SMART Blog

Smart Services has been providing independent agents with proactive, fast, and expert technology services since 1991.

3 Black and White Tips to Help You Choose the Right Printer

b2ap3_thumbnail_print_money_400.jpgThe office might be moving toward digital filing more and more every day, but that doesn't change the fact that you sometimes need to print something out for your own needs. Some offices need a printer for hard copies of documents in the event that their system can't be accessed. Overall, having a printer around can be very beneficial to your company, but do you know how to choose between the many different types of printers?

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Outsourcing Your Intranet Can Benefit Your Company

b2ap3_thumbnail_your_business_intranet_400.jpgA basic Intranet can be an invaluable tool for a budding company, and can help connect your employees over your own network. However, that's not all that an intranet is good for. It can also save you a lot of money in the long run by streamlining operations and decreasing downtime!

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Don’t Stoke the Flames – Build a Firewall

b2ap3_thumbnail_build_a_firewall_400.jpgIt's no secret that the Internet is full of dangerous activity. Too many people think their networks are safe without any kind of protection. We don't mean to say that the Internet isn't safe, but that it's only as safe as you make it for yourself. In order to keep your small business safe, you should implement protective software, like a firewall. A firewall can help keep your company safe from online threats, and believe us when we say that a little bit of protection goes a long way.

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XP Support is Down, but Not Out

b2ap3_thumbnail_windows_xp_400.jpgThe news that Microsoft no longer supports Windows XP, one of its most successful operating systems, was a great blow to many who loved the software. The greatest blow, however, will likely prove to be hackers, who will be able to break into the system now that Microsoft is not providing security patches.

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Enjoy the Party – Let the Hosts Do the Hard Work for You!

b2ap3_thumbnail_cloud_maintenance_400.jpgHosting the party isn't for everyone; it's a matter of space, cost, and responsibility. You could be the life of the party, but nobody would know because you're so busy making sure that everything is set and ready to rumble. Wouldn't it be easier if you could just hire someone to take care of all the little details for you, so you could enjoy the fruits of your labor?

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Desktop Virtualization – Is it Worth it?

b2ap3_thumbnail_virtualization_400.jpgThe world is slowly being overrun by machinery, and we are finding new uses for it every day. While not an entirely new subject, desktop virtualization is something that has become increasingly popular over the past few years, and it's easy to see why. Instead of keeping your desktop in a physical form, it's becoming more reliable to keep it digitally tucked away, safe and sound. This frees it from the potential physical problems associated with computers, such as a sudden crash or just dying out with age.

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Don’t Let a Few Lost Minutes Sink Your Productivity!

b2ap3_thumbnail_sink_to_the_bottom_400.jpgHow long does it take to boot up your computer when you start your workday? Most people would be fine with a one minute boot time; five minutes can get a little annoying, and anything longer than ten minutes warrants a coffee break. You may not have realized it, but a few extra minutes of boot time can impact the productivity of your company in a big way.

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Cloud Safety Presents New Options for Businesses

b2ap3_thumbnail_cloud_security_400.jpgAdmit it, you've thought about moving some of your computing infrastructure to the cloud, but just couldn't take the leap because there is a perception out there that suggests cloud-based computing systems are less secure than the ones that you house within the confines of your office. The fact of the matter is that every piece of computing infrastructure has the same shortcomings as far as security goes. Whether hosted in a cloud or in an enterprise data server, the thing that makes data security work for business is having the right people managing your information.

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Time Spent Faxing Can Really Add Up

b2ap3_thumbnail_fax_machines_are_a_waste_400.jpgLet's say that you're on the phone with a client going over a major proposal and they utter four words that fill you with dread, "Fax it to me." It's not that you don't know how to send a fax, but you dread faxing because you know that you're in for a big waste of time, especially considering how many pages your proposal is.

