For one thing, a rule of thumb in the age of technology is, “the less hardware, the better”. The less hardware a business has to depend on, the odds of a catastrophic event destroying all of your hard earned data is narrowed by a landslide.
Consider a company structure where the employee must travel, and is issued a company laptop. This system is very useful, but you also risk the chance of having the hardware and confidential data stolen. For many companies, data holds more value than hardware, and virtualization eliminates that issue completely.
Here is how it works:
A virtual desktop is an individual user’s interface in a virtualized environment. The virtualized desktop is stored on a remote server rather than locally. Desktop virtualization software separates the physical machine from the software and presents an isolated operating system for users.
More Benefits to Virtualization:
- Cost savings because the resources can be shared with other users.
- Can be used on an as-needed basis.
- More efficient use of space, resources, and energy.
- Improved data integrity because back-up is centralized.
- Fewer compatibility issues.
See what the people think.
The concept of what “The Cloud” truly is and why everyone is rushing to get there can be intimidating to some. Our technical team can help simplify these concepts and explain their extensive benefits to you. Orange County Computer offers custom Cloud Computing Solutions for Small to Mid-Market companies. From single hosted applications to completely virtual environments, we offer custom designed virtual environments unique to your organization. Contact a member of our Technical Team to schedule a Free Network Evaluation at 949-699-6619 or email sales@orangecountycomputer.com for more information.
We’ve all seen pop-ups and paid advertisements showing: “$75 Computer Repair Services Any Problem.” We hear about it all the time: A residential client that bawks at our hourly rate but then discloses to us the horror stories about the technician they paid $75 “per job” for. These consumers complain to us about the experiences they had with these types of “Technicians”: Repeat charges for unresolved issues, unrepaired problems that linger without resolve and how can we forget about the incorrectly diagnosed repairs and wasted time? Orange County Computer’s Tech Repair Center picks up the pieces for many of these frustrated consumers. We have seen misdiagnosed motherboard problems, laptop components, clean room data recovery jobs that didn’t need to go to a clean room, hard drives replaced that had no evidence of being bad, and the list goes on and on….My personal favorite is when we hear about customers that honestly believe they have valid Microsoft licensing which was produced by “Key Generators” provided by BitTorrent websites.
People, you get what you pay for, it’s as simple as that. Typically the one-man-show technicians that are undercharging the market inevitably end up coming back several times to correct a problem and you, the customer, end up paying more money in the long run anyway. Other scenarios can include being sold illegal copies of software applications. The truth about licensing is this:
If as a consumer, you are sold a Microsoft License as an example, you will receive a Valid License key code and an authentication sticker to place on your system or a Certified Product License key code. If you have hacked or illegal product licensing, you, the customer, will have an array of compatibility issues and bugs, followed by warnings. That same technician that charged you $75/hour will have to come back several times to correct some completely unnecessary problem that they created themselves by selling you an illegal copy of a software application. Unfortunately, most people find out about their illegal software licensing a few years later when having to purchase LEGAL, valid licensing during a repair, or when as new computer is purchased.
So buyer beware: Protect your technology, time and money and qualify your technician by asking the following questions BEFORE giving someone access into your home office and your personal confidential information:
- Ask how long they have been working as an IT Consultant?
- Do they carry Business Insurance?
- Do they have any Technical Certifications?
- Do they have any references you can speak with?
- Do they provide these services on the side or full-time?
I hope that this honest posting has been useful and hopefully steered you or someone you know away from working with the wrong type of technician. Orange County Computer Computer, Inc. is happy to help. Feel free to stop by our Tech Repair Center or visit us online at www.orangecountycomputer.com for more information about our professional and responsible business practices in the Technology Sector.
Written by Deborah Walck, Operations Director, Orange County Computer, Inc.
Has your IT Provider locked down your company network and disappeared? Do you believe that your In-House IT Guy is talking over your head to direct your focus away from their incompetencies?
Orange County Computer receives frequent phone calls from frustrated business owners inquiring about our services and how they can phase-out their existing In-House IT Guy or Outsourced IT Vendor who is holding them hostage. Many times they are contacting us in secret so a member of our team can relinquish administrative rights to that company network and give the business owner the rightful access to their company that they deserve. The technology industry isn’t safeguarded against the unsavory professional that falls short of basic business ethics. It’s important to choose wisely who you entrust with your company data, financial information and intellectual property and client contacts
Here are a few tips when either transitioning or hiring a Technology Service Provider for the first time:
- Ask for both previous and current references – It is important to confirm how both current and past clients rate service and professionalism.
- Verify partnerships or certifications that you are hiring the vendor for. For example, if you are running or want to run in a Microsoft Server Operating System Environment, it would be wise to confirm that the company is qualified and certified to help you or obtain support services in mission critical situations.
- Confirm exactly how many employees the IT Vendor has on staff. Lack of staffing resources during mission critical times can cost clients thousands of dollars in lost revenue.
- Personally visit the location of the business you are hiring to work for you. It is important to know where your IT Vendor conducts business. This may help to confirm or rule out a possible candidate. A “one man show” working from home might not align with the needs of your organization.
The team at Orange County Computer hopes this information has been useful. If you have found this blog post and your network is currently being held hostage by your IT Vendor, we are here to help.
Contact our Tech Team at 949-699-6619 or reach us via email at support@orangecountycomputer.com
sending...