August 18, 2011  Diana Johnson
Keep open lines of communication with your IT Partner. Too often there are small issues that bother you, but you think it would be trivial to let your IT company know. Often times it is these seemingly small issues that build up and become larger issues. Then you find yourself at a point of considering changing companies. It’s not “don’t make a mountain out of a mole hill,” but rather “don’t let that mole hill become a mountain.” Take advantage of opportunities to communicate, including meetings with management, surveys, followup calls, and quality control calls.

HP TouchPad
Diana Johnson
July 29, 2011

I have been waiting. I need a new laptop, but I want the convenience of a tablet, the capabilities of a business class laptop, and yes even the cool factor of the iPad- all at a price I can afford.  Enter the HP Touchpad. Here is a machine that has me drooling like a dog over a meat bone in the butcher shop window

• With the ability to stack my “stuff” in layers while I am working on it, and still get right back to what I was working on with a flick of a finger,  this is one user friendly device. (See, I need one for work.)

• Wireless printing to HP e-capable printers? Are you kidding? That is totally amazing!

• Only about a bazillion apps!

• Beat Audio, so I can listen to my favorite band with awesome quality! I mean, watch that edge of your seat training webinar.

• This thing even has quick Office so I can read work docs on the go. And in 30 days the create and edit feature will be out. Smooth.

• Kindle Reader & Store. Sweet! I was about to go purchase a Kindle, so now I can just apply those dollars to the TouchPad. My husband will be so excited I am saving him money!

• Gorilla Glass, developed by Corning to be sturdier than the standard. Believe me, I need that.

• Available Touchstone charger. You just lay the HP TouchPad on the easel and voila’, it charges! You can even setup the charger so that when the TouchPad is charging it functions as say- an alarm clock. Hey, I can have a new alarm clock too. See I am saving money again! (Ok, so I don’t need a new alarm clock, but don’t tell my hubby. Remember, I am saving money.)

• Free Butler Service for 90 days. This is a help desk on steroids.  They can help you get your TouchPad setup, helping with things like transferring contacts, calendars and tasks. Setup email and IM, Transfer music, movies, and pics, learn more about backup and other features, plus answer any questions you might have.  I know I work for an IT firm, but I like to look stupid as little as possible. This way I can get help without the techs knowing I ever needed it. :)

• 50GB of free online storage to view and share- from Office documents to audio and video files. I can organize my content into folders, view it on my TouchPad, and share it with links!  

• Of course Blue Tooth Wireless and a virtual keyboard.

• And a 1.3 megapixel webcam. Much better picture than you-know-who.

• One of my favorite features though is that this baby supports Flash! Now we are entering a new dimension!

It comes in 16GB for about $500, but for $100 more I can get the 32GB. Is that a real choice? 32GB here I come! Well, as soon as I wipe all the drool from my face.

---

IT Wizardry
Diana Johnson July 26, 2011 
 As Information Technology becomes more convenient, enables productivity, and increasingly critical; it is also becoming more complex, faster paced, and more challenging for the average user to understand. We all believe our computers should “just work.”  We see “Suzy SitsNextToUs” doing some amazing thing with her computer, so we should be able to that also, right?   Computers are not magic though and pixie dust does not flow through the cables at the back. 

When we don’t understand something, we tend to shy away from it. The problem is that technology is only going to expand and continue to change. If we aren’t learning as much as we can and incorporating useful tools, we will be left behind. In our personal lives we can sometimes afford to be behind the tech times, but in business it can spell disaster. Take my parents for instance, granted they are older and their generation was not the PC generation, however I can remember as a kid my mother having one of the first home computers. Just to be clear, at that time home computer was a relative term. It took up a 6-foot spot in their bedroom, but we were “high-tech!” You would think ground breaking techies that they were; my parents would have transitioned nicely into the tech age. Not so! The Internet was uncharted territory for them, and fear of the unknown kept them from enjoying the many amazing things it has to offer. My mom was an officer for a non-profit and eventually had to turn over the reins to someone younger and yes, more technically savvy. The days of waiting on standard mail to communicate with other people in the organization was long gone. Accessing critical data from the web was a must and she just couldn’t keep up. My mother, who in her younger days had been a pioneer, had become a technology dinosaur. 

