Server Essentials - best of breed for Small Business
Microsoft since the early 2000's has had a line of server hardware that really focused on the small business as defined by less than 25 users. Their server line was Small Business Server and then changed the naming to Server Essentials. There is a new version of Windows Server Essential 2019. But many respected computer magazines that review software suggested staying with the 2016 version and holding off on the 2019 version or at least doing it in a phased approach for larger sites PC Magazine. (Other 3rd party comments.)
Small sites can take advantage here and reap benefits. As such there are some fantastic deals out there in the next few month on buying full 2016 Essential licenses. Consult with you IT provider or computer system builder. There are always lots of fraudulent copies of even Windows Server out there and it is important to keep in compliance with server licensing requirements that Microsoft maintains and monitors. ACE is an authorized license sales partner of Microsoft and can get you licensed in a variety of ways - give us a call to explore upgrade paths. Click here
Friday, November 8, 2019
Windows Server 2008 Expires January 2020
Along with the Windows 7 desktop expiration dates of January 2020 are some server changes too. Windows Server 2008 is also being retired. It was built into many systems and in in fact included in other server operating systems like Windows Small Business Server 2011. You will need to consult with your computer support technician on all of your on premises server hardware and systems - don't forget about virtualized older servers too. Server upgrades are more complicated than desktop migrations
Server Migration Best Practices
In most cases a clean installation of the server is recommended. I've done many server migrations over the years and prefer to build a new server and migrate desktops. This takes lots of planning and plenty of lead time to be successful. Just like the desktop vulnerabilities that will not get patches the same goes for servers. And as a server usually is accessed by many desktops so it is even more critical to get the new version in place and protections installed. The bad actors our there are well aware the some people will not upgrade servers on schedule and one can only assume they are mounting an attack plan that they will launch on some businesses.
Get a battle plan together now to protect your digital assets. Call ACE for a free consultation on your next steps. Click here
Server Migration Best Practices
In most cases a clean installation of the server is recommended. I've done many server migrations over the years and prefer to build a new server and migrate desktops. This takes lots of planning and plenty of lead time to be successful. Just like the desktop vulnerabilities that will not get patches the same goes for servers. And as a server usually is accessed by many desktops so it is even more critical to get the new version in place and protections installed. The bad actors our there are well aware the some people will not upgrade servers on schedule and one can only assume they are mounting an attack plan that they will launch on some businesses.
Get a battle plan together now to protect your digital assets. Call ACE for a free consultation on your next steps. Click here
Windows 7 Expires January 2020
I am sure I am not the first one to tell you support for Windows 7 in ending in January 2020. But "What does that mean to your business?" "How do you move to protect your assets?" And "Should you upgrade your old PC with just a software change or get a new PC?" All of these are great questions - now lets explore some answers.
What does it mean
Contrary to popular belief your PC won't die exactly in January 2020 as a result of these license changes. The good news is you PC will continue to run. But the bad news is that you will not get any more security updates. As you are well aware the threat landscape on the future is evolving quickly. New vulnerabilities are discovered all the time. Microsoft has had a history of "Patch Tuesday" releasing periodic protections to you at no charge. Additionally when Microsoft discovers an extreme vulnerability they do what is called "out of band patching." That means that they immediately push out to you computer protections for discovered vulnerabilities that they are now protection. All of this protection will stop in January 2020 for Windows 7.
How do you protect
Next question: How do you move to protect. The easy answer is upgrade - the slightly harder question is what will that do to my software? If you have a current program and are in contact with your software manufacturer or developer they likely already have a new version available. You will need to contact them and get this question answered. If you do have legacy software that is no longer supported an must run it on Windows 7 you need to increase your security posture. That means updating your antivirus, malware protection suite. Additionally you should increase the backup cycle of your critical Windows 7 PC. Multiple and more frequent backups will at least give you a recovery path if trouble flares up.
