|
|
"As a business owner, I know you don't have time to waste on technical and operational issues.
That's where we shine! Call us and put an end to your IT problems finally and forever!"
Larry Owens, President,
IntegrIT Network Solutions, Inc. |
November / December 2011
"Peace on Earth, good will toward men?
There's an app for that!"
|
FREE Business Advisory Guide:
Discover What Most IT Consultants Don't Know Or Won't Tell You About Backing Up Your Data And Recovering It After A Disaster.
|
 |
What remote, offsite, or managed
backups are, and why EVERY
business should have them in
place. |
|
|
Frightening trends, cases, and
questions every business owner
should know and consider
regarding data security. |
|
|
Where tape backups fail and give
you a false sense of security. |
|
|
12 critical characteristics to
demand from your backup service
and IT company. |
|
|
The single most important thing
to look for when choosing a
remote backup service provider. |
Download the full Report. |
|
Do You Want Us
to Market Your Business to
Our Customers for FREE?
If So... We Want to Feature You!
Have we recently provided you
with a "WOW" experience? Maybe
we fixed a problem that you were
having that seemed nearly
impossible to fix. Did we save
your data from disaster?
Whatever the case may be, we
want to feature your story in
our Client Spotlight in our
newsletter!
All you have to do is submit
your story to me with
back-ground information about
your company, tell me what
IntegrIT has done for you, and
supply a photo. Sending this to
us gives us permission to do all
the rest - i.e. write the
spotlight story for the
newsletter and use the comments
and photos in future marketing.
To take advantage of this
free marketing opportunity - Please send your story to us via
email right away at
info@integrit-network.com
P.S. If you want to be featured
in the Client Spotlight, but
want to make things a little
easier on yourself... we will even
come to your office, do the
interview and take a picture for
you! All you have to do is call
or email - FREE marketing can't
get much easier than that!!
425.787.0193
info@integrit-network.com
|
 THE
LIGHTER SIDE
A Sunday School teacher was
testing the kids to see if they
understood the concept of getting to heaven.
She asked if she sold her house
and gave all the money to the
church would she then go to
heaven?
Then she proposed that if she
cleaned the church, was kind to
animals, and gave candy to the
children, would she go to
heaven?
To each question, the Sunday
School students chorused a
resounding "NO!
So she asked how she could get
to heaven. A five-year-old boy
shouted: "You gotta be dead!
A lady pulled into a Wal-Mart
parking lot with her dog, who
was stretched out on the back
seat. She rolled down the car
window so the dog would have
fresh air.
Walking a few steps away, she
said, "Now you stay! Hear me? Stay! Stay!"
A guy in the next car gave her a
strange look and said, "Lady, why didn't you just put it in park?"
Sally was driving back from a
business trip in Northern Arizona when she saw an elderly
Native American woman walking. She stopped and asked the
woman if she wanted a ride and
the woman got in.
After a while
the Native American woman
asked what was in the bag in
the back seat. Sally said it was a
bottle of wine she got for her
husband.
After a moment of silence, and
speaking with the voice of wisdom, the woman said, "Good
trade."
|
We're looking for great businesses just like you.
Put us in touch with your friends
and business associates and receive
a $25 gift for a new lead that becomes an appointment. Plus, $50 if your referral hires us for a project, and up to $500 more if they become a managed services customer.
Just send us a Name, Business Name, and contact information and we'll do the rest. Of course your highly weighted endorsement would go a long way to closing that deal! You can now send us your referrals online.
Go to our Cash
Referral Program page
up on our Web site and submit
your referrals for a chance to
earn $500 cash!! |
Services We Offer:
Learn more at:
www.integrit-network.com
|
Need Tech Support?
IntegrIT offers you
more than one option when it comes to support. We're certain you will find an
option that meets your needs.
1.
Phone
Call our Help Desk
any time of the day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
888-591-2755
2.
Client Portal
Submit, edit, and
check the status of support requests.
3.
Email
For non-urgent tech
support needs.
|
|
 |
Insider Tips To Make Your Business Run Faster, Easier, And More Profitably
|
Welcome to the
IntegrIT Network
Solutions "Bits-N-Bytes" bi-monthly newsletter with tips to help you keep your computers and network running
efficiently and securely.
We're here, ready to help you fully control and manage your IT systems so that you can focus on growing your business,
increasing sales, and meeting your goals. It's easy to reach us!
|
|
Call us at (866) 578-6220
|
|
|
Send us an
email
|
We will contact you within 24 hours or less. Happy Computing!
IntegrIT Network Solutions, Inc., Bringing Integrity and IT Together
|
|
IntegrIT Network Solutions Gives
a Holiday Present with Real Meaning
|
|
 With
the holiday season in full
swing, businesses across
Washington State are giving and
receiving holiday gifts of
chocolates, gourmet food, or
some sort of interesting gadget.