Fast forward 10 years and today people are using technology in even more advanced ways. Social Networking sites like FaceBook, MySpace, Google+, and Twitter, not to mention industry specific networks like Ozmosis or LinkedIn, are becoming more critical not just in the private sector; but in business as well.  The Healthcare Industry is facing serious IT upgrades as President Obama pushes for electronic health records. Research shows that only 20% of physicians are effectively using this time and error saving technology. Voice over IP Phone Systems are no longer only for the big corporations. People at all levels are discovering how truly effective a phone system can be. Unless you want to be a Walmart greeter, you are required to use technology (even then you will use a computer to clock in). A good IT firm managing your technology is a critical business decision to ensure you are using current technologies effectively and productively. 

Technology is here to stay whether you like it or not, so why not embrace it? You might need assistance, but it is OK to ask for help. I was with a non-profit organization years ago and we were given a $10,000 business class computer by a computer vendor. We were so excited! We were going to do the books on it, desktop publishing, and maintain employee files. Three months later it had never been turned on.   Everyone was scared to death of the thing. I called the vendor rep and explained our situation and he asked me to stop by his office. He had the same system in his office and went through the steps to turn the computer on; this was before the days of one simple power button. He then told me something that has stuck with me for years. “Diana, just do it. Play around with it. Try different things. The computer does not hate you and it will not do anything you do not tell it to do. Just remember to save often.” I went back to the office and mastered the beast, discovering that it was not going to eat me alive. Now I don’t know EXACTLY how the Internet works, and I am still learning new programs all the time. When my computer locks up and a simple restart doesn’t work, I am just like you. I am lost. I do know what to do though.

STEP 1: Do not just aimlessly click. Resist the urge. I must resist the urge.

STEP 2: Stare blankly at the screen for 2 minutes to make sure I didn’t miss something (also known as the deer in the headlights look).

STEP 3: Pick up my handy dandy VoIP phone and call someone who knows more than I do!

Technology can make your life easier and more productive, but don’t mistake easier for the EASY BUTTON. It is something you have to constantly learn and you must have the proper software and tools installed. It’s not magic and it doesn’t take a wizard to operate it, just someone willing to stretch and keep on learning- and a good IT company on speed dial doesn’t hurt either!

Give the technology experts at Wood Networks a call- 903-581-0922. You can also change that to #1 on speed dial.

Security Alert!
July 19, 2011

Make sure the voicemail on your mobile phone is password protected.  As people in Britian found out, if your mobile phone is not password protected, anyone can hack into your VM. It is called ID spoofing, and it allows a hacker the ability to to call a cell phone and use spoof software to fool the system into thinking it is you calling from your phone. End result- they get your messages! So check right now. For many of us it is so automatic to check our voicemail that we don't even think about whether we are entering a password. If not, change your settings on your VM so you are password protected. You don't know how valuable your VM is until someone else has that information.

Click here to go to our Blog Feed! 
We are now integrated with Facebook and a RSS feed which houses all blog posts after June 9, 2011.  This format will make it even easier for you to find posts that may interest you. Our Blogs are educational and informative posts that involve business operations. Our goal is to provide articles here and in our e-Newsletter Library that will help you to operate more efficiently and effectively, while showing a strong bottom line.  For additional information please send us an email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

June 27, 2011
Diana Johnson

Our latest Technology E-Newsletter just came out today. If you aren't already a subscriber, go to the bottom of our home page to sign up.  This month features information on Social Media and Remote Workers.   Don't miss out!

June 22, 2011
Diana Johnson

Wood Networks is happy to announce our new partnership with Shoretel! Shoretel is the business class VoIP Phone System with the lowest Total Cost of Ownership in the industry.  We will be offering a Telephony Seminar on Friday, July 29, 2011. This seminar will be free, but we will have a limited number of seats available. Email me today at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it to get more information. We will be showing you how a true business phone system can make your office run smoother and more cost effectively!

June 9, 2011
Diana Johnson

Data Risk an Security Seminar
Monday Jeff Wood spoke at the montly Better Business Bureau Luncheon on Data Security.  Check back Friday, for a link to more information from the informative seminar.

May 27, 2011
Diana Johnson

Now Even More Ways to Get Your Wood Networks Fix!

Starting today, you can also find our blog at Wood Networks Tech Talk, where you can subscribe to the feed, post to FaceBook or even Tweet it!  O, Happy Day! :)

May 26, 2011
Diana Johnson

FaceBook is Here!
 

I know, I know, it has been here for a long time. And  (gasp) there is even a movie about it!  But at Wood Networks we finally jumped on the bandwagon.  Go to Wood Networks FaceBook Page and check us out!  Make sure you like us too!  

