement change, do it in a controlled fashion, not haphazardly. Consulting with your Support Provider allows you to begin phasing in change. By involving your Support at the onset, they may help you research for the anticipated changes. Who knows, you may even be able to save money by getting them involved and benefitting from their know-how and experience--afterall, you're not looking to reinvent the wheel.


3. Review your existing infrastructure and capital
   This change may incur capital expense. Discuss the situation with your accountant or tax planner. You may be able to write off more than you anticipated. Furthermore, you will have a valuable list of your current assets. Don't underestimate the value of a good inventory.


4. Assess your staff to identify tech leaders and train them
   Each organization has a few individuals that show an aptitude for computers and applications, use them to the fullest advantage. Try to identify them and get them trained. You will need to have them on the new systems shortly after training begins to enable them to better retain the knowledge gleaned from courses. Try to determine if they see the change as a positive one or, simply, as a necessary one. Remember, you are not going through change for change's sake, but to address it head on and under control.

Breathe deeply and relax. You are not going through a frontal lobotomy, only some minor procedures. Don't be overwhelmed by the thought of incurring this change. Try to embrace it with both feet planted firmly on the ground. If you find you are changing things just because they are new, try to step back and re-evaluate what is transpiring. This is supposed to bring you to a newer, higher ground at a steady pace, don't let it become an avalanche of change.

Implementing any change in a small or medium-sized business brings a modicum of pain. Making a change to address change within the industry or within your production needs is good. Always try to see the light at the end of the tunnel and work with steady resolve, it will prove that the decisions you make are worthy and well-conceived. So, if you stick with XP Pro, is it a flawed strategy?...not if you recognize that you will eventually need to address the change and plan for it. If you are at a crossroads in this decision, please feel free to contact us at support@tech4now.com or call us at (201) 797-5050. We will be happy to help you to assess and implement any changes that may be coming to your business. For further Insights on Small Businesses, kindly visit this site regularly or visit our website at http://www.tech4now.com/.

Some thoughts for New Year Resolutions

Happy New Year! It's 2010 and we are now entering the second year of the Obama administration. Is that a reasonable measurement of time? Regardless of whom you voted for, it's time to take an assessment of where you are and where you see yourself headed. Some folks try to give up on cigarettes each year, others may want to stop drinking alcohol, and some have a target for weight loss--whatever your vice, now is the time for introspection. Inasmuch as this is a blog about Insights for Small Businesses, we'd like to know what you foresee for your entrepreneurial endeavors. It's your golden egg. The question is can you acquire the goose this year, too?!

Is This The Year That You Decide To Do More Promotions?
In light of the fact that many businesses endured hardships in 2009, a number of our clients are considering advertising and marketing as their salvation. If you are amongst those considering this option, let us ask you some questions to stimulate thought...

1. Are you calling your clients on a regular basis?


2. Do they remember you when the need arises for them to use your services or products?


3. Do you have a Client Relationship Management (CRM) program in place to help you to maintain those relationships?


4. Do you need one and have you done any research as to the one that suites your needs the best?
   

Is This The Year That You Decide To Install A Server?
Maybe you were one of the fortunate entrepreneurs in 2009 and your business has been consistently profitable and growing. Now is the time to take greater control over your data. It may be the right time to introduce a server into your business. A server will allow you, amongst other things, to centralize security for all of the users on the network, centralize the storage of your primary documents, thus allowing you to centralize the backup of critical data for local and offsite storage. It also allows you to establish an internal website for your business to centralize the control of resources, as well as sharing of schedules. So, for consistency's sake, let's ask you some insightful questions to help you determine your needs...

1. Have you ever had a workstation's hard drive fail or computer crash without warning that has important information, but is not backed up?


2. Do all of your users maintain passwords to restrict unauthorized access to company data on any or all computers within your network?


3. Do you find yourself losing sleep over employees that leave the company and may still be connecting to your network for the sake of either stealing information or sabotaging your affairs?


4. Do you need to reduce cost through resource sharing methods at work (e.g., shared printers)?


5. Do you backup all critical information used in your business on a regular basis?


6. Would you like to control office communications better?


7. Do you have a server or a backup solution in place to plan for tomorrow?

Is This The Year That You Decide To Install A Better Security Infrastructure?
You've probably had at least one virus infection in the past year. It has eroded your confidence in the security and integrity of your network. Now, no one wants to process any transactions over the Internet for fear of either identity theft or fraud. You've had your admin lose critical information that was stored exclusively on his/her machine and now it cannot be recovered. You are not sure what you can do to help your business establish any preparations for contingency, so now you have delegated one of your staff as the in-house guru to maintain and support all computer problems. Worse yet, you have lost innumerable hours by your staff trying to clear SPAM from their mailboxes. By the way, did you get the domain name for your business that you promised yourself last year?

1. Is your business constantly losing time due to slow computer performance or users cleaning out their SPAM from e-mail?


2. Do you have antivirus programs from different vendors that expire at different times installed throughout your network?


3. Do you feel too many people may have access to your network wirelessly, but you don't know how to address the issue?


4. Are your users connecting to the network to perform work at home, but you don't know how or when they are connecting? (or even who is connecting?)

How much time can you afford to have your staff lose on computing and network problems?


Wow, All Of These Options Are Wearing Us Out And Don't Really Address Our Real Issues!!
You've taken the steps that you deemed fit to keep your network running smoothly: You assigned a staff member as the computer contact person, you bought an antivirus, you bought an external drive for backup, and even attached a UPS (uninterruptible Power Supply) to your desktop computer. So, why do you still have issues and spend so much time maintaining it?!

We would like to suggest that with your new list of overwhelming tasks, you consider the viable alternative... Outsource!

Technology companies like Holzsager Technology Services, LLC offer Managed Services to help you manage your computer and network concerns (see our blog article from November 7, 2009). We can help you manage your technology for a reasonable fixed monthly fee. If you only want to control your SPAM or perform backups, we can assist you with that, too! All-in-all, it's a great solution for the growing business. You know what your expenses are for the month: rent, insurance, tech support, phones and utilities--you have fewer concerns to distract you from your business and the tasks that are within your true skillset.

Interested? Give us a call at (201) 797-5050 or for even more info, visit our site for a special offer. Let this year bring you the success that you have been so eagerly pursued. For more information about us, visit http://www.tech4now.com/. We look forward to hearing from you.