November 2010
In this issue

> Appreciation May Be
    Contagious
> The Time is NOW
> Bullet-Proof Your Data
> Wish Upon the Cloud
> The Value of Value
    Added Reseller
> Cartoon & Quote
 


Understanding the Value of a Value Added Reseller (VAR)
used with permission from the HP Site

VARs have a variety of perceptions about them. Some of these perceptions are right on. Some of them completely miss the mark. The truth is the right VAR can help most businesses more than they realize. Can the right VAR help you?

Technology is critical to run almost every business today, and in most cases, can offer both competitive and strategic value to your business. The problem is many businesses don't think about their PCs, printers or servers as providing a competitive advantage or as strategic business tools. Even as a fundamental business tool, many think that there is little difference in the basic capabilities across the huge variety of technology devices on the market today. Having been in the industry for almost 20 years now, I can tell you that there are many differences worth noting when comparing computing products. I can also tell you that when used appropriately, there are both competitive and strategic advantages to be gained from technology.

This is where your local VAR steps in. They are experts in technology; it's what they do. They can help you navigate the basic task of ensuring you get the right technology tools to support your business and then show you how to drive business success from that technology.

Read more

Please forward this newsletter to anyone else in your organization who might be interested!


Warning! Appreciation May Be Contagious
used with permission from HP Small Business Site

When times are tough, it's tough to stay positive — particularly if you are surrounded by gloomy people.

But rather than fall victim to negative attitudes, resolve to take a different approach. Stay positive and channel your optimism to create a healthy, more productive environment. One idea you can start using right away is peer recognition.

Read more


The Time is NOW for Virtualization
By Blake Britton - VP, Axxys Technologies

As we continue to look forward at the IT landscape nothing is growing faster than virtualization. The last 4 out of 5 projects completed by us have all involved creating a virtual strategy for our clients. I know this number does not appear to be "staggering" or "earth shattering" but it is a rapidly growing trend in business. Here are a few reasons we are encouraging our clients to move to a virtual server environment for their infrastructures:

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How to Bullet-Proof Your Data
By Brian Renter, President, Universal Information Systems

A recent study of companies experiencing a "major loss" of computer records discovered that 43 percent never reopened, 51 percent closed within two years of the loss, and a mere 6 percent survived over the long-term. For small and medium-sized businesses in particular, these statistics suggest the importance of creating a Business Continuity Planning (BCP) strategy grounded in a robust Backup and Disaster Recovery solution.

Unlike enterprises, many smaller companies and organizations cannot afford optimal in-house strategies and solutions for their Business Continuity Planning. Consequently, these companies are at a high risk of being put out of business due to any major loss of data. Loss of data could mean emails lost, accounting data lost, patient or client files lost, company records lost, client legal records or orders lost, etc.

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When You Wish Upon "The Cloud"
by Erin Griffin
used with permission from the Microsoft Small Business Website

It seems that every networking event this year, every tech magazine issue, and every vendor worth its salt is talking about "the cloud." The cloud, in one of its many forms - public, private, or mixed - has become ubiquitous! I'll confess: I started off my cloud gazing with little interest and several doubts, but I've learned a lot over the past year about the potential benefits of obtaining software, platform, and infrastructure as cloud services. I'm not quite ready to "drink the kool aid" yet, but it's starting to look pretty tasty. Still, I have five wishes that need to be granted before I can consider a major move into the cloud.

Read more


Just for Laughs


 

Quote of the Month

Gratitude consists of being more aware of what you have, than what you don't.

- Author Unknown


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(716) 373-4467 - Olean    |    (607) 733-8550 - Corning/Elmira
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