May 2013
In this issue

At one time or another, we€ve all have had that worn out, but oh-so-comfortable pair of shoes. That over-stuffed chair with the protruding springs. That rusted-out car that no longer runs like a charm, but carries so many great memories.

However attached we become to these and other personal items, there comes a time when they really must be replaced. The same goes for software. If you don€t regularly upgrade your business software, you€ll inevitably pay a steep price in the form of escalating maintenance and support costs, slow performance, lowered productivity, and dangerous virus- and other security-related issues. And let€s face it€reminiscing about old software programs twenty or so years from now won€t bring about nearly half as many warm memories as that 1967 Pontiac Firebird of your youth.

You could say that updating business software is akin to changing your toothbrush after it€s seen better days. Can you imagine running Windows 98 on your home PC? Then why would you fight tooth and nail, stubbornly looking into a variety of contingency plans and options to hold onto Windows XP?  Yes, it€s still as functional as an old pair of shoes and it€s done your business well, but the fact of the matter is that its shelf life is nearing its expiration date.

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Virtualization technology is awesome (that's not hyperbole). Like virtual reality, it overcomes physical limitations.

And virtualization - which abstracts the computing functionality of a device from its physical hardware - strengthens a business financially, by reducing expenses.

Is Server Virtualization Right for Your Business?

Server virtualization consolidates multiple operating systems (OS) on a single server. Consider it if you need to do any of the following:

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Spam. In some ways, it's the electronic equivalent of junk mail and junk phone calls. Spam is not only an unsolicited and annoying nuisance, it's also a pervasive problem that's clogging and overwhelming the Internet's email systems. Spam accounts for approximately 80 percent of worldwide email volume.

In other ways, spam is worse than junk mail or junk phone calls. Although some spam is simply unwanted but legitimate advertising, much of it is worse. It can include everything from scam offers to malicious code--all designed to wreak havoc on your financial well-being or on your computer. Here are some of the most current and prevalent spam threats:

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Many online alerts and notifications signal your real-life movements to the outside world. Location-based apps are trusted tools for keeping clients, colleagues and friends updated on your whereabouts. However, before you €Check in€ everywhere, all the time, it is important to think about whom exactly can access this information: Your old school friends? That funny guy you met at the airport? Their connections?

Awareness is key in avoiding the consequences of over-sharing your location online. Consider these potential risks before you set up an e-mail or social media notification sharing your holiday dates or where you€re meeting to discuss that important merger.

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