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Archive for December, 2015

When Is Your Business Ready For Managed IT Services?

If you are a small business owner and considering whether or not Managed IT Services will benefit your company, the answer is almost always- yes. There is little doubt that most small businesses can benefit from Managed IT Services, yet that in itself does not always justify the cost of bringing on a third party provider. Accepting that Managed IT Services Providers can offer solutions to common problems found in small business operation, the real question is: when does it make sense to switch from in house IT solutions to the next level which includes Managed IT Services?

There is a good chance if you are already considering Managed IT Services the time might be near when you are ready to make the switch. Small business owners do not have the luxury of a never ending IT budget, therefore it is very important to recognize when your current IT management is no longer cost effective. For most small businesses this occurs when the business grows to the point of needing either a contract with a local service provider who is “on call” for IT needs or hiring a full time IT person to remain on staff. There is of course another option for small business owners to consider and that is hiring a Managed IT Services Provider to oversee their IT needs.

If you are still unsure that your business is ready for the switch, ask yourself the following questions:

  • Do you find IT costs are continually increasing?
  • Is it difficult to find and retain quality IT staff?
  • Is your network and workstation performance and speed decreasing?
  • Are your employees spending more time dealing with IT issues than focusing on job they have been hired to perform?
  • Do you have problems with viruses, spyware and other security issues that could threaten the confidentiality of proprietary information?
  • In the event of a natural or man-made disaster, would your network be at risk? Would recovery be a concern?
  • Do you find network downtime is increasing?

If you answered yes to one or more of the above questions, then your business is ready for Managed IT Services.

Now that you have determined Managed IT Services are right for your business, the next challenge is finding the right provider of these services. This is a decision that should not be made lightly or rushed as the wrong provider can end up costing your company more money than your current situation. Before you begin the search for a Managed IT Services Provider you should first consider your IT budget as well as issues or problems you want to be addressed. It is important to remember that Managed IT Services are not a one-size-fits-all type of solution to business problems. Each business and industry has their own issues to contend with and a qualified Managed IT Services Provider will work with you to find the solutions that will benefit your company the most. If a potential provider is more intent on selling you services and not listening to the needs of your business, move on to another provider who is willing to listen to your concerns and offer customized solutions that address these needs. The point of outsourcing your IT management is to save money while freeing up time to focus on other business operations. For this reason it pays to put forth the effort to find the best Managed IT Services Provider to oversee your technology needs.

Click here to learn how Fast Track Computer Solutions, Inc. can help you benefit from Managed IT Services for your business in and surrounding cities.

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Microsoft pulls botched patch KB 3114409 that triggered problems with Outlook 2010

For the second month in a row, a Patch Tuesday Outlook update raises havoc

From InfoWorld Dec, 9 2015
Written By: Woody Leonhard

Microsoft’s Patch Tuesday update KB 3114409, intended to help admins keep Outlook 2010 from starting in safe mode, has in fact done just the opposite. Many Outlook 2010 customers report that installing KB 3114409 forces Outlook to start in safe mode.

As of early Wednesday morning, the patch has been pulled, but if you’re experiencing odd problems with Outlook 2010 — it opens in safe mode only (always opens maximized and has no sounds, no reading pane, or other view settings that stick), has broken templates, and much more — you should look at the KB 3114409 article for instructions on how to remove the patch.

[ The InfoWorld review: New Windows 10 version still can’t beat Windows 7 | Everything you need to know about Windows 10, in a handy PDF. Download it today! | Stay up on key Microsoft technologies with the Windows newsletter. ]
And you should reflect on how a patch this destructive ever made it through internal testing.

For those of you on Windows 10’s forced upgrade treadmill, note that Microsoft has pulled the patch, so you won’t be forced to install it again.

Judging by the complaints (which started less than an hour after the patch was released mid-day on Tuesday) and reports that the patch had been pulled (which started appearing around midnight eastern time on Tuesday night), it took Microsoft around 12 hours to pull the faulty patch.

Yes, 12 hours to pull an obviously bad patch.

