Firewall Upgrade - Protect Your PCs

Are you spending too much money each month repairing your employee's PCs? Are you buying multiple software packages for each PC to reduce SpyWare/MalaWare/Viruses? Want to limit the internet/website ABUSE of your employees?

We can survey your network and advise you on how to limit that Internet abuse that ultimately costs your business money due to inneficient equipment.

Additionally, the same Firewall equipment can be used for creating a Virtual Private Network between your multiple offices. See our product flyer on how this technology can help your business!

Network Services & Solutions

As an Information Systems service, we charge ourselves with maintaining all technology systems and services so your organization can run smoothly and focus on providing your products/services to your clients. We are a team that specializes in driving project initiatives and operations based projects.

We aid in planning, driving, and implementing turn-key solutions for internal and external customers alike. Additionally, we can maintain your company growth momentum by continually upgrading and expanding your existing network infrastructure.

Network topology design	Server build/configuration/maintenance
Terminal Services Server	Backup solutions
Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)	Router/Firewalls

DIY PC/Server Maintenance

Let’s cover some of the maintenance items that commonly need to be addressed:

• Disk Defragment – Servers & PCs tend to run sluggish over time and running a Disk Deframent can reduce the risk for data corruption, as well as speed up data access. Most Windows Vista systems have this as an automatic schedule for 1x/week.
• IE Cache – Over time, your windows Internet Explorer tends to accumulate a large browsing history (cache). This may slow IE down a bit. It’s good to clear it now and then. A delete browsing history button can be found under Tools -> Internet Options.
• Empty Recycle Bin – Located on your Window’s Desktop, it will store deleted files for ease of restoration. Over time, it will accumulate many deleted files and should just be purged.
• Clear Emails – Nowadays, it seems like we process more emails than any other file type. Do a quick organization of your Inbox, delete sent emails that you do not wish to keep, and clear your Deleted box emails.
• Backups – We’ve covered on previous articles the importance of backups. So if you copy/backup data to CDs, DVDs, External drive, or Internet service you should be covered should a disaster occur.
• Software Updates – Windows Updates are common. Make sure that you apply them and you should be current on any latest release. Make sure that you check for updates for any other software you may have purchased.
• UPS – Uninterruptable Power Supplies (UPS) are those batteries that keep things powered up should you experience a loss of electricity. You’ll want to fully drain the power from them and recharge.
• Laptop Batteries – Same as UPS units, you want to every now and then let them fully discharge and recharge. Though most batteries nowadays do not suffer from the Memory Effect of previous technology (where they would not fully charge up again), it’s still good maintenance to perform a discharge/recharge cycle.
• AntiVirus – If you do not have an Anti Virus / Spyware software package, go get one! If you have one, then make sure your license is up to date and verify that you are downloading the most up to date virus definitions.
• Uninstall Unused Programs – Like most of us, you have probably installed a shareware, freeware, or other trial program over the course of the year. Do a sweep and uninstall programs that you may not be using at all, but are taking valuable space and/or resources.
• Clean Dust – Though dust itself is not harmful to computer components, over time it will accumulate over the internal fans and damage them. Apply compressed air and blow off any compounded dust that you may find (especially if on CPU and Power Supply fans). Make sure that you fully shut down and disconnected power from your unit before doing this.

All of these little things can add up to more than a few hours if you try to tackle them at once and depending on how many machines. So pick a day and a couple of items and go through your computers. Do this over the course of a week or so and you will have done a thorough maintenance process that should keep you running in tip-top shape.