Business IT Blog - Useful tips to make you more productive

Mobile Workforce: Remote Access for Mobile Professionals - Part 2

As a leading Boston area IT Support company we are often are asked to provide a way for our customers to remotely access their network. This is the 2nd part of our 3 part blog on alternative methods of remote access.

Remote Web Workplace.  Starting with Microsoft Windows Small Business Server 2003 Microsoft has included a technology called Remote Web Workplace (RWW).  This feature enables users to remotely access their desktop via their web browser.  You have to configure the service on the server and grant remote access permissions.

You'll need to create DNS settings to configure a URL (aka web address) that your employees can enter into their web browser to gain access to the system.  You'll need to map that address to your server within your firewall.  If all that sounds like Greek to you (and you don't speak Greek) then you probably need an IT technician to configure this for you.

But let me say it more simply.  You define a web address such as www.gizmofish.com/remote (don't bother trying it - we don't have that setup).  Your employees enter this into their browser and it takes them to a web page.  They log in using the the same user name and password they use on their PCs in the office.  They then click on a link to "connect to my computer at work", select their computer and log in as if they were sitting at their desk.  Within their browser they will see their office PC desktop and be able to run programs, open documents, print, and access the network just as if they were sitting at their PC in the office.

Pros and Cons

PRO:  RWW is pretty easy to set up and use.  No special software is needed on the remote computer.  And you can centrally control people's remote access permissions.  And it is free if you have a Windows Small Business Server 2003 or 2008.

CON: You will still probably need an IT technician to set it up.  And if it doesn't work you will probably need your IT technician to resolve the issue.  And of course if you do NOT have a server then this solution is a non-starter for you.

On part 3 of this GizmoBlog article we'll discuss more user-driven remote access alternatives that do not require IT intervention to setup and maintain.

Will a Microsoft Windows 7 upgrade really improve your security?

So you've heard some vague notions about "improved security" in Microsoft Windows 7.  As a leading Boston IT support company we get asked this question all the time.  The short answer is YES! But let me give you a few more details so you can understand exactly what Microsoft Windows 7 brings to the table at least from the perspective of a Boston are IT Support company who is responsible for the security of our customers' networks.

As always if you have any questions please feel free to email me at drinaldi at gizmofish.com or call me at 866-MY-GIZMO (866-694-4966) ext. 4.

PS. Don't forget about our Free Windows 7 Seminar on April 22^nd at the Microsoft offices in Waltham.  Click here to register.

More secure, more easily - Microsoft Windows 7 has many security enhancements that not only improve security but also make enhanced security easier to manage (and easier to live with!)

1. Internet Explorer 8 in Microsoft Windows 7 has several new features to make web browsing safer.  Here are a few:
1. InPrivate Browsing lets you surf the web without leaving a trail in Internet Explorer so other can see where you have been surfing.
2. SmartScreen filter protects users against evolving web and social engineering threats by automatically blocking access to malicious websites.
3. XSS filter - The IE8 Cross Site Scripting Filter protects you against a certain type of malicious website content that has become one of the leading online threats.
4. Domain highlighting highlights the root domain of any website your are visiting so you can easily see if the site is a phony phishing site setup to look like a legitimate site such as PayPal, or eBay, or Bank of America
2. Windows Vista introduced BitLocker Drive Encryption.  Some versions of Microsoft Windows 7 have an enhanced version of BitLocker that enables you to easily encrypt portable storage devices like USB flash drives and external hard drives.
3. Windows Defender which protects against Spyware is now built-in to Microsoft Windows 7.  Plus Microsoft Security Essentials, which is a full-featured anti-malware program that protects against viruses, spyware, worms, Trojan horses, and other malware, is available as a free download.
4. Microsoft Windows 7 offers better control over security.  You can adjust how often the computer interrupts you to warn of changes to your computer.  And Windows 7 makes it easier for users to run as non-administrators without hindering their ability to accomplish tasks on the PC.
5. Microsoft Windows 7 has improved backup and restore capabilities.  In addition to a user-friendly user interface, the Microsoft Windows 7 Backup and Restore tool allows you to create complete system image backups so you can restore your entire PC in the event of a catastrophic system crash.