IntegrIT Network Solutions was
no exception, up until a few
years ago. We found ourselves
deliberating over what to give
our customers to show how much
we appreciate them and their
business.
What to do for them? Buy a gift
they may or may not want or
need? How about a bottle of
wine? Maybe they don't drink.
Candy? Maybe they are watching
their weight. Calendars? Desk
stuff? Then we got to thinking - it's impossible to find
something that everyone will
want or need. So what could we
do for everyone that would be
appreciated and meaningful to
all?
|
From left to right: Julie
Rice from IntegrIT Network
Solutions presents her
company's donation to Ashley Gammell of Food Lifeline on
November 18, 2011 |
|
With so many people in our local
communities in need, we felt
giving gifts that may or may not
be wanted did not seem
appropriate. We wanted to do
something meaningful, and
decided to give the money that
we would have spent on gifts to
a local charity, on behalf of
our customers. Those funds are
better put to use helping those
less fortunate throughout our
community.
In lieu of corporate holiday
gifts this year, IntegrIT
Network Solutions has made a
donation to Food
Lifeline of
Western Washington. By using 96%
of its revenue to feed hungry
people, Food Lifeline is
efficient, effective, and makes
the most of the donations the
organization receives. Last
year, Food Lifeline helped feed
more than 745,000 hungry people
through our network of nearly
300 local food banks, meal
programs, and shelters.
This is the third year in which
IntegrIT Network Solutions has
kept with this tradition, which
has been well-received by our
customers. Many of you have told
us you are happy to receive our
card announcing
a donation has
been made in your name. It is
very heartwarming to hear you
tell us you are glad to know
that money is being put to good
use. It proves that the best
gift is giving to those in need.
This year, there are more
organizations in need of help
and less people who have money
to spare; this formula does not
bode well for charities or the
people who rely on them. The
misconception that it takes deep
pockets to give to charity
scares away some potential
givers. The truth is, any amount
counts and is appreciated.
Our hope is that other local
companies will take note and
choose to do something
meaningful and lasting, rather
than business as usual. Instead
of spending money on material
goods for their customers, put
that money toward a charitable
cause. Charities welcome the
donations. The community
benefits from your generosity
and you take care of your
holiday shopping list while
truly honoring the spirit of the
season.
ABOUT FOOD LIFELINE
Food Lifeline is a nonprofit
organization dedicated to ending
hunger in local communities
throughout Western Washington
for more than 30 years. Food
Lifeline's mission is to end
hunger in Western Washington by
engaging communities and
mobilizing resources. By using
96% of its revenue to feed
hungry people, Food Lifeline is
efficient, effective, and makes
the most of the donations the
organization receives. Last
year, Food Lifeline helped feed
more than 745,000 hungry people
through our network of nearly
300 local food banks, meal
programs, and shelters. More
information on Food Lifeline is
available from the company's
website, www.foodlifeline.org,
or by emailing fllinfo@fll.org,
or calling 206-545-6600. |
|
The Benefits of Cloud Computing Solutions for Small Business
|
|
 "Cloud
computing" is the latest buzz word in the technology industry. It has entrenched itself as part of
business parlance over the past several years. Indeed, the concept of cloud computing has taken the world of IT business solutions by storm. As more and
more businesses get connected online, cloud computing is becoming increasing
popular as companies are embracing this new technology as a viable data
management solution. In fact, you will find that many people in the Seattle
area, including students, business owners, and even corporations alike, are
beginning to adopt cloud computing in droves.
In fact, it wasn't too long ago
that cloud computing was looked upon by skeptics as inherently insecure, even
flawed. It was viewed as representing a significant risk for businesses that
required twenty-four hour access to its data. By entrusting some third party
company to store all of a company's data, essentially one is putting their
business at risk because this information is supposedly no longer in their
control, it can be compromised easily, or access to their data could be
compromised due to technology failures in the cloud that are beyond the
company's control. While this is indeed an inherent risk of cloud-based
computing, this risk is typically mitigated by the fact that most companies that
offer cloud computing solutions will contractually bind themselves to service
level agreements with their clients and commit to a 99.99% availability of their
services, or better.
In areas like Seattle, cloud
computing has achieved mainstream adoption as a de facto standard for data
management. For the uninitiated, cloud computing solutions refer to the act of
storing all of your personal or company files on remote servers that are only
accessible via the Internet, rather than storing this information locally on
your own computer hard drives or servers. Some examples of cloud computing
include: having your email account hosted on a web-based email service (Yahoo,
Hotmail, and Gmail are perfect examples of this); having your word processor and
spreadsheet documents stored online, as is the case with Google Docs or Windows
Office Live; having your critical data files, pictures, music, and other file
types be stored in an online disk drive, such as Box.net.
