TECHNOLOGY UPDATE THE MORE THINGS CHANGE, THE MORE FUN IT

GETS!

MichAel CarnellPalmettobug Digital

• Data Mechanic

• Development, Support & Training

• Windows, Mac & Web

• Serving Small to Medium Sized Business

• Written Extensively on Programming and Data Issues

10 Things to Do to Your PC Now

Before Racing Off Into The Future,

Make Sure the Road Your On Is Solid

1. Backups and Recovery

• Do you have backups?

• The difference between data recover and disaster recovery

• Fast & Segmented vs Complete and Inclusive

• Does anyone monitor those backups?

• How do you know the backups are running?

2. Test The Backups

• Is the media readable?

• Is the data you expected contained on the backup?

• Run trouble scenarios -

• Lost file, over-written file, drive failure, fire, flood, etc...

• What if your restoration machine is the one that fails?

• Make this a regular process.

3. Off-Site Backups

Off-site backup considerations

•Slower but isolated from the problems.

•Bandwidth and disk space have gotten much cheaper.

•Make sure of security - physical and digital.

•Would you back up all drives or only critical data?

•Can enable remote office creation in worst case scenario.

4. Anti-Malware

Problems

• Viruses

• Spyware

• Spam

• Fishing

Solutions

•Anti-virus

•System patches

•Filters

•Safe practices

5. Passwords(I know You Hate This!)

•Most common passwords are well known: 12345abcdegodpasswordnoneyour nameyour kid’s nameyour dog’s nameyour birthdate

•Keep different passwords for different systems.

•Don’t share your passwords.

•Change them often.

•Make them combination phrases like name and birth date.

6. Physical Security

What about if someone just walks up to your machine?

•Make sure the screen saver locks.

•Don’t leave passwords or other documents around.

•Don’t put passwords on sticky notes.

•Are your backups locked up? What about other disks?

•Security of laptops, smart-phones & USB thumb drives?

7. Software Updates• Operating System upgrades & updates.

• WindowsXP is no longer supported. When are you moving to Windows 7?

• Updates and Patches address both flaws and security holes.

• Don’t forget your applications - they need patching too.

• This is the #1 defense against malware and system crashes.

8. Memory• Windows XP - 1 gig minimum

• Windows Vista & 7 - 2 gigs minimum

• Mac OS X Leopard - 1 gig minimum

• Mac OS X Snow Leopard - 2 gigs minimum

• All operating system will run faster and breathe better with 2 times this minimum

Note: 1 gig is about $30 to $40 depending on the system.

9. Hard Drives•Drive space is cheap, make sure you have enough.

•At least 10% of your drive should be free space.

•Drives can either be replaced or an additional drive added.

•Drive speeds - 7200rpm is faster than 5400rpm

•Wipe data from old drive before disposing.

•Please dispose of properly.Note: 500 gig drives are about $60 to $75 depending on the system.

10. When Do You Upgrade?Is It Time For A New Ride?

•Lifespan of a PC is about 3 to 5 years - depending on the type of applications and abuse.

•Does it still do what you need?

•Can it be cost effectively upgraded?

•Laptops are more costly to upgrade and have a slightly shorter lifespan.

Laptop and Desktop Recommendations

Assessing the need• Should be based on need not want.

(sure, right)

• What tasks are being performed?

• Graphics intensive?

• CPU (calculations) intensive?

• Drive space intensive?

• Consider the monitor and keyboard.

• Most laptops don’t have numeric keypads

• Do you need a large monitor or maybe two?

How Much Should You Buy?

• Buy the best that you can afford.

• Shop the warranties and service.

• Cheap PCs often cost a lot.

• Buy with the eye to extending its life later by upgrading it.

• Buy the base model BMW instead of the top of the line Kia.

My Personal RecommendationsDisclaimer!

I have no vested interest in the companies or their products. These are just my personal opinions.

Apple - Amazing equipment, fantastic service. Dell - Solid equipment, good service and

warranties.Hewlett Packard - Simply solid.

Lenovo - Excellent laptops (were IBM Thinkpads)

Recycle - REduce - Reuse

• Make sure your old hard drive is wiped clean.

• Recycle to PATH, GoodWill or other organizations.

• Do not put e-waste in dumps.

The Internet Expands Beyond the PC

What is Cloud Computing?• Not just servers in the Ether!

• Management and services are the key.

• Reduces workload for your company.

• Examples:

• Google GMail and Apps

• Zoho Office

• Hosted Exchange

• SalesForce.com

How Does The AFFECT OUR OFFICES?• Network speed is far more important.

• Network reliability is crucial.

• Security changes places or at least adds a location.

• Data ownership questions come into play.

• Our “PC”s can be less powerful and more portable. (Think Apple iPad)

Cars, Planes and ... Couches• The biggest change is locational.

• We don’t have to have an office or a fixed location.

• The data is where the job is.

• But... the data follows you home.

Changing Media

The Death of Print?

• Maybe not the death, but it is changing.

• Social media is replacing advertising - Facebook, Twitter, YouTube.

• Traditional Newspapers are dying while social news is flourishing.

Media On Demand• We are transition from “push” media and “interruption advertising” to a “pull” or on-demand model.

• Started with the TiVo

• Kindle

• iPad

• NetFlix

• So, what do your customers expect out of you?

How To Get In Contact

• Palmettobug Digital - http://www.palmettobug.com

• Michael Carnell - carnellm@palmettobug.com

• Twitter - carnellm

• Phone - 843.364.3393

• Just Google me!

Question & Answer TIME