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Don’t Overlook the Mobile Devices Accessing Your Network

b2ap3_thumbnail_mobile_overlooked_400.jpgThe number of employees using their personal devices for work purposes (BYOD) continues to increase rapidly. According to Juniper Research, BYOD will account for over one-third of all mobile devices being used within the next few years. Not adjusting procedures to accommodate for this trend can leave your company's sensitive information vulnerable.

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The Other Kind of Firewall

b2ap3_thumbnail_how_is_your_firewall_400.jpgIt's crucial that your company's network has a strong firewall in place to keep your data safe; although, one firewall may not be enough. In the case of an actual fire, you will want to have a real firewall to keep your servers safe. We're talking about a firewall for your firewall. This sounds redundant, but redundancy makes for good security.

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2 of the Biggest Risks Associated with BYOD

b2ap3_thumbnail_bring_your_own_device_policy_400.jpgOne of the most popular business technology trends that we're seeing is employees bringing their own devices into the workplace (BYOD). This trend is due to the popularity of mobile devices (owned by over half of all U.S. adults). While this trend benefits companies in many ways like enhancing mobility, implementing BYOD for a business is not without risks.

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Windows XP is Dead. Let it Go.

b2ap3_thumbnail_sq-3-400.pngIf you haven't yet upgraded from Windows XP, then you and 29% of the world must have strong reasons for hanging on to a twelve year old product. Unfortunately, everybody's strong reasons won't hold water come April 8th when Microsoft stops supporting XP with new security patches.

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Computer Broke? Phone it In!

b2ap3_thumbnail_call_us_up_for_help_400.jpgWhen people talk about "phoning it in," they usually refer to purposely doing subpar work at their job. However, when a computer breaks and someone "phones it in," they're referring to calling remote IT support, which has a completely different connotation because remote IT service is service that's of the highest quality!

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How the Evolving Role of IT can Benefit Your Business

b2ap3_thumbnail_business_reviews_400.jpgAs the world of business becomes increasingly dependent upon technology, the role of IT is changing. Historically, the IT department has been viewed as a separate entity in the office that fixes and maintains the IT infrastructure. Today, more companies are involving IT when making important business decisions. Have you consulted your IT professional lately?

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Save Money by Upgrading these 4 Outdated Technologies

b2ap3_thumbnail_save_money_by_scrapping_tech_400.jpgSome people refuse to upgrade their technology because they're ardently committed to the principle of "if it's not broke, don't fix it." We admire a person's resolve to stand up for their convictions, but there are cases when old technology gets in the way of profits. Here are four examples of old technologies that may be holding your business back.

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Increase Employee Productivity by 25% with Content Filtering

b2ap3_thumbnail_content_filtering_boosts_productivity_400.jpg"Heigh-ho, heigh-ho. It's off to work we go!" Do you know the secret to why Dwarves are so good at mining? It's because they don't have an Internet connection in the caves to distract them from digging and singing. If you're looking to turn your staff into a loyal Dwarf-like workforce, then you will want to take advantage of content filtering.

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Desktop Virtualization is a Viable Solution for Your Networking Needs

b2ap3_thumbnail_thin_clients_save_money_400.jpgIs your business taking advantage of desktop virtualization? It's a great money-saving solution that allows you to host a desktop environment from your server so that it can be accessed remotely on a terminal or device via your network. Businesses wanting to control their data while enjoying the conveniences of the cloud will get the most from desktop virtualization.

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Adding a Computer Network to Your Startup Business

b2ap3_thumbnail_computer_network400.jpgOne of the most significant signs that a small startup company is on its way to becoming a mid-sized business is when operations require more than one workstation. Whenever the founder of a company starts their business on their own, they will often do so using their personal computer. As the business grows, a computer network will be needed.

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4 Technology Downgrades That Will Save You Money

b2ap3_thumbnail_downgrade_save_money400.jpgThe entire purpose of equipping your business with technology is to save you money while making you money. When technology costs you more money than it should, you will want to change your tech situation to better suite your needs. This is an example of the classic money management strategy, "only pay for what you need."

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