If this sounds like déjà vu all over again, recall last month’s KB 3097877, a patch that froze Outlook, blocked network logons, and caused other mayhem on Windows 7. Confusingly, Microsoft rereleased that patch after pulling it for a day, using the same KB number as the original botched patch. I’m still getting complaints from Windows customers who don’t understand why they have to reinstall a patch that’s already been installed.

the full article can be found here:
http://www.infoworld.com/article/3013219/microsoft-windows/microsoft-pulls-botched-patch-kb-3114409-that-triggered-problems-with-outlook-2010.html

How to uninstall this update

Windows 10
Go to Start, enter View Installed Updates in the Search Windows box, and then press Enter.
In the list of updates, locate and then select update KB3114409, and then select Uninstall.
Windows 8 and Windows 8.1
Swipe in from the right edge of the screen, and then select Search. If you’re using a mouse, point to the lower-right corner of the screen, and then select Search.
Enter windows update, select Windows Update, and then select Installed Updates.
In the list of updates, locate and then select update KB3114409, and then select Uninstall.

Windows 7, Windows Vista and Windows XP
Go to Start, enter Run, and then select Run.
Enter Appwiz.cpl, and then select OK.
Use one of the following procedures, depending on the operating system that you’re running.

Windows 7 and Windows Vista
Select View installed updates.
In the list of updates, locate and select update KB3114409, and then select Uninstall.

Windows XP
Select the Show updates check box.
In the list of updates, locate and select update KB3114409, and then select Remove.

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Small Businesses Benefit From Managed IT Services

From start-ups to multi-billion dollar businesses, everyone is looking for ways to cut costs while turning a profit. In fact, many companies are just trying to keep things in the black, however that does not eliminate the need for practices that will improve and grow these businesses. Since few people have the expertise to manage much of today’s technology, a certain percentage of their budgets should be allocated to IT and software applications maintenance. Here are ways that Managed IT Services benefit small and medium businesses.

Benefits of Managed IT Services for Small Businesses

  • Increased productivity- Businesses are established to fill the need for a product or service while providing a livelihood for the business owners and their employees. In order to do this, businesses have to ensure they are working at full capacity at all times. Downtime or work performed at reduced levels is time and money wasted. Managed IT Services can help businesses not only quickly repair problems when they occur but also act as a proactive measure to spot and treat potential problems before they have an impact on productivity.
  • Supports in-house IT- Many businesses do not want to relinquish all IT maintenance control to an outside party, and small businesses do not always have the resources to support the type of IT department needed to keep their business running at full speed. A majority of businesses can benefit from adding the expertise, tools and availability of a Managed IT Services Provider to help support in-house IT departments.
  • Remote services- Managed IT Services Providers work from a remote location, providing desktop, email and back-up and recovery support services without adding to the actual number of “employees” on site. The services provided are unobtrusive and in the majority of cases, have no impact in the day-to-day activities of current in-house employees.
  • Affordable- Generally when you bring on a Managed IT Services Provider, a consultant will perform an onsite assessment of the company, its workflows and processes and the current state of its supporting technology to determine what services are needed to meet organizational goals. Business owners often have a choice between several different levels of service, making it possible for a company with a limited budget to choose a package that best suits their needs.

Security is a big concern for business owners and individuals alike. In the past, business owners have been reluctant to entrust secure or private information to a third party, offsite vendor. As Managed IT Services Providers continue to prove their value, more companies are realizing the benefits and value of their services. Managed IT Services Providers continue to improve technology to provide secure, quality services for businesses of all sizes. As a result, smaller businesses which operate with leaner budgets find themselves in a position to reap the benefits of these services. Business owners often have to make difficult decisions regarding how they will improve their business while sticking to the budget. As the market for Managed IT Services experiences continual growth in the next few years, this method of IT maintenance and service delivery will likely become the “norm” for small to mid size businesses looking to reduce costs and improve uptime and business continuity. Companies that recognize the benefits of Managed IT Services will have a jump on their competition.

Click here to learn how Fast Track Computer Solutions, Inc. can help you save reap these benefits and more with our Managed IT Services program for your business in and surrounding cities.

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