There are other security enhangements Microsoft Windows 7 that help justify an upgrade but for now I'll leave you with these.  Come to our Microsoft Windows 7 seminar on April 22 in Waltham and take a look.  I think you'll agree that Microsoft Windows 7 really does provide better security, while being less intrusive about it that previous versions of Windows.

Why upgrade to Microsoft Windows 7? -- Part 2

 Good question!  As a leading Boston IT support company we get asked this question all the time.  So here is part 2 of the top reasons why you should seriously consider upgrading to Microsoft Windows 7. 

As I mentioned in my previous post there are so many new features crammed into Windows 7 that I had to split this blog article into 2 separate posts.  So don't feel you have to read everything - just browse and skip to the features that most interest you.  As always if you have any questions please feel free to email me at drinaldi at gizmofish.com or call me at 866-MY-GIZMO (866-694-4966) ext. 4.

PS. Don't forget about our Free Windows 7 Seminar on April 22^nd at the Microsoft offices in Waltham.  Click here to register.

1. "Information at Your Fingertips".  OK this has been a Microsoft catchphrase for a while now.  But with Windows 7 they have really delivered on this concept.
1. Microsoft Windows 7 has introduced libraries.  There are four default libraries: Documents, Music, Pictures, and Video.  All of your documents, music, pictures, and video respectively are in these libraries regardless of their location on your hard drive.  You can view the files contained in a library in various ways. For example, you can view all the files in the Documents library by Author, Date modified, Tag, Type, Name, or Folder. By contrast, files in the Music library can be viewed by Album, Artist, Song, Genre, Rating, or Folder. You can even include items on external or network drives in libraries.  Additionally you can create your own libraries.  This is a powerful new feature that enables you to organize your content by type, or subject, or date, or any other way you choose without regard to its physical location on your hard drive.
2. Searching in the Windows 7 Search bar now brings up files, folders, programs, help articles, and control panel items.  So Search is now an all-purpose tool for finding anything on your PC.  For example: Want to know how to change your screen resolution?  Search on change screen resolution and the control panel tool for changing screen resolution will appear in the search.  With Microsoft Windows 7 Search you can also search SharePoint sites, Web Servers, and Network File Servers.
2. Only Connect! (apologies to E.M. Forster).  I am talking about connecting your PC to things - devices, projectors, 2^nd monitors, etc.  This has generally been a hit or miss affair in Windows with users often needing IT help.  Well Microsoft has made this much more automatic and user friendly. 
1. Devices.  All your connected devices  including printers, keyboards, USB devices, Bluetooth devices, networked devices, wirelessly connected devices, etc. are shown in 1 control panel applet and clicking on any device shows information for that device.
2. Projectors or 2^nd monitors.  The same method works for projectors or 2^nd monitors.  You simply plug the projector or 2^nd monitor into your PC and type projector into the search box and click connect to a projector.  Then you can select how you want your desktop to be displayed.
1. Computer only (This shows your desktop only on your computer screen.)
2. Duplicate (This shows your desktop on both your computer screen and a projector.)
3. Extend (This extends your desktop from your computer screen to a projector.)
4. Projector only (This shows your desktop only on a projector.)

Well there are many other improvements in Microsoft Windows 7 that a Boston area IT Support Company such as ourselves could go on and on about.  But why don't you see for yourself.  Come to our Microsoft Windows 7 presentation and demo on April 22 in Waltham.  You'll get a free breakfast, an opportunity to network with your peers, the opportunity to get your questions answered one-on-one by a Windows 7 expert, and you could be the lucky winner of a brand new laptop with Microsoft Windows 7 and Office 2007.

PS.  Amaze and delight your friends!  Be the hit of the party! Click here to receive our free presentation "42 Cool New Windows 7 Tips and Tricks."

Why Upgrade to Microsoft Windows 7? -- Part 1

Good question!  As a leading Boston IT support company we get asked this question all the time.  So I thought I would tell you the top reasons why we here at GizmoFish are very excited about Microsoft Windows 7.  (Yes, I know -- "excited" about an operating system - embarrassing but true!) 