The benefits that cloud computing offer are many:
-
Cloud computing is convenient. Your data is accessible from any
location in the world, as long as you have access to the Internet. You do not
physically have to be present at one specific computer where you data might be
stored on a local hard drive.
-
Cloud computing facilitates online collaboration.
Files stored
in the cloud can easily be shared with other people in the cloud. So there is no
need to email files back and forth among your colleagues. They can just as
easily access your content as well, based on the security settings that you
specify.
-
You never have to worry about your computer's hard drive crashing.
Your data is stored on remote servers that are constantly being backed up or
replicated in real-time.
-
Cloud computing lowers your company's overall IT costs.
You
don't need to invest in hardware or software related to file storage, since
everything is stored online. You need only to pay the fees for the cloud
computing service provider (unless these services are being offered for free).
Businesses in the Seattle area
are beginning to make the switch to cloud computing solutions. Are you ready to
give
cloud computing a try? Request our free
cloud readiness assessment or simply pick up the phone and give us a call at 425-787-0193. |
|
Client
Spotlight: Carter & Company CPAs
|
|
In each edition of
Bits-N-Bytes, we feature a customer as our "Client of the Month." It's our
way of acknowledging these companies and thanking those who support us and
our company with referrals and repeat business.
This edition's Featured Client is Court Carter, of
Carter & Company CPAs.
|
H. Court Carter,
CPA
Owner |
Carter & Company, CPAs, is a full service CPA firm located in Mill Creek, WA.
They work with individuals and small to mid-sized businesses to help them organize their finances and comply with governmental regulations.
Using their years of experience providing accounting services and interacting with the IRS and various state agencies,
they are able to offer peace of
mind and attention to detail unmatched by many in their field. Carter & Company, CPAs, offers a wide array of accounting and planning services including business,
individual, and estate/trust income tax preparation, bookkeeping, payroll preparation, QuickBooks consulting and setup, new business consultations, homeowners
association audits, tax planning, and IRS (or other agency) audit assistance.
What makes Carter &
Company CPAs unique is
that they take a personal interest in
their clients in order to build long-term friendships while maintaining the professionalism
and ethical responsibility expected of licensed CPAs.
Their business is done "on a handshake" and
they take great care to deliver top quality work to fill clients' needs.
They also enjoy working with new businesses to help them learn and grow at a speed that is right for them.
If you are an individual or business who is feeling like
your accounting or tax situation is getting to be more than
you feel comfortable (or are able) to do
yourself, give the folks
at Carter & Company CPAs
a call. To learn more about this company,
please visit their web site at
http://millcreekcpa.com.
Court first called on IntegrIT Network Solutions to
perform supplemental
support to augment their
existing service. Just
recently, he made the
decision to let go of
their other service and
use IntegrIT
exclusively. Here's what
Court had to say about IntegrIT Network Solutions:
"We have always
been happy with the work
that IntegrIT has done.
So when we became
frustrated with our
other service, who left
a project half-done for
several weeks, along
with a mess... we
decided to let IntegrIT
take over. Not
only was our new server
installation and network
upgrade project done to
our satisfaction, they
even came in on a
Saturday to make sure it
was done and running
properly on Monday.
And, there was no mess
left behind. We are
grateful to IntegrIT for
coming to our rescue."
The staff at IntegrIT Network Solutions would like to thank
Court and his team at
Carter & Company CPAs for their business and trust.
|
You might be our next Featured Client . . . Watch for your name and
picture here! |
|
Hackers Now Prefer Small Companies
|
|
 Statistics are showing that small and medium-sized businesses are being targeted by hackers on an escalating scale. The reason for this is smaller
businesses tend to have lax and weak security, making them much easier and quicker to steal from.
In physics, there's a concept called
'the path of least resistance'. The meaning is plain enough
- objects that move in a system take the path where
they will encounter the least challenges and hurdles in order to quickly move to wherever they are going.
Apparently, the same principle applies to hackers nowadays. Instead of targeting larger firms for that big
'score', hackers are now considering it more feasible and much easier to victimize smaller firms and companies, even for a much smaller amount of money.
Why is that? First, smaller companies generally have much more
vulnerable IT systems. Security is minimal or average at best, and the hackers don't get as much heat or attention when compared to trying to breach the much more complicated, state-of-the-art security systems of bigger firms and businesses.
-
Take a small newsstand business in Chicago: cyberthieves were able to install a Trojan in the cash registers which sent swiped credit card numbers to Russia. When the jig was discovered, Mastercard
subsequently demanded an investigation - at the expense of the business owner - and the proprietor had to shell out a hefty $22,000.