May 24, 2011
Diana Johnson

How Safe is Your Data in the Cloud?
 

Some things to think about if you are using Cloud Applications, which most businesses are to some extent.

1. Who is controlling the Cloud Platform you are using? Are they reputable and ensuring a secure environment?

2. Is your Cloud product conforming to your industry standards? Especially in the medical, financial, and retail industries there are very specific standards and laws you must comply with.

3. Is the IT provider you are using "farming out" Cloud services to a thrid party? If so what is the trust level of that third party?

4. If you decide to terminate your relationship with your IT Firm or Cloud Provider, what is the process they will go through to santize or delete your information from their database, records, and servers?

5. Will your data be encrypted as it travels in the Cloud?

May 19, 2011

After the Disaster

Diana Johnson

A disaster can take many forms. A complete server crash is defintely a disaster and if you have ever experienced one you know that is so true.  A flood, even a few inches of water in your building, can mean a long road of recovery; and drying out the walls and carpeting is only the top of the iceberg. Worst of all is a fire, tornado, or hurricane that completely destroys everything you have. Nothing relieves the pain of seeing everything you have worked so hard to build disappear. 

So when disaster does strike, what steps of recovery should you take?

Steps to recovery need to start before disaster strikes. If you wait until you have an emergency, you will find that it is much harder, and sometimes impossible, to come back from the disaster. Just like you need a plan in place ahead of time for key people and the security of your data, steps to the recovery of the facility you house your business in needs to be thought about well ahead of time.  At Wood Networks we partner with a company, Agility, that provides these basic business operating systems in case of total disaster. 

Should your business be taken to the ground by fire or natural disaster Agility can have you up and running within 48 hours! Including a temporary building, generators, office furniture, and equipment Agility will ensure you are up and running within the critical first 48 hours after the crisis. 

If you don't have a plan, your best first step is to setup a remote base of operations. Your temporary base of operations will need to be in an area that has power or you will need to bring a generator in.   The second step should be to call your IT Partner and consult with them on viability of existing computers/server/other office equipment and possible replacements.  Internet, phone service, and remote connections will also need to be setup in order to continue operating.  If the disaster is city or area wide you will find that many and in some cases all of these services are hard to obtain.

The best way to recover is to plan ahead.

May 5, 2011
Diana Johnson

When Disaster Strikes, Is Your Data Secure? Part 2
 

Wikipedia defines disaster as:
A sudden event, such as an accident or a natural catastrophe, that causes great damage or loss of life.

Sudden: You do not expect it, but you CAN prepare for it.
Great Damage: Minimize the damage as much as you can by preparing.

By definition a disaster is something we should all be preparing for.  For  business today, the second most important element (with people being #1) is your data, your information.  Every business in America uses technology to some degree. Know the importance of the information that is stored on computers, servers, and mobile devices and secure it.  Do not let your information live on only one device, nor reside all in one building.  Data backup has never been more important. Technology is critical in your business, but it can and will fail.  It doesn't take a catastrophic earthquake for you to lose it all. That PC, Server, Macbook or mobile device will crash.  Are you prepared for it?

All essential data should be backed up to your server, which in turn should be backed up to a secure offsite storage facility. At Wood Networks we send backed up data to 2 different secure data locations on opposite sides of the country, as well as take an image of your server and house it onsite at your business.  Securing your data is alot like buying insurance, you don't realize how much you need it- until you need it.  Call your IT professional and ask him what options he offers.

Remember to look for:

• Redundancy

• Offsite Back-up

• Local Image of the Server

• Back ups taken at least every 15 minutes

• Secure Data Location

• Weekly Tests of the Backup System

• How quickly you can access the Back-up

Next time- How to Get Your Business Running Again After a Disaster

May 2, 2011
Diana Johnson

When Disaster Strikes, People Are Important- Part 1

As Japan continues to pick up the pieces from the massive earthquake that rocked their country a couple of months ago, it continues to be an reminder to those of us who were blessed to have avoided this catastrophe.  Not by anything we have done, but simply due to our physical location.  Aside from the prayers we should continue to lift up for those still recovering from the devastation, as business people we should take a moment and think about our own companies, the processes of business, and the fraility of human life. 

There are many things that will happen in our lives that are far beyond our control.  We can only prepare as best we can.  The reality is that there will be businesses in Japan that will never reopen. There will be others that will reopen only to flounder for a while before closing their doors. The fortunate companies that survive the next two years and perhaps even thrive despite the devestation will probably be those who planned for what many thought was impossible or inconceivable. 

