Blog

The Holidays Cometh

By

Well, the holidays cometh.  I am already looking forward to smoked turkey, dressing and sweet potatoes.  Hmmm.   I’m getting hungry just thinking about it.  But Thanksgiving is about much more than family and food.  Let’s all remember that despite the current economic climate and nearly constant negative news on television; we all have a lot to be thankful for.  We live in the greatest country on earth for starters.  In addition, those of us at Nexxtep are also thankful for you, our clients.  It is because of you that we can provide for our families and we never take that for granted.  So, in case we don’t have a chance to talk between now and next Thursday, Happy Thanksgiving from all of us here at Nexxtep.  
 
– Ryan Williams
 

… Keep reading

21 Nov, 2008

Don't Test The System

By

My advice to people regarding Internet usage at work is "don’t test the system."  With the proper equipment in place, monitoring employee Internet usage requires very little effort.  Internet monitoring systems flag suspicious traffic and automatically alert the powers that be.  No one has to be sitting at a computer watching the Internet traffic flow through the system to catch non-business related surfing.
 
To Employers:  It is a good idea to have a clear documented Internet usage policy for your organization.  Surprisingly, many organizations still do not have this.  I also suggest having each employee sign this policy to indicate they have read it, understand it, and agree to abide by it.
 
To Employees:  While most employers do not care if employees visit the occasional personal site, some organizations have a zero tolerance policy.  Interestingly enough, I have yet to see a single manager gain any

… Keep reading

11 Nov, 2008

What Happens On the Internet Stays On the Internet

By

Here is something few people realize about the Internet.  Everything you post on the Internet is permanent.  I think many people incorrectly assume that when they remove something from MySpace, Facebook, or a website, the information is no longer accessible.  Not so.  Many websites store all of this history, and websites like Google and Archive.org allow you to peer back in time and view a website as it existed years ago.  Also, there are numerous ways to capture web pages and store them on a personal computer.
So, the obvious point I am making here is to be cautious when posting your thoughts online, whether it be in a blog, a blog comment, a MySpace or Facebook page, Twitter or any other method for posting thoughts online.  A growing trend is for business managers to “Google” potential new hires before interviewing them.  If anything is found during the search that … Keep reading
11 Nov, 2008

What do Nexxtep’s support request statuses mean?

By

This question was submitted by one of our clients.  She wanted us to explain what our support request status’ mean.  For those of you who have not noticed, each time you submit a support request to Nexxtep, you should receive an email confirmation which lists our description of the request, the tracking number assigned to the request, and the status of the request.  Listed below is a short description of each status.

New: The support request is newly submitted.

Assigned:  The support request has been assigned to an engineer.

Scheduled:  The support request has been assigned to an engineer and a specific date and time has been arranged to work on the request.

In Progress:  Work has begun on the support request.

Waiting:  We are waiting for something to occur before we can resume work on the support request.  This can be waiting for parts

… Keep reading

31 Oct, 2008

Finding Orphaned Songs Within iTunes

By

This tech tip is specific to iTunes users.  If you have more than just a handful of songs, then you probably have created a few playlists.  I currently have 23 playlists.  Being the soft hearted guy that I am, the thought of an orphaned song hanging out in my iTune and not being assigned to a playlist makes me sad.  If a song is not assigned to a playlist, it may never get listened to.  If you also have a soft spot in your heart for orphaned songs and you would like to know how to find them and get them assigned to a playlist, here is what you do.  The process is a little tedious, but if you support the cause, it is worth the effort.

1. Create a Smart Playlist by clicking on the file menu.

2. Add a rule for each and every playlist to only include

… Keep reading

31 Oct, 2008

UStream.com

By

UStream is a quick, easy and free way to broadcast a live video feed on the internet.  With just a web cam and an account on UStream, you can be broadcasting live video to the masses in 5 minutes.  Using UStream, professional service providers like accountants, attorneys, or other consultants can offer a live question and answer session to their clients very easily.  With the built-in instant messaging chat functionality, all participating clients can submit their questions or comments, and you can respond in real time through the video.  I have attended a couple video feeds like this, and they are easy and entertaining.  If you are looking for a new or innovative way to connect with your clients, UStream is worth considering.
 
- Ryan Williams
 

… Keep reading

24 Oct, 2008

Archiving Old Data to Increase Productivity

By

Over time workstation and server hard drives become littered with old files that are no longer useful.  Often companies do not want to delete these files for fear they will need them in the future.  Perhaps you should consider archiving the old files to another drive.  Software can move old files and duplicate the exact directory structure on the new hard drive so the files can be easily found if they are needed later.  Cleaning up your old files in this way should produce an increase in productivity because your employees will not have to sift through old unused files every day when looking for the files they need.

Nexxtep has a software tool that can automate this process.  Let us know if you are interested in a hard drive cleaning.

- Ryan Williams
24 Oct, 2008

Microsoft Critical Security Patch

By

Microsoft released a critical patch this week that blocks a serious security flaw in their operating system.  You can read about the issue here: http://news.cnet.com/8301-1009_3-10074072-83.html.  If you are on our N-Care support plan, we are working hard to get the patch deployed and installed for you.
 
- Ryan Williams
 
 

… Keep reading

24 Oct, 2008

How To Not Send An Email You’ll Later Regret

By

Have you ever sent an email you later regretted?  I know I have.  Sometimes I have just been too quick on the trigger, and other times I have just not been thinking clearly.  At the end of a long day or late at night, sometimes our mental capabilities diminish (certain beverages may also play a role).  An email that seems like an elegant work of art at midnight may look like an email telling your boss he is an idiot in the morning.
Well Google has invented a clever way to combat this type of career damaging email.  It’s called Mail Goggles, and it is available in Google Labs.  The feature forces you to solve a few simple math problems before Google will send your email.  The purpose is to check your mental capabilities and to make sure you are thinking clearly.  You can control the days of the week … Keep reading
17 Oct, 2008

What To Do About Sick Employees This Winter

By

Our office has already been hit by a bug.  It took out 3 people in just a few days (more to follow I’m sure).  This winter as your employees get sick, it would probably be a good idea to have a “work from home” solution in place.  Rather than have your employees come to the office sick and spread the bug to everyone else, encourage them to stay at home and work from there.  There are a myriad of solutions available to permit people to work remotely including: GoToMyPC, LogMeIn, TightVNC, Citrix, Terminal Server and others.  Each solution has its strengths and weaknesses and choosing between them really depends on the situation.
If the person working from home has a dedicated computer residing at the office, then GoToMyPC, LogMeIn or TightVNC may work.  The drawback here is security.  In the typical setup for these applications, there is no centralized control … Keep reading
9 Oct, 2008
« First‹ Previous3132333435363738Next ›