(read more about this
story here)
-
Then we have a computer company
in Maple Valley, WA: this
company was a victim of an international scam that used phishing technology to wipe out a half million dollars from his company's bank account
- their controller opened that hole when she clicked on and
email that claimed to be from Facebook. When she hit the link, a virus downloaded into the company's system.
(read more about this story
here)
A survey in the United States reveals that more than half of small or medium-sized businesses believed that they ran no risk of being
victimized by hackers, and less than half of the respondents had security systems in place. That looks like a path of least resistance, as far as hackers are concerned.
The loss of a few thousand bucks may not be much for a big business, but it can make a significant dent on the profits and sustainability of smaller organizations. And in the case of implanted viruses that steal credit card information, your reputation can also take a big hit. So if you want your business to stay truly safe before it's too late, please contact us so we can discuss options and blueprints to
make your business secure.
|
|
 |
New Customer Case Study - The
Dilemma of Upgrading vs.
Replacing a Computer System
Growing property management firm
reap benefits from replacing
their old and outdated computer
network
with consultancy and
installation services from
IntegrIT Network Solutions.
As with all business decisions,
the decision to replace
servers/software/computers
rather than upgrading comes down
to a question of cost vs.
benefit. Strategic planning must be considered.
Find out how consulting with an
experienced and certified IT
consultant helps a small
business incorporate longer-term business plans and potential expansion/growth.
Consideration of scalability and compatibility
is critical when it comes to technology expenditures.
>> more
|
|
|
Latest Press Release - Caring
for our Community in
Appreciation for Customers
IntegrIT Network Solutions, Inc. Donates to Local Charity in Lieu of Corporate Gift Giving
- A Holiday
Present with Real Meaning.
Continuing its dedication to serve their local community, INTEGRIT NETWORK SOLUTIONS has announced that it has made a holiday donation on
behalf of their clients and business associates. In lieu of corporate holiday gifts this year, IntegrIT Network Solutions, a Seattle IT Services firm,
has made a donation to Food Lifeline of Western Washington.
>> more
|
|
|
Latest IntegrIT Blog Entry - Beware of the
"12 Scams of Christmas"
Don't Let The Hacker Grinch Steal Your Private Information
We are issuing this stern warning about keeping your computer systems, and yourself, safe this holiday season. With all the joys of the season, we must warn you to trust no one, batten down your hatches, and only shop in Internet safe zones. Before you dive into the holiday season, please beware. Scammers love to use the season of giving, to take advantage of people.
>> more |
|
|
We Are Excited to Welcome Our Newest Clients!
The staff at IntegrIT
Network Solutions is thrilled to welcome our newest customers. We
would like to extend a sincere "thanks" for the trust and
confidence these clients have shown in us. Thank you!
|
|
12 Surefire Signs That Your Business Is Ready For A Server
|
|
Is Your Business Limping Along on Outdated Computers and a Peer to-Peer Network That
Hinders You More Than it Helps You?
Here are 12 Surefire Signs That
Your Business Could Greatly
Benefit by Upgrading Your
Network...
-
You have two or more computers that need to share office equipment (printers, fax machines,
scanners) and resources (Internet access).
Resume!
-
You have irreplaceable files and data residing on more than one computer that needs to be secured
from loss, corruption, or unauthorized access.
-
You need (or would like to have) secure access to your computer files while traveling or working
from home.
-
You need to back up critical files on more than one computer, and you would like to be able to
restore accidentally deleted files or previous versions of your files.
-
You need CRM (customer relationship management) software and accounting programs to manage
and communicate with your growing list of clients and vendors.
-
You need to manage different versions of one file.
-
You need a central communication system that makes it easy to schedule group meetings and
share information with employees, vendors, and customers.
-
You need to allow employees to share databases and other software tools.
-
You would like to send group faxes and
email broadcasts to
customers and vendors.
-
You want to save money by hosting your own company
website and email.
-
You want to control employees' access to sensitive financial
records and personnel information.
-
You want a central access point for information instead of
having to hunt down various files and data from various computers
on your network.
If you've been contemplating a software or hardware purchase, there is no better time than now to take action.
Why? Because IRS Section 179, one of the more straightforward and beneficial tax incentives around for small business, has been extended to cover the 2011 tax year. That equates to very nice savings on hardware and software for your company.
To learn more about how you can
save thousands of dollars on
your 2011 purchases, read our
IRS Section 179 Tax Incentive
article on the IntegrIT Network
Solutions Technology Blog.
Another reason you may consider
purchasing hardware now is the
recent flooding
in Thailand has caused a
world-wide shortage of hard
drives. If you have plans to
replace your server or add new
workstations in 2012, it
probably makes sense to shift
those purchases a month or two
early to ensure you allow enough
time and to avoid higher prices
due to the shortage.
For additional information about
these and other IT-related
topics, please visit the IntegrIT
Technology Blog. |
|