Disaster strikes unexpectedly. Make sure you have a plan in place. A plan to protect and easily access your data and a plan to reopen your doors within 48 hours. Here are our suggestions for a four step plan.

1. Be sure you have current contact information for all your employees and emergency contact information for each on file.  The first item you will want to check out should a disaster hit your area, is your people. Are they safe? Are they in need of assistance?  Aside from relationships you may have built with your employees, your employees are the most important assest you have. Not everyone will be able to return to work immediately following a crisis, but determine which ones are most critical to your business' operation.  Have an official contact person with a cell phone number on file for people to call should something happen that interrupts normal business. This contact person should know what the plan is, when the business will reopen, and which employees will be need to report first.

Next time we will discuss Step 2, securing your data.

April 25, 2011
Diana Johnson

Step 3: The Decision!
 

So you have looked at the different licensing options. You have looked at each program in the Microsoft Office 2010 Suites. Now you just need to determine which product you need.  I am seperating it into two overall categories:

1. Pre-Installed on PC (PKC) and Retail Box Product

2. Volume License

Below is a chart, which shows you which programs are available with license type and product name.



Now you are ready to make your choice! Give Wood Networks a call and let us give you a quote on the version of Microsoft Office 2010 that best meets your business needs. 903-581-0922.




April 20, 2011
Diana Johnson

Step 2:
Now Which Microsoft Office 2010 Programs Do You Need?
 

Don't you just love it when your IT person asks you if you want Home and Business, Professional, Standard, or Professional Plus?  Or when you go to a website and the choices just look overwhelming? 

Well here is your new "How To" Guide!

In this step we will look at the different programs that run on Office 2010.

• Word: This is the one that enables you to simply type a document, add charts, pictures, etc.

• Excel: Think spreadsheets. Not just the kind you might want for financial documents. These are Workbooks, and they really work hard!  Enter data, create formula and charts, analyze that data.  Excel is one of the true workshorses in Office 2010. If you have never tapped into the power of Excel, the time is now!

• PowerPoint: Create and share presentations. Graphics, text, and video are easy to insert and customize a presentation for a seminar luncheon or client interaction.

• OneNote: OneNote is a digital notebook!It is a single place where you can gather all of your notes and information, combined with the powerful search features of Office 2010.

• Outlook: Outlook is an email management tool and calendar.

• Publisher: This is the easiest desktop publishing programs out there. Create professional looking flyers, brochures, and other print collateral to influence and convince your audience.

• Access:Access is a database tool for gathering and understanding all your information—your phone numbers, inventory, guest lists, whatever you’re tracking—and providing a convenient way to enter, navigate, and report out your data.

• Communicator:  Simple intuitive user interface with multiple communications capabilities, a unified identity for all communication needs (email, IM, voice, conference) with indication of accessibility of the subscriber.

• InfoPath:  Microsoft InfoPath 2010 is a forms-creation and data-gathering tool that helps organizations streamline business processes.

• SharePoint Workspace:  Expands the boundaries of collaboration by allowing fast, anytime, anywhere access to your Microsoft SharePoint team sites.

As you look through the above list you probably see some things that you think, "Oh I definetly need that!" You may see others that you think, "It sure would be nice to use that." And still others that you think, "I have no need to ever use that!" 

On my next post, I will show you which programs are in which suites.  Then you will be equipped to make your buying decision!

March 30, 2011
Diana Johnson

Which Microsoft Office 2010 Do You Need?

There is alot of confusion about which Microsoft Office 2010 one needs. It depends on a couple of key points.

1. Which Office 2010 products do you want to be able to use?

2. What type of license do you want?

I am going to break this up into 3 steps. 

Step 1: What type of license are you looking for?
 

Within Microsoft Office 2010 there are 4 different license types.

• Pre-installed

• PKC

• Retail Box Copy

• Volume Licensing- OLP 

Pre-installed Version
Pre-installed on almost every computer these days is the Microsoft Office 2010 Starter Edition. This version is not meant to be something that you would want to use everyday. It is meant to give you a taste of Word and Excel with VERY limited functionality. For purposes of this blog, we will not be talking about this version of Office 2010.

PKC
The PKC version is only eligible to be installed on new computer purchases. It is only sold by authorized Microsoft Resellers. It lives and dies with the machine, which means if the computer dies, the license is gone, never to be resurrected. While it is generally cheaper, it definetly has it's downside.

