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Announcing the ASC Group Referrals Contest

February 17, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Don’t miss your chance to enter the ASC Group Referrals contest, where one lucky winner will walk away with a $100 American Express gift card!

 

How do I enter the contest?

Just send us a qualifed referral (we define “qualified” as someone who won’t hang up on us when we call them) to ASC Group, and you are entered to win!

Who is a good referral?

Here at ASC Group, we are proud to call many of Atlanta’s top private schools, medical practices, and small businesses our clients and friends.

Do you know of any business owners or IT managers who are:

  • Complaining about computer network problems such as virus attacks, slow performance, not getting all their emails, etc.?
  • Concerned about what would happen to their systems in a disaster?
  • Looking for solutions to network challenges such as disaster recovery, wireless access, etc.?

You can share your referrals online, send us an email at tara.lamboley@ascgrp.com, or call (770) 924-9833 x133.

Don’t wait:  Get your referrals in today for a chance to spend $100 on. . . anything you want!

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Microsoft One Note, Skydrive, and Windows Phone 7

January 23, 2012 By Leave a Comment

OneNote 2010    Skydrive     Windows Phone

Microsoft One Note, Skydrive, and Windows Phone 7

Several people have asked me about the Microsoft commercial that shows Dad at the grocery store getting items on a grocery list.  The kids are shown editing the list on a PC at home.

There are actually three Microsoft products in use during the ad.  Dad is using a Windows Phone 7.5 device at the store.  He has the Skydrive app installed.  Skydrive is a cloud storage location that is tied in with Hotmail accounts.  The application in use for the list is Microsoft OneNote that is part of the Office suite.

To create this setup you need to:

  • Login to Hotmail and open Skydrive in the top menu
  • Click the OneNote icon at the top of the page to create a new notebook
  • Name the notebook something appropriate and click Share on the right of the screen
  • Share will allow you to send a link to someone’s email address so they will be able to view or edit the Notebook
  • On Windows Phone 7.5, install the Skydrive app (it’s free)
  • Open the email and click the link to the shared notebook
  • You can now create a tile on the main Windows phone screen to launch the notebook with one click

I think this is a pretty good example of the integration that is possible across the Microsoft product suite.  What other uses can you think of for this type of shared notebook capability?

Here’s a link to the commercial http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/showcase/details.aspx?uuid=96c213dd-57b2-4a62-9887-bd3d353e1afb

Filed Under: Business, Distributed Workforce, Hardware and Software Sales, Network Management, Partners, Remote Access, Strategic Consulting, Technology, What We Do, Whom We Serve

EVault for Data Protection Manager

January 20, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Data Backup. Is it a blessing or a curse for your business? Many businesses are wanting to use Microsoft System Center to manage and protect their Windows environment. But what about protection for non-Windows systems? And what about efficient and secure offsite protection? Are you currently trying to manage multiple backup applications? This can become very expensive, complicated, and time consuming for your business.

We at ASC Group recommend EVault for DPM. An all-in-one backup and recovery application that combines Microsoft DPM 2010 with EVault Software. Features of EVault for DPM include:

  •  Deep integration with Microsoft products, SQL, Exchange, SharePoint, Hyper-V virtual environments, Windows clients and file servers
  • Cross platform protection for non-Microsoft systems and applications
  • Efficient and secure cloud connection
  • Can be installed on your own server or delivered as an all-in-one appliance to simplify deployment and management
  • Can handle up to 512 full backups
  • Redundant data stored in i365 Cloud
  • Can add more drives to expand storage as needed
  • Can handle up to 10 TB of storage capacity

How does it work?

  •  Customer uses DPM for Windows backup and EVault for all other platforms
  • A common EVault dashboard creates a unified experience
  • Both backups are stored on the backup appliance
  • All data can be sent to the i365 Cloud

How does the cloud connection work?

  •  All backup data is deduplicated and encrypted at the backup appliance
  • Backup appliance uses WAN optimization to send data to the i365 Cloud at regular intervals
  • The backup data is stored in both locations

http://www.evault.com/products/data-backup-software/microsoft-backup-recovery/index.html

http://www.evault.com/export/sites/www/assets/pdf/brochure/evault-for-dpm_pb_en_w.pdf

Filed Under: Business, Distributed Workforce, Education, Hardware and Software Sales, Medical, Network Management, Partners, Technology, What We Do

GFI Mail Archiver

January 13, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Having problems with email pst files? Are you backing up and archiving your email? Your Company’s dependency on email to do business brings with it various problems. Storage limitations, backups, problematic PST files, access to old emails and regulatory compliance or eDiscovery requests are a few issues that arise. Failure to address these effectively could have serious repercussions for your organization.

We at ASC Group recommend GFI Mail Archiver. One way for your business to address each problem is to implement GFI MailArchiver™, a leading email archiving and email management software package for Exchange Server with thousands of customers. It can be used by your administrators to maintain a copy of all prominent corporate email correspondence, manage and reduce your company’s dependency on PST files and also help you meet the growing number of regulations and compliance legislation. Furthermore, this easy-to-install product requires very little administrative effort, it is competitively priced and delivers business intelligence insights leveraged from the email archive.