Upgrade or new PC
Finally the last question: Upgrade my old hardware or buy new? PCs are machines and machines with moving parts eventually break. What is a moving part on a PC? Fans and motor. All PCs have a power supply and there is a fan in there most of the time. Almost all motherboards have a fan that blows continual cool air on your processor. lastly the older style hard drives have a motor in there that spins it like a record player to retrieve and store data. All of these motors if more than 2-3 years are prone to failure. Warranty's on hardware are also expired for older PCs. And for the cost of a new hard drive, new Windows 10 license and the setup to put it into your PC it is usually more cost effective to buy a new PC and just transfer the data. Of course there are a lot more specific variables for your computing environment. Give ACE a call or drop me an email with your questions and I know we will find an answer together Click here
What does it mean
Contrary to popular belief your PC won't die exactly in January 2020 as a result of these license changes. The good news is you PC will continue to run. But the bad news is that you will not get any more security updates. As you are well aware the threat landscape on the future is evolving quickly. New vulnerabilities are discovered all the time. Microsoft has had a history of "Patch Tuesday" releasing periodic protections to you at no charge. Additionally when Microsoft discovers an extreme vulnerability they do what is called "out of band patching." That means that they immediately push out to you computer protections for discovered vulnerabilities that they are now protection. All of this protection will stop in January 2020 for Windows 7.
How do you protect
Next question: How do you move to protect. The easy answer is upgrade - the slightly harder question is what will that do to my software? If you have a current program and are in contact with your software manufacturer or developer they likely already have a new version available. You will need to contact them and get this question answered. If you do have legacy software that is no longer supported an must run it on Windows 7 you need to increase your security posture. That means updating your antivirus, malware protection suite. Additionally you should increase the backup cycle of your critical Windows 7 PC. Multiple and more frequent backups will at least give you a recovery path if trouble flares up.
Upgrade or new PC
Finally the last question: Upgrade my old hardware or buy new? PCs are machines and machines with moving parts eventually break. What is a moving part on a PC? Fans and motor. All PCs have a power supply and there is a fan in there most of the time. Almost all motherboards have a fan that blows continual cool air on your processor. lastly the older style hard drives have a motor in there that spins it like a record player to retrieve and store data. All of these motors if more than 2-3 years are prone to failure. Warranty's on hardware are also expired for older PCs. And for the cost of a new hard drive, new Windows 10 license and the setup to put it into your PC it is usually more cost effective to buy a new PC and just transfer the data. Of course there are a lot more specific variables for your computing environment. Give ACE a call or drop me an email with your questions and I know we will find an answer together Click here
Friday, May 6, 2011
Data Backups - What are you trying to protect?
We are all told very frequently that we need to back up our data. Very few people actually like to do the backup and then monitor what is really happening. But, just like with real world insurance...nobody cares until until you actually lose something...then everybody wants protection.
Business data falls much the same way into these categories.
But the bigger question I think, is from what are you protected?
You can do all sorts of backups to protect against accidental file deletion and be protected. But when you leave the USB backup drive or tape right next to the server, your protection is not that great. If a fire, flood or theft occurs, the backup you did is gone as well.
Take the case of all those people in Japan who recently lost everything. I am sure some people were doing off site backups and taking data to home offices or second locations. They thought they were doing everything right. But when a massive tsunami destroyed both locations...all data was gone.
Today, there are many online backups that are VERY cost effective. These CLOUD BACKUPS put you back in control.
Once you have had a moment to think about your data, you probably need to talk with someone who deals with this stuff all the time.
Give ACE a call or drop me an email to see what is possible for your company...
Business data falls much the same way into these categories.
But the bigger question I think, is from what are you protected?
You can do all sorts of backups to protect against accidental file deletion and be protected. But when you leave the USB backup drive or tape right next to the server, your protection is not that great. If a fire, flood or theft occurs, the backup you did is gone as well.
Take the case of all those people in Japan who recently lost everything. I am sure some people were doing off site backups and taking data to home offices or second locations. They thought they were doing everything right. But when a massive tsunami destroyed both locations...all data was gone.
Today, there are many online backups that are VERY cost effective. These CLOUD BACKUPS put you back in control.
Once you have had a moment to think about your data, you probably need to talk with someone who deals with this stuff all the time.
Give ACE a call or drop me an email to see what is possible for your company...
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
What is old is new again - malicious bogus programs that invade
Several years ago Microsoft wrote a greate article about bogus software that gets installed on your PC and tells you alarming messages about how infected your computer is...and then "offers" (for a fee) to remove the programs. Of course it is all a nighmare and not true. The ultimate goal of these tricksters is to con you into paying them money.
Here is a link to the 2008/2009 epedemic that broke out:
http://www.microsoft.com/security/pc-security/antivirus-rogue.aspx
Well it seems these bandits are up to their old tricks again using almost the same game.
Except now they are using school web sites, commerce web sites and places like Facebook, etc. to try and trick you into loading the bogus software then sticking you with the removal and repair fees.
Be very careful.
Also know ACE now has a very low cost monthly way for you to completely protect all your PCs...give me a call for details.
Here is a link to the 2008/2009 epedemic that broke out:
http://www.microsoft.com/security/pc-security/antivirus-rogue.aspx
Well it seems these bandits are up to their old tricks again using almost the same game.
Except now they are using school web sites, commerce web sites and places like Facebook, etc. to try and trick you into loading the bogus software then sticking you with the removal and repair fees.
Be very careful.
Also know ACE now has a very low cost monthly way for you to completely protect all your PCs...give me a call for details.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Viruses and Malicious Software
It sure seems like we have been under attach lately. Lots of people are getting hit by the bogus antivirus software and other trojans that are very difficult to remove.
Where are they coming from and how are they getting into systems?
Watchguard (the firewall router company) recently had a partner event that reviewed the sources.
Many are coming from holes (un-patched software holes) in other programs like Adobe Reader, JAVA, Flash Player and more.
To best protect yourself it is now extremely important for you to patch not only Windows...but all of these other subsystems.
And because all of these programs have hooks into web browsers like Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, etc...you can trigger the attackers ability to get into your system by merely looking at web pages that seem to be reputable.
This is a very tough problem to attack. Check out what the professionals have to say: http://www.watchguard.com/predictions/index.asp
Stay tuned - ACE will try and keep you as up to date as possible.
Where are they coming from and how are they getting into systems?
Watchguard (the firewall router company) recently had a partner event that reviewed the sources.
Many are coming from holes (un-patched software holes) in other programs like Adobe Reader, JAVA, Flash Player and more.
To best protect yourself it is now extremely important for you to patch not only Windows...but all of these other subsystems.
And because all of these programs have hooks into web browsers like Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, etc...you can trigger the attackers ability to get into your system by merely looking at web pages that seem to be reputable.
This is a very tough problem to attack. Check out what the professionals have to say: http://www.watchguard.com/predictions/index.asp
Stay tuned - ACE will try and keep you as up to date as possible.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Microsoft Online Services - CLOUD SERVICES
Microsoft has been making a huge investment in hardware just east of the mountains near Quincy, WA. They built only a few of these data centers for the entire US. The one in WA State covers all service west of the Mississippi River and is in our back yard! The Microsoft offerings are called Business Productivity Online Services (BPOS), Exchange Online, Sharepoint Online, Live Meeting and Communicator.
What is cloud computing? Some define it as online documents, SPAM filtering for your email, sales and document sharing tools. Now is the time to try out these products and make cost effective use of your resources. Call or email today.
NOTE: the BBC was recently allowed access into this Microsoft facility and shot a 3-minute video you can see online. Click here to watch.
What is cloud computing? Some define it as online documents, SPAM filtering for your email, sales and document sharing tools. Now is the time to try out these products and make cost effective use of your resources. Call or email today.
NOTE: the BBC was recently allowed access into this Microsoft facility and shot a 3-minute video you can see online. Click here to watch.
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