Retail Box Copy
Retail Box Copy is what you can go to your local store and buy or you can purchase from a Reseller. It generally can be moved to another machine should your machine die. It does cost more though.

Volume Licensing- OLP
Also known as Open License Product.  This type of license can only be purchased by an Authorized  Microsoft Reseller.  You have to purchase in a group of 5 (hence the volume licensing), although if you need less than 5, "filler skus" can be purchased for a few dollars to make up the missing amount.  This license can be moved to another machine, but can only be installed on one computer at a time. There are also a couple of different ways to purchase Volume Licensing, but in this blog we are going to address the OLP basic model.

What We Recommend
Generally we recommend OLP to our clients. You never know when a computer or laptop might crash and die a painful death- painful for you that is.  Although the PKC is cheaper, we advise spending a small amount more now, rather than much more later. And remember a PKC can only be installed on a new computer.  The OLP is generally going to be less expensive than the Retail Box Copy.

So now you can choose the Type of License you want.  Stay tuned next time I will talk about the different products available within Microsoft Office 2010.  Don't forget you can always call us for more information or a quote! :) 903-581-0922.

March 23, 2011
Diana Johnson

Data Security

Data Security, Retention, and Recovery are all critical in today's business environment. With Cloud Applications on the rise, we all need to make sure our data is secure and should something happen we can easily access a recent copy of "lost" information.  That applies to the way it is housed in our offices on the computers and servers, and "in the cloud."  Two things to think about:

1. Are you able to access information should an individual PC or even your server crash? How hard would it be?  How granular can you get about the point in time you want to restore from?

2. What are you doing to secure information you are housing in the cloud? Are you sure the applications you are using on the Internet are safe from attack?

Be sure your IT company is aware of your data security risks and is taking all possible measures to ensure you are working as safely as possible and that you can recover quickly should an unexpected disaster strike.
 

February 21, 2011
Diana Johnson

How much UPS run time is enough?

In the last month we have all had to deal with power outages and brownouts. With technology so integrated into our businesses, and that technology needing electricity to run, many were faced with business at a standstill. For some of us it was only a few minutes at a time, for others it was so protracted that they were forced to close early. We have found that power has a powerful impact on business.

Some of us found out our battery backups were not adequate to meet the needs we had. In the past businesses have just wanted enough juice in the battery backup to allow them to save their work and shut down the system “gracefully.” Generally the industry considers that 5 minutes. I think some people now know that just isn’t enough for them. 

There are different classes of battery backups. You can go with the cheapest, with the 5 minutes of backup power or you can also move up the ladder to a unit with extended run-times. The key to determining what you want in a battery backup is to decide:

                1.            How long do you want the battery backup to run when the power goes out?

                2.            How much are you willing to pay for that uptime?

Bottom line, how valuable is that time to you? You can go with the least expensive option with just enough time to save and shut down or you can bump it up. For most the only truly important piece of equipment will be the server and perhaps that is where you want to invest in something with more backup time. Others may want it for a few key computers and  there are some that the need is not as critical and the basic units fit the bill.

Whatever you decide you need, call your IT Company and make sure the units you have in place are getting the job done.

Our Website, Your Website

Having launched our new website not too long ago, I can tell you that finding the perfect message and look to represent our company was no easy task. Today more than ever websites are important for lead generation, disseminating information to clients and prospects, and proclaiming your presence to the world at large. I was reading on Google that 55% of people will search online before making a purchase. A study by FutureBuzz says that there are 2 billion Google Searches every day. Talk about mission critical for business! The team here at Wood Networks took months to develop our overall vision for the website and to make sure we were going to be effective once it was up. Learning terms like "SEO" (Search Engine Optimization) and "Click-throughs" was enough to make my head spin and that was only the tip of the iceberg. And let's all remember it was an iceberg that brought down the Titanic.

So don't discount the need and impact of a successful website and conversely the impact of a shoddy one. That iceberg, if ignored, might just rip a hole in your hull. Marketing is now on an entirely different playing field and the rules haven't just changed, the rule book vanished in a puff of smoke and a new one magically appeared. I have learned a new language, webspeak; becoming fluent in it and then learning to master the intricacies of web marketing should bring Wood Networks to an entirely new level in the Computer and IT Network field in East Texas. Stay tuned to find out how smooth or bumpy this new ride into the web and now the "blogosphere" will be. While you are at it check out the rest of our website.
 

HP TouchPad Update
August 10, 2011 Diana Johnson