Features for management and the administrator:

  •  Reduced Storage Costs
  • End PST File Headaches
  • Tight Integration with Exchange
  • Outlook Integration, Stub-free Technology
  • Automatically Archive email into one storage area
  • Unlimited Mailbox
  • Helps comply with SOX and other acts and regulations
  • Leverage business intelligence from email archive
  • Multi-Language Support for Indexing emails

Features for the user:

  •  Access archived email from Outlook as if it were in an Exchange mailbox or a local PST file
  • Access emails (including deleted) from any location via a browser
  • Advanced email search and ‘Saved Search’ capabilities with exclusion parameters (including attachments)
  • OneClick Restore a single email to a mailbox
  • Mobile device support for Blackberry, iPhone and Android
  • Fast, intuitive user interface with support for multiple languages

Other features:

  •  Access archived email even if you are out of the office
  • Dynamic dashboard – access key information at a glance
  • Migrate old PST files stored on client machines
  • Set up email retention and categorization policies
  • Give viewing rights and exempt users from archiving email
  • Collect and archive emails in one geographical location
  • Restore mailboxes from the archive
  • Audit your archived email to ensure they have not been tampered with
  • Supports all major web browsers – Internet Explorer, Firefox, Google Chrome and Safari

Links to additional product information:

http://www.gfi.com/mailarchiver

http://www.gfi.com/quickvids/quickvid_mar.asp

If your company is looking into Mail Archiving please e-mail us at sales@ascgrp.com or call 770-924-9833 to arrange a free consultation with ASC technical staff.

Filed Under: Business, Distributed Workforce, E-Mail Solutions, Education, Hardware and Software Sales, Medical, Network Management, Partners, Strategic Consulting, Technology

Hard Drive Availability

January 8, 2012 By 1 Comment

Thailand Flood

In the Fall of 2011, severe flooding hit Thailand, killed 790 people and caused $45 billion in damages.  These floods knocked out production at a large number of high-tech manufacturing facilities.  Thailand is the second largest manufacturer of hard drives in the world.   The impact is just now really starting to be felt in the US.  Currently, hard drive prices are running about double where they were last summer.  Availability is also starting to be an issue.  Many external USB drives are not in stock anywhere in the US.  Replacement hard drives from primary manufacturers (like Hewlett Packard) are also in short supply and delivery times are currently running a couple of weeks for warranty replacements.  New computer system deliveries are also beginning to be affected.

ASC Group has some stock of server and desktop drives in case critical customer systems suffer a failure.  Industry predictions are showing the shortage of drives will run for the first half of 2012.

More information on the floods can be found here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_Thailand_floods.

To donate to relief efforts in Thailand http://english.redcross.or.th/home/.

Filed Under: Business, Distributed Workforce, Education, Hardware and Software Sales, Medical, Partners, Strategic Consulting, Technology, Uncategorized, Whom We Serve

Why Your Tape Backup Will Let You Down

March 21, 2011 By 2 Comments

With the ever-expanding amount of data on today’s networks, as well as the need for instant access to that data in an emergency, a reliable backup solution is more critical these days than ever before.

Let’s take a moment to consider the three most common options for backing up your network:  onsite tape backup, offsite Internet backup, and a hybrid solution.

1.  Onsite tape backup

Description: Backing up data to a tape drive using software such as Backup Exec on a scheduled basis.

Pros: Inexpensive media (tapes)

Cons: Tape is rapidly becoming outdated, as it is notoriously prone to mechanical failure over time as tapes wear out. Tape backups present a security problem in that often the backup is done onsite and the tapes are never removed from that physical location. In the event that the building is damaged, the data is compromised. In addition, tape backups are linear access devices. It can take a long time to read through multiple tapes to find the data needed for restore.

2.  Offsite Internet backup

Description: Your data resides on an external host server that is accessible via the Internet. Regular backups occur across your Internet connection.

Pros: You don’t have to invest in any onsite infrastructure, just pay a flat monthly rate for service.

Cons: This option does take the burden of data storage off of your core network, and does so securely. Added cost comes in the form of higher Internet Access bandwidth requirements. Most importantly, backup data may not be readily available for access (such as for a restore), and is highly dependent on the vendor’s infrastructure. Control over your data is limited. We worked with one company that waited one week for their data to be restored; obviously, that is an unacceptable amount of downtime.

There is one more option that ASC Group has implemented with our clients and has found to be an ideal combination of the advantages of the solutions above:

3. Hybrid backup solution (ASC Group Recommended Solution)

Description: Onsite disk array backups with Offsite current image storage.

The backup solution that ASC Group has implemented with many of our clients is a hybrid approach, combining the best features of onsite and offsite backup. We install a small server with an external drive array to serve as the primary backup platform. The arrays have large storage capacities so we can keep multiple restore points online ready for use. Data is transferred offsite on a regular basis to ensure we have a recent restore point available if access to the onsite systems is not available (Disaster Recovery). The offsite component can be achieved with Internet (Cloud) storage or via removable disk storage.