But Microsoft really HAS stepped up their game with this version of Windows.  Here are the top reasons you should seriously consider upgrading your business to Microsoft Windows 7.  There are so many new features crammed into Windows 7 that I had to split this blog article into 2 separate posts.  So don't feel you have to read everything - just browse and skip to the features that most interest you.  As always if you have any questions please feel free to email me at drinaldi at gizmofish.com or call me at 866-MY-GIZMO (866-694-4966) ext. 4.

PS. Don't forget about our Free Windows 7 Seminar on April 22^nd at the Microsoft offices in Waltham.  Click here to register.

1. Speed, speed, speed.  Microsoft Windows 7 (64-bit version) takes full advantage of today's 64-bit CPUs, resulting in significantly faster performance.  "64-bits" refers to the amount of data that the CPU can process.  Older CPUs could only process 32-bits at a time.
2. Everything is easier - Improvements in the user interface greatly simplify everyday tasks.  Let me give you some examples
1. There are all kinds of shortcuts that make it easier to manage multiple windows on your screen.  You can easily make 2 windows line up perfectly side-by-side. Maximizing and minimizing windows happens with 1 click.  You can Aero Peak behind windows to see what is being hidden by the window.  On the taskbar you have thumbnail previews of all open windows and with 1 click you can expand the previews to full-screen.
2. One of the best new Microsoft Windows 7 features is Jump Lists.  You can pin documents, applications, websites, etc. to the taskbar and have then available for immediate opening.  So for example, if you pin several frequently used Word documents to the taskbar you can click on the Word icon and the list of documents in the Jump List will appear.  You can jump directly to the document you want.
3. Sharing your documents on a network was never easier.  You can simply create a HomeGroup and immediately start sharing documents and printers.  The HomeGroup feature is great for setting up a home network, or quickly creating an ad-hoc network to share information with colleagues.  When you create a home group you setup a password and you can give that password to anyone that you want to allow to connect to your HomeGroup.
4. Switching between home, work, and public networks is easier with Windows 7.  For example you can set a default printer for each network so that Windows automatically prints to the correct printer on each network.  Windows also automatically sets the firewall and security settings depending on whether you are connected to a home, work, or public network.  Of course you can override any of these default settings if you so choose.

To be continued...

PS.  The government doesn't want this information let out but we feel the people have a right to know!  Click here to receive our presentation "42 Cool New Windows 7 Tips and Tricks."  But remember if you get caught - you didn't hear it from us...

Free Seminar: Top 10 Things to Know About Microsoft Windows 7

Boston area businesses have probably heard the buzz about Microsoft Windows 7, the new PC Operating System that supercedes Windows Vista.  As an IT support company that advises our clients on how to get the most out of their IT infrastructure we are excited about the improvements Microsoft Windows 7 offers over Windows Vista.   Microsoft has improved many of the features added in Windows Vista and added some great new features and enhancements.

Come get a personal demonstration of Microsoft Windows 7 and learn what all the buzz is about.  We were able to book well-known Microsoft Certified Trainer Robert Gwin to present "The Top 10 Things You Need to Know about Microsoft Windows 7."  Should you upgrade?  Are there "gotcha"s to watch out for?  What are the benefits of Microsoft Windows 7 over XP and Vista?  What are some of the cool new features that people are excited about?  We'll answer these questions and more.  We'll also have PCs setup so you can experience Microsoft Windows 7 hands-on.  Breakfast will be provided and experts will be there to answer your questions one-on-one.

We think you will like Microsoft Windows 7 as much as we do so we are giving away a brand new Dell laptop preloaded with Microsoft Windows 7 Professional and Microsoft Office 2007 to one lucky attendee!

Click on the button below to register for this information-packed presentation from 9:00AM-10:00AM (followed by Q&A) on April 22nd at the Microsoft offices just off of Rte. 128 (I-95) in Waltham, MA.  Arrive early to have some breakfast, network with colleagues, and ask our experts your Windows 7 questions.  Hope to see you there!