This solution keeps the data online and rapidly retrievable, and provides the network administrator with full control of the data at any given time.

In addition, the data is securely replicated at a hosted site, and can be readily accessed in the event of a security breach or physical emergency at the primary site.

Want to learn more about a hybrid backup solution? Send us an email, and we’ll send you our “Backup-in-a-Box” info kit!

Filed Under: Distributed Workforce, Education, What We Do Tagged With: , , , , ,

ASC Group joins NFMGMA

November 19, 2010 By Leave a Comment

ASC Group is pleased to announce that we have joined the North Fulton Medical Group Management Association (NFMGMA) as an Affiliate Member.

NFMGMA is a non-profit association whose membership is composed of individuals interested in the administrative aspect of the medical group practice.  The group provides educational opportunities and resources to promote professionalism in medical practice management. 

As part of our committment to serving clients in the medical community, ASC Group has joined the organization as an Affliate Member to learn more about the industry and local medical practices.  To learn more about NFMGMA, including upcoming events, click here.

 

About ASC Group

Founded in 1999, Automated Solutions Consulting Group, Inc. (ASC Group) provides strategic technology consulting services for private schools, healthcare facilities, and businesses with remote workforces.  ASC Group offers a reliable and predictable platform for our clients’ investments in IT, allowing technology to deliver higher operational productivity. We provide strategic technology planning and responsive, consistent technical support. 

To learn more, click here.

Filed Under: Medical, Who We Are

We’re All in This Together: Findings from GaETC, pt. 1

November 16, 2010 By Leave a Comment

We recently exhibited at the annual GaETC (Georgia Educational Technology Conference) here in Atlanta Nov. 3-5.  At this conference, educators and IT professionals alike participate in learning how to adapt technology to benefit their school systems.   

From attendees’ reports, it was a whirlwind 2 ½ days of sessions, keynote speeches, and technology exhibits.  From our vantage point on the exhibit hall floor, we learned much from the participants that visited our exhibit.  For example, we asked 2 main questions of visitors: 

1.       What are your top 3 technology challenges?

Although there were diverse answers to this question, the two most commonly cited challenges were: 

  • Budget limitations
  • Professional development/technology training 

Does this surprise anyone?  These concerns are very familiar to us in working with all types of clients, extending beyond the world of education to include small businesses, healthcare practices, financial services, manufacturers, etc.  No one is immune to lack of budget and training opportunities these days.  Part of our consulting process with clients involves a good deal of working within the existing IT budget to find ways to do more with the technology resources at hand.  And then we ensure ROI by partnering with the IT staff to provide training and encourage end user adoption of new technology.

 

2.       What is the coolest new technology you’ve implemented at your school this year?   

Again, a variety of answers on this one, but interactive whiteboards and other interactive learning devices seemed to top the list.  With limited budget and resources, along with increased class sizes, educators are increasingly looking to technology as a means to engage students and enhance differentiated learning.   As IT professionals serving schools, we must look for solutions that achieve these goals. 

In walking the exhibit hall, we found some technology offerings that could help offset the challenges our educators and IT admins are facing, including: 

Promethean boards and devices:  Almost universal in most school systems and independent schools now, these devices still have a “wow” factor to those of us who remember overhead projectors.  These devices provide educators with enchanced content and opportunities for student interaction.

Blackboard:  Learning solutions that allow for personalized instruction, online/distance learning, and professional development.

Xirrus:  High-density wireless access points.  Install one device to connect an entire floor of your school building to wireless Internet access (rather than multiple weaker access points).  Reliable wireless access ensures that online and network content is available when needed in the classroom.

In our next blog posting, we will share what else we learned at GaETC about educational technology and our true place in the tech universe. 

Until then, show your appreciation to a teacher in your life by saying “thank you!”

Always learning,
ASC Group

Filed Under: Education, Strategic Consulting, Uncategorized

ASC Group to Exhibit at 2010 GaETC

September 10, 2010 By Leave a Comment

ASC Group will be an exhibitor at the 2010 Georgia Educational Technology Conference (GaETC) from November 3-5, 2010 in Atlanta, Georgia.  ASC Group will demonstrate how our technology consulting services have streamlined operations for many Atlanta-area schools.

The GaETC Conference provides educators the opportunity to learn about the latest in educational technology and offers a forum for discussion among professionals concerned with technology in education. GaETC offers almost 250 concurrent sessions, nationally known speakers and presenters, workshops focusing on the latest in technological innovations and software, and over 200 commercial exhibits featuring state-of-the-art technology.

To learn more about GaETC and to register, please visit www.gaetc.org.

Filed Under: Education

New ASC Group Website Debuts

June 13, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Welcome to the new and improved version of the ASC Group Website!  We believe this site will provide technology resources for the education, healthcare, and business communities, as well as useful information on ASC Group services and products.   We are committed to updating this site on a regular basis with information relevant to you.  Please let us know if you have any suggestions for the site by sending email to webmaster@ascgrp.com.  Enjoy the site!

Filed Under: